EP 89: Life at Flannel Dog Farm—Chickens, Sheep, Art and Peace of Mind

When you think of “homesteading” what image comes up in your mind? The Amish? Pioneers? Maybe some mountain man types?

Alan Block and Chris Zielski are nothing like that. Well, they don’t have a furnace…but they do have an incredible amount of knowledge of science and agriculture behind the pursuit of simple, authentic living at their Flannel Dog Farm in Ashtabula County. Alan is a self-taught bread baker, beekeeper and farmer, and Chris is an accomplished metal artist with clients around the world. They live off their land as much as possible and what they don’t grow, raise, or make, they obtain from other local sources.

I spent a night in a remote (ish) tiny house on their property, sat around a fire, read by lantern light, and awoke to an all-local breakfast before interviewing the couple. I felt rejuvenated, comfortable, easy—things that can be hard to find in my daily life.

In this episode I talk to the couple about how they made their move from Cleveland to Ashtabula County to build their dream life of self-sufficiency, how they contribute to the local ecosystem of makers, and what kind of environment they want to create for guests of Flannel Dog Farm. 

Thanks to Chef Douglas Katz for sponsoring this podcast.