Building a Debt-Free Homestead from Scratch | Katie Metka: Mother of 9, Photographer, Homesteader

If you dream of starting your own homestead but worry that you don’t have the skills or time or money, you’ve got to hear Katie’s story. Six weeks after giving birth to her ninth daughter, Katie and her husband moved their family from their established homestead in Texas to a piece of raw land in Missouri to start over. They are building everything themselves and doing it debt-free! Katie shares how she and her family of 11 found joy in the simple pace of living in a small shanty without electricity or running water. Whether you have a homesteading dream or are pursuing another goal, may Katie’s story remind you of all that is possible with patience, sacrifice, and hard work.
In this episode, we cover:
- How Katie’s family of 11 is living in a one-room shanty
- The sacrifices Katie and her family have made to build their homestead debt-free
- Several creative ways they plan to make money from their farm
- How Katie moved her family and farm animals from an 11-acre homestead in Texas to an 80-acre piece of land in Missouri
- What to look for when searching for property to build a homestead from scratch
- The surprising blessing of living in a shanty with no electricity and no running water with nine kids
- What mistakes they have made along the way and what they might have done differently
- Involving your kids on the homestead without using chore charts
- How to enjoy the in-between stages while building your dreams
- How to pursue a homestead dream even if you don’t have a lot of money or skills
GUEST BIOGRAPHY
Katie Metka lives with her husband Oresti and their nine daughters in the Missouri ozarks, where they’re currently building and living in a small cabin on their new homestead. Katie is primarily a black and white photographer who captures their life on the homestead.
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Katie Metka
Instagram: / katiemetka
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[@aprilbrown2735]

This podcast brought tears to my eyes. Katie stating how being without electric brought a closeness and slowness to their days brought all the feels. Beautiful!

[@debbiemcferron27]

I think you are thinking of Off Grid with Doug and Stacy for the homesteading conference. It will be in Hannibal, MO

[@kristinb5139]

Lisa you are so good at these interviews, you ask guided questions, add your thoughts but really let the person speak as well

[@FerreiraFarm]

This is my favorite episode so far! Thank you for the inspiration Katie!

[@katewallace4026]

Lisa & Katie ~ Travis from The Prepared Homestead lives in the Ozarks, as well. I don't know how close he is to either of you, but his community actually has weekly meetings every Sunday afternoon, and he sends out an email newsletter about local events. I think the upcoming meeting is going to be about herbals and homeopathy. If I understood his video correctly, if that speaker can't make it until the following week, this week will be about ham radio & the following week will be herbals. No clue if that is helpful at all to either of you...lol...just thought I'd leave the comment, just in case...😉 Great podcast today, ladies! 😊

[@deborahbaughman1366]

I love Katie. I love her spirit. I know what she means in treasuring this time. We had a storm and lost power. We got the oil lamps out and it was so cozy. My son kept asking that we turn off the lights and bring out the lamps. Idk what became of my wringer washer. I would love to find another.

[@saintamerican6105]

one of my favorites!!!!

[@sherryharding5792]

Thanks for sharing. Its mind blowing to know how 11 people can live in a tiny home. Well done you'll

[@largefamilymama]

This was such a lovely experience to listen to. I love how much Katie enjoyed living without electricity 😊♥️

[@lisathomas649]

This makes my heart happy me and my family dream about this we live in Missouri and want a homestead and where to begin. I'm excited I found your podcast/nlog

[@drthomason7043]

Electric fencing is good for rotating. Look in the woods for food. Fruit trees take a while to mature so also grow fruit like melons, currants and berries for fruit , tomatoes can be made into jams by flavouring and sweetening with Jello crystals/gel Wonderful hearing about your life, all the very best with your adventure.

[@shelly8387]

Homesteady moved their entire farm, animals and all. I just couldn't imagine the stress of it all.

[@kelseybruun7476]

Love the podcast! We also just moved from Texas to the Southern part of Missouri in the Ozarks. We will be building our own small house on our acreage, but we will be permanently off grid with rainwater catchment etc. We are actually visiting family back in Texas right now but will be back in two weeks to get back to the property and start planning our house build. Thank you Lisa for having Katie on and as always for your wonderful and inspiring podcasts and videos! Wishing you all many blessings!

[@breezybre2670]

Why no well? We haven't had rain in 2 months but we are on well. Otherwise our garden would be dead.

[@mariaameliapina5339]

I was brought up in a 700 square fee home one bed room a nd outhouse for the bath room, no electricity till I was 10 years old no plumbing. Miss that life. 6 kids 2 parents, for a while grandmother lived with us too.

[@ntese22]

This is a fantastic episode!!!!!! I want more real stories like this from real homesteaders!

[@matesapringle8853]

I enjoyed seeing you two as you talked. I thought it was an awesome interview.

[@teagranola]

Thank you for these Lisa!

[@kcs.farm09]

Love following Katie.

[@mariaameliapina5339]

More then anything else in the world I would love to be debt free. Thank you for sharing this story!

[@DiannaBarbee]

Awesome! Luli is an amazing artist....and the black and white photography. What an eye!

[@kaylavillalobos1779]

I adore the Metka family 😍

[@ruthpeterson1478]

So cute with all of her freckles and red hair 😍 Great content as usual, thank you for sharing!!

[@vintagebeliever5023]

Lovely and informative chat.. thank you

[@maggiefoers2038]

Wow just had a look at the artwork WOW WOW WOW so innocent and raw art. Wishing the young artist a prosperous future 👩‍🎨

[@shannona5377]

This was so interesting! Lisa, it is so enjoyable/inspiring to hear what the guests you have on have to share. This was really inspiring. I don't think webare called to homestead (my family of 3) but I feel inspired to remember to connect with nature and to homestead the frontiers of my life. (If that makes any sense). To be a little bolder in trying.

[@ritabaker3113]

Blessed Thursday

[@elsa8577]

Thank you so much for sharing Beautiful ladies it was a pleasure

[@1sense21]

Great information

[@ubunt2able]

UTTERLY awesome!

[@mygreatescape]

I love that you listed some tallow products! This year has been eye opening to me as I adopted an animal based diet and really started seeing how many things labeled as "natural" are actually so bad for us! I have figured out my food situation but have been needing to find things for my skin/hair and that whole side of my routine. I'll definitely check her products out. Thanks!

[@theblessedbudgetingflorist]

I'm in north Arkansas. I love the ozarks

[@mjschoensee93]

I ask questions for a living. You, however, ask some very special, salient and utterly meaningful questions.

[@dakotalynn4773]

Our farm is in Southern Missouri also ❤️💕❤️

[@HomemakerOnAnAcre]

Hi Lisa! Mama of 9 here from MN and aspiring to go off grid someday. Our family size has honestly held me back to the idea. Does that other family you know also have a social media account as well? ❤️ Thanks! Love your channel!

[@kelseybogus7354]

They do have a channel! look for Jason and Julie (Krake).

[@annm6941]

Nice video! ✅🥰

[@SplinterFarmstead]

Hello, fellow Missouri homesteader here

[@victoriajohnson3034]

I have struggled my way thru most of this process, but still struggling with free water filtration system for filtering rain water collection for drinking water! So lost!!!

[@juliajenkins104]

THIS is an incredible interview! Now I hav3 to get an Instagram account so I can Go See‼️

[@laurag8309]

It's hard to grow plants in Texas. It's too hot. These homesteads are great for the coming financial apocalypse. I cant afford it. Parts of Texas are running out of water.

[@christinaortega-pysherconk693]

Is she on KZbin? I couldn't find her. Would love to watch her .

[@Simplefarmhouselife]

She is not on KZbin unfortunately. She is on Instagram @KatieMetka.

[@christinaortega-pysherconk693]

Ok thank you 😊

[@EE-hi4re]

@@Simplefarmhouselife too bad. I only do youtube. I can't stand social media

[@victoriajohnson3034]

Ideal is 2 tiny houses. One for living and one for sleeping.

[@saintamerican6105]

praying i could reach that level of low maintenance but no one wld want to be around me without deodorant and 2 baths’s a day 😞

[@daisymorales1290]

In reality we stay in o e or two rooms during g the day until it's time to sleep at night. I can't see how people have big houses or mansions when you do not need all those rooms and space. We should be blessed with what we have and grateful in the name of jesus amen

[@janiceingle2131]

Do I see a new set of rings on your finger?

[@meghenthomas9526]

That was not a good choice for your guests thumbnail picture. It makes her look like an addict 😵‍💫

[@abundantlivinghomestead9347]

I thought the exact opposite. To me I see a portrait of beautiful woman. Her beauty through the eyes of her daughters or her husband. A woman who is not concerned with being another “influencer” but her life is focused on her family and living in the moment.

[@vintagebeliever5023]

Wow...

[@vintagebeliever5023]

@@abundantlivinghomestead9347 I agree.. she has no one to impress.. just living and loving her life.

[@tinakercher8768]

I love seeing a modern woman living and looking like my grandmother and great grand mother, happily taking care of the family. I always wondered what their day to day life would have been like and it is interesting to hear the stories of these women. I am also very proud of these millennials who are happily NOT keeping up with the Kardashians!!!

[@annelefevre9457]

Lisa, you just don’t sit still well, do you. I can tell through all your interviews, you are just moving and wiggling all over the place. On your regular videos, I don’t noticed it because you are always up being active and doing things. I don’t mean to be critical, but watching you wiggle, fiddle w/ your hair, scratch your nose makes me edgy just to watch you. But I enjoy your interviews and videos. You moving alit is just fine to be that way, except it makes me nervous. Oh well!

[@dharmaslife]

She’s a doer 💓

[@vintagebeliever5023]

Wow...I can't sit long myself

[@tinakercher8768]

I often see a baby head bobbing under the camera frame - a multi tasking mom!

[@lisahooper7578]

Katie Metka is my favorite person to follow on IG ;-)