Why we're shutting down our homestead.

We've worked hard over the past year to build up our dream homestead. Eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables, all raised by our own hands.

Now, we're shutting it all down.

What are we going to do next?

Watch the whole chicken coop build:

My filming and camera setup:

[conorcroskery]

This is why community is important. You grow the vegetables, the neighbor raises chickens, the other neighbor has beehives for honey. It's unrealistic to assume that you can produce everything that you need to survive in a way that isn't a neverending slog, yet this is what people think when they think of "homesteading". Humans live in groups and divide the labor of existence and have always done so.

[FinalFront]

For those who don't have time to, or perhaps just don't want to watch the video: they discovered that the homestead was an incredible amount of work which prevents them from doing things like taking spontaneous vacations & so on. They did not want to be tied down. Therefore they rented out the homestead. Basically becoming landlords rather than homesteaders.

[africabalderson]

Most city folks who start homesteading don’t know what they’re in for. My wife was one. It takes years to get used to the grind, the bad weather, the animal escapes, the crop failures, the broken equipment and the endless slog of work. You have to really want all of that, not just the idyllic rural life.

[cherokeepurple]

I think a lot of homesteaders go through burnout and quit because it was too much too fast. I’ve been homesteading for about 8 years and I started out with fruit trees and a garden full of perennials and annuals. That was a huge time commitment in and of itself when you factor in harvest and food preservation. I felt burned out already so I slowed it down a bit. A couple of years later, I got chickens. Now 4 years after the chickens, I’m getting ready to get ducks. One thing at a time for me. Not sure if I’ll ever get any other animals. I don’t mind being home bound but the amount of work is a lot for one person to handle. My husband works a full time job so it’s on me to build most structures and tend to the plants and birds.

[Allthasmallthings]

Everyone has different needs. The reasons you guys are leaving the homestead life is why I am pursuing it. I hate traveling, I hate cities, and I love the idea of living in my own safe nature preserve and never having to leave. Surrounded by animals and living a physically active life style. Sounds like a dream come true.

[OkikaHawaii]

Homestead for a year, then giving it up is strange to me. That isn’t enough time to even develop your skills as a homesteader. I hope you are able to create a more stable and consistent schedule for your family.

[caravanrose]

And now you know why people live in communities.

Y'all dipped fast. A lot do. Its hard work and a lot of commitment to make it work.

[darknightdc]

I think Mark from self sufficient me hits the nail on the head when he says "you don't have to be self sufficient in everything, but be self sufficient in something."

You don't have to do it all and fall into the "homesteading" trend, you can just adapt one or two practices into your life.
Do what works for you, do what is sustainable for you❤

[karislindvall]

My parents were from the city and moved to the country. They lasted 16 years before selling the homestead and bought a house in a development with a 6' wide back yard. They have minimal responsibilities now but my mom enjoys her flower garden. At one time as a kid we had sheep, cattle, horses, everything.. it was the best childhood and since thats how I grew up, its what I want to return to one day. Its not for everyone and it really is something you have to want and enjoy doing - from working until dark, to finding the barn kittens that fell into a water trough and drowned in the night. There is a lot of hardship and sadness being so intertwinned with the constant beginning and ending of life all around you. Life is a beautiful and ugly thing.

[msmagnolia]

Currently researching homesteading, and this video was recommended to me. My first thought, not having watched yet, is that they tried to do too much. The description: "We've worked hard over the past year to build up our dream homestead. Eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables, all raised by our own hands." That's too many things to pursue in too short of a time. This is like 5 years ramp up at least to be successful at so many facets of homesteading.

[beeplk]

This is a viewpoint that should be pushed. Not necessarily to discourage people who want to try homesteading, but to provide a realistic look at what it involves. Gotta appreciate you putting it out there!

[Picci]

Leaving home becomes very difficult when you have to attend animals and gardens, that's why families in the past were formed by three different generations. Grandparents attended daily chores (and hopefully grandsons!) for a while, so mom and dad could take some time for them. Homestead is paradise if you have a community or an enlarged family to count on... otherwise it could become a nightmare.

[merrittfamily]

We embarked on a bigger homesteading dream by purchasing fifteen acres. Previously we'd had a large garden, quail, and ducks in the city. Eight months in, I tore my shoulder turning a compost pile by hand. Farming is HARD! So hard. So physically demanding, so consuming. At the same time I had a baby goat with pneumonia needing round the clock nursing care and, a mama goat with mastitis, so she was getting treatment and milked - but I had to dump the milk for over a week. At the same time carrying hot water to the barn a few times a day to keep buckets from freezing (with the torn shoulder 🫤). It's exhausting.

We can't go camping if nice weekend weather rolls around. I have to find someone to come stay at the farm if we leave for more than a few days.

But I still love it. I don't really want to go anywhere. I'm so happy staying home and watching my animals graze and the grass grow and the kids climb trees and cuddle baby goats. But man, the sacrifice for that is real.

[jodyjohnsen]

It’s so much easier to start the homesteading process without animals that require twice daily attention. Then later, if you find you don’t leave you can add an animal or two per year. Too much too fast means failure.

[CrabDigs]

Homesteading like homeschooling is a lifestyle, not a hobby. And many people fail to commit to a lifestyle change, especially one that is so demanding and not filled with multiple hits of dopamine throughout the day to keep you going. What should keep you going is a firm commitment and perseverance especially in times of difficulty. That my friends is what gets you through life.

[gardenandcalico]

I just started a veggie garden this year and had to measure my expectations FAST. What I thought were weekend projects are season projects for a beginner, and what I thought I could do in one year is probably going to be 3-5 years. I can't imagine if I'd dived headfirst into a full on acre sized homestead in one year. Respect for trying it and admitting the downfalls. I believe this is a process that, if you want to go into it, you should go slowly. Get used to each routine and sacrifice before adding a new one. Especially if you still have to work full time.

[thegymknight]

Starting small is important. Staring with growing the smallest of veggies or micro greens and sticking with that for a few seasons then expanding from that. You took in a lot in one year. I don’t think you should give up. Start over with the basics

[peter.s-yt]

We're in our 4th year now and it had been anything but calm. So many responsibilities and tragedies that you don't experience in an urban lifestyle! From farm animals randomly dying to the garden overwhelmed by weeds, diseases and pests really lets you down especially when you contribute so much time and effort towards them. The transition from city to countryside is the hardest thing we've ever done. You always have to be on top of things and think about what could go wrong before it happens. This is why we should RESPECT homesteaders and farmers because they have one of the most difficult job's out there!!

[GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Well that’s to bad. But I’ve known so many former homesteaders that gave up it cause they found out quickly that it wasn’t what they thought. So many YouTubers make homesteading look so romantic but it really isn’t. Y’all look like you’ve put some effort into your homestead. Everything looks great. Good luck in your new adventure. 👍

[PonderingWhimsy]

I really appreciate your honesty about your homesteading experience. It definitely isn’t for everyone. I’ve been homesteading for nearly a decade and while it absolutely does have those beautiful fairytale moments, it is also not for the faint of heart and is filled with its own challenges. (We nearly gave it up a short time in, it is a very different life to adapt to, it takes time.) To be fair, you have to pick your battles. Renting one place then another and another is a massive expense that you never see again. Homesteading is an investment, but it pays off in the long-run. You become a steward of your land, crops, and animals. That is no easy task, but for my family it is the most rewarding one. For me, I was moved around all the time, never feeling settled, never feeling safe, always feeling out of place, and having old wounds I couldn’t heal. All I ever wanted was a home, a sanctuary to take care of, somewhere to finally plant some roots to grow and heal. The homestead granted me all of that and so much more. For some of us, it is a dream come to true to look forward to doing this forever, to grow old watching the homestead grow and thrive as the years go by. Being able to look around saying, remember when we planted those trees? Remember when we built that coop? etc. Like I said though, this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, we are all different and we all have different needs. If you long for adventure, and have places you’d love to travel, and don’t want to be tied down, it makes perfect sense to do something else. Life is what you make it, do what makes you feel alive! 🥰 Homesteading is an amazing experience, and I’m so thrilled you and your family gave it a go. Those skills will stay with you, best wishes!