Alabama’s voice for canning, homesteading, and self-reliant living
When Big Dave Richardson goes on the air, he isn’t just filling a Saturday-morning radio slot — he’s handing his neighbors the practical know-how their grandparents took for granted. As the host of Back to the Basics, Big Dave has become Alabama’s voice for canning, homesteading, organic gardening, and the kind of self-reliant living that turns an ordinary backyard into a working source of food and security.
Broadcasting out of Birmingham, Big Dave built Back to the Basics around a simple conviction: ordinary people are far more capable than modern convenience has led them to believe. Each episode walks listeners through the everyday skills of preparedness — growing an organic garden, raising livestock, preserving and canning a harvest, stretching a grocery budget, and building sustainable habits that hold up when times get lean. It’s homesteading wisdom delivered in plain language, with the warmth of a friend who genuinely wants you to succeed.
A Show Rooted in Real Skills
What sets Big Dave apart in a crowded media landscape is his refusal to trade substance for spectacle. Back to the Basics is built for people who actually want to do something — plant a fall garden, put up a season’s worth of vegetables, keep a few hens, or simply spend less at the store without sacrificing quality of life. The show covers organic gardening from soil to harvest, the fundamentals of raising livestock, time-tested methods of food preservation, and the frugal, sustainable practices that make a household more resilient.
Recent conversations have ranged from the value of community over stockpiling, to building a household around a thoughtful meal plan, to navigating uncertain economic times with a level head. The throughline is always the same: knowledge and preparation beat panic every time, and the best asset any family can build is the ability to provide for itself.
For new listeners, the appeal is how approachable Big Dave makes it all feel. He doesn’t assume you grew up on a farm or already own a pressure canner. Instead, he meets people where they are — the apartment dweller growing herbs on a balcony, the young family planting a first raised bed, the retiree learning to water-bath can a batch of pickles. Step by step, he turns intimidating projects into manageable weekend wins, and that patient, encouraging style is a big part of why his audience keeps coming back season after season.
On the Air Every Saturday
Listeners across the Birmingham region tune in to hear Back to the Basics live on WXJC 101.1 FM every Saturday at 8am, with a replay airing the same evening at 9pm. For those who can’t catch the broadcast, the full show streams online at bigdavebasics.com and is available as a podcast across all the major platforms — so whether you’re in the garden, on the road, or in the kitchen putting up tomatoes, Big Dave’s guidance is never more than a tap away.
“Self-reliance isn’t about going it alone — it’s about being ready, being resourceful, and looking out for the people around you.”
That community-first spirit is exactly what makes Back to the Basics resonate. Big Dave treats preparedness not as a fear-driven hobby but as a practical, even joyful, way of life — one where a full pantry, a productive garden, and a network of capable neighbors add up to genuine peace of mind. It’s a message that has earned him a loyal and growing audience throughout Alabama.
Across Birmingham and the surrounding communities, that audience spans every kind of listener: homesteaders refining skills they’ve practiced for years, families looking to eat better and spend less, and curious newcomers who simply want to understand where their food comes from. Big Dave’s gift is connecting all of them around a shared, hopeful idea — that becoming more self-reliant is within anyone’s reach, and that the journey is far more rewarding when it’s shared. Each broadcast doubles as an open invitation to start small, learn as you go, and lean on the people around you.
Connect With Big Dave Richardson
Big Dave is a proud member of the Discover Alabama Network Group (DANG), a community of trusted local businesses and entrepreneurs serving the greater Birmingham area. Whether you’re a first-time gardener, a seasoned homesteader, or simply someone looking to live a little more self-sufficiently, Big Dave welcomes you to tune in, reach out, and join the conversation. Learn more and listen at bigdavebasics.com.
