So You Wannabe a Farmer

Melissa Spence

Two friends, one farm dream. Wendy packed up her suburban Maryland home, two kids, two cats, and a dog and moved to a farm in rural North Carolina. Melissa, who's still back in Maryland, lives the farm life vicariously through Wendy while tending to her ever-expanding backyard garden. They catch up each week to discuss the latest adventures on her farm, Chutzpah Hollow, with occasional updates from Melissa's tiny oasis in the 'burbs.Why are we here? When Wendy decided to take that enormous leap to fulfill her dream of buying a farm, I wanted to make sure I could follow along every step of the way. This podcast is my opportunity to tag along while helping her document the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens.We are friends, working professionals, Jewish mothers, and total noobs. Neither of us have any experience farming or homesteading. We’re just two gals who love the natural world, and who seek a healthy and meaningful life for ourselves and our families. Some of you brave risk-takers will relate to Wendy. Others, like me, will listen from the sidelines and continue to fantasize about starting our own farm someday while growing whatever we can in our backyards, and trying our hands at living the homestead life in the ‘burbs. We hope you’ll join us on this adventure, either from the sidelines or while getting your own hands dirty.

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Top 10 So You Wannabe a Farmer Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best So You Wannabe a Farmer episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to So You Wannabe a Farmer for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite So You Wannabe a Farmer episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Springtime

So You Wannabe a Farmer

04/26/22 • 51 min

It's officially spring on Chutzpah Hollow! "Ram Day" is around the corner and preparations are underway. The pigs are getting big and frisky, resulting in some new adventures (more like trouble-shooting), and Wendy admits to only listening to two TWO episodes of this here podcast. Fortunately, Melissa notes Wendy's many other great qualities that cancel out her bad behavior:). The Maryland garden gets a mushroom bed, as spring planting begins. There is so much to do that Melissa wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about where to plant things. Scientific musings and trivia abound and much more!
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com

All that and more!
So join us as we head out to the farm...
Thank you for listening! If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com
Editing by Melissa Spence

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48 Seconds Closer to Spring

So You Wannabe a Farmer

12/29/23 • 47 min

Winter is an uncertain time on the farm. Hungry predators find their way onto the property, rain forces sheep and pigs to seek shelter in the usual spots, and the goats - who despise rain - pile together under the eaves and on the front porch of the house. Garden planning is in full swing, regardless of whether those plans will actually be followed! Plus, frickin' chickens, a new rooster, the imminent arrival of baby goats and more...

Homesteading is a Mindset

So You Wannabe a Farmer

12/17/23 • 51 min

Surprise and Happy Holidays!
A little treat from Melissa and Wendy along with apologies for seemingly sneaking off under the cover of darkness without a word of warning or a decent goodbye. (We call that the Spence Sneak-off.)
Enjoy the update!

Another Another One

So You Wannabe a Farmer

03/16/23 • 60 min

A beautiful tiara is perfect for any occasion, especially International Women's Day! However, the flashing lights and multicolored flowers can feel slightly inappropriate when the conversation turns to butchering lambs.
It's been a challenging week on the farm with two lamb births that didn't go as expected, and construction on the house feels never-ending.
Wendy experiences another way of "dispatching" one of the animals and explains why it matters what method she chooses. Meanwhile, Melissa is feeling especially lyrical and - a word of caution as you may need to turn down the volume - breaks out into song not just once, but twice!
Of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg. There are shenanigans and a bit of silliness, too!

Clarify and Simplify

So You Wannabe a Farmer

08/19/22 • 57 min

Welcome back! It's year two on Chutzpah Hollow and things are getting serious! It's time to stop messing around to get down to business beginning with the First Annual Chutzpah Hollow Shareholder's Meeting where Wendy and the boys reflect on the past year and plan for the future.
With summer in full swing, we cover managing garden chaos and preparing for fall gardening, the state of Wendy's kitchen as she embarks on her preservation bonanza of dehydrating, canning, and freezing the bounty. Melissa shares a tip she learned on one of her favorite YouTube channels, The Gardening Channel with James Prigioni, to encouraging spinach germination in the heat.
In her suburban kitchen, Melissa is busy making seitan pulled "pork". She takes a trip to Home Depot for some perennials to add to the garden and discovers that they sell invasive species albeit with a very visible warning sign. (To find out more and sign a petition encouraging them to stop, click here.)
What are Wendy's big plans for the week? Chicken butchering!
So join us as we head out to the farm...
Thank you for listening! If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com
Editing by Melissa Spence

A Bad Day for Chickens (Warning: Graphic Content)

So You Wannabe a Farmer

08/29/22 • 60 min

A So You Wannabe a Farmer first! We record from an undisclosed, remote location. In other words, while Melissa was at the beach on vacation eating ice cream and playing mini golf. Meanwhile, Wendy toiled away on the farm in the heat of August processing chickens, but also creating community.
As only good friends do, Melissa corrects Wendy's proclivity to refer to worm castings as worm casings (which was fortunately well received). Udder watch continues as the sheep continue to gestate and lambing comes ever nearer. Wendy finds her people at a local livestock association and meeting and learns that there are other noobs in town.
So join us as we head out to the farm...
Thank you for listening! If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com
Editing by Melissa Spence

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

So You Wannabe a Farmer

09/16/22 • 52 min

Sure, we're Tom Petty fans, who isn't? But this waiting involves pregnant sheep on the verge of delivery. Meanwhile, other comings and goings include a new batch of turkeys in (whose brains are the size of a pecan and bodies are the size of a small dog, according to Wendy) , more of the greenhouse out. Pickup truck in, adolescent mini cows (possibly) out.
Puppy shenanigans ensue requiring reinstatement of the avian ICU in the garage as one of the turkeys recover.
And most importantly, when can Wendy be officially called a Farmer? These important questions and more will be answered on this episode of So You Wannabe a Farmer.
So join us as we head out to the farm...
Thank you for listening! If you are enjoying the podcast, please rate and review on Apple Podcasts.
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com
Editing by Melissa Spence

See You Soon!

So You Wannabe a Farmer

01/06/22 • 43 min

In our final episode of the season, Wendy prepares for the arrival of her two pigs and successfully manages to put up her electric fencing. Melissa recommends a disclaimer for the podcast after post-show fact checking brings some misinformation to light. In a sad turn of events, there is a death on the farm when a predator visits and one of the beloved residents falls victim to its attack. There's talk of animal breeding, gestation periods, 2022 planning, sprouting broccoli, book discussions, philosophical observations, and of course, a whole lot more!
Follow us on Instagram:
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com

Gimme a Little Kishke

So You Wannabe a Farmer

04/17/22 • 50 min

What's a Kishke, you ask? Listen and find out!
Melissa and Wendy break down their in-person reunion and what has changed since Melissa's last visit to Chutzpah Hollow, including a surprise declaration on the farm population (followed by an apology!). The baby cow starts solid food, pigs get a little rude, and the sheep... well, the sheep just continue to do their thing and look pretty.
Melissa finally gets to don the protective gear, light up the smoker, open the hive, and take a peek inside. All this and more in Episode 23!
Follow us on Instagram:
@so_you_wannabe_a_farmer
Melissa @sow_grow_letitgo
Wendy @chutzpahhollow
Music by Chris Spence
Artwork by Jane Rabadi janerabadi.com

'Tis the Season

So You Wannabe a Farmer

04/25/23 • 61 min

Spring is officially here! Seedlings and flowers are popping, eggs are hatching, the trees are filling with leaves. Sheep get succumb to deadly parasites, heavy storms cause damage and destroy farm structures, and bees swarm. Joy!
Come see what the spring has in store on Chutzpah Hollow. It's been quite a season so far, and we've only just begun (I hear a song there).

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FAQ

How many episodes does So You Wannabe a Farmer have?

So You Wannabe a Farmer currently has 54 episodes available.

What topics does So You Wannabe a Farmer cover?

The podcast is about Friends, Leisure, Home & Garden, Gardening, Homestead, Women, Farm, How To, Jewish, Diy, Podcasts, Garden, Education and Farming.

What is the most popular episode on So You Wannabe a Farmer?

The episode title 'It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Springtime' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on So You Wannabe a Farmer?

The average episode length on So You Wannabe a Farmer is 52 minutes.

How often are episodes of So You Wannabe a Farmer released?

Episodes of So You Wannabe a Farmer are typically released every 11 days, 10 hours.

When was the first episode of So You Wannabe a Farmer?

The first episode of So You Wannabe a Farmer was released on Aug 23, 2021.

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So You Wannabe a Farmer

Melissa Spence

Top 10 So You Wannabe a Farmer Episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does So You Wannabe a Farmer have?

What topics does So You Wannabe a Farmer cover?

What is the most popular episode on So You Wannabe a Farmer?

What is the average episode length on So You Wannabe a Farmer?

How often are episodes of So You Wannabe a Farmer released?

When was the first episode of So You Wannabe a Farmer?

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