7 SHOCKING TRUTHS ABOUT HOMESTEADING
Seasoned homesteaders sometimes paint a rosy picture of this off-the-beaten-path lifestyle.
They make it look simple, enjoyable, and smooth.
And it sometimes is…
I do not think those of us who have been in the trenches for years (or decades) are intentionally misleading the newbies. I think it is easy for some. And I think some make it look effortless. The truth is, once you jump into the business of growing food and raising livestock you fall into a groove, and quite frankly, it does get easier.
But, it is not a piece of cake, especially at first.
Here are seven truths about homesteading that you may or may not be aware of.
#1 THE GOATS ARE NOT YOUR PETS
The cows, chickens, goats, and sheep are not the same as the family dog or cat.
People mistakenly assume that owning a chicken is like owning a cat. They also incorrectly think that taking care of a sheep will be like caring for a dog.
Nope.
Nada.
Wrong.
Livestock are very different from the family dog in a couple of ways.
Let’s begin with, “they are not pets.” As a homesteader, you have animals because they serve a purpose.
- Dogs protect other animals on the farm.
- Cats kill the moles and barn mice.
- The chickens provide eggs.
- The cow gives milk.
- The rabbits provide meat or fleece.
Everyone has a job.
The second way that livestock differ greatly from family pets is that they eventually will leave the farm (probably sooner than Fido).
#2 THE LIVESTOCK WILL DIE
If you have chickens, you are going to lose chickens. Period. The end. I will not argue with you on this one.
Even if you have waterproof fencing and a perfect contained habitat for your flock, they are still going to die.
Chickens die.
- They get egg bound.
- They get mites.
- They get old.
- They get sick.
If you (or your children) are not prepared to talk about death and say goodbye to animals, livestock may not be a great choice for you right now.
Homesteaders deal with death on a regular basis.
It really is true. The fewer animals you have, the less you will experience it, at the same time, death is unavoidable.
The calf will go to the freezer. The hog will be processed. The meat chickens must be butchered. And sometimes, animals we adore die unexpectantly.
#3 THE WORK CAN BE A BUNCH OF WORK
In our brains, we often think things will be easy… things like keeping chickens or raising a calf. And it can be.
But the truth is, it isn’t easy at first and sometimes it’s still hard for those of us who are seasoned.
There are times when the homestead work consumes your days (planting, weeding, tilling, mucking, calving, lambing, immunizing, deworming, castrating, tail docking, shearing, hoof trimming, etc). And there are times when the farm is super low-maintenance and you just enjoy watching the garden grow.
THE GARDEN
I feel like gardens have two personalities.
- They are fresh, new and filled with compost (not weed seeds) OR
- They are a burial ground of weed seeds, thistles, grass and vegetation waiting to come to life
If you have done the proper work and have designated beds for growing that are filled with compost – you are in a position to have a care-free garden. Sow the seeds, transplant the tomatoes, mulch the top and enjoy the bounty.
If you have not done the proper work to prep the garden space, you could fight an unending battle of weeds for as long as your garden exists. And it is no fun.
Those who do not have weed issues, do not have them because they worked their butt off in the beginning. For more information on proper beginnings and how to grow a successful garden, and avoid weeds – you should check out the Organic Gardening Class (Here).
LIVESTOCK
The first thing to realize if you are new is that keeping livestock is nothing like caring for a cat or dog that you feed twice a day.
Take cows, for instance.
We have cows. They consume one round bale of hay every two weeks. They have an automatic drinker in their field which always provides fresh water that never freezes. One may think that the cows are fine in the back field and just need a bale every other week.
Not exactly.
They may not need food or water daily, but they need to be visited daily.
Whether you have goats, sheep, cows, or other animals, they need to be checked on every day. We check on our animals at least twice a day.
- How do they look?
- Ears?
- Eyes?
- Hooves?
- Stature?
- Gait?
- Udder?
- Skin?
- Hair?
If you only checked on your animals every few days you could easily find yourself with fewer animals.
#4 IT’S A DAILY JOB
Unlike a ‘real job’ where you get the evenings and weekends off, homesteading does not stop because it is Sunday. The eggs must be collected, the animals fed and watered, the dairy animal milked.
For those of us who work, often Saturdays and Sundays are the days we work in the garden, do the canning, and churn the butter.
When you chose this lifestyle, it is a dedication to daily chores.
Some may find this annoying, I adore it.
Having a farm and livestock is a gym that you go to every day and it will provide goodness to your body even when you don’t feel like going outside. Rain, snow, hot, cold.
IT GETS EASIER
When we first entered the world of cows and pigs it was a little daunting. There was so much to learn, and even though I had read all the books and done all the right things, the bottom line is that there is nothing like experience.
EXPERIENCE IS THE MOTHER OF ALL TEACHERS
Now that I have owned milk cows for several years, it is very easy for me. Milking is a simple part of my morning routine. A great part! There is nothing like beginning your day in the brisk morning air, tucked under an animal you adore.
I have a system of OAD (once a day) milking that I have used for over 6 years and I feel confident around an udder.
Gardening is therapy for me. The size of my garden may be intimidating for someone new, but just like many folks, I started small. My first garden was just a couple of raised beds. I found myself wanting to spend more time in the garden and nothing to do there, so I expanded. Gardens are wonderful that way. If you want more, enlarge. If you are busy, only plant a small garden. Tailor it to fit your life and season.
Many things that took me years to figure out and refine are things I don’t even think about now. They are just natural.
If you just made the jump to the country and are feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it and in no time it will just be part of your routine.
#5 MAKING MONEY FROM A FARM ISN’T THAT EASY
If you are interested in making money from your homestead, it can be done, but expect to work and expect it to take time.
There will be endless opportunities for you to generate an income off your operation. Soaps, dairy products, fleece, eggs, meat, vegetables, selling livestock, hay, straw, garden produce, and even manure from the livestock can be turned into profit. And don’t forget blogging, teaching opportunities and providing classes or tours. You’d be surprised how many people would like a glance into the wacky thing you are doing at your homestead!
Making money from home can happen, but it will probably not be an overnight success.
EXPECT CHALLENGES
The weather will affect pasture growth. Diseases and pests will impact your produce stand. Molting and brooding will hurt your egg production. Things happen, animals die, life is unpredictable, especially farm life.
It is a good idea to continue earning from your current source (job) or save up while your operation grows.
#6 YOU’RE GONNA NEED INTERNET
I know there are a bunch of folks who are dreaming about getting “off the grid” and living a peaceful life away from screens and constant interruptions, but if you move to the sticks, internet connectivity may be more important than ever.
It will be a source for supplies. It will keep you connected to family and friends. It will provide the platform you need to market and sell the goods from your farm.
#7 LAY OF THE LAND MATTERS
I can not tell you how important this is. Be sure the land you purchase will accommodate your plans.
- If you want to raise hogs for meat and lard, you will need shady areas that can be trashed (pigs are excavators).
- If you want to have livestock such as cows, sheep, goats, llamas, alpacas, etc you will need lots of fenced-in pasture.
- If you want to make hay you’ll need acres of grass.
- If you want to hunt/ scavenge/ forage you will want woods.
- If you want to grow produce you will need flat, well-drained, rich land that receives 8+ hours of sunlight per day.
- Is there a natural water source? A spring?
- Is there internet available?
- Buying woods and clearing them, or having them cleared can be done but it takes time to turn woods into a pasture.
- Stretching fence takes time if you do it yourself and it is expensive if you outsource it.
Consider your goals and try to buy a piece of land that is already positioned to be successful.
In conclusion, I want you to know that although homesteading is not always smooth, it is worth it.
A life well-lived is about so much more than our comfort or ease.
The simple life is not always that simple, but it is meaningful, it is rewarding, and, I promise, it gets easier.
XO,
Candi
