Those baby chicks had quite the tramatic day! I love how Ben asked Meg if she ever takes a break - we all know she is super Mom!

I respect lighting - one time I was cutting a field on my property - the sun was shining but over the mountain behind my house I could hear rumbling from a storm that was happening over there - I got finished cutting the field and came into the house to have something to eat - the sun was still shinning - I'm in the house about 5 minutes and hear a large bang - lightning hit a large pine tree that was in the corner of the field - split it right in half - now when I hear thunder no matter how far away I call it quits and come into the house

You probably already know this, but if you soak your corn ears, husk on, in a bucket of water for at least an hour or longer, then throw those ears on the grill, husks still on, turn them till you done all four sides, you can check the color, pull hair off. Peel back husks use it for a handle. Roll it in some butter salt pepper.. Best corn on the cob you'll ever eat..!!

How great it is to see a family setting at the dinner table holding hands and praying together. Much love and always prayers

Buggy's joyous growl of pleasure from picking her ear of corn was priceless.

Thirsty ground and garden. But Buggie got her ear of corn and looked so happy she picked it .Loved it when she said Mine!

I have nothing but love and kindness towards the Hollar's big fan here. That being said as Iowa girl here( Iowa produces more corn than any other state. ) Corn is preserved and frozen just as soon as it is picked. The natural sugar starts turning to starch when picked. It's a race! For fresh eating the water is boiling on the stove when you go to pick it.

You mentioning the storms and the lightning, making your hair go up, took me back through a bunch of memories of when I was growing up in South Florida! I remember being at the ranch where I boarded my horse and a friend and I were running to the barn due to the storm and all of the sudden Our hair went straight up into the air and Randy yelled ‘HIT THE GROUND!) that lightning struck really close!

Your children are going to have the greatest memories of getting bites of moms home grown food that God has blessed you all with. Love your family.

I saw one of your sons looking at the cooking process. Bring them in! We taught all of our kids (boys and girl) to cook. Now, when they visit, everyone participates seamlessly. My brother-in-law was amazed when he visited once. He couldn't believe that one person would step aside to do something and somebody else would pick up where the other left off. Nobody argues either. It's a wonderful thing! VERY enjoyable family time! Cooking as a family is a wonderful bonding experience. You may want to consider saving a squash for seed from that volunteer. You will need to let it ripen a lot before picking it. Do know that letting one ripen will tell the plant to stop producing, similar to a cucumber plant. You may want to consider hatching more chicks when you hatch in the spring so you don't get caught short- handed for hens because of too many roos. You can always eat the extras when young. I eat them with my breakfast fries. Yum! I butcher these skinless so it only takes me three minutes to do one. The carcasses are buried in the garden. Do know that skunks will try to dig them up, though. You previously mentioned that skunks were digging your plants up. They don't eat plants, but if you used a natural fertilizer that has animal or fish protein in it, they will dig up your garden, thinking there is some meat to eat. The seasoning for the chicken will work better if mixed with butter and then smeared between the skin and the meat. I forgot how much food it takes to feed growing boys! 😮 We have been getting your rain. A LOT. The thing with a living soil is that when it rains EVERYTHING grows like it is on steroids, including the weeds. Everything is freaking out. The potatoes and corn are loving it! Our beans are behind yours by about 1.5 weeks. Can't wait! Yours looked yummy! Your corn is waaaaay ahead of ours. Mine is only waist high. I noticed that you planted them tightly. I am trying this method this year. It is supposed to be good for supporting the stalks. It appears to be working, however, it is tough to get at the weeds. I hope to weed one more time and then let the corn stalks smother out the light for the weeds that will follow. I think I will revert back to my original method next year. I developed my own corn where the stalks get secondary support roots and are thicker, so they hold up pretty good. Usually, sweet corn has thinner stalks and don't always grow support roots. I see that you still have not planted any garden greens. They are healthy for the family. You can mix in edible weeds as well for a filler. They are packed with good vitamins and minerals. I let some of mine grow, but don't let them go to seed. Do note that you should not eat wild weeds in large quantities though, as their chemical makeup is different from lettuce. They are more like beet greens. Using them every three days would be fine. My father's family on the farm ate them a lot as filler. Back then, food was scarce and people learned quickly what could be eaten for free. They ate homemade bread with EVERY meal. I don't recall if you planted cabbage. You can make stuffed cabbage and sauerkraut. Sauerkraut is great for your gut biome. Tastes incredible too! Corned beef and cabbage is another favorite. If you plant dill, you can make cucumber salad with it. Crazy good! It is a Polish/Ukrainian dish. All the best on the homestead!

You know I can't leave an opportunity to talk physics. "Dog days" refers to the fact that the sun is in the constellation Canis Major (The Big Dog). The brightest star in the constellation (Sirius) is one of the brightest in the heavens. Ancients felt that it was Sirius adding it's light to the Sun's that made the time extra hot. Have a Watchful Wednesday!

Total sweetness. Nothing like home grown food. If the weather July 3rd sets the tone, we are going to be hot, hot, and dry, dry.

Buggy's hair is adorable!!! Such a beauty she is!! As I'm sitting here snapping my home grown green beans, I'm enjoying watching you guys in the garden. Love, love the face on the squash... That's just hilarious! I'm guessing it was Bret or Jack? Megan, your dinner looks delicious!! And all homegrown...that will make anyone smile!! Love you guys....a wonderful family for sure!!!

If you have room, one of my favorite is yellow bush beans; super tender and delicious. My daughter loved the purple bush beans (her favorite color) but she was disappointed when we cooked them and they turned green!

The intro has my heart❣️ Seeing Buggy pulling her wagon beside Dad pulling a wagon off the garden was soo freaking cute!!

Watching.. and HEARING.. that storm come in.. that was beautiful, especially from the safety of your cozy home. 🌧 🌦

Buggy was so excited when she picked the ear of corn. Meg is an awesome cook.

Those storms WOW

Freedom is precious! Thank you to all that provide it for us.🇺🇸🙏🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️

We Love watching a good storm. Being under our Front Porch...The Best!🙂⚡️💧🌈⚡️💧🌈⚡️💧🌈

Buggy tackled that ear of corn like a pro 😊 Thank You for sharing a glimpse of your life with us ❤

Thank you guys such a pleasure to watch you grow on your homestead ////God bless you all

Thanks for letting us visit

...perspective is everything.... neighbor on the hill looks down at the Hollar house and thinks - gee I hope they realize how beautiful their home looks... 👋 Thanks for sharing your storm with us. Peace in the valley. 🤸‍♀️🙏🕊

Oh my gosh. The serenity I feel just watching you both prep and plant the garden... Wonderful! Always wishing your family God's blessings.

So nice to see the flowers in the kitchen by the window.

I found your channel recently and was so intrigued by your story that I binge watched almost every video. What an amazing story, God has truly blessed your family and your land ❤ May he keep his mighty hand upon all you do!

Meg, I love to watch you cook. I learn a lot. Ty ❤

You guys are an amazing example of what a family should look like… Buggy tackled that ear of corn like a pro.. Happy summer!! 🌻

Ben, You have no idea how much you are blessed. You all made a very wise choice to change your lifestyles. You guys made it through the transition, Had a nice time in your travels, then ended up with land that is not boring. Developed good friends along the way, Great Kids, and a great wife who saves a lot of money with her cooking skills, a helpmate on the Farm, a school teacher, wife and mother. which is a true gift from God. I thought about these things when someone commented on the fact that you do buy some things, yet what your family does on the family Farm saves a huge amount via farming. raising Livestock, veggies, and with the attention your wife gives it, she wraps it all up with her dinners tying it all together. You are now saving more since the price of all the main products you farm have increased greatly. I just wanted to pass on these thoughts on to you as I am stuck here in Calif for the time beng.

I'm an old lady now, but when I was seven years old, living in Knoxville, TN, I lost a relative to random lightning. Always come indoors during those storms, we love you all!

I love that you all have a cool flyover intro, I can’t wait to see a new flyover intro in peak season and maybe a farm tour showing your progress over the years?! I really appreciate what you all do!! 🌱💕

Ben you need a patio with a roof so you can sit out and watch and enjoy the summer hot wet or cold 😉🙏🥰

I was watching/listening to your thunderstorm and didn't realize I was getting a gully washer at my house! Thought what I was hearing was your rain but it was here! Ben, you're right, the Dog Days have begun. I live across the Asheville Mtn in northeast Tennessee, so maybe it'll move east so you all get some rain! Your country supper looked delicious. Oh, that little brown rooster chick is sweet! I love watching baby chicks. P.S. Be careful as you're walking thru your patch of corn and don't get stung by a packsaddle worm. Their sting is as bad as a bee sting.

Meg, you can turn the wings in and under the breast and keep them from burning. Think of them as if the chickens are putting their hands behind their heads. 🥰. How is Brett’s garden doing?

I admire your family. Great parents, well behaved children and that cute baby of yours!! Best channel on KZfaq!❤

Lilyana has a head full of beautiful hair. Just fixed corn on cob and hot dogs. Homemade chili beans. Same weather here

My first thought now that you are harvesting corn is for the boys to pull some stalks and make a maze for lily. 😊

Wow, I never received a notification for this video and the "bell" is clicked. Can't believe it came out nine hours ago! Anyway, supper looked DELICIOUS. Here in Indiana our latest rains have been accompanied by severe winds rather than lightening and thunder.

Wow! A rare sight!! Meg and Ben NOT working during that rain storm! You guys are such hard workers.

The squash is going go off!!!! They will quadruple in size by Saturday! Happy 4th to my American friends

When I watch your videos and see your children learning so much from you ....especially that little one, it puts a smile on my face because you are growing those children up in a special place that they will always remember. Great job !

Sounds like you need some lighting rods. Those chick look adorable. Buggy is as cute as ever. Meg is one amazing woman with all that she does, and this is just what we see. No telling what she does behind the scenes. You guys are doing an amazing job as parents. dinner looks great.

You folks have been busy, your little daughter is smart, she's grasping on so much of homesteading at such a young age. I'm sure she challenges you every day. Love thunderstorm's Happy 4 of July🎉❤ from VA

many memories flooded me from my childhood..growing up in Kentucky..the whole corn process thing..picking and immediately processing the corn..processing like that and eating it in the winter..it was like fresh corn all over again..ty..xoxo 🥰👍🖐🤟✌🤪

I adore thunderstorms, yours was fun to watch. Love seeing the gardens soak up that rain, then a gorgeous sunset to end the day.

Love this video with the storm and rain... I bet it's fresh afterwards! Chicks are adorable and make me want to start a new flock! Thanks for everything you post!

Meg, wonderful mom, loving wife, hard working girl, always a super large to do list, all done with a cheerful attitude and a smile, your a great testimony of how moms all over, should be....God bless your heart!

We used to plant 5 acres of corn along with our cow corn. One thing I hated was processing the corn taking the corn off the cob and freezing the ears. Yes we offered the whole neighborhood and friends to pick as much as they wanted. What was left went to the cows, some to the pigs and chickens. Hopefully you squash does well. Meg as usual dinner looks delicious. Happy 4th of July.🇺🇲 🇺🇲 I see Buggy has her own wagon so useful Beautiful sunset we had a storm yesterday here in the Adirondacks and a beautiful rainbow 🌈.. Blessings to you all. 😊🇺🇲

I havent had cable tv since storms last thur or fri, power went out yesterday but was on thankfully because my grocery order was put in fridge not a half hour the power went out, my internet has been off a few times Im hearing thunder now and its been a blessing because our area has been in drought ....Your family are a blessing to watch ..

It's very nice to watch you. Beautiful surroundings.

You can’t get better dinner than that!

Mom just picked my first couple cukes yesterday. They let me plant in their old greenhouse. The first 6 cuke plants are at the roof. I have staggered planting... thank goodness. I think I went 6 8 then 4. I am in Calgary Alberta... so it is awesome to have them so soon.

The dog days can also be best days, enjoy ALL stay safe thank you

I enjoy watching Meg cook. We need a cookbook/preserving book, Meg rocks a kitchen.

We had a wonderful 4th of July! Classics cars and truck show, turtle races, corn hole competition, dog show, food trucks and food vendors. Photo contest etc like a county fair. It’s called funtier days and it goes on for 5 days. We had breakfast at chef TJ and he and his wife makes brisket tacos and beignets booth. There were probably 35-40 vendors selling things. Everything is extremely patriotic in this town. We love our town and we love our community and our country!

I hope you guys had a wonderful 4th of July! Enjoy your corn! The squash patch looks great! Those chickens look great Meg! Wow, big thunderstorm! That's a soaker! Yum, sauteed yellow squash and onions and green beans with garlic! Nice, garlic, parsley, and basil to drizzle on the chicken! Dinner looked incredible! Thanks for this video Hollar family!

You are never too old to learn and at 70 You Tube showed me an easier way to shuck corn. Cut off both ends of the solid part of the ear and roll the husks off. An extra bonus is that it takes more of the 'silk' off that way. You get done in 1/3 of the time and you don't have to 'trim' the ears ends! My mom would melt some butter & season it, put in a squat jar & stick a brush in to pass around the dinner table.

I love her curls! I went through a health episode a few months ago that caused a lot of my hair to fall out. Well it's growing in...curly. My hair is long, and regrowth is about 4 I chest long. For the first time in my 7 decade life I have frizz. Such a learning curve! Keep those vlogs coming. God bless!

I grew up in northeastern PA and loved sitting on our covered porch watching thunderstorms with my Dad. We had lightning strike a nearby Hickory tree which was incredible and scary all at once. So when Ben described the electric feel to the air with such a storm- I relate!

We have those storms at 5 O'clock every year in Summer here in Brisbane Australia. We have had them since I can remember & I was born in 1951.

Oh yum, sautéed squash with onion. And green beans , chicken....my kind of dinner....

Dinner looked fantastic and that sunset was beautiful!

I love watching storm's Moon and sunrise/setting. Nature. Anything away from the City.

Hi :). Everything's looking good ! On the topic of planting squash/weed barrier, tip for folks wanting to source black plastic for cheap : check with farms/dairy farms. Most here in WI make large piles of feed on the ground now, instead of or in addition to traditional silos, and cover them in black plastic aka silage tarps. They usually cut off chunks as they use the pile starting from one end, to get it out of the way. If you have one willing to work with you, able let u know when it's getting about time to do that again, u can be the one to cut it if you want to ensure straighter cuts, more large, whole pieces, etc., otherwise ya get what ya get & it may be just a bunch of hacked up, very odd size and shapes. But my parents and my bff all farm and often cut off more user-friendly pieces for themselves or others, so I know it's possible to an extent ( they're still a bit odd shaped etc.). My bff's an organic farm but I also often don't get pieces with much feed stuck to the plastic anyways, plus u could brush it off b4 folding it up or using it, if there's any concern about any persistent-herbicide-containing feed or soil on it. I prefer to use cardboard and mulch, as besides being a plastic this won't let water in except where u make holes ( which I do with a scissors, cut an X and fold under corners, can tape it back in place if u ever need to use it differently). But, this is free, covers a large area and is fantastic for killing off weeds ! I got a ton from my bff this spring and thus was able to take on some addtl. garden space at another friend's, for a small group of us to share. I have a decent sized one at home in only it's 2nd yr so plenty to take care of here still too. None of us had any spare $ this year to spend on it, so, was so thankful that we were able to get this big lot of plastic for free ! Hope that helps someone. Don't be afraid to ask the farming community for old pieces of fencing like slightly beat-up cattle panels that u can still make work for trellising or animals, ditto with T-posts etc. or electric wire/supplies. Many retiring farmers may have these odds n ends sitting in a corner, they're not going to use or bother to sell.

Here in Eastern Tennesse we have had rain and storms for days now,that sunset is awesome,I love incredible sunsets like that.

Ohh! Daddy and Buggy going to the garden with their wagons was...so...💕❣️

Nothing beats a summer meal straight from the garden! Let the garden tsunami begin!

Sliced squash, sauté with onion until translucent. Remove from heat, add sour cream or Greek yogurt with dill and salt and pepper. So delicious! PS….almost forgot the garlic!

Beautiful thunderstorm and sunset! Another fantastic video! Love your family! You remind me of my son who lives in AZ! Warms my heart to see you pray together for your meal! Always! Buggy has beautiful crazy curls! She’s a sweet lil blessing! God bless you all! 💕

Meg do ever have all your dishes done lol. You are always in kitchen. You need to write a book with your recipes

What a beautiful meal! You guys are living like kings off your land. 😍 Happy 4th of July! 🪅🎉🎊🪅🎉🎊

I am right with you buggie. Summer corn is the best.

Ohh, the faces on the squash got me🤣🤣

It makes me feel at home to watch Meg cook. I like to use my knife to rock and chop just like she was doing, and I can't give you the recipe for what I just made because I was making it up as I went with ingredients that might be bits of leftovers. And little sister, my hair curls in the humidity, too. Thanks for the lightning shots. I'm in SoCal, and I miss thunder and lightning. Gorgeous painted sky at sunset!

What a delightful video. Love the Hollar life. ❤

Yum !!! Meg needs a cookbook : )

Coming from CA myself, I do love the rain! It's really nice for you, then you don't have to drag that hose around so much! Your little chickies are so cute and dinner looked wonderful as usual Meg

Squash faces, priceless!

Oh and to add to my last comment I'm a born and raised Floridian. Believe me you'll get use to the rain, thunder and lightning and you'll grow to love it!

For some reason, the opening minute, or so, of this made me think of Jim and Rhenda. Keep growing. 🌻

Cool ! using a blow torch to make holes.

Thank you for another "good" thunderstorm section. I miss them so much being in Washington state. Glad to see that new green stalk is in full bloom.

We had corn tonight. Have more for another night. Buggy is so cute. Love how she loves to be with you.

My nephew wasn't into gardening at all. But harvesting became more interesting to him once he asked if he could try a green bean raw. Opened up his eyes for sure. He loved it. Same for raw spinach. He loves it now, wouldn't touch it before he was allowed to get some fresh out of the garden.

Unless you plan a second crop this year .... do take some stalks and hang them upside down for harvest, Halloween, fall, and Thanksgiving displays.

As I am watching this video the same storm is rumbling like crazy outside. I now live in Eastern North Carolina so we usually get storms a day or two after the Hollars have them on video. This one is very loud and windy. Love your videos!! From a fellow California native loving life in North Carolina. ⛈️🌩️✨💖

The glorious colours of that sunset are 'aided' by the Canadian fires sending smoke particles high.

Teenage boys are so much fun! We have 3 and they can eat and are constantly doing something new and cool, we just moved to MT and the world is even bigger for them! Bring on the trucks and hunting and all the good food!

Love to watch Meg cook, it's always interesting.

Happy 4th of July to you all. Pleased you got rain, saved you a job. Things smell so fresh after the storm passes. 🌻🌻💕💕

It would be SO AWESOME if "summer" and " thunderstorm" existed in the same sentence for Texas! When I heard you say thunderstorm I thought, "He should build his family a big porch/ deck , the covered kind to watch storms on or whatever other fun things can be done on a porch/deck! Sooooo if you care what I think, there it is!🤣

You have a big heart Ben! ❤

Oh I love me a good thunder storm!....especially when you're in bed and it puts me to sleep in no time. Love, love love them!

Good video kids! The roasted chicken looked good! Next time try adding white potatoes in with the chicken. Nice side dish!

I love how y’all end your video in prayer for your meal that says a lot for the kind of people you are

I love your family and everything you guy's accomplish. I live in NC in the mountains during the summer months its hard to believe we're in the same state. I turn the heat on during the nights and mornings's for a little while just to get the chill out, right now it's 68* our house is on top of a mountain I would give anything to learn how to have a garden and live off the land 'some what' you're all so amazing.

It's pretty miserable up here in the Philly area 94 with the heat index and will be this way till the weekend.STAY HYDRATED AND COOL MY PEEPS!!!

My grandparents used to say, the 3rd do the month (rain) and the 5th undo it. ☔🌦

We grilled burgers. And my youngest grandson had his first cheeseburger. Loved it. I made potato salad and my daughter and I painted her bedroom!!! 😀 Sundown we enjoyed all the fireworks and had fun chasing grandma with sparklers. ❤