The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast

Hosted by Noah Sanders

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Do you love Jesus and love farming? Then this is the podcast for you! The host, Noah Sanders, is the author of Born-Again Dirt, Farming to the Glory of God. On this show he shares how we can connect faith and farming so that we can find purpose in glorifying God and serving others while excelling in land stewardship. As a market gardener and homesteader Noah shares stories from his own journey as well as interviews of other Christian Agrarians. Join us as we seek to Redeem the Dirt!

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60 recent

November 11, 202635 min

Pulling the Weeds that Steal Our Time

Send us Fan Mail Not every weed in the garden is a bad plant. Sometimes it's a good thing growing in the wrong place, and our time works the same way. In part two of our four-part series on stewarding time, Noah Sanders and Ben Stone talk about the assumptions that quietly choke out what God has actually called us to do. In this episode: • The lost carrot bed, and weeds "waving at you from across the yard" • "Every good thing is worth a yes," and why that's a weed • Jesus and the Syrophoenician woman: focused on the Father's assignment • Going to the Gardener: what is your garden for in this season? • "It's a no until it's a yes" • The prayer in the chicken coop that changed our farm • Hearing God through your wife, and still owning the decision • Hebrews 12:1: the things that hinder, not just the sin • Contentment in the limits God has given us This week's challenge: set aside time for listening prayer, and ask what you need to say no to so you can say yes to what God has given you. 🎧 Mentioned in this episode: Sarah and Nelson Phero on why the secret to homesteading turned out to be contentment, not diligence: https://www.buzzsprout.com/326285/episodes/11824880 📘 The Joyfully Focused Farmer releases December 1. Free worksheet: https://redeemingthedirt.com/joyfully-focused Next week: once the weeds are out, bringing order to the chaos. Redeeming the Dirt: encouraging Christians to live radically dedicated to Jesus, excel in sustainable agriculture, and make disciples. Support the show

November 4, 202631 min

How Do You Have Enough Time to Get Everything Done? (You Don’t, and That’s OK)

Send us Fan Mail We have all the time we need to do what God wants us to do. But He doesn’t always promise us enough time to do everything we want to do. In this first episode of a four-part series on stewarding our time, Noah Sanders talks with his friend Ben Stone about the lie of “I don’t have enough time.” Ben is a husband, dad and homesteader building a house and farm in the Midwest. Together they talk honestly about the seasons when life feels too full, and what changes when we stop treating time as ours and give all of it back to God. In this episode: • Why “I don’t have enough time” is really a question about trusting God • Integrating family and farm work, and when integration becomes a trap • Balance vs. priorities, and why a life balance checkup helps • Stopping at 5:00 and splitting the CSA packing day • 2 Peter 1:3: He has given us everything we need • Surrender when the cows get out and the plan falls apart • Why the little things are the most authentic evidence of who we really are This week’s challenge: write down everything you spend your time on (your “time garden”), then give all of it to God. 📘 The Joyfully Focused Farmer releases December 1. Free “Overwhelm Reset” printout: https://redeemingthedirt.com/joyfully-focused Next week: weeding your time garden, and how to know what to say no to. Redeeming the Dirt: encouraging Christians to live radically dedicated to Jesus, excel in sustainable agriculture, and make disciples. https://redeemingthedirt.com #homesteading #timemanagement #christianfarmer #redeemingthedirt Support the show

September 16, 202625 min

Freedom And Food Safety

Send us Fan Mail Food safety sounds simple until you try to grow and sell real food as a small farmer. I’m Noah Sanders, a Christian farmer and off-grid homesteader in Alabama, and I’m wrestling out loud with a question that hits every local food producer sooner or later: do government food safety regulations actually create safer food, or do they mostly centralize power and squeeze out the very farms that are easiest to trust? We talk through the real-life side of compliance, from eggs and cottage food laws to poultry processing exemptions and the paperwork maze that small producers have to navigate just to serve their neighbors. I share why my goal is never to lower standards, and why I want my farm to be the kind of place any customer can visit without me feeling nervous. But I also explain how “one size fits all” rules are often written for industrial agriculture, and how that can quietly favor large companies while limiting local, relationship-based accountability. Then we dig into worldview. After FSMA-style produce safety training, I noticed how much attention goes to compost, manure, and sterilization, and how little is said about chemical exposure and the difference between sterility and a healthy microbial ecosystem. From there, we zoom out to a biblical worldview of government, Romans 13, and the idea that authority and responsibility belong together, with accountability for negligence rather than preemptive control that restricts freedom. If you care about Christian farming, homesteading, local food systems, regenerative agriculture, or the future of small farms under modern regulation, this conversation will give you clear categories and plenty to think about. Subscribe, share this with a friend who buys local, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show

September 1, 202628 min

Government Handouts and the Homestead Act

Send us Fan Mail Free land built a powerful American myth, but it also left a trail of failed farms, broken plans, and hard lessons that still matter today. We start with the Homestead Act and use it as a mirror for modern agriculture, asking a question that gets uncomfortable fast: when the government “helps” farmers through grants, loans, and farm subsidies, does it strengthen real farm viability or does it quietly make farmers more dependent and less free? We work through a biblical perspective on government and farming, including why taxation is not the same thing as redistribution, and why Christian generosity depends on private property and willing hearts. Then we get practical: how subsidy programs can distort market signals, nudge farm decisions toward the ideology of whoever controls the purse strings, and accelerate growth so fast that the school of hard knocks becomes fatal instead of educational. If you care about regenerative agriculture, small family farms, or farm business sustainability, you’ll recognize the tension between doing what’s permissible and doing what’s beneficial. We also dig into the unintended consequences of westward expansion incentives, including how “free” land removed a key economic warning sign and how railroad incentives shaped settlement patterns and shipping costs. The thread that ties it all together is a heart question: when farming gets hard, are we planning from trust in God’s provision or from a belief that government must fix our problems? Subscribe for more conversations on faith, farming, and policy, and if this challenged you, share it with a farmer or food-lover and leave a review. What do you think actually helps farmers thrive long term? Support the show

August 28, 202634 min

Government And Farming, God's Way?

Send us Fan Mail A headline says the government wants to “advance regenerative agriculture” and suddenly every farmer has to decide what to celebrate, what to question, and what to refuse. I’m Noah Sanders, and I’m opening a new thread on a topic that sits right at the crossroads of faith, farming, and power: the proper role of civil government in agriculture, from grants and subsidies to food regulations and meat processing rules. We start where Christians have to start, with Scripture. I read Romans 13 in context and talk through what it means to honor governing authorities as something God institutes to restrain evil and keep order, while remembering that submission is not the same thing as obeying every command when it conflicts with God’s word. That framework keeps us out of the easy ditches, whether that’s “all government is bad” or “if our side wins, everything will be fixed.” From there, we zoom out to the big picture of sphere sovereignty: family, church, and state each have real responsibilities and real limits. When families and churches abdicate formation, charity, education, and community accountability, the state expands and local food systems get weaker. I also share why Christians should take local service seriously and how humility, careful listening, and learning from others can sharpen our thinking as we pursue God’s ways in regenerative farming and public life. If this sparks questions for you, share the episode with a friend, subscribe so you don’t miss the follow-ups, and leave a review so more farmers and families can find the conversation. Support the show

July 14, 2026Episode 121 hr 24 min

Homeschooling On The Homestead

Send us Fan Mail What does it look like to educate your children well when you're also milking cows, fixing tractors, and butchering chickens? In this episode, Noah sits down with Todd Smith — a former teacher and school administrator turned homeschooling, homesteading dad — to talk about integrating education and farm life instead of letting them compete. Todd shares the vision of "domestic monasticism" that led three families to co-own an 86-acre farm in East Tennessee, and why a life shaped by prayer, study, and labor forms children who are thoughtful, compassionate, and hardworking. In this episode: Why education is more formation than information — and what that frees you from Starting with the end in mind: defining who you want your children to become before deciding what curriculum to use Writing a family vision statement (and why keeping the whole list in front of you is a recipe for discouragement) Charlotte Mason's simple daily framework: something to know, someone to love, something to do Oral narration, commonplace notebooks, and copying Scripture — low-cost tools that actually build readers and writers A day in the life on St. Mary's Farm When the pigs get out and the tractor breaks: treating "distractions" as the curriculum, not interruptions to it An honest conversation about family roles, complementarianism, and how Todd and his wife divide farm, income, and education Practical first steps: choose one book, read it together, and make your child the resident expert on one part of the farm Resources mentioned: Todd's packet of planning questions and skill lists for homesteading families The Monkhood of All Believers by Greg Peters The Benedict Option and Live Not by Lies by Rod Dreher Charlotte Mason's educational philosophy The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien Connect with Todd: Instagram: St. Mary's Farm Tennessee Email: tsmith@fcsva.com Until next time — be faithful, be humble, and keep redeeming the dirt. Support the show

July 1, 2026Episode 1124 min

Faith, Farming, And The Real Cost Of Freedom

Send us Fan Mail Freedom gets talked about like it’s a feeling, but it’s really a foundation, and foundations can crack. With the 250th anniversary of America’s independence on our minds, we slow down and look at what liberty actually costs, what keeps it strong, and what happens when a culture starts trading it away piece by piece. I share why I’m deeply grateful to live in the United States, not as blind optimism, but as a sober appreciation for a heritage built through sacrifice and shaped by faith. We go to Scripture, especially Galatians 5, to separate real Christian freedom from the cheap version that means “do whatever I want.” Christ sets us free so we can live free, and that freedom is meant to produce self-control and love of neighbor, not indulgence. From there, we talk about self-governance, the role of government in restraining evil, and why a moral code matters if you want a society where free speech, private property, and true religious liberty can survive. I also tell a story from Africa that challenged me to see America’s Christian heritage with fresh eyes. Then we get practical through the lens of faith and farming. Economic independence and local production helped early Americans resist tyranny, and the same principle applies today when consumerism, debt, and dependency quietly limit our choices. If we want to keep living out a biblical worldview in our work, our homes, and our land, we need the courage to sacrifice comfort for freedom. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review with one takeaway you want to live out this week. Buy a copy of Henry and the Great Society from our friends at https://homeward.press/ Support the show

June 26, 2026Episode 1024 min

Is Your Farm Producing Fruit that Will Last?

Send us Fan Mail Your garden can look amazing while your life quietly runs on empty, and that’s exactly why we wanted to hit pause and talk about “fruit that lasts.” I’m Noah Sanders, and this is a catch-up from our family, our farm, and the work God keeps pressing on my heart: stop chasing what looks impressive and rebuild life from the roots up. If you care about Christian homesteading, faith-based farming, and land stewardship that actually holds together over time, this one is a needed reset. In this episode I share highlights from the Homestead Conference in Texas, including what I taught on thermal composting and why gardening in the Deep South feels like relearning everything. Pests, heat, red-clay soil, and year-round growth change the game for Alabama and the southeastern United States, and that’s part of why I’m working on a new book with my friend David the Good, focused on dependable Deep South survival gardening. I also give an update on the Well-Watered Garden Project, a simple 20 foot by 20 foot training garden built on Foundations for Farming principles, designed to help Christians grow food while practicing humility, unselfishness, and faithfulness. Then we go deeper. John 15 doesn’t leave room for fake fruit: Jesus is the vine, we’re the branches, and real growth comes from abiding in Christ. We talk about pruning, limits, and why the smallest daily moments often reveal the truest state of our discipleship. If you feel stretched thin, this will help you rethink what obedience looks like right now. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who’s carrying too much, and leave a review so more homesteaders can find the show. What’s one commitment you need to prune this season? If you like this show, we have a new way you can support the cost of hosting and production through our new monthly support page. The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast (The Redeeming the Dirt Podcast Support) Thanks for being a part of the team! Support the show

February 24, 2026Episode 940 min

Why A Family Farm Needs A Mission To Thrive

Send us Fan Mail What if the real power of a homestead isn’t the lifestyle but the launchpad it creates for mission, discipleship, and community? We sit down with Brayden Waller to explore how a family can move from “getting the farm in order” to setting sail with a clear, others-first purpose—without losing the heart of home along the way. Brayden shares his family’s unexpected path: leaving a high-hour job for presence, homeschooling for formation, and relocating into an Amish community for simplicity and togetherness. He explains how refusing control while welcoming outside testimonies built trust, conviction, and unity on the big decisions. From there, the story widens. The Wallers served Jewish farmers in Israel and later launched Love and Purity, a ministry focused on worship and whole-life holiness. Out of that came Harp and Farm, an immersive program where young adults learn music, work the soil, and form daily patterns of prayer, responsibility, and teamwork. We dig into practical rhythms that make faith tangible: using farm work as a living classroom, handling conflict as a path to growth, and building a crew mentality that prepares a family to actually leave the harbor. Brayden offers a powerful testimony of a student who traded screens for strings and soil, rediscovered purpose, and experienced a 180-degree life change. We also talk about raising kids by their gifts—celebrating the evangelist, the musician, and the cow-milker—and why meaningful roles beat passive entertainment every time. This conversation is for homesteaders, ministry leaders, and anyone who wants their daily work to carry kingdom weight. If you’ve felt stuck perfecting the ship but never setting sail, you’ll find courage to aim beyond the fence line: farmers markets as ministry touchpoints, visiting the weak, building a local fellowship, and learning when to pause for repairs and when to catch the wind. To learn more about the Waller's ministry and apply for their internship visit https://www.loveandpurity.com/harpandfarminternship Support the show

November 18, 2025Episode 848 min

Is Jesus Knocking on the Door of our Church?

Send us Fan Mail A quiet country church. A knock on the side door. And a question that won’t leave us alone: what if Jesus is outside, patiently waiting to be invited in? In this episode I share something a bit different; a guest sermon I gave at our church a few weeks ago to help fill in for our pastor. After a brief farm and family update, we will listen to my sermon on Revelation 3:14–22, the letter to Laodicea, to explore the uneasy distance between liking Jesus and actually following him. We unpack why Scripture calls lukewarm faith nauseating and why hot and cold are both images of usefulness—healing warmth and refreshing cool—while room temperature blends into its surroundings. With Laodicea’s banking, textiles, and eye salve as backdrop, we trace Jesus’ piercing diagnosis of self-satisfied religion and his generous prescription: gold refined by fire, white garments of righteousness, and salve for true sight. Along the way, we talk about real-life patterns that pull us toward comfort—people-pleasing, hurry, and performative faith—and simple, costly habits that reverse the drift: unhurried Scripture, honest prayer, confession, reconciling conversations, generous service, and witness that changes the room. The heart of the message is not shame but invitation. Those Jesus loves, he disciplines. He stands at the door and knocks, not with a battering ram, but with patient mercy, promising table fellowship to any who open, even if the whole room isn’t ready. We offer practical next steps to move from thermometer to thermostat, including one action this week that costs something and proves what we value. If you’ve felt “fine” yet fruitless, this conversation will help you trade comfort for a living, useful faith that leaves a holy mark on your family, church, and community. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what door will you open to Jesus this week? Your story might encourage someone else to turn the knob. Send your thoughts and questions to noah@redeemingthedirt.com Support the show