The Shepherdess

Hosted by Grace

Entrepreneurship Marketing Education

Website RSS feed

Episodes

122

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Grace is an entrepreneur, Shepherdess, and rotational grazing enthusiast. This eclectic mix converges here on the Shepherdess Podcast where we talk about regenerative farming for profit, raising Dorper sheep, and daily life as a small-scale, regenerative farmer.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 4, 202649 min

COMPARING SHEEP AND GOATS (find out which is best for you)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Deciding between raising sheep and goats on your land comes down to more than preference alone. In this episode, I'm breaking down the differences from my own farm: grazing and browsing habits, containment considerations, copper and mineral needs, hoof care, health issues, and the best meat and dairy breeds for each. I’m also sharing why I chose goats for milk and sheep for meat. If you're trying to decide which animal fits your homestead best, I hope this episode gives you clarity! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Overview of my farm and livestock, and why I farm the way I do 00:07:38 Sheep vs. goats on your land: grazing and browsing habits 00:14:33 Containment considerations for sheep and goats 00:22:13 Answering questions on using goats to clear land, guardian animals, and sheep as browsers 00:26:25 Copper and mineral needs for sheep vs. goats 00:30:59 Feeding dairy goats vs. meat sheep 00:36:11 Health and parasite differences between sheep and goats 00:38:29 Best meat and dairy goat breeds 00:41:09 Best meat and dairy sheep breeds 00:43:03 Why I raise dairy goats instead of dairy sheep 00:46:09 Answering more of your questions on milking goats, sheep breeds, shearing, processing goat’s milk RESOURCES MENTIONED Shop these products at Shepherdess.com: Copasure Copper boluses for goats Redmond Sheep Mineral Redmond Goat Mineral Check out my YouTube video featuring Lydia at Harmony Heritage Farm to learn more about dairy sheep, buying breeding stock, and more! CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

July 28, 202646 min

Self-Sufficiency or Community? Building Food Security Without Overcomplicating Your Homestead | Angi Schneider of Creative Simple Living

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Food preservation matters just as much as food production, and today’s guest is here to prove it. Angi Schneider of Creative Simple Living shares the confidence-building lesson from her grandmother that started her journey into food preservation, and we dive into the most common practical questions about canned meals. Angi also shares her thoughts on freeze dryers, what Hurricane Harvey taught her about self-sufficiency, and her best advice for beginning a garden or a homestead without burning out. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introducing Angi Schneider and why food preservation matters as much as production 04:10 Angi’s current homestead and navigating life after her husband's cancer diagnosis 06:28 How Angi’s grandmother instilled in her confidence that changed everything 8:38 Overcoming the fear of pressure canning and canning meat for the first time 10:53 Practical questions: shelf life, nutrient breakdown, and rotating canned goods 15:01 Preserving the harvest and setting realistic goals for jar inventory 18:47 Strategies for getting picky eaters to eat canned meals 20:37 Canning gamey meats, why lamb comes out more tender, and the best cuts to can 24:21 Angi's honest take on freeze dryers and what 2020 taught her about self-sufficiency 28:42 Starting a garden without burnout: fruit trees, raised beds, and a simple soil approach 41:20 Avoiding homestead burnout by starting small and evaluating your capacity ABOUT ANGI Angi Schneider lives on a small homestead along the Texas Gulf Coast with her husband and children. For over 30 years they have sought to reduce their dependence on commercial products and the grocery store by growing and preserving food, living a DIY lifestyle and cooking simple, tasty meals from scratch. Angi shares gardening tips, food preservation recipes and other simple living ideas on her blog Creative Simple Living (https://creativesimpleliving.com). She has also written two books on preserving food – The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables and Pressure Canning for Beginners and Beyond. RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Angi’s books: Pressure Canning for Beginners and Beyond The Ultimate Guide to Preserving Vegetables CONNECT WITH ANGI Website: https://creativesimpleliving.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CreativeSimpleLiving/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/creative_simple_living/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/creativesimpleliving/ CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

July 21, 202651 min

Food Preservation 101 with Carolyn of Homesteading Family | What I Learned After Canning 500lbs of Meat

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage I was so excited to sit down with Carolyn of Homesteading Family, whose videos gave me a huge head start on my first pressure canning project. We cover water bath vs. pressure canning, the most common mistakes that lead to failed seals and siphoning, and how Carolyn shapes her family’s diet around what actually grows and preserves well instead of trying to stock her pantry like a grocery store. If you're new to food preservation or looking to simplify a system that's become too much work, this episode is full of practical, tested advice you can begin using today! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction to Carolyn’s North Idaho homestead and how she arrived at this lifestyle 00:06:20 Why community sufficiency beats total self-sufficiency 00:08:03 Shaping your diet around what you actually grow instead of stocking every ingredient in your pantry 00:10:25 Practical tips to streamline your growing, preserving, and eating 00:14:12 Fighting homestead burnout by giving up the pressure to “do it all” 00:17:20 Water bath vs. pressure canning, and the pH science behind food safety 00:22:54 Signs that your canned food has gone bad, and what's actually safe to eat 00:26:35 Troubleshooting failed seals, fat layers, and siphoning in the jar 00:34:45 Nutrient loss in canned vs. freeze-dried food and how to build a rotation system 00:40:16 Practical ways to fit canning into your schedule and choosing the right canning equipment 00:44:21 Troubleshooting liquid loss and when to choose freeze-drying instead of canning RESOURCES MENTIONED Shop the All American Pressure Canners —Carolyn’s top choice for pressure canning Check out the Presto Electric Canner she recommends for beginners Get step-by-step guidance from Carolyn’s canning class on water bath canning, pressure canning, safety, and recipes Subscribe to the Homestead Kitchen Magazine for tested preserving recipes, homesteading tips, and more! CONNECT WITH CAROLYN Website: https://homesteadingfamily.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/HomesteadingFamily Podcast: https://homesteadingfamily.com/podcasts/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesteadingfamily/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily/ CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

July 14, 202624 min

HAIR SHEEP VS. GOATS, AND WHY YOUR LIVESTOCK IS WORTH ITS WEIGHT IN GOLD (w/ Bowen Troyer of Rational Ranchers)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage I sat down with Bowen Troyer of the Rational Ranchers, and I'll be honest, I brought him on knowing we'd have a little bit of a friendly feud over Katahdins vs. Dorpers. Bowen runs Katahdin ewes, South Pole cattle, and Royal White sheep across two ranches in Arkansas and Missouri, and we get into his hair sheep vs. goats decision, his no-blanket-dewormer parasite protocol, and his surprisingly fascinating sheep-to-silver and cattle-to-gold ratio videos. He’s intentionally building his ranch as a family legacy, and I know his story will inspire you in your own farming or homesteading journey. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction to Bowen’s ranching operation in Arkansas and Missouri 00:04:20 Stats on Bowen’s flock, grass-fed lamb weights, and sale avenues 00:06:26 How Bowen built his full-time ranching operation from the ground up 00:09:38 Why Bowen chose hair sheep over goats and what he recommends 00:14:12 Parasite management protocol and livestock breakdown 00:17:31 Bowen’s predictions on the near future of the cattle market 00:19:07 The curiosity that started Bowen’s popular video series exploring the livestock-to-silver ratio over time 00:22:43 Bowen’s long-term vision for his family ranch CONNECT WITH BOWEN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RationalRanchers Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Ranchers-Rational-61580788962777/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rationalranchers/ CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

July 7, 202649 min

Rotational Grazing Sheep for Beginners

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Rotational grazing is about as close to a silver bullet for parasite control as you'll find in sheep farming, and in this episode, I'm breaking down my complete grazing system. I cover how regular rotation builds pasture health and keeps feed costs low, plus the practical details: paddock rest, pasture recovery, fencing setup, and more. I’m also diving into some audience questions on stocking rates, deworming, minerals, and grazing sheep alongside other livestock. My goal in this episode is to help the beginner shepherd avoid some of my own early mistakes, so listen in! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 What’s the big deal about rotational grazing? 00:05:48 The importance of taking seriously our own food security 00:07:40 Diving into the transformation in my flock since implementing rotational grazing 00:08:51 How rotational grazing significantly improves pasture health, not just flock health 00:13:00 Addressing the pushback: “I don’t have time for rotational grazing” 00:15:19 My recommendation on how often to move sheep and how long to rest paddocks 00:22:39 Choosing the right electric fencing and training sheep to respect it 00:27:40 Exactly how I stockpile pasture to ease the burden of winter feeding 00:32:41 A walkthrough of my exact fencing setup, including perimeter fencing and electric-wire paddocks 00:40:35 Prioritizing flock health through deworming and culling for disease 00:42:24 The first line of defense against predators 00:43:38 Creating the right paddock size for the size of your flock 00:44:41 Evaluating the health of your soil and providing proper mineral access to your sheep CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

June 30, 202649 min

LAMBING TIPS FOR BEGINNERS (How to Raise a Small Flock of Sheep)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Healthy lambing starts long before delivery day. In this episode, I'm walking through how to prepare your ewes in the months and weeks before lambing, what normal labor looks like, how to recognize and assist with common malpresentations, and the critical components of a successful first 24 hours. If you're new to lambing or want a refresher before the next season, this episode will help you walk in feeling prepared. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction to successful lambing 00:06:46 Preparing your ewe before lambing: nutrition and minerals 00:11:20 Why deworming matters at lambing time and which products I recommend 00:17:36 Evaluating your ewe's udder before lambing, plus troubleshooting tips 00:23:38 What normal labor and delivery looks like in a healthy ewe and lamb 00:28:55 How I decide when to intervene during birth 00:34:38 Lambing troubleshooting: placenta issues, catching and handling ewes, post-delivery support 00:41:53 The critical first 24 hours: setting your lamb up for a healthy life RESOURCES MENTIONED Sign up for my Raising Sheep 101 Course to get the comprehensive guide on raising sheep and building a successful flock Enroll in the Lamb for Life Course for step-by-step help in raising your lambs past their critical milestones Watch the full tour of my friend Roberta’s farm, where she raises 300 hair sheep in Louisiana Check out my recommended sheep supplies: - Redmond Sheep Mineral - Cydectin Dewormer - NutriDrench - CL Ewe Replacer - Tube Feeding Kit for Lambs CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

June 23, 202633 min

How I Ship $100k in Product from My Homestead

📦 Explore my Shipping Products 101 e-book for a complete list of all my recommended resources and links to run your home-based shipping operation 🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage I've been selling and shipping products since 2004, and in this episode I'm walking you through the basics of shipping in your business. We'll cover setting up a simple, efficient shipping operation for your farm products: supplies, packaging, and pricing your shipping the right way. Tune in to learn how a smart shipping system can open the door to a whole new income stream for your farm! TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 My story of selling and shipping products since 2004 00:02:45 Why you need a newsletter, website, and e-commerce BEFORE products 00:08:03 Finding a low-ticket item to sell alongside your farm products 00:10:45 Basic shipping supplies for small-scale orders including polymailers, bubble mailers, and stay-flat mailers 00:16:34 Thermal label printers and shipping software for higher volume 00:20:41 Use your packaging as a way to market your offerings 00:23:09 How to ship frozen meat with dry ice 00:25:16 Flat rate vs. free shipping vs. calculated shipping costs 00:29:20 Why building an online income takes time RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out my Shipping Products 101 e-book for direct links to all of the shipping supplies referenced in this episode Sign up for my Marketing Farmer Masterclass to learn my step-by-step strategy for setting up your website, launching a newsletter, and generating traffic through free social media marketing CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

June 16, 20261 hr 4 min

BEEF CATTLE GRAZING TIPS (with Karl Ebel)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage If your goal is to raise low-input, grass-finished beef cattle, this conversation with 20-year regenerative rancher Karl Ebel is packed with practical grazing tips that work on any acreage. From stockpile grazing and year round pasture management to keeping your cost per cow well below the industry average, this episode will change the way you think about your land as your most valuable resource. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to low-input cattle ranching and tonight's topics 03:06 How Mr. Ebel got started and why regenerative ranching takes time 07:10 Choosing the right breed and seed stock for a grass-based operation 12:45 The land is your resource — not the livestock 17:03 Audience Q&A: cold climates, goat weed, herbicide use, transitioning off supplemental feed 23:25 Preconditioning calves and selling direct vs. commodity market 28:35 Stockpile grazing and year round grazing without depending on hay 36:39 Annual cost per cow and keeping inputs low 45:39 Matching your animal to your forage and low-input systems in cold climates 52:52 Surviving drought, body condition management, and treating bloat 57:49 Best timing for calving and troubleshooting pasture problems 01:00:33 Financial planning and realistic expectations before you jump into farming RESOURCES MENTIONED Grab your copy of Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep by Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

June 9, 202647 min

HOW TO RAISE BEEF CATTLE FOR BEGINNERS (w/ Karl Ebel)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Karl Ebel had no farming background, bought exhausted go-back land, and built one of the most intentional regenerative ranches I've ever seen… right down the road from me! In this episode, we talk about rehabilitating depleted land, the importance of grass-based genetics, pairing the right livestock to your resource, and answer your questions on starting small, guardian dogs vs. donkeys, running cows and sheep together, winter feeding strategies, knowing your WHY, and more. If you want to farm smarter, not harder and actually see the numbers work out, you don't want to miss this conversation. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Getting started in cattle even if you think you can’t afford it 04:15 The process of rehabilitating the land and becoming profitable 10:21 How livestock quality impacts sustainability and profitability 15:36 Pairing the right type of livestock with the land you currently have 17:06 A discussion on marketing strategies and considering your own capacity 20:08 Answering your questions: how many cattle to start with, grain finishing, keeping pastures clear of forest encroachment, guardian dogs vs. donkeys 27:14 Weaning calves to minimize stress, running cows and sheep in the same pasture, 34:25 Using outside resources for consultation and economic support 37:20 Karl’s strategy for feeding his herd over winter without hay 38:49 Questions on calving season, electric fencing management, starting a flock of sheep on small acreage 44:36 The importance of knowing your WHY behind farming RESOURCES MENTIONED Check out Karl’s preferred agricultural resources: - National Resources Conservation Service - Noble Research Institute CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show

June 2, 20261 hr 5 min

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE BUYING COWS IN 2026 (w/ Karl Ebel)

🐑 Sign up for my FREE one-hour masterclass on raising, grazing, and marketing sheep for $480 per head 📙 Order my book for beginner sheep farmers on small acreage Record-high cattle prices have many asking the same question: is now the time to get into cattle? In this conversation, regenerative rancher Karl Ebel joins me to discuss the current cattle market, sustainable pasture management, the true cost of raising beef, and what beginners should know before buying their first cows. With over 20 years of experience running a regenerative pasture-based cattle ranch on 1,000+ acres, you won’t want to miss Karl’s insights into building a profitable operation that can weather changing market conditions. TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction to co-host Karl and his neighboring cattle farm 00:04:14 A look at the current state of the record-high cattle market and its ups and downs in recent years 00:10:24 The history of Karl’s 1,000+ acre property 00:11:48 Considering the factors contributing to the current all-time high in the cattle market 00:14:56 Taking a look at the history of the cattle market and looking to the future 00:18:51 A discussion on the market impact of tariffs and imported beef 00:26:53 Words of wisdom for those looking to get started in the cattle industry 00:30:15 The important features to look for when starting a cattle herd 00:40:42 Is it the right time to get into the cattle industry? 00:42:14 How much land is needed per cow in order to run a grass-based operation? 00:49:34 Breaking down the cost of raising grass-fed cattle 00:55:06 Answering audience questions: pasture management troubleshooting, specific breed benefits, and more RESOURCES MENTIONED Karl’s recommendations for staying updated on the cattle market: - Dr. Derrell Peel at Oklahoma State University - Texas A&M Beef Cattle Extension - Kansas State University Beef Extension CONNECT WITH ME Email: shepherdess@shepherdess.com Patreon: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessPatreon Blog: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessBLOG Merch: http://bit.ly/ShepherdessMERCH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyfarms.shepherdess/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HarmonyFarmsDorpers MORE FROM THIS EPISODE View full show notes and transcript on the blog Watch this episode on YouTube Send the Shepherdess your feedback about this episode! Support the show