What have we learned from 10 years of homesteading? Come along and find out as I spend some time reflecting on our homesteading journey.
Homesteading isn’t a destination. It’s a journey of discovery, learning, and sometimes, laugh-out-loud failure. Reflecting on the past decade, I realize that while we’ve lived what many would call a homesteading lifestyle, it wasn’t something we set out to do intentionally at first.
We just lived on five wooded acres in a tiny home, complete with a charming wood stove and a flock of chickens that somehow multiplied faster than we ever imagined. That small beginning grew into something much bigger when we moved to 40 acres with a mix of open fields and trees, where the sunsets seemed to stretch into eternity.
Over the years, we’ve expanded to large gardens, stocked pantries that help us through winter (though we’re still frequent visitors to the grocery store), and the care of pigs, bees, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and a couple of enthusiastic puppies.
Oh, and five children—the ultimate homesteading “livestock” who are always growing, learning, and contributing. While there’s so much more to achieve, this journey has taught us lessons that transcend the physical aspects of homesteading. These lessons resonate with anyone seeking self-sufficiency, community support, and, most importantly, resilience.
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Our Story
When we first moved to our five-acre plot, we had no grandiose plans of becoming “homesteaders.” Truth be told, I just wanted a wood stove, a garden to tend, and some chickens. I don’t remember having a reason, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Probably behind the decision was wanting a simpler, cozier life. That tiny home was both a challenge and a delight. The wood stove became the heart of our little house, radiating warmth and creating a sense of security.
Of course, there was that one time when the chimney caught on fire when I was late in my first pregnancy and I was all alone running around like a crazy lady trying to toss water on my roof in cold February weather.
There were actually quite a few ‘flop stories’ on that acreage, but I loved that little home.
Years later, we upgraded to our 40-acre property. It was a leap of faith, but the promise of space, sunsets, and the opportunity to grow was irresistible. And by the way, we went to look at the property the day after I got out of the hospital with our secondborn. We moved in just about 30 days after he was born. Truth be told I was a wreck and have very few memories of my newborn son.
However, our garden expanded, and we started experimenting with raising various animals. Some years were more successful than others. We had bumper crops of tomatoes one year and then lost most of our baby turkeys the next. Still, with every mishap, we learned and adapted.
While we’ve come far, it’s important to acknowledge that homesteading is not about perfection. It’s about progress, persistence, and embracing the messiness of life. Whether you live on an acre or in a city apartment, the principles of homesteading—self-sufficiency, community sufficiency, and resilience—are universal.
Why is Resilience So Important?
If there’s one thing we’ve learned from our years of homesteading, it’s that a life of resilience is the backbone of this lifestyle. Resilience is what keeps you going when the unexpected happens—when storms knock out power, pests destroy your crops, or your carefully planned day unravels because a child (or two) needs extra attention.
Resilience is about adapting to challenges, learning from failures, and finding joy in the process. It’s about building a lifestyle that is resilient to whatever adversity or challenge comes. I love using the term resiliency instead of self-sufficiency because self-sufficiency has such a selfish tone to it. Although it’s not a bad goal. I just tend to think that the term resiliency encompasses so much more as believers as we strive to live a life that glorifies God.
He has told you, O man, what is good;
Micah 6:8
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,[a]
and to walk humbly with your God?
I actually wrote this verse on a big rock at our first home.
It’s not exclusive to those living on sprawling land. Anyone can practice resilience by learning new skills, building strong relationships within their community, and remaining flexible in the face of adversity. For us, resilience has been a constant companion—guiding us through the ups and downs of homesteading and life itself.
Lesson 1: It All Starts in the Kitchen
If there’s a single place where our homesteading journey began, it’s the kitchen. Learning to cook from scratch was our gateway to self-sufficiency. At first, it was about practicality—stretching a budget and making the most of what we had. But soon, it became a passion. The kitchen became our laboratory, where we experimented with sourdough starters, smoked meat, learned to can produce, and discovered the magic of fermenting foods.
Mastering one skill at a time will always be key. I would love to start milling our own grain, learn to make cheese, or use raw dairy on a more consistent basis, like I keep saying, it’s a process!
Learning to minimize processed food and start using more homegrown, or locally sourced food is where it starts. I really believe that. If you want to make one small step toward a homesteading lifestyle, start in the kitchen learning a skill.
I’ve loved learning about the ancient grain einkorn which has a weaker gluten structure and has not been hybridized, processed, or tampered with in the many ways that other whole wheat grains have been. Although I consider it a harder grain to work with, learning einkorn sourdough has been one of the most rewarding endeavors in my kitchen.
You can learn more about einkorn sourdough starter in my beginner’s guide.
We started small, tackling one project until it became second nature before moving on to the next. Fermenting sauerkraut, for example, seemed daunting at first, but now it’s a household staple. Canning was another game-changer, allowing us to preserve the fruits of our labor for the long winter months.
Find more of my recipes, including preserving at the recipe site!
Building a bulk pantry has been another important step. Stocking up on staples like grains, beans, and spices has given us a sense of security and freedom. We also prioritized sourcing raw dairy, which has added richness to our cooking and nourished our family in countless ways. These skills have not only enriched our meals but have also given us a deep sense of accomplishment and connection to the food we eat.
A great place to start with building up a bulk pantry is Azure Standard.
Lesson 2: Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
For years, I hesitated to call ourselves homesteaders. It seemed like a lofty title, reserved for people who were entirely self-sufficient or living off-grid. In the heart of the farming country, surrounded by multi-generational operations, it felt almost silly to apply that label to ourselves.
But homesteading isn’t about meeting some external standard. It’s about striving for a more intentional life, whatever that looks like for you. Some days, we feel like we’re barely keeping it together—when the freezer is accidentally turned off, or an ambitious project ends in disaster. And that’s okay. Homesteading is as much about learning from failures as it is about celebrating successes.
Once I embraced the idea that we were homesteaders—flawed, learning, and growing—I found freedom. It’s not about achieving perfection but about the process of becoming more self-reliant, building community, and adapting to challenges. If you’ve ever felt hesitant to pursue a dream because you don’t think you’re “qualified,” let me encourage you: just start. It’s in the trying, failing, and trying again that growth happens.
Lesson 3: Be Flexible
Flexibility might just be the most important trait for a homesteader. It also might seem a wee bit overly obvious as flexibility is a universally important trait, but bear with me because I think it’s so important.
Over the years, we’ve faced countless surprises, from predators decimating our flock to unexpected weather wreaking havoc on our gardens. One particularly memorable moment was when our freezer—full of pork—was accidentally turned off by a curious toddler. That was a hard lesson in both loss and the importance of securing our systems.
Early on in our homesteading journey, I had bantam chickens with a couple of roosters. I got busy at work and left the eggs unattended for too long and before I knew it, we had dozens of fertilized eggs. My heart ached as the mama bantams hatched about a half dozen of the eggs and then left the rest to die.
I did something silly and put the remaining eggs under a heat lamp. For the record, this is 100% the wrong way to do things. Eggs need an incubator with consistent humidity levels. However, it worked and I hatched quite a few bantam chickens.
One in particular did not thrive and I was bound and determined to keep it alive. For two weeks I nursed that little chicken and I thought for sure I had saved its life. Only to discover one early morning that it was dying. I held it as it breathed its last and cried my eyes out.
As I’m writing this Dan and I are reminiscing about all our adventures and that one was particularly memorable because at the time (5 pregnancies later and things have certainly changed) I was not a very emotional lady and it was one of the first times Dan saw me unravel to such an extreme point.
When we deal with any sort of livestock, even as simple as chickens, we will have to learn flexibility and the pain of loss.
There have been other opportunities for flexibility like when a storm toppled our shelter for the pigs, or when skunks found their way into the chicken coop. Each of these challenges required us to adapt quickly, think creatively, and sometimes, just laugh at the absurdity of it all.
Flexibility doesn’t just apply to handling setbacks. It’s also about being open to new ideas, learning from others, and adjusting your plans as you gain experience. Homesteading is an ever-evolving journey, and the ability to pivot when things don’t go as expected is essential.
Conclusion
Homesteading has been a transformative journey for our family. It’s taught us that resilience, self-sufficiency, and community support are not just ideals but essential tools for navigating life’s challenges.
We’ve learned that the kitchen is the heart of any homestead, that it’s okay to embrace imperfection, and that flexibility is key to thriving in the face of adversity.
Whether you have sprawling acres or a small balcony, the principles of homesteading can apply to anyone seeking a more intentional, self-reliant life. Start small, embrace the process, and remember that every step forward is a victory. Homesteading isn’t about arriving at a destination—it’s about finding joy and purpose in the journey.
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