Real Homesteading: How We Keep Up When Life Gets Muddy

Feeling Overwhelmed or Behind on Your Homesteading Journey? You’re Not Alone.

If you're craving clarity, structure, or a simple place to start — we've been exactly where you are.

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Homesteading has taken the world by storm lately. Everywhere you look there are perfect Instagram squares and dreamy YouTube homesteads — chickens strutting in golden sunlight, sheep grazing peacefully, a garden so tidy even Martha Stewart would crack a smile.

And because of that, a lot of newcomers jump in guns a blazin’ without really knowing what real homesteading looks like on a daily basis. They get chickens, goats, pigs, start a massive garden, buy every “homestead” tool they see online… then wonder why they're drowning three months later.

They try to emulate the glossy version — but real homesteading isn’t curated, it’s muddy boots, failed batches, days when the animals still need fed even if you’re sick, and a daily routine that changes with seasons, weather, and real life. The truth is, homesteading has drifted from reality and turned into a trend for many.

We chose something different:

Living With Purpose.

We didn’t set out to “become homesteaders.” In fact, we didn’t even call ourselves that until a neighbor walked through our backyard and said it for us. They saw the chickens scratching around, food growing everywhere, compost heaps steaming away, jars of home-canned food packed into our pantry, and handmade skincare and cleaning products — and simply said, “Oh, so you guys are homesteaders.”

Until that moment, we just saw ourselves as people trying to live intentionally. One choice led to another, then another. Nothing happened overnight — and that's the difference.

Why So Many Burn Out in the First Year

New homesteaders often chase a checklist.
Chickens — check.
Garden — check.
Dairy animals — check.
Sourdough — check.

The excitement is real… until one day you realize you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering what on earth you just did to yourself.

Real homesteading isn’t a trend — it's a lifestyle, and lifestyles don't happen in a weekend. They grow one decision, one skill, and one season at a time.

If you're serious about embracing this life, give yourself permission to go slow.
Watch real homesteaders, take a class, read books, and let skills build naturally.

We didn’t wake up one day making everything from scratch and growing all our food. It started with ditching toxic cleaners — not because we had to, but because we wanted to. Then deodorant. Then the food we ate. Then gardening. Then animals. Each shift came from curiosity and conviction, not pressure.

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Homestead Quickstart Blueprint

Before You Grow a Garden — Learn to Preserve Food

This part matters, and not enough new homesteaders talk about it.

Growing food is exciting. But what happens when it all comes in at once? When fifteen zucchini show up in one day and the tomatoes explode overnight? If you don’t know what to do with abundance, abundance becomes stress.

Learning how to preserve food — canning, fermenting, freezing, dehydrating — before you plant your first garden can change everything. It builds confidence, prevents waste, and gives you real momentum going into growing season.

And honestly? There’s nothing like opening your pantry in January and seeing shelves that YOU filled. Real homesteading isn’t just growing food — it's knowing how to keep and use it.

When the Honeymoon Wears Off

Yes, the excitement fades. Every lifestyle does this.

Spring hits and suddenly there are a thousand projects you want to do all at once. Fresh ideas, sunny days, and energy firing like crazy — until it crashes into reality.

Animals still need water. Chickens still need feed. Plants don’t stop growing because you're tired. And if your spouse isn’t genuinely on board? It’s even harder.

So here’s our survival philosophy:

• Focus on one thing at a time
• Let projects wait until next year if needed
• Protect your joy — and your marriage
• Don’t pile “new” on top of “already too much”
• Take a day off, eat out, breathe

Homesteading burnout is real — and it happens when you try to force growth instead of letting it unfold.

Real Homesteading: Our Daily Routine Reality

Real homesteading isn’t chaos and misery — it’s rhythm and seasons.
A daily routine that shifts with weather, crops, and life.

Some days we’re energized and knocking out big projects.
Some days we’re tired and just feed animals, water plants, and call it good.

That’s the beautiful part — it’s not about perfection.
It's about living in alignment with what matters.

And you don’t need mountains of animals or a farm-sized garden to start.
Start with one thing:

• Swap out one chemical cleaner
• Grow herbs instead of a 40-ft garden
• Learn how to can just tomatoes
• Make one natural product instead of all of them

One armpit at a time. 😉

This life sticks when it becomes who you are — not something you force.

Start Slow, Stay Strong

If you're just beginning this journey, please hear this:

You don’t need 20 animals.
You don’t need a giant garden.
You don’t need to do it all at once.

You need curiosity, patience, and purpose.

That’s real homesteading.

Until next time friends —
Happy growing In Harmony with the natural world around you.