Welcome to the Homestead

    I'm sure many of you already know what homesteading is, or maybe you've recently heard about the term and decided to look it up. Either way, welcome to our journey! Our homestead constantly evolves based on where we live and what we can do. One thing I've learned on this journey is that homesteading isn't all or nothing. You can pick and choose what you do, so long as it moves you closer to your goal. Today is the first of a multi-part series about homesteading, so let's jump right in. 

Rural

    I'm sure rural isn't where you were expecting me to begin; however, it's the class that best fits our homestead at the moment. We currently live in a small village of around 300 people. We have by-laws that govern what we can and cannot have on our property, so that's been an interesting challenge to work with. 

    I will admit that living rural gives you the best chance of being what most people would consider a homesteader. The homestead currently has livestock chickens, and we will attempt a garden again this year. We tried a small one in the spring of 2020; however, it was a tough uphill battle that ended up being abandoned. And that's okay sometimes. Sometimes our plans don't quite work out, and we have to take the time to reevaluate our goals and see what we can do differently. 

    Back to the chickens, we are dipping our toes in and experimenting with raising meat birds, specifically Cornish Cross. This is the first time we've decided to try growing them, so we are only raising 4 to ensure we like their texture and their temperament/behavior. As of today's posting, they'll be turning 4 weeks old on the 27th, which puts them around halfway done growing. We are also raising 4 Barred Rocks, turning 4 weeks on Friday. We've raised egg layers before, so we have some experience raising them. 

    Our other adventure is gardening. We are planning on tilling a small patch this year for about a dozen Roma tomato plants, a dozen broccoli, some cauliflower, and cabbage plants, as well as two separate patches for sweet corn and potatoes. The giant sunflowers were planted last weekend, so it'll be good to see them grow. Considering the previous challenges in planting in-ground on this property, we also have a few container plants. Those include two large containers of rainbow carrots, one large container of spinach, and a small planter with green beans that Little Miss requested be planted.

    So, how does a family start homesteading in a rural setting then? First, you'll want to decide what you want from your homestead. Making a one-year, two-year, and five-year plan can help you narrow down goals and keep you focused. Maybe you want to grow some of your own food. Look into your current diet and decide what you'd like to try growing. Tomatoes always seem to be a favorite for both fresh eating and storage. Or maybe green beans are one thing you eat a ton of and want to start eating them fresh only. This first planning stage is so crucial since it helps you stay focused. If you have no desire to raise large animals such as horses, cows, sheep, or even goats, there is no reason to buy tons of fencing and enclose pasture. Making your plan work for you is the best plan. 

    The other big issue many first-time homesteaders run into is trying to do it all at once. Homestead burnout is a real thing that can quickly make you want to quit homesteading. It would be wonderful to grow all of the veggies our family consumes in a year; however, that's not where we are at. Little Miss and I enjoy visiting the Farmers Market every Saturday morning. They're open during the summer and early fall. It's a wonderful time for us to bond and gives us access to the fresh produce we don't produce on our own. Visiting other local growers also allows us to support our local community and keep our dollars local. 

    Where are you homesteading from? Leave a comment below. We'll be back tomorrow with a new installment of Homesteading Where You Are!