This page is a collection of resources that have helped me on my journey toward personal freedom.
Each week I share a new resource in my newsletter, when I do I’ll add it to the list.
Podcasts
| The Survival Podcast | Jack Spirko started his podcast in 2008 (!) (did podcasts even exist then?) and his message all along has been about modern survivalism. He introduced me to Permaculture, encouraged me to start a side hustle, and has built a community of people who take control of their life. I’m eternally grateful for the knowledge Jack has imparted on me, and I hope you can gain as well. |
| Side Hustle Show | If you think I’M a huge fan of side hustles, you should see Nick Loper! He’s put together tons of great resources for figuring out your side hustle and getting it off the ground, including one with me about knife sharpening! He also publishes a podcast that is inspiring. Check him out to put a little freedom into your life. |
| Waking Up with Sam Harris | Sam Harris is a totally brilliant deep thinking nerd who will blow the cap off everything you think is normal. His discussion, The Edge of Humanity, inspired more content in my mind than I’ll be able to share with you, so please check it out. |
Books
| Home Grown by Ben Hewitt | I read this book early in my journey toward a more mindful approach to parenting. I think of it as my own personal foundation to raising kids as the autonomous people that they are. |
| The Resilient Farm and Homestead by Ben Falk | One of the best ways to be prepared for many of the emergencies life will throw at you is to build resilience into your homestead. Ben discusses many ways to do that in this book. The part that stands out the most to me is the way he heats with firewood in a stove that also heats his house and provides all his hot water. And with a sustainably forested timber stand he can make more wood than he cuts. Cool, right? |
| Folks, This Ain’t Normal by Joel Salatin | There are many things in our culture that I take issue with, and Joel Salatin is credited for getting my thoughts on many of them. He’s a farmer in Virginia who looks at the way commercial agriculture operates with a palm on his forehead. He’s written many great books, but this book stands out as particularly revealing. Give it a read and let me know what you think. |
| The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss | This book kicked off my journey toward entrepreneurship and personal freedom. After reading it I remember combining 2 skills; woodworking and CAD to start Charitable Woodworking. I also learned that whatever we do we should do something that makes the world a better place. |
| Gaia’s Garden by the late Toby Hemenway | I’ve read this book twice. It’s the best book I’ve found for laying down the most ethical foundation for food production. The part that I reference frequently is the companion planting for fruit trees, or guilds. This is largely to credit for why I have comfrey planted with my apple and pear trees. |
| A Reasonable Life by Ferenc Mate | My perspective on my own culture has shifted a lot over the past few years, and this book reassured me that my new realizations are not crazy, nor are they new. We live in a very weird time. If you already realize that, this book will provide some reinforcement, if you have no idea what I’m talking about, perhaps this should move to the top of your reading list. |
Blogs
| The Financial Samurai | Sam’s story is truly inspirational and his logic is largely why this site exists. Work hard developing valuable content everyday and after three years you’ll be an overnight success. Be sure to sign up for his email list. |
| Zen Habits | Leo Babauta has a beautiful blog about finding zen and removing the clutter from life. He’s inspirational in many ways, and I hope you enjoy. Be sure to sign up for his newsletter to get the content as it publishes. |
Vendors
| Stark Bro’s | A trusted nursery for installing edible perennials. I have several apple tress, blueberry bushes and probably a few more growing on my property that were started by Stark Bro’s. |
| McMaster-Carr | You probably have your favorite hardware store, but where do you go when the hardware store doesn’t have what you need? I go to McMaster. They have an awesome selection, a great user interface on their website, they deliver faster than Amazon (no Prime, but pricing isn’t bad) and they offer CAD files of almost all relevant stuff. Next time your stuck with a weird thread, or a funny looking fitting, or in need of some pipe or plate to make something perfect, check out McMaster. |
Services
| Calm | My preferred meditation app. I use Calm every day for a morning meditation. There are several other meditation apps out there, I’ve tried a few, this works for me and I am now a lifelong subscriber. I can’t recommend implementing a meditation routine into your life more highly. |
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