Happy spring! This is your exhaustive spring homestead checklist so you can actually succeed this season without burning out. We’re walking the farm together and talking gardens, chickens, pigs, sheep, cows, soil, and the surprising “secret” that might matter more than any tool or animal.
In this episode of The Justin Rhodes Show, Justin shares how his goals have shifted from pure production to health, soil, and soul, after years of chronic Lyme and pushing hard to grow all their own food. You’ll see exactly how their family is planning spring on the homestead in real time: from chick timing and feed hacks, to deep bedding, raised beds, cover crops, and why rest has to be on your to‑do list.
In this episode you’ll learn:
• How to set homestead goals that don’t burn you out (and why “maintain” might be the real win this year)
• The spring chicken checklist: feed hacks, brooder setup, tractors, permanent runs, water and predator security
• When to order chicks based on your last frost date so you don’t lose them to cold snaps
• Practical setups for milk cows and beef steers: fencing, water, hay, and simple daily moves that protect your grass
• How Justin thinks about sourcing hay, planning pasture, and working with neighbors to steward more soil well
• Rebecca’s seed‑starting system: seed starting mix, trays, potting station, tools, and labeling tricks that actually get used
• Critical garden tools and systems: raised beds, compost, silage tarps, drip, weed fabric, bug netting, and smart mulches
• Simple systems for sheep and pigs: stocking rates, deep bedding, tractors, and using pigs to prep rough ground with cover crops
• The most important checklist item of all: building in real rest so homesteading doesn’t just become a new form of stress
Timestamps
0:00 Happy spring + why this checklist matters
1:00 Homestead goals, soil, and finding a new identity after chronic illness
3:00 Spring chickens: feed hacks, brooder, tractors, runs, water, security
10:20 Milk cows: gear, winter setup, hay planning, and pasture timing
16:45 Beef steers: simple fencing, water, daily moves, and grass recovery
20:40 Seed starting with Rebecca: soil, trays, potting station, and systems
26:30 Garden checklist: raised beds, compost, tools, mulch, and weed control
32:40 Sheep and pigs: stocking, deep bedding, tractors, and cover crops
38:45 The last and most powerful item on your checklist: rest
If this helps you get ready for spring, tap like, subscribe, and share this with another homesteader who’s planning their season right now. Comment below: What’s the number one thing on your spring homestead checklist this year?
Helpful links mentioned
• New Country Organics feed: https://www.newcountryorganics.com
• Premier 1: https://tinyurl.com/dxf3ymzn
• Homestead Builds (Justin’s plans and book): https://homesteadbuilds.com
• Johnny’s Selected Seeds: https://www.johnnyseeds.com
• Books: Eliot Coleman “The New Organic Grower,” JM Fortier’s market garden methods (intensive beds, tarps, etc.)
The Justin Rhodes Show is a homesteading and family podcast where we share the real, behind‑the‑scenes journey of building a farm, raising kids, and pursuing a simpler, slower life rooted in the soil.
26 Comments
I can’t grow anything but I love working with the animals. My sister-in-law can grow anything so we split it up
I have a raise bed I have onions and cabbage started I live in Kentucky our weather is about the same I like all the garden tips.. thanks….😊
Dang, Mr. Brown is really sprouting up. I'm glad to see that he's finding his shoes, or in this case boots.
And don't get hybrid chickens. They're man-made instead of God created. 😂
I am glad you moved the green house , I remembered what the storm did. Awesome Checklist. aww Justin Put God first and everything will fall into place and rest too LoL. Thanks for sharing another awesome video, short but sweet and you covered a lot. God Bless you Rhodes family. Happy Day.🥰
I can’t grow anything but I love working with the animals. My sister-in-law can grow anything so we split it up ..
Thanks Justin. Great video
Rebecca, instead of popsicle sticks, try mini blind slats. You can cut them any length you want. They are dirt cheap. Thousands out of one small blind. Use a pencil and the print lasts for years. Much more practical than popsicle sticks.
God Bless you Rhodes family. Happy Spring
8 year old beds? I've been watching Ionger than I remember.
Lots of knowledge & accomplishments! Thanks 😊🇨🇦
Great video! Everyone in spring mood , Rebecca in her element and looking happy – makes my heart smile! Happy spring time, love and blessings lovely people! 👏❤️✨🌱
Keep Goin' ❤
Happy Day Rhodes Family! I miss my chickens! 🐓
😂 Sasquatch! Great video, Justin. Gideon is wired! ⚡️
Justin it is sheep not sheeps,
Fall should be good days to do before the winter clean up
That "skimmed milk" is not the same as skim milk from the grocery store. Store skim milk is made from powdered milk and water, you can drink that skimmed milk from your cows, it still has quite a bit of fat in it because you only hand skim it, you aren't even running it through a separater. You may have more than y'all can drink, so it is free feed for your pigs, but you are making people think they can't drink their skimmed home farm milk
Hollar homestead found some concrete molds to replace their raised wooden beds therefore saving maintance
Such an information packed video. Thank you for sharing from your experience
Just set up our incubator with turkey eggs, they'll hatch about the same time our factory chicks arrive (hens for the flock, freedom rangers for our meat birds, turkeys will also be for meat). Glad we got 12 chicks currently in our basement brooder, should be ready to go outside by the time everyone else hatches/arrives!
Gideon is such a great young man.
WELL !! That was awesome! I learned so much. Thanks to God! I will be sharing this one.
May Elohim God, God our Father and God our Mother, bless you and all your precious family abundantly.
Matt 6:9 , Gal 4:26.
You need to write another book on Mr. Brown! “Farm chores with Mr. Brown.” Gideon is a riot!
💚💚 SO much great information and perspective, Justin. Rest, rest, rest, amongst it all.
Thanks! Happy Day‼️💚💚
Observing sabbaths is such a blessing! Happy Spring Feast and Holy days 🙌🙏🏻
Rebecca, for mixing soil you might want to look at the mortar boats that masons use for brick work. Not too deep and slanted sides for easy scooping. For plant labels most markers will fade in the UV. Permanent laundry markers or #2 pencil last the longest.