Let’s Do Something!

Tim with is favorite baby goat. Little Miss Frappe We’ve learned at the TnF Farm that homesteading means embracing a lifestyle where there’s always something to do, plan, build, repair, or rethink. It’s a rewarding but endlessly demanding journey that requires dedication, hard work, and a deep connection to the land. However, even amidst the sweet life of farming, there comes a time when you need an escape.

Homesteading is a 24/7 commitment, and the to-do list seems never-ending. From tending to livestock and maintaining crops to fixing fences and tackling unexpected challenges, the work is both physically and mentally demanding. There’s a sense of responsibility that comes with this way of life, and it’s essential to honor it.

Work hard, play hard

Yet, just like any other profession or lifestyle, it’s crucial to find moments of respite. Escaping from the daily grind of homesteading allows for rejuvenation and balance. It’s a chance to recharge both the body and the spirit. Whether it’s a short getaway to explore a nearby mountain biking trail or body of water, a weekend outing, or a leisurely evening spent vegging out, these moments of escape are invaluable.

Escapes also provide an opportunity to gain fresh perspective. Stepping away from the farm allows you to see things from a different angle, discover new ideas, and return with renewed enthusiasm and creativity. It’s a chance to reflect on your goals, evaluate your practices, and make improvements.

Moreover, these escapes help strengthen the connection to nature, which is often the driving force behind homesteading. Experiencing the great outdoors, even outside the farm, reinforces the appreciation for the natural world and reaffirms the homesteading commitment to sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Join us as we build, play and repair stuff. Sometimes its the wrong way. Mistakes are some of the best learning experiences.

Conquer Health Chiropractic in St. John’s Florida

10/13/2025/in Let's Do Something/by Tim

Less than 5 years ago, I was running 5Ks and lifting weights. People would often mistake me for 10 years younger than I was. How did I become this fragile old man? In my early 40s, I was strong and lean. I had days that hurt, but they were not THIS bad. How did this slow and steady march into worse pain with virtually no activity sneak past me? No activity meant weight gain. Carrying more body weight meant more pain. Which caused me to slide further down. I started to feel ashamed of how I looked. Faith and I took fewer selfies together. When camera phones came out at social gatherings, I’d make a point to step out of photos or try to stand behind Faith. Looking at pictures of the man I was not all that long ago, versus what I’d become, led to depression and anxiety piling on top of my situation.

Bulls Bay Preserve and Waterfall

10/06/2025/in Let's Do Something/by Faith

Tim and I are always looking for a fun activity or a new place to explore. We’re part of Facebook groups and follow many of the channels that promote fun things to do. Lately, the Bulls Bay Preserve and Waterfall have been showing up in both of our feeds. When time allows, our typical go-to is one of the nearby beaches. We’ve been wanting to get back into hiking and mountain biking, and this trail definitely had us intrigued. It’s located inside the city of Jacksonville, FL, and somehow it has flown under our radar all of this time, with this “secret” waterfall and natural beauty, offering a peaceful, uncrowded spot.

10 Positive changes for Life

09/22/2025/in Let's Do Something/by Tim

Your comeback will always trump your worst setback. In 2017, I was 41, a newfound bachelor, in poor health, addicted to tobacco, and drinking way more alcohol than I should’ve. My first marriage had come to an end, and I felt I had been thrown away. This post isn’t about the details of my first marriage or even the “if I had only…” kind of relationship advice. But simply to indicate a starting point for the positive changes, I used for my comeback.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

09/08/2025/in Florida Living, Let's Do Something/by Tim

The story of the St. Augustine Lighthouse begins long before the recognizable black-and-white spiral tower was built. The site’s origins date back to the late 16th century, when Spanish settlers erected wooden watchtowers on Anastasia Island to keep an eye on enemy ships. By 1737, a more formidable coquina stone tower replaced those first fragile structures, serving as a beacon to seafarers and, according to records, possibly the first “lighthouse” in North America. After Florida became a U.S. territory, the U.S. government formalized its role as a lighthouse in 1824, fitting the old tower with new lamps and reflectors.

Growing a Year-Round Vegetable Garden in the South

08/04/2025/in Florida Living, Homesteading, Let's Do Something/by Katherine

Let’s be honest, if you live in the South, you’ve probably already heard someone brag about how they pick tomatoes well into December or harvest collards before a single frost has even shown its face. And guess what? They’re not lying. Gardening in the South is an absolute dream when it comes to growing vegetables all year long. With the right mix of know-how, timing, and just a bit of sweat equity, you can turn your backyard or, heck, even your patio into a never-ending food supply. Imagine biting into your own fresh cucumbers in July, roasting sweet potatoes from your garden in November, or making a winter soup using kale you just picked that morning. It’s more than possible. It’s a lifestyle. Let’s walk through exactly how to grow a thriving, year-round vegetable garden in the South, from seed to supper.

The ink has dried in this chapter of our journal

06/12/2025/in Florida Living, Homesteading, Let's Do Something/by Tim

Faith and I relocated from the Jacksonville area to rural Tallahassee, Florida in the fall of 2021. We worked jobs we thought were very boring and repetitive. The two of us wanted to chase a little more adventure and what we saw as an uncomplicated life. This drew us to an area known as the Big Bend part of the state. Average people can still buy a decent chunk of land in the state of Florida without being celebrity rich. We dreamt of starting a hobby farm where we would produce our own high-quality, real food. Be a little more self-sufficient and live a more outdoor, agricultural lifestyle as well.

How to Start a Thriving Gardening Business

03/31/2025/in Farmer's Market, Florida Living, Homesteading, Let's Do Something/by Jill

If you’ve got a green thumb and a dream of turning your love for plants into a profitable venture, starting a gardening business in your community might be your next big move. But before you start handing out business cards and digging up flower beds, you need a solid plan. Gardening businesses can flourish in local communities, but success isn’t just about knowing how to keep plants alive—it’s about building relationships, managing logistics, and understanding what your neighbors actually need.

Boneyard Beach Big Talbot Island

02/25/2024/in Florida Living, Let's Do Something/by Tim

Boneyard Beach is a picturesque and unique natural attraction located approximately 30 miles from Jacksonville, Florida. It’s not a single, specific beach, but rather a term used to describe certain sections of shoreline in the area that have bleached skeletons of oak trees that lining the beach, giving it the appearance of a boneyard. Boneyard Beach is infamous for its hauntingly beautiful landscape, characterized by this presence of weathered, sun-bleached tree skeletons, driftwood, and other debris that has washed ashore.

Retro hit: Intelligent Qube

02/08/2024/in Let's Do Something, Uncategorized/by Tim

I’m so old, I started out on a ColecoVision which had an expansion that played Atari 2600 games. I later moved up to the 8-bit Nintendo Entertainment System featuring Rob the Robot and the Zapper gun. Much to my frustration, the Zapper never shot that dang dog that laughed at me in Duck Hunt. I had a Sega Genesis in college and later the original PlayStation. All my gaming consoles have been sold, traded, or broken except for my PlayStation.

I found a website that features online games of the classics. It’s been a while, but I can barely make it to stage 2 playing through my browser with a keyboard and mouse. If I break out IQ on my PlayStation, you’re toast!

Lichgate on High Road

01/28/2024/in Florida Living, Let's Do Something/by Faith

Lichgate on High Road is a popular location for events, weddings, and nature enthusiasts who appreciate the picturesque setting and the history of the property. It has also been recognized as a historic site due to its cultural and natural significance. The property is typically open to the public, and visitors can enjoy its serene and enchanting atmosphere.