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If you've ever thought about adding ducks to your homestead, this episode is for you.

We sit down with Marc and Katy Metzer of Metzer Farms, one of America's premier family-owned waterfowl hatcheries, to talk all things ducks, geese, and waterfowl.

We cover everything from choosing the right breed and setting up your brooder to keeping ducks healthy, managing water without creating a muddy mess, and whether ducks really need a pond. Along the way, we discuss the advantages of ordering directly from a hatchery, how ducks can benefit your garden, and the important conservation work Metzer Farms is doing to preserve rare waterfowl breeds.

Whether you're dreaming about your very first waterfowl or already have a flock waddling around your backyard, this conversation is packed with practical advice, behind-the-scenes stories, and plenty of duck enthusiasm.

What You'll Learn

• Why buy directly from a hatchery
• How to choose the best duck breed for your goals
• Brooder setup mistakes to avoid
• The secret to cleaner brooders and less water mess
• Why niacin is so important for growing ducklings
• Housing ducks with chickens successfully
• Do ducks actually need a pond?
• Best duck breeds for egg production
• Using ducks for pest control and regenerative gardening
• How Metzer Farms is helping preserve endangered waterfowl breeds

Connect with Metzer Farms

Follow Metzer Farms on IG @metzerfarms

Visit www.metzerfarms.com for a wealth of information and resources including What Duck Breed is Right for You?

Connect with Homestead-ish

Follow Homestead-ish on IG @homesteadish_pod

Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_

Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson

🌱 As always, stay curious and a little bit wild!

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What exactly is happening inside a sourdough starter?

Why do some starters seem to have their own personality? Does a 100-year-old starter really make better bread? And what role do billions of invisible microbes play in creating the flavors, aromas, and rise we love in sourdough?

In this episode of Homestead-ish, we sit down with Dr. Margaret Wallen, Assistant Professor of Biology at Indiana University Southeast, to explore the fascinating science behind sourdough fermentation. What began with her family's century-old sourdough starter, affectionately named "Baby," has evolved into a multi-year research project investigating the microbial communities that make each sourdough culture unique.

Together, we explore the relationship between wild yeast and bacteria, why no two starters are exactly alike, and what Dr. Wallen's research reveals about how sourdough cultures establish themselves and maintain stability over time. We also discuss practical tips for home bakers, including how to revive sluggish starters, the role of whole wheat flour, and common misconceptions about fermentation.

Beyond bread, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on our relationship with the microbial world and why understanding bacteria may be one of the keys to building healthier people, healthier food systems, and a healthier planet.

Connect With Dr. Margaret Wallen

Learn more about Dr. Wallen's research and how to connect HERE.

Connect with Homestead-ish

Follow Homestead-ish on IG @homesteadish_pod

Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_

Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson

🌱 As always, stay curious and a little bit wild!

Send us Fan Mail

If you're looking for a quick list of seed-saving hacks, this probably isn't that episode.

In a world that encourages us to consume information as quickly as possible, today's conversation invites you to slow down.

Noel of Homestead Culture joins us for a thoughtful discussion about seed saving, homesteading, and what it means to develop a deeper relationship with the plants that feed us. While you'll definitely walk away with practical tips for saving seeds in your own garden, we hope you'll leave with something even more valuable: a glimpse into the joy, wonder, and reverence that Noel and his family bring to this timeless practice.

Together we explore:

🌱 How Noel's family transitioned from suburban California to a homesteading life in Southern Oregon

🌱 The story behind Homestead Culture and how a simple fascination with seeds grew into a seed-saving business

🌱 Beginner-friendly crops for new seed savers

🌱 The differences between heirloom, hybrid, and open-pollinated seeds

🌱 Common seed-saving mistakes and how to avoid them

🌱 Finding joy, abundance, and connection through homesteading

This episode is a reminder that some knowledge can't be rushed. Like a good meal, a thriving garden, or a season spent tending plants, some conversations are meant to be savored.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or have never saved a seed in your life, we think you'll enjoy spending an hour in Noel's world.

Homestead Culture Resources

Connect with Homestead Culture on IG @homesteadculture

Free Crash Course into Seed Saving
"Everything you need to know to start saving seeds"
https://homesteadculture.com/saveseeds/

Seed Resources
Lots of articles & stories about seeds in one place. For definitions of Heirlooms, Hybrid, Open Pollinated, scroll to the section titled "Seeds and Diversity"
https://homesteadculture.com/seed-resources/

Our Seed Offerings
Perennial vegetables, flowers, herbs, & diverse mixes.
https://homesteadculture.com/shop/

Connect with Homestead-ish

Follow Homestead-ish on IG @homesteadish_pod

Connect with Kristin @growingpaines_

Connect with Devon @devonballardhudson

🌱 As always, stay curious and a little bit wild!