What happens when your backup plan fails? And what happens when your backup to the backup fails, too? In this episode of Homesteading Made Simple, Wendi Bergin sits down with her good friend Greg Peterson of The Urban Farm Podcast to talk about preparedness, self-reliance, and the peace that comes from knowing you can take care of yourself and your family. Greg shares what Hurricane Helene taught him about backup generators, water storage, and the importance of testing your equipment before you need it. Wendi shares her own experiences with preparedness, from stocking a pantry with food her family actually eats to learning skills that can never be taken away. Together, they explore why preparedness isn’t about fear, hoarding supplies, or preparing for the end of the world. It’s about building a way of life that allows you to care for yourself, support your family, and serve your community when life gets difficult. Because sometimes the most important thing you can store isn’t food or equipment. It’s knowledge, confidence, and the ability to begin again.
Have you ever thought you were prepared for an emergency, only to discover that something you were counting on didn’t work?
That’s exactly what happened to Greg Peterson during Hurricane Helene. His generator failed. His backup battery failed. And suddenly, the old preparedness saying “Two is one, one is none” became very real.
But preparedness doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, or frightening.
In this conversation, Greg and I talk about what it really means to live a prepared life. We share stories, laugh about our collections of pressure canners and dehydrators, and explore how small, everyday choices can make a tremendous difference when life takes an unexpected turn.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Why having a backup isn’t enough if you never test it.
- What Hurricane Helene taught Greg about generators, water, and cooking without electricity.
- How to build a stocked pantry using meals your family already loves.
- Why skills are more valuable than stuff.
- Simple alternatives for cooking, lighting, and staying comfortable during a power outage.
- Why preparedness looks different depending on where you live.
- How to get started by taking inventory of what you already own.
- Why self-reliance allows us to serve our families and communities.
- Greg’s wonderful idea for a neighborhood potato planting party!
A thought to take with you
Preparedness isn’t about collecting enough stuff to survive every possible disaster.
It’s about learning to live in a way that gives you confidence, peace, and the ability to help others.
Start with what you have. Learn something new. Build a little at a time.
And don’t forget to test that generator!
Connect with Greg Peterson
Greg is the founder of The Urban Farm and host of The Urban Farm Podcast, where he shares inspiring stories and practical knowledge about growing food, urban farming, and creating stronger communities.
Listen to The Urban Farm Podcast: Available on your favorite podcast platform.
Greg Peterson, The Urban Farm Podcast — https://www.urbanfarm.org/blog/podcast/
Connect with Wendi
Explore homesteading, food storage, canning, and preparedness resources at Joyfully Prepared .
Find more episodes of Homesteading Made Simple on your favorite podcast platform and YouTube.
Mentioned in this episode
- Nutrient Survival — freeze-dried food — https://nutrientsurvival.com/
- Wise Harvest Freeze Dried Foods — https://wiseharvestfreezedriedfoods.com/
- New Wave Enviro — water bottles and jugs — https://newwaveenviro.com/
- Azure Standard — bulk organic food — https://www.azurestandard.com/?a_aid=2be6b9010a
- Jackery — solar generators — https://www.jackery.com/
- Dirtcraft Living Soils (Dirtcraft Organics) — https://dirtcraftorganics.com/
- Homesteaders of America — 2026 Homesteading Statistics & Demographics Survey — https://homesteadersofamerica.com/2026-homesteading-statistics-demographics-survey-results/
Free from me
- Food Storage Meal Planning Worksheet (10 meals × 7) — https://joyfullyprepared.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Meal-Planning-Worksheet.pdf
- Meal Planning Guide — https://joyfullyprepared.com/mealplanning/
Safety references worth bookmarking
- Ready.gov — Power Outages (generator safety) — https://www.ready.gov/power-outages
- CDC — Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention — https://www.cdc.gov/carbon-monoxide/prevention/index.html
- National Center for Home Food Preservation (tested canning recipes, including meats) — https://nchfp.uga.edu/
Find me
- Website — https://joyfullyprepared.com/
- All episodes — https://joyfullyprepared.com/podcast/
- Send me a message — https://joyfullyprepared.com/contact-me/
- Free Facebook group — https://www.facebook.com/groups/joyfulprep
- Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/joyfulprepper/
- Joyfully Prepared Library — https://joyfullypreparedlibrary.com/
- Looking for homestead property in Central Florida? — https://joyfullyprepared.com/realestate/
- YouTube —https://www.youtube.com/@joyfullyprepared