A local production company premieres its first national television show tonight.

Cousins John Deyo of Austin’s ViDeyo Arts and Tim Carroll of Cedar River Horse Logging have teamed up to produce “Simple Living.” The magazine style show, a how-to about getting back to the basics, airs at 11 p.m. on RFD-TV.

RFD stands for Rural Free Delivery, and according to the station’s Web site, it’s dedicated to serving the needs and interests of rural America and agriculture.

“The show is about how to use less of the world’s resources, living simpler and greener,” Deyo said.

Carroll, a horse logger for more than 20 years, has wanted to do something to educate people on how to be more basic for a long time, Deyo, who has worked in production for about the same length of time, said.

So, the duo decided to create a jointly-owned production company, Austin-based SugarPeg Media, and craft a show about all things simple, with Carroll as the host.

The two executive producers filmed the inaugural season’s 13 episodes throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin. The subject is primarily logging and farming with draft horses, but the program also contains other stories about making life simpler — like how to can, make medicines from the garden and utilize home-made solar energy.

The first 30-minute show introduces Carroll, who then teaches a few basics of farming with draft horses — plowing, planting and buying the right kinds of seeds. By the end of the second show, viewers should understand how a tree goes from forest to floorboard — and all of the steps in between.

Deyo said they wanted to make a show about rural living, with a wider appeal. The channel’s time-slot carries a potential 100,000 viewers, based on Nielsen ratings.

“Simple Living” was shot and edited in high definition and will begin airing on RFD-TV’s HD station when it is up and running in the coming months. The program is in part broadcast by Rural Heritage in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, who currently owns the time slot on RFD-TV.

The second episode is Nov. 6 at 11 p.m., after which the show will air every other Friday. RFD-TV is available with most satellite and cable providers. “Simple Living” is also available on DVD, with extra content, ready to order now and ship after airing. More information on the show and how to order DVDs can be found at www.thesimplelivingshow.com.