Homesteading for beginners doesn’t have to be overwhelming or stressful. In fact, one of the keys to living a simple life while homesteading (especially as a beginner) is to avoid overwhelm at all costs!
Why, you ask?
Well, overwhelm is a sure way to end in burnout. And burnout is the number one reason people start but later abandon their homestead dreams!
Starting out, it can be hard to know what the best first thing you should be doing in the homesteading realm is.
There’s so many options!
Baking from scratch, raising livestock, gardening, raising bees…the list goes on an on!
While those are all wonderful aspects of homesteading, I think, that as beginners looking to get into homesteading, there are a few things that need to be considered/done before ever jumping off into any homestead projects.
What even is a homesteader?
In general, the modern definition of a homesteader is someone who tries to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. This can mean so many things. Ask anyone, and they will probably all give you a different answer.
Why’s that?
Well, it’s because homesteading means a lot of different things to different people.
Everyone has their own reason for choosing to live more self-sufficiently, and because of this, their approach is going to be unique.
Not only that, but the variation in means as well as creativity and experience also play a role in the way someone will answer the question ‘what is a homesteader?’
All in all, the overarching theme of homesteading is a breaking, to some capacity, with dependence on the consumer mindset and a shift to producing.
Producing more of your own meals, your own fruits and vegetables, your own dairy products. Homesteading is returning to the hard work and simplicity of living close to the land with a focus on God and the family, where our priorities should have always been.
Where to start homesteading for beginners?
- Do your research
- Adjust your mindset
- Make reasonable, incremental goals
- Take baby steps
- Be resourceful
Do your research:
I think it’s safe to say that ‘doing your research’ is always a good idea, no matter what endeavor you are hoping to set out on!
Not only does it save you valuable time and money in the long run, but it can also save you from a lot of emotional and physical trials that come with jumping in not knowing what to expect.
Not that it’s always a bad idea to be spontaneous! But, for the sake of saving ourselves a lot of trouble, let’s do the research ahead of time!
What does research look like, practically speaking?
Research can take all types of forms, especially in this realm, homesteading for beginners.
It can be as simple as picking the brains of people who have been homesteading for awhile.
- What did they wish they’d known starting out?
- What was their biggest regret?
- What things were they glad they did right away?
Or, it could constitute reading books and absorbing the wealth of knowledge they provide! A few of our favorite books are:
There are also wonderful resources online that can help you as you set out on this homesteading journey!
What specifically should I research?
I know I said everything earlier, and I meant it.
Some good things to consider:
- Actual projected cost of the projects you want to undertake
- Specific needs of each project including: materials, time inputs, health requirements (if animals or plants), etc.
- Common problems with each project: parasites, diseases, etc. (if animals or plants).
- Average return on investment/output.
- What to do with food products when you start harvesting or collecting (vegetables, fruits, milk, etc.).
Something else I would group in with research, though it isn’t necessarily research in the traditional sense, is your reason for living a homesteading life.
Really take some time to sit and reflect on why you are planning on doing this.
Then, write it down. It could be a long list of reasons, it might just be one.
Regardless, having it written on paper where you can look back on it when things are challenging is a huge help! 🙂
Adjust your mindset:
Mindset adjustment is a huge, huge part of being a homesteader, especially homesteading for a beginner!
Why is it such a big deal?
Well, we live in an extremely self-centered, consumer driven society where we have everything we could ever want almost at our fingertips at a moment’s notice.
We’re used to getting things exactly when we want them and not having to wait for them.
Homesteading is the exact opposite. It demands a slow intentionality and drive to work diligently for everything. This forces a simplicity that our world has brushed past and scoffed at for decades.
It requires a return to seasonal living and a deep understanding of the natural world God created. An understanding that only comes with time and patience.
Make reasonable, incremental goals:
Setting goals for your homestead is a wonderful way to start out. It gives you measurable steps to take and tangible things to work towards.
It also helps you establish priorities and parameters for yourself as you’re starting out.
Not that it must be followed religiously, but, it can be helpful to keep you on target when you start to feel pulled in a thousand different directions.
A lot of people encourage you to make SMART goals.
- S – specific
- M – measurable
- A – achievable
- R – realistic
- T – time-bound
Setting goals with these 5 things in mind allows you to really dig into the specifics of what you are wanting to do within a set amount of time.
Personally, I think it’s always nice to have two sets of goals. One short term (that I can easily work on now). As well as one for long term goals, 5, 10, 15 years out.
This way you can start to see progress without feeling like everything is super far out!
Take baby steps:
Taking baby steps is something a lot of people don’t do. It’s so easy to get carried away with all of our dreams and goals for the homestead that we take on too many things at once, which gets overwhelming in a hurry!
I think a lot of us are feeling a sense of urgency, a need, a pull to start producing more of our own food and breaking ties with some of our broken systems.
However, this is not a reason to not take baby steps! Trust me, you will be doing yourself a favor if you take on one new thing (yes, I said one) at a time.
Once you’ve become efficient with that thing, and it has become a normal part of your daily, weekly, or whatever it might be, routine, then add something else.
I promise you that this small tip on homesteading for beginners will help prevent overwhelm and burnout more than you could ever imagine!
Be resourceful:
Being resourceful is a huge component of living as a homesteader, especially the more we try to live seasonally.
Don’t have a kraut pounder? Your fist will work instead! Need twine to tie up a tomato plant weighed down by fruit? Grab that stray baling twine from the barn!
A lot of times, be it for the sake of the budget or urgency of the situation, we can’t always go to the store and buy the exact thing we need in each moment.
That’s why being resourceful is an important skill to develop as a budding homesteader. Not only that, but, often, there’s not a ton of space to store special equipment for each and every project.
Learning to make do with what you have, or getting creative can not only help you out of a bind, but it can save money and space as well!
Final thoughts:
No matter where you are coming from, or what your goals are for your homestead, homesteading for beginners should be an exciting time!
A time to plan and dream about all of the things you envision for your homestead, be it in a small apartment or on several hundred acres! Enjoy the process and don’t bite off too much at once 😉
We’d love to hear about your homesteading journey! Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for more homestead tips and tricks!
Other Homesteading Posts You Might Enjoy!
7 Things to Know Before Buying Goats
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Planning an Easy Herb Garden for Your Homestead
