Why we're shutting down our homestead.

[@Slowsteading]

We're so back. One year has passed, see the update video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eV6aXq2AbpiDqbs

[@1askingforhelp]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGK4p5l_g9CXpa8si=S4WDKK-fAIfFnkqo

[@TennesseeHomesteadUSA]

A 'homestead' in a subdivision ! Give me a freaking break ! Yum-yums...

[@Slowsteading]

@@TennesseeHomesteadUSA A larger property would be great no doubt! How many acres is your Tennessee homestead on? It looks like a cool project, will you get back to uploading?

[@TennesseeHomesteadUSA]

@@Slowsteading My homestead is small but I am in a massive forest next to the LBL lake system and Barkley Lake. Significant update coming -- the place is totally changed. I now have a workshop and a motorcycle. It's permanently living "Bugged out" where it's possible to actually do so successfully.

[@conorcroskery6195]

This is why community is important. You grow the vegetables, the neighbor raises chickens, the other neighbor has beehives for honey. It's unrealistic to assume that you can produce everything that you need to survive in a way that isn't a neverending slog, yet this is what people think when they think of "homesteading". Humans live in groups and divide the labor of existence and have always done so.

[@Kerlasia]

Underrated comment

[@sirsanti8408]

Hey I’m this modern world you could automate a bunch of tasks, watering, feeding, and there are ways of reducing the maintenance of animal bedding. Instead of a daily task it could be a more weekly or so task before it gets dire

[@kristalc.2809]

Damn💯

[@DanaAshlie]

Amen. 💯%

[@94nolo]

Nailed it. The local community is the next logical, healthy step up from self-sustainability. Friends and family are beautiful.

[@africabalderson8636]

Most city folks who start homesteading don’t know what they’re in for. My wife was one. It takes years to get used to the grind, the bad weather, the animal escapes, the crop failures, the broken equipment and the endless slog of work. You have to really want all of that, not just the idyllic rural life.

[@PonderingWhimsy]

Very well said! So many city folks want to rent a pretty piece of property, a cabin or such, have all the great views and fun, then walk away as soon as the first challenge shows up. Many of these homesteads already have the main building, with city water and power hooked up, so the homestead apart from the livestock pretty much runs itself anyway. In general I say give it at least 5 years to adapt, if the desire to homestead isn’t there at that point, do something else. Our water well broke the second year, we hauled our water by hand in the late autumn. Some of our chickens got sick and died. We had a bad bear and cougar problem one Spring. A wind storm knocked down multiple trees across our windy mountain road, which we cleared on our own with chainsaws, ropes, and an old truck. One Summer we had a grasshopper/insect problem which killed most of our crops. Our drain field flooded so we had to expand it by hand with shovels. The list of challenges goes on. But I wouldn’t trade the homestead life for anything. I love it with all my soul. Honestly though, if you come from a background of having very little I think you’re a little more inclined to appreciate all that homesteading offers. It isn’t a trendy phase, it is a burning desire that cannot be snuffed out. 😊

[@midnull6009]

@@fareshajjar1208 that's exactly what happened... Most homesteaders that don't quit don't youtube it...

[@gb1234ist]

that sounds more appealing than a 9-5+ grind. its a you are born with or you aren't mentality.

[@sicsempertyrannis4351]

I just wanted to be free, that's been enough motivation for the work for the last..... 5 years? Doesn't even feel like that long. I have to haul water, cut wood, sure... But nobody can turn off my heat when I don't conform to their authoritarian demands. And this is in Canada, we only get 90 days a year without snow.

[@CmdrSoCal]

@@fareshajjar1208 moved to the sticks to work for google

[@FinalFront]

For those who don't have time to, or perhaps just don't want to watch the video: they discovered that the homestead was an incredible amount of work which prevents them from doing things like taking spontaneous vacations & so on. They did not want to be tied down. Therefore they rented out the homestead. Basically becoming landlords rather than homesteaders.

[@ThyCorylus]

Pretty much. Ones expectations, motives and ultimately values decide the outcome I think. Which is why the hobbysteading will never last.

[@devonsteny8711]

Wow. What a call from grace

[@Scroogs]

Lmao homesteaders turned landlords RIP

[@monicamayer977]

Yep can't take trips when you have animals etc.

[@gavinrush4995]

This is why us real farmers laugh at these kind of people. They have zero clue but think they know it all…😅

[@Allthasmallthings]

Everyone has different needs. The reasons you guys are leaving the homestead life is why I am pursuing it. I hate traveling, I hate cities, and I love the idea of living in my own safe nature preserve and never having to leave. Surrounded by animals and living a physically active life style. Sounds like a dream come true.

[@Slowsteading]

For sure, and there are seasons for everything in life :) Wishing you the best of luck!

[@ShalomShalom-d5c]

Me too (wanting Hobby Farm). Hav traveled the world, worked Corp for 30 yrs, many rentals. Now I want to stay home - just what you said.

[@lirpasnooze]

Yes it’s been my life long dream to homestead, but I married an examish guy who hated farming and never wants to do it again, ugh! I have to live my dream thru YTube.

[@jrs3359]

@@lirpasnooze Aw... this comment makes me sad! Maybe you can do a few little things? A little patio garden, one raised bed, one fruit tree? Alot of towns allow 3-4 chickens (no rooster lol)....within city limits. I had a lemon and lime tree inside, at year 3 they were only in 10 gallon pots. I even got some fruit! And I lived in Michigan so they definitely stayed inside 3/4's of the year! A kitchen herb garden that's self watering? I hope you get to stretch your self sufficiency roots a little🙂

[@John1908-vo1iv]

Me too. I can have one or two vacations per year and arrange/ pay someone to come over to feed and water the animals while we go on vacation. That's not that too difficult. I think is also healthier for children to grow in this rural minifarm environment.

[@thosewhobelieve122]

I think a lot of homesteaders go through burnout and quit because it was too much too fast. I’ve been homesteading for about 8 years and I started out with fruit trees and a garden full of perennials and annuals. That was a huge time commitment in and of itself when you factor in harvest and food preservation. I felt burned out already so I slowed it down a bit. A couple of years later, I got chickens. Now 4 years after the chickens, I’m getting ready to get ducks. One thing at a time for me. Not sure if I’ll ever get any other animals. I don’t mind being home bound but the amount of work is a lot for one person to handle. My husband works a full time job so it’s on me to build most structures and tend to the plants and birds.

[@Slowsteading]

That sounds like a great timeline! Slow is definitely good, that's why it's even in our name 😅 It sounds like you have quite your hands full, that's a great design to keep it all manageable for one. I'm sure after 8 years your trees and perrennials are quite bountiful, I'm sure you've built a beautiful space 🙂

[@jend7103]

You also have to think about diseases when it comes to raising livestock. especially chickens. There is little to no help for livestock animals when sickness occurs. Your flock quickly becomes infected, and you will have to eliminate. Appreciate the hard work farmers go through, and we should support them in every way

[@1truthseeking8]

@@jend7103 black sunflower seeds, black Elderberry and many others fix so much... a lot like what we "used " to do for a cold before people bought into the fear propaganda r since 2020

[@johnwhite-q7s]

Did you have help or were you part of a community? I think humans are meant to cooperate with each other to capture scale and increase productivity. I see a lot of these videos where just a small family tries to do it all alone.

[@Slowsteading]

Community makes a huge difference for sure! While we have a lot of friends here, we have no extended family. In all aspects of life, including raising children, that support can have a huge impact.

[@caravanrose]

And now you know why people live in communities. Y'all dipped fast. A lot do. Its hard work and a lot of commitment to make it work.

[@gammaraymonkey]

Do they not live in a community? It doesn't look rural.

[@Ferrous_Bueller]

@@gammaraymonkey They never started homesteading, they literally dropped a couple small animal pens in their one-acre yard, started a garden, and called it a homestead 😂😂😂😂 This must be trans-homesteading...they identify as homesteaders.

[@TreeSurfer-wh4ui]

@@Ferrous_Bueller typical narcissistic self-promoting 'influencers' ... always talk no walk

[@blinkonce9785]

​@@Ferrous_BuellerThis video makes me think that they only chose to homestead because it's a trend and they thought it would be as easy as people show on the internet. They did way too much in a year. I don't homestead but I have a small garden with vegetables, a fruit tree, and some wild edibles, they don't require much attention but many of them are very productive. They did it too fast thinking that homesteading is just a piece of cake

[@msmagnolia100]

Currently researching homesteading, and this video was recommended to me. My first thought, not having watched yet, is that they tried to do too much. The description: "We've worked hard over the past year to build up our dream homestead. Eggs, meat, fruits and vegetables, all raised by our own hands." That's too many things to pursue in too short of a time. This is like 5 years ramp up at least to be successful at so many facets of homesteading.

[@Oatmilllk]

Exactly!

[@terrydactyl2077]

I have ADHD and I know what it’s like to go all in on something brand new to be fairly quickly consumed by it. Which then leads quickly to being overwhelmed,burnt out and ultimately hating it

[@Thingys-Jill]

Andc you can make it much much easier than they did. For example, I have chickens. I built my coop and run myself. This setup is my 2nd because I moved and didn't bring the coop or run (obviously). My coop has: storage area on the back, full door for easy clean out, side nesting boxes so I don't have to go into the coop to get the eggs (just open the door), a 2.5 gallon waterer that is heated that lasts about 4 days and has a "colander" to lift off to remove the debris, a gravity feeder that the chickens stick their heads in the hole to eat so the feed doesn't get scattered or dirty. The feeder holds 20 lbs. An automatic door so the girls can go to their mostly covered run as they please. I still have to let them out if I'm letting them free range that day. I can easily go away for 4 days at a time. To go for longer, I would need a 2nd feeder and 2nd waterer. My garden will be on auto-irrigation next season, so I won't have to worry about it. Things can be made easier. Take your time and enjoy yourself. You're right, they most definitely tried to do too much too soon. Think about your needs and wants. Figure out irrigation and food storage, what you like to eat and how much you might need. Hint: plant 1/3 more to allow for crop damage, fresh eating, and preserved eating. Do you need a freezer? What about canning? Are you going to process animals for food? If not, think about how many eggs do you need? If it is yes to processing, maybe consider dual purpose chickens because after they stop laying eggs (2-4 years as layers and then they slow way down but still live another 6+ years) you could send them to freezer camp. Because they lay regularly for just a few years, start with 3 and add 3 more every year (unless you're keeping a rooster and fertilized eggs). Make sure where you want to live allows for livestock. Maybe a mini Dexter cow would be what you need for milk (2-3 gallons/day instead of 6-8 gallons) at half the pasture and feed. What can you realistically afford, including vet bills. Think about your age and health. Anyway, I wish you luck with your homesteading dreams. This was meant for all who are researching or are on their journey.

[@OkikaHawaii]

Homestead for a year, then giving it up is strange to me. That isn’t enough time to even develop your skills as a homesteader. I hope you are able to create a more stable and consistent schedule for your family.

[@Slowsteading]

We're giving up *this* homestead, not rushing back to the burbs and a 9-5. The plan is to continue to grow and develop our skills and knowledge in other ways and locations ✌️

[@OkikaHawaii]

@@Slowsteading I still think it’s disrespectful to all the animals you buy and care for. Just to abandon them cause you couldn’t handle it. Maybe use this as a lesson to be more thoughtful about what you do in your life. I just saw this one video so I’m by far nothing but a bystander with an opinion. I wish y’all the best in the future.

[@Slowsteading]

Fair enough, thanks for sharing! All the animals have found new loving homes 👌

[@sarahaccardi]

Yeah totally. I plan to be a homesteader but I’m giving myself 10 years. I spent 1 year just learning how to grow (maybe 20) different plant varieties, understand soil health & organic farming methods. Now I’m slowing it down and just learning maybe 3-4 each year, caring for fruit trees and slowly building my way up. Because heck, it is a lot of work and there is A-LOT to learn. Especially with kids. Best of luck

[@HeatherAnne]

​@Kenneth Brandon Peters Those animals are livestock. They are not pets. It's not like dogs who live in the house with you and get attached. Livestock are sold all the time. It's not disrespectful to sell your live stock. I have a suspicion you don't raise animals for food.

[@karislindvall6181]

My parents were from the city and moved to the country. They lasted 16 years before selling the homestead and bought a house in a development with a 6' wide back yard. They have minimal responsibilities now but my mom enjoys her flower garden. At one time as a kid we had sheep, cattle, horses, everything.. it was the best childhood and since thats how I grew up, its what I want to return to one day. Its not for everyone and it really is something you have to want and enjoy doing - from working until dark, to finding the barn kittens that fell into a water trough and drowned in the night. There is a lot of hardship and sadness being so intertwinned with the constant beginning and ending of life all around you. Life is a beautiful and ugly thing.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for sharing this, that sounds like an amazing childhood!

[@darknight0dc]

I think Mark from self sufficient me hits the nail on the head when he says "you don't have to be self sufficient in everything, but be self sufficient in something." You don't have to do it all and fall into the "homesteading" trend, you can just adapt one or two practices into your life. Do what works for you, do what is sustainable for you❤

[@rebeccafoster-faith6647]

This....this hits with me

[@Slowsteading]

Great words, thanks for sharing!

[@omnitone]

unless the world ends :/ society is on overtime.

[@DanDanDoe]

@@omnitone Humanity has never been self-sufficient. We have always existed as tribes, with people doing different kinds of work. So even if society somehow fails, people should and would still work together.

[@omnitone]

@@DanDanDoe gotta be fake. even worms and microbes are more self sufficient than us? something is fishy. tribes just distribute a workload. it's a necessity for large scale society but is optional for the individual.

[@merrittfamily1269]

We embarked on a bigger homesteading dream by purchasing fifteen acres. Previously we'd had a large garden, quail, and ducks in the city. Eight months in, I tore my shoulder turning a compost pile by hand. Farming is HARD! So hard. So physically demanding, so consuming. At the same time I had a baby goat with pneumonia needing round the clock nursing care and, a mama goat with mastitis, so she was getting treatment and milked - but I had to dump the milk for over a week. At the same time carrying hot water to the barn a few times a day to keep buckets from freezing (with the torn shoulder 🫤). It's exhausting. We can't go camping if nice weekend weather rolls around. I have to find someone to come stay at the farm if we leave for more than a few days. But I still love it. I don't really want to go anywhere. I'm so happy staying home and watching my animals graze and the grass grow and the kids climb trees and cuddle baby goats. But man, the sacrifice for that is real.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for sharing! Wow 15 acres! It's true the challenges are so real, but also so rewarding. Wishing you the best of luck with your homestead!

[@tambob82]

Dumping milk for the first time, when I had hungry goat babies to feed, was one of the hardest lessons I've learned about homesteading, and nature in general.

[@beeplk7290]

This is a viewpoint that should be pushed. Not necessarily to discourage people who want to try homesteading, but to provide a realistic look at what it involves. Gotta appreciate you putting it out there!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks! It's hard to be vulnerable, for sure. If anything we just want people to live the life that feels true to them. This isn't the end of our journey, actually just the beginning ✌🙂

[@vamountainman2512]

@@Slowsteading with a great deal of valuable knowledge to fall back on if ever need be. 👍

[@Slowsteading]

Absolutely, we'll take the knowledge and skills we learned from this to whatever we pursue next 👍 Knowledge is power.

[@octane7047]

A concept called permaculture would help. All elements (animals, plants, water, earth, wind, sunlight, etc.) can be designed to work together so that they maintain themselves (a ecosystem in which all are connected; rainwater falls and store at the right place, animals take care of plants; plants help each other). Once laid down correctly, human only need to do a bit of nudging work each day (1-2 hours). From the video, it seems that there is little connection among the elements and humans are doing all the work (watering the plants, feeding the animals - not how nature work).

[@ShalomShalom-d5c]

Exactly Octane. It takes someone with self motivation, need, want & dedication. Ive lived life in the City, owned lots of rentals I managed while working full time designing Americas electric grid, and I traveled the world. Retired & my life is mine. I get bored really fast & have endless energy & homesteading fills all my voids. Since I like to design, I hav designed & built lots of things on my homestead & I just designed my new home on my homestead. Thats my next project.

[@Picci25021973]

Leaving home becomes very difficult when you have to attend animals and gardens, that's why families in the past were formed by three different generations. Grandparents attended daily chores (and hopefully grandsons!) for a while, so mom and dad could take some time for them. Homestead is paradise if you have a community or an enlarged family to count on... otherwise it could become a nightmare.

[@Slowsteading]

This is a great perspective, thanks for sharing. Multi-generational living is so important for a lifestyle like this, and I've seen it work for many people in our community. That's something we are lacking here and we feel it 😅

[@msandls]

Oh! That does sound more manageable!

[@sansbury95]

Families in the past also very rarely traveled very far from home. My parents grew up in solidly middle class urban homes before and after WWII, and summer vacations for them meant an hour's drive to the Jersey shore. Ocean-crossing travel was something ordinary people only got to do maybe once in their lives if they were an immigrant or in the military/merchant marine. It's not really until the past ~50 years that taking a trip to Europe or Asia became something a middle class family could do, regardless of how many generations lived together.

[@realhousewifeofnebraskacas8357]

@@sansbury95 Yup. That is it. Families in the past didn’t travel. Grandparents usually died at a young age. They weren’t taking care of the animals while their children traveled! Lol😂

[@jg36]

@@realhousewifeofnebraskacas8357 Why do you think grandparents died especially young? It wasn’t that unusual for people to live 70+ years even back in antiquity

[@gardenandcalico]

I just started a veggie garden this year and had to measure my expectations FAST. What I thought were weekend projects are season projects for a beginner, and what I thought I could do in one year is probably going to be 3-5 years. I can't imagine if I'd dived headfirst into a full on acre sized homestead in one year. Respect for trying it and admitting the downfalls. I believe this is a process that, if you want to go into it, you should go slowly. Get used to each routine and sacrifice before adding a new one. Especially if you still have to work full time.

[@glow1815]

Well said and totally agreed. I only have a mini garden I felt like I have a homestead already lol. I care for my plants daily research information etc. And I work from home full time, Imagine a homestead oh my! I feel like homestead is more for if you're financially stable and committed to just your backyard not having to work or start off ONE thing at a time as a hobby slowly and go from there. I would love to have what they have only if I don't have to work though.

[@BeneDiv-lu4gx]

You might need to reconsider EVERYTHING if your garden takes THAT much work. Most real homestead in France have people that barely work 800hours in a year for the whole homestead. It only get to that level due to high seasons and conservation. Otherwise, most of the time, their entire homestead needs barely 1 hour a day to function. Doing an homestead doesnt mean you have to do it all in 1 year. Permaculture is supposed to work on the long term, as time goes on, less work is needed. That's how our (and your) elders did it. You all want to do everything NOW and in a modern way, ofcourse you end up burning up, even more if you're a city folk lol.

[@gardenandcalico]

@BeneDiv-lu4gx yeah this land has not been well cared for at all before i got it. its entirely overrun with invasives and i had to build a lot of things. its not about how "modern" you try to make it but how its been cared for before. if youre LUCKY in the us you'll get a place that had monoculture lawns before, and thats best of the best and most expensive. most places are in disrepair

[@kristenwright1210]

same experience.

[@ShalomShalom-d5c]

A 1 acre homestead? Thats too small & you would be doing work that a tractor should bedoing.

[@jodyjohnsen]

It’s so much easier to start the homesteading process without animals that require twice daily attention. Then later, if you find you don’t leave you can add an animal or two per year. Too much too fast means failure.

[@Carroty_Peg]

we've been lied to we're individuals but we thrive as a community. . .

[@livingintheforest3963]

Not everyone!

[@midnull6009]

@@livingintheforest3963 yes everyone... unless you want to do ALL of the tasks yourself and not delegate; if you don you'll be burned out and hate life

[@raincoast9010]

We've been trained by the system to "go it alone", struggle with debt our whole lives and pay off just as we die. It's the trap of western living.

[@patriarchyenjoyer69]

A community of individuals

[@CrabDigs]

Homesteading like homeschooling is a lifestyle, not a hobby. And many people fail to commit to a lifestyle change, especially one that is so demanding and not filled with multiple hits of dopamine throughout the day to keep you going. What should keep you going is a firm commitment and perseverance especially in times of difficulty. That my friends is what gets you through life.

[@caramcculley4640]

Don't say "fail". This wasn't a fail, they tried something, noticed that it actually kind of sucks, not wanting to spend every single moment of every single day working like a slave for a tomato they could buy for $0.75 at a grocery store... Not literally but figuratively. This is a lifestyle of virtual slavery to the land, looks charming but in fact, it is hard work almost every waking hour.

[@stillwatersfarm8499]

It’s hard to commit when the desire isn’t rooted in a strong conviction that the lifestyle is the most responsible, secure and ethical choice. They didn’t homestead - they hobby farmed and gave up the hobby. The desire to put down deep roots and create an inheritance of land and skill wasn’t there. As I’ve lived this life for 20 years, I’ve realized there are a lot more hobby farmers than homesteaders.

[@ruby7741]

@@stillwatersfarm8499 Well SAID! I've seen it to. Truthfully all I had to do was see his Black coat name brand and the hat and KNEW from the moment I saw him in just video he was a BURB kid. I grew up in the city and was a city slicker and super smart about where I was and how I traveled and I saw many of these WANA BEEEES that TRY and BUY and BOLT leaving behind what they want when they want. Animals don't really matter to them once they get sick of the life style that doesn't serve them any more. It's SAD to see but SO VERY BLATANT just looking at this family sad to say. The only thing SMART they have done after making this choice is that they RENTED out there property and not sold it so if and when the sh!t hits the fan they will kick off the ppl on it and go back to rebuilding there homestead. Being young and dumb at this point in time in history is a going to cost a lot of lives and families. This is NO TIME TO BE TRAVELING around the world EXPLORING with 2 young kids.

[@ShalomShalom-d5c]

100% agree with you CrabDigs. People look at homesteading as a hobby & thats what the Govt calls it. People get bored of hobbies all the time. Wen its a true lifestyle, you dig your heels in. "Wen the going gets tuff, the fluff runs away."

[@riverduck3]

Except (speaking as a mom who did homeschool her son), homeschooling requires a lot of work, but I was able to work part-time outside of the home. I don't think this man worked outside of the home (unless I'm wrong). And any homesteader will tell you that you can NOT provide properly for your family the first five years unless one of the adults is working full-time somewhere, while helping weekends and nights with the homestead.

[@15dinosRAWR]

I'm glad someone was honest about the struggles. It's definitely something you have to really really really want. My work schedule doesn't allow for it yet so I refuse to have anything more than just a small garden but my partner, who has more time than me, can barely take care of that 10ft'10ft space, but wants a whole homestead and he just doesn't get what it truly takes. He, like many others, just romanticizes it but when it comes to it, isn't willing to put in the work. Now that you know what goes into it you'll have an appreciation for local farmers and will be more willing to spend money on local meat and produce

[@thegymknight]

Starting small is important. Staring with growing the smallest of veggies or micro greens and sticking with that for a few seasons then expanding from that. You took in a lot in one year. I don’t think you should give up. Start over with the basics

[@Ferrous_Bueller]

You can't start smaller than these people did, hahaha. They never started homesteading, they literally dropped a couple small animal pens in their one-acre backyard, started a garden, and called it a homestead 😂😂😂😂 This must be trans-homesteading...they identify as homesteaders.

[@ses14279]

I love that you tried and did well but really thought about your family. You and your wife are thoughtful people. Can’t wait to see what happens next for you.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, that means a lot! We have some big ideas in the works so definitely stay tuned. This isn't the end, just the beginning ✌️

[@sagnew11]

I grew up on a decent sized farm here in Idaho,(100 acres with 120 head of Hereford and Angus Cattle, 4 Arab horses, large white hogs and probably 60 to 70 chickens plus 1.5 acre garden for veggies and 2 acre orchard and then some etc..) its definitely not just a job. Its a way of life and lots of people now days do NOT realize that and I think experiencing it and trying it out is the only way to figure out if it's for you or not!:) I hated farm chores in high school and did not want to be a farmer AT ALL but here I am! Doing it again because I know the expectations and truly do love this way of life. Last big vacation we took was 2018 and I'm great with that. I think this is a great video and thanks for sharing your life story!!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for sharing! Totally agree it is a lifestyle, but how special for you to come back to it with some renewed perspective. I don't doubt that we'll return to this lifestyle in the future at some point as well, and we'll able to bring all the skills and knowledge we've gained along the way with us ☺️

[@peter.s-yt]

We're in our 4th year now and it had been anything but calm. So many responsibilities and tragedies that you don't experience in an urban lifestyle! From farm animals randomly dying to the garden overwhelmed by weeds, diseases and pests really lets you down especially when you contribute so much time and effort towards them. The transition from city to countryside is the hardest thing we've ever done. You always have to be on top of things and think about what could go wrong before it happens. This is why we should RESPECT homesteaders and farmers because they have one of the most difficult job's out there!!

[@Slowsteading]

Definitely, growing food is tough! Best of luck on your continued homesteading adventures!

[@realhousewifeofnebraskacas8357]

Yes! Respect!

[@Fern_Thaddeus]

One of the reasons why farmers and such had MANY children - more help and burden to be shared. “More the merrier”! I agree with someone here who mentioned many KZbinrs romanticize it a bit too much. It is labor for a reason. Good, beautiful labor, but God has different callings for us all. Anywho, Godspeed to y’all, and may Jesus take care of y’all in the next adventure!

[@Slowsteading]

Haha the more the merrier indeed! 😂 Thanks for the well wishes, we're looking forward to the next adventure!

[@warmblood8016]

I'm a homesteader, but I started at 58 yrs old. Before that I lived my entire life in NY, traveled extensively and overall, lived life. It was time for me to settle into the rural life, animals and all, and I've never looked back. It never would have worked in my younger days because there was too much I wanted to do in life and being tied down to my home wasn't one of them. Even now I sometimes want to go on a vacation but can't because of the animals. I think you've made the wise decision. Go live your life and, who knows, maybe when you're 58 you will come back to it. Best of luck.

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, thanks for sharing your experience! I totally agree, life is long and we can always come back to it down the road ☺️

[@joannbaumann4028]

get a housesitter :-) me!

[@bowenmicrofarm]

Thanks for posting this. My life has been completely opposite so it’s nice to see other perspectives. We are settling down with the family and getting back to “roots” and done chasing things out there.

[@Slowsteading]

Of course, thanks for following our journey! So excited for you and your family. I have no doubt we will do the same again in the future, but at this point this specific property didn't feel like it. Best of luck!

[@GrowingLittleCountryhomestead]

Well that’s to bad. But I’ve known so many former homesteaders that gave up it cause they found out quickly that it wasn’t what they thought. So many KZbinrs make homesteading look so romantic but it really isn’t. Y’all look like you’ve put some effort into your homestead. Everything looks great. Good luck in your new adventure. 👍

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers! It's a been a fun ride for sure 😁 And don't worry, this isn't the end, it's just the beginning. We've got some big things in the works this year!

[@taraannhickey7277]

Agree. If you think you'll be gardening in a sun dress with flowers in your hair, think again😂😊

[@DBT1007]

KZbinr homesteaders make money through youtube money too. Like this channel for example. By logic, homesteaders are just like normal farmer. But small farmer. Soo it's truly hard to get big money and with high workload. Edit: the basic logic to all nature stuff is, "if you like cat, dont always want to get one. Because, you probably love cats, but you cant nurture them properly". Better go to cat cafe when you have an urge to pet cat. Or just pet some stray cats.

[@MikeyPaper]

Ya'll!

[@PonderingWhimsy]

I really appreciate your honesty about your homesteading experience. It definitely isn’t for everyone. I’ve been homesteading for nearly a decade and while it absolutely does have those beautiful fairytale moments, it is also not for the faint of heart and is filled with its own challenges. (We nearly gave it up a short time in, it is a very different life to adapt to, it takes time.) To be fair, you have to pick your battles. Renting one place then another and another is a massive expense that you never see again. Homesteading is an investment, but it pays off in the long-run. You become a steward of your land, crops, and animals. That is no easy task, but for my family it is the most rewarding one. For me, I was moved around all the time, never feeling settled, never feeling safe, always feeling out of place, and having old wounds I couldn’t heal. All I ever wanted was a home, a sanctuary to take care of, somewhere to finally plant some roots to grow and heal. The homestead granted me all of that and so much more. For some of us, it is a dream come to true to look forward to doing this forever, to grow old watching the homestead grow and thrive as the years go by. Being able to look around saying, remember when we planted those trees? Remember when we built that coop? etc. Like I said though, this lifestyle isn’t for everyone, we are all different and we all have different needs. If you long for adventure, and have places you’d love to travel, and don’t want to be tied down, it makes perfect sense to do something else. Life is what you make it, do what makes you feel alive! 🥰 Homesteading is an amazing experience, and I’m so thrilled you and your family gave it a go. Those skills will stay with you, best wishes!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I agree with all of these sentiments. For us there are many reasons we started to feel that this specific property was not our forever home; changes in the neighborhood (not sure if you can see the big forest that was just clearcut in the lot directly beneath us), high cost of living, and the limitations of this small rocky lot in a residential area. We hope to take the skills and knowledge we gained and go explore alternative places to live in different climates and with a lower cost of living ✌️☺️ Better to figure this all out sooner than later was our thinking!

[@PonderingWhimsy]

@@Slowsteading My pleasure! 😊 One should never clear an entire forest, but for safety reasons there should be no trees within falling distance of your home, coop, out buildings. And trees at the perimeter also need to be limbed up. (Fire-ladder) It is definitely nice to not have neighbors within spitting distance, totally understandable! 😆 Best wishes finding the property of your dreams, and in a climate that suits you. Stay safe on your journey! 😊👍

[@cyndeesantos4944]

I moved around my whole life and never felt safe or at home too! I hope I can find that feeling of belonging on my own homestead one day! Thank you for sharing your experience! It really helped me feel like I am going in the right direction, towards my goals of healing and stability.

[@PonderingWhimsy]

@@cyndeesantos4944 Awww, it was my pleasure to share. I will be rooting for you, and praying you find your peaceful homestead soon! 🥰 If my journey led me to my homestead, your journey will certainly lead you to yours! Best wishes!

[@cyndeesantos4944]

@@PonderingWhimsy thank you so much! 🥰

[@xdean816]

Dude a year? I'm in for 7 years and now I'm finally getting GOOD at it. It's a lifestyle. You don't get it in a year.

[@blairsnitch97]

I understand you guys completely. Refreshing honesty and laudable doing what’s right for yourselves and your family. Life’s too short. Important for others interested in that lifestyle to see all perspectives, not all happy sunny moments.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, couldn't agree more 👌😬

[@leonardthyme]

My wife and I have been raising animals for years. Your honesty in your description of the true costs, time, energy, and money are the best I’ve seen yet. If you start out with any intention other than true passion for the experience you will burn out because the process of life, eating and pooping, never takes a break.😅

[@jillsmith619]

I’m turning 70 soon, and just want you to know your channel has made an impact on me….my life has come opposite, as I traveled while raising three children and got stuck in the corporate rut once settled down on the outskirts of the Seattle area…..now retired with kids visiting now and then, I’ve ventured into my own little (4 weeks old today!) flock of chicks and thus landed on your channel….no less than 20 of those views on your chicken run build are mine, as I try to figure out the measurements… so far it’s up and ready for the roof. Love the simple design and just haven’t gotten to your other videos-was saving for these pnw rainy ones…. Thank You. And may you and your family enjoy love and happiness as you travel as your heart leads. Glad your keeping the property, as it gives the option to come home to roost

[@Slowsteading]

Amazing Jill, thanks so much for sharing! Aww we miss having young chicks around so much-they grow up so fast! Kids aren't like that too, right? So humbled that you have created a coop following my build! The roof is best part, it makes it much drier underneath 😂 Please share a picture if you can!

[@AndroidFish]

I thought it was going to be the typical click bait.. but it looks like your really doing it! Congrats, on hard decisions, you will never regret spending more time with your family and having new experiences.

[@Slowsteading]

Haha glad to hear we could deliver on more than just click bait 😂 Thank you so much, we totally agree. We've got some big ideas in the works that we can't wait to share 😁

[@wannabefarmerr]

Y’all are the opposite of me When I was in my 20s I was everywhere and did everything Now I’m tired and just want to farm and be with my community ❤ Have fun out there!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks!

[@cyndeesantos4944]

That's the same for me too! I want to rest and have a home and community!

[@aphillips5376]

I began homesteading a few years ago. I'm so grateful I only have a quarter acre because it forces me to stay small. I can see how quickly it can become overwhelming and too much. At times, I have felt burned out. At times, I've had to take a step back, only do the absolute necessary and rest for a day then regroup. Slow and steady is best.

[@reanneeleanor232]

Homesteading is f****** hard. It takes all of your soul some days. In March, it’s this swell of excitement and eagerness to plan. The toil and hard work of the warm months is grueling. Come October, the harvest can be overwhelming. By December, I’m tapped out and ready to rest for a couple of months. But there is no other way I could see me and my family living our lives. I’m constantly reminded by friends and family that it’s a dream come true. “How do you manage it all?” “Where do you find the time?” “I wish I had your stamina.” People don’t understand it and are amazed by the way we live. Their curiosity and amazement reminds me that this is the only way I want to live for the rest of my life. We are doing what so many wish they could. But it’s not for everyone. I admire you for making the right choice for you and your family despite what others may think. Good for you ❤

[@GenXtothe7thPower]

I think I understand why some of the comments are a little salty even though I’m a fairly new subscriber. There’s currently some popular bad homestead channels, and by the word’Bad’, I mean they aren’t really homesteading at all…they are pretending to homestead with endless affiliate links and constantly selling stuff and those seem to be the promoted channels, but finding someone really doing it and being honest about the challenges is refreshing in this current social media buzz word commercial marketing affiliate culture.

[@chococat9685]

which ones? so i know who to not really invest in watching.

[@Ferrous_Bueller]

They never started homesteading, they literally dropped a couple small animal pens in their one-acre backyard, started a garden, and called it a homestead 😂😂😂😂 This must be trans-homesteading...they identify as homesteaders.

[@estycki]

What’s interesting is that most homestead families I’m seeing are small… I think when I look at other cultures the homestead/farm has a huge family, multiple generations there. Expecting to do everything with yourself and maybe your partner is kind of unrealistic.

[@brandiew7611]

This video was thoughtful, respectful and informative. I appreciate it- I’ve been guilty myself of growing a garden but dreaming about a homestead- I didn’t think about just how much of a commitment it is, beyond financial. Thanks for sharing your experience with the world, it’s helpful to see all perspectives ❤

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for the thoughtful and respectful comment, it means a lot! We're happy to share our experience, just our personal take on things ☺️ Best of luck with your garden this year!

[@hbinfinity]

You have to give your goals more than a year. Keep trying.

[@torresmaria842]

Good luck 👍

[@BaughbeSauce]

I totally agree with what you said here. Though I'm not going to stop farming and homesteading, THIS SUITS ME. I'm very introverted. I enjoyed traveling, but I have a family now and there is no way we could afford to travel (plus hubs is a massive introvert). I did my traveling years ago and my son is 2. He wouldn't even remember an expensive trip. I like being far removed and left alone and I actually enjoy the cleanup aspect of animal care. Knowing that I'm making them happy makes me happy. I have worked with large animals before in a professional setting and knew every aspect of what I was getting into: The death. The potentially scary emergency situations. The failures. THE POOP. Weather challenges. Many people don't understand just how much WORK it all is or, frankly, how dirty it is. It all sounds nice and easy, but the reality is you'll end up covered in poop more than once in your life. Lol. When I worked at Petsmart for several years (started in pet care and moved up to CEL- manager of animal care and sales interactions) the #1 thing we heard in interviews was "i wanna work here because it seems like so much fun to get to play with animals all day." HAH! the reality? They end up quitting 2 months later because their JOB is cleaning up animal poop (all sizes of rodent poop, LOADS of bird poop, reptile poop, fish poop scrubbing, FRIGGIN TURTLE SWILL), dealing with sick or dead animals (usually from either stress of kids hitting the glass or breeding facilities), handling live crickets with their bare hands, scrubbing. Scrubbing. SCRUBBING. Dog bathers in grooming got soaking wet, covered in dog poop, urine, and anal gland excretions. You aren't "playing with animals." You're CARING for them so eventually someone ELSE can play with them. They didn't usually last long. Lol.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for sharing! Haha oh man Petsmart sounds like a tough gig 😂 I think your comment really touched on something though, the importance of doing what is right for your family, your personalities, and the age of your children. Ultimately to choose the path that works best for your own unique situation is what matter most. Best of luck in your homesteading journey!

[@BaughbeSauce]

@@Slowsteading best of luck in your new adventures!! 🥰

[@JhourladEstrella]

Spoiler Alert: They were never content with anything they do in their lives even before they built the homestead.

[@elliottcave4199]

This is why farmers deserve respect I didn’t grow up on a farm but as soon as I could talk it’s all I wanted to be like my gran and grandad and now I hate the thought of leaving my stock for more than a few hours

[@patrickgagne8795]

Appreciate your honesty here and being real. Taking a life is hard. Life is short, enjoy the ride

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, thanks for watching ✌️

[@LeePfalmer]

Thank you for the honest update. You have great points to consider before undertaking such a journey.

[@Slowsteading]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sicplano]

Even in the late 1800s it was quite difficult to find people willing to leave the relative comforts of town life to a rural homestead. That’s why the government had so many free land incentives to anyone willing to try and homestead tracts in Texas and Oklahoma. It was grueling work and a constant fight against the elements. The only real takers were folks without many other options. Thankfully we have more options available to us today. I live in suburbia and have been playing around with container gardening and hydroponics. It’s an incredible amount of work to grow edibles and I appreciate farmers more than ever now. My husband and I have entertained the idea of retiring to a homestead property and have quickly come to the realization that we don’t want to be “farm hands” in our latter years - just too much money for infrastructure and way too hard on the body. Wonderful to hear your experiences and to read the many thought provoking comments.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, I'm glad you found it interesting! It's true, homesteading is both a lot of work and a lot of money to get setup these days. Free land incentives sound amazing! Unfortunately the reality for us is that it's not possible to get an acre with a house under a million $$ anywhere near where we live. Container gardening and hydroponics sound like a fun balance, wishing you the best of luck with that and retirement!

[@sicplano]

@@Slowsteading My sister lives in Redmond and I totally understand what you’re saying. I’m in north Dallas and wanted to move out a bit but to get a few acres with a decent house is pricey. It’s amazing what you can do with hydro and it’s year round production with no bugs! Best of luck to you all.

[@lizzibriggsriesco7604]

I've lived a version of homesteading my whole life. Before I left for college we had a large garden every year for all our veggies, and had raised steer and chickens for meat off and on. Now, as I'm a few years into my own home and family I can do egg layers and a small garden and that's about all I can handle with small kids. Sometimes I think about adding onto the garden or trying to raise a steer for beef and I remember how much work it was for my dad and me and my siblings. Finding someone to cover the animals or pick from the garden for any vacation was hard too.

[@helenahandkart1857]

Good on you for giving it a red hot go. You know so much more than most.

[@captainslam]

I really appreciate how you respected your audience with this video instead of just disappearing

[@kristinanoall]

I tell my kids all the time, “I can’t do everything by myself! I need help to keep our household running!” And we only have two cats, and modern machines to help do the work (washer and dryer, dishwasher, etc.) Thanks for this honest look at what the trend of homesteading actually involves.

[@Slowsteading]

Haha definitely guilty of saying the same thing 😂 Thanks so much for following along :)

[@JenniferSaxin]

Thank you for sharing this. I've been working/struggling towards getting land and starting a homestead for so long, just got our first small house and this will be my first year with a proper garden (I've been container gardening for 10 years) and chickens in a few weeks and it occurred to me...I'm quite content with this for now. Hubby and I have family in two different countries and we want to be able to travel to see them while they're still around. Visit other parts of Europe while we still have our health. So I think the cat, chickens, and veg patch will do us for now!

[@Slowsteading]

Congrats on your new house! That sounds like a brilliant plan, and one that you can build on over time. Best of luck with the chickens and the garden :)

[@vreference]

I've got 8 chickens. (7 hens 1 rooster) We don't do anything for meat. The birds are nearly automatic: Coop is a tractor - aviary and coop all one piece - I just pull it to new grass once a week or so during the summer. Water and feed in the coop. Feed once a day, water once every 3-5 days Sunlight triggered door on the coop, heat lamp and 20W led light in the winter so no ice to deal with, the birds don't leave the coop unless it's a nice day. We run short on eggs during molts but otherwise they supply us with a few for gifts. Big garden, automatic solar watering. We can leave the house for a week at a time. Maybe you don't have to shut it all down but, scale it down and drop the stuff that's too much effort. Forget this "food closest to home" magical thinking. Grow what makes you happy and buy what isn't worth the trouble.

[@Slowsteading]

That sounds like a great setup and easily manageable too!

[@CampingforCool41]

It’s always wild to me when KZbin “homesteaders” just jump from 0 to a full menagerie of animals. Big animals like pigs, goats, cows, horses are SO much work. Chickens on the other hand are super easy once you’ve got a coop made for them, which doesn’t need to be complicated.

[@abuelitacaicedo3185]

We found a long time ago that the cost of feed and the time needed was more than we wanted to invest but we and our kids did learn and enjoyed much of it when we were doing it!

[@Slowsteading]

Yes I love this! Learn from doing and experiencing, and take those lessons with us in life 🙂

[@jacobdebernardi4385]

There's an incredible amount of wisdom in this video and I'm shocked at the dislike/like ratio.

[@Slowsteading]

Haha thanks! It was meant to be lighthearted, but I think a lot of folks just took it a bit too seriously 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kerryblaine6074]

I love your video. I am retired and love the idea of having a permaculture farm. I have the money and time but my wife and I love to be free to travel. We are currently in Portugal traveling in a camper. She does not want to settle down and I really do not like to dig and work hard all day. So it is good to hear of the realities of farm life. Enjoy your journey! Peace

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much! Sounds like you're living your dream out in Portugal, what a beautiful place :) Totally, gotta recognize what works best for you and your needs. Enjoy your travels!

[@RebeccaSenge-ko9tx]

All the very best to you and your family. Love how you consciously making decisions. Go well family!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, the positivity means a lot to us!

[@ronaldlicari7441]

Your picking the worse time to quit, I'm just starting my adventure with a homestead, I'm retiring from the rat race to start my own farm. I'm disabled and its hard to move around most days, Yeah crazy right, anyway I'm doing this because the world today has changed for the worse. There are things you can do you automate your homestead to make it easier to care for with less work. I might start a you tube and share my adventure but it will be private at first for just family and friends. I really liked your videos and hope you find what your looking for and maybe someday you will come back to the homestead life. Good luck and god bless.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for the well wishes, so glad to hear you enjoyed the videos! So excited for you to be pursuing what feels right for you. And don't worry, the rat race is 100% not what we're looking to get involved in 😂 We have some big plans in the works actually, so stay tuned. Best of luck with your homestead!

[@EmilyGloeggler7984]

Good for you for finally getting away from the homesteading/farming rat race. It is such a blessing to move onto better areas to live. We don’t miss living rurally or farming or homesteading at all. God bless!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for stopping by! For sure, we're just doing what works best for us right now 🤷🏻‍♂ Glad to hear you're living without regrets too :)

[@Nembula]

I am a retired farmer. People who think they will make great farmers quickly find out it is 24/7 hard labor. If you make it through the first year you are doing better than most. Just so you know more farmers stop, than start.

[@TheSapphireLeo]

Yep especially with all the suffering of all in it?

[@SamK864]

Such an invaluable experience for your family! And how exciting to shift directions. Best of luck to you all!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much! Absolutely, we learned SO much and will always carry that knowledge and those skills with us :)

[@mycpowers7273]

I've seen this a lot. Homesteading requires a serious commitment and rootedness to place. The reality is different than the ideal and not everyone can stick with it.

[@ChooRoo]

Very brave and honest to make the call. Few people do and end up living a life of regret. Also, you can always hunker down in the future and start again drawing from your past experiences. Cool video dude. Much love from South Australia :)

[@Tallulahswonderland]

We have a big little animal rescue on 2 acres in Colorado. Including a crooked beaked chicken. It’s so rewarding to prioritize animals and treat them with real love. We still eat meat, but buy grass fed, cage free, humane. But since I wouldn’t be able to kill, or wouldn’t want to kill the animals we love and care for - to feed myself, i still battle with the moral part of eating meat. It’s pretty great that you guys had the luxury of enjoying this experience while also being able to go a different way with your life’s endeavors. Wish you the best!!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much! Absolutely, it's one thing to eat meat and another to take that life with your own hands. It was a profound learning experience to say the least. It sounds like you have a very nice set up out there!

[@Aethuviel]

Wow, you got hammered with dislikes, and I don't understand why. This is the first video I'm watching by you guys, and I'm sad to see this is what's happening, as it looks like really good quality, and relatable. (So many "homesteading" channels are by people with tons of money/inherited land, all the power tools, their own tractors, countless acres, etc...) If it's not for you right now, it's good. Me and husband want to homestead eventually, that mutual interest is how we met years ago, but now that we got closer to the dream, we decided we need several years without animals to just live "free" before tying ourselves down to a land and livestock.

[@feyrie]

I think a lot of these people are projecting. They want this lifestyle and they’re hating this couple for discontinuing it. It’s really odd and very self centered of people to feel entitled to control this couples life.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for the support! It's a bit mind-boggling how worked up some people can be about a couple of strangers on the internet 😂 That's a great point you mention, homesteading is definitely not cheap. Land is crazy expensive where we live, not to mention the additional investments in resources, materials, etc. We're actually planning on travelling in order to explore cheaper cost of living places we may choose to settle down in ☺️

[@Slowsteading]

I think you hit the nail on the head. This is what "living the dream" may look like for some people, and that's great! But for us we're ready to try something new, without passing judgement towards anyone else. Thankfully it's going to take more than a few internet comments to slow us down 😂

[@CmdrSoCal]

creepy effeminate dude is why

[@Slowsteading]

UPDATE: Wow, what a response this video has received! We just want to clarify that we are shutting down *THIS* homestead, not quitting this way of life forever. We still value sustainable food production and are not interested in pursuing a life of shallow novelty. We are actively working towards a new and exciting project that wouldn’t be possible here. We’ll have more details to share soon :)

[@lilly-millymakes169]

I've just come across your channel and am surprised with what is happening in the world re food, cost of living, etc, that you would consider starting again. Surely making the most and building on what you have achieved so far would be a better option. Growing food and establishing a garden takes time and now you will lose another year of growing. Just my penny worth.

[@lovethecats5367]

I've always had a garden. Now that my kids are in 11th and 8th grade we decided to start raising chickens. When we were younger parents we were very wrapped up in our children. We still are but it's different now that they are making there own way in life. We are on 3.5 acres and looking at a very near future of no kids in the house so we decided to start planning what that will look like with just my wife and I at the house. I feel your pain as young parents. Don't blink because it goes by quicker than you think.

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, thanks for the reminder. This phase of parenting is all consuming no doubt. Best of luck with your future projects!

[@JamesAnderson-dp1dt]

You're not crazy for giving this up -- you just weren't ready yet. And I don't intend that as a negative judgement. My wife and I started building up our little 4-acre homestead 2 years ago. We're 50+, the kids are grown up and gone, and we've lived about as much fast-paced life as we wanted (travel etc). So now, staying home a lot to build fences, clear land, and care for animals is our preferred past-time. But you all still have a lot of adventuring you want/need to do. That's natural, and nothing at all wrong with it. In a couple decades, you might decide to revisit the notion -- and if you do, you'll have a lot of experience to fall back on (my wife and I didn't, it's all new to us).

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for sharing your perspective! Yes I agree, life is (hopefully) long, so no reason we couldn't pick this up again in the future. Glad to hear you're building up your little piece of paradise!

[@GenXican84]

Yep, agriculture synonymous with culture. The cycles are forever and one must be ready to give their lives to it. I have an idealistic Bay Area niece who went through 5 CSA subscriptions with each " farmer" eventually tossing innthe towel and heading backntonthe city. She's back shopping at Whole Paycheck again.

[@Slowsteading]

Good for your niece for supporting local farmers, it takes a lot of work! And good on the farmers for giving it a go, that ain't easy either.

[@GaganUluvaru]

Hope you guys find happiness wherever you go & whatever you do... We will be here along the way... 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much, that means a lot! 🙏 We have some exciting ideas in the works 😁

[@GaganUluvaru]

@@Slowsteading will be waiting

[@fsqabr]

This gives me a great idea for a homesteading summer camp. Millennial hipsters can come play act as farmers for the summer to get it out of their system.

[@MauriS69]

so you like the YouTubing influencing part of homesteading but you don't like a ”working” part of it

[@rauhaan.]

I'm not a vegan but hearing Meat rabbit and without skipping a beat seeing a pile of tiny bunny babies coulda killed me 😅

[@judyswain9245]

If we were young we would feel the same as you! God bless!

[@Slowsteading]

Haha thanks! And thanks for watching!

[@emilschneider9974]

If your intuition is telling you that its time to make that change, then it is the right choice. Change can be very exciting for you and your partner if you are both on the same page! What a beautiful adventure to share with the one you love and your children whom you also love of course!.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much! For sure, change can be a tough decision to make, but ultimately we're here to make the most of this one life we have to live ☺️

[@emilschneider9974]

@@Slowsteading Yes indeed. I also have to make those tough decisions ☺

[@mycupoverflows7811]

We raise chickens, sheep and ducks in Texas, along with our 6 homeschooled kids. I agree with everything you say. It's such hard work, and it takes love, passion and commitment. Our kids enjoy the animals and learn so much from living with them. I understand your choice, though.

[@Slowsteading]

That sounds like a beautiful setup 🙂

[@DestinyMusgrove]

I’m baffled 😂my husband just found your channel LAST night and loved it 😢

[@Slowsteading]

Haha ahh sorry to hear! Thank you for being here even just for a bit 🙏😂

[@lanterncreekfarm]

New subscriber here!! This Video made me do it! 🫣 Growing your own food sure has it moments. 😅 Knowing when to move on and try something new takes wisdom, and courage! I’m here for it! Good luck!

[@Slowsteading]

Amazing thanks for being here! No doubt, lots of good times and challenges too. But isn't that life? Thanks for following along!

[@lanterncreekfarm]

It’s been an abundant amount of wonderful moments and memories, good and bad. Like I am sure it has been for y’all! Good Luck and be safe on your travels. Excited to see where they lead y’all.

[@marytornetta5671]

I totally feel your ambivalence. There was a time, not so long ago, that there wasn't a choice about whether or not you were going to grow and harvest your own food. You have a choice, and I encourage you to embrace it. My husband and I are double your age and we have chosen to not raise animals because of the daily commitment. We also travel, and that choice is not conducive to raising animals for food. We do however work with the ebb and flow of the seasons to harvest as many veggies as we can from our land and eat venison harvested by a friend that bow hunts on our land. Your experience has great value and if you ever find yourself in a place where food is difficult to source, your and your family will not go hungry. Enjoy every minute with those precious kids, and know that you have been blessed .

[@Slowsteading]

That sounds like you have a beautiful setup :) Thanks, we learned a lot from the experience that we will carry with us through this journey of life.

[@xsystem1771]

Yep, it's seriously hard work. That's why when we get a homestead, we plan to try to connect with the community. We can make friends, have choices for homesitters, and trading buddies. We want to do mostly dairy cows (probably only 1 at a time, unless she has a calf) and egg laying hens, maybe a couple goats. We'll probably have a very small garden each year for the herbs & vegetables we use the most. Eventually, we want a bee hive or two. But other than that, we really don't want a huge variety. Just those 4 things (cow, chickens, goats & garden) would be a full time job and then some. But if we need someone to watch the farm, we can make them a deal that they can have a certain amount of milk, eggs, homemade foods, etc. for free. If we need meat, I love to cook and experiment in the kitchen. We can trade homemade cheese, yogurt, kefir, kombucha, sauerkraut, sourdough bread, baked desserts... even homemade wine. I mean, I think that's legal to trade (I know it's legal to make)... LOL We'd check into that first, but you get the point. I truly believe the only way to survive homesteading without breaking your back and potentially your spirit is to have a community. Do what you love most and are good at. The rest can be traded. And you're right. It's definitely not for families who travel a lot. It's not for everyone, and that's okay!

[@hranazatelo1694]

:D

[@magiccitymama1620]

We live in the 'burbs and have a container garden and sometimes I don't feel like walking to the backyard and watering it.

[@Slowsteading]

😂😂😂 I know this feeling

[@danny6247]

then you travel to learn that you had it all already. Ive been living in different places and sometimes I wish I could go back to the way it was in the beginning. But maybe it will be better for you all. Best wishes

[@thisguy333]

Awesome video. Family is most important. Best wishes. Hope yall have a blast

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for the well wishes!

[@timisaac8121]

the commitment of homestead, and difficulty of even any overnighter away, feels the same to me: Got to get away!! Until you posted here, I didnt' understand that my experience is "baked into" homesteads. Thanks and best wishes!!

[@SeeHang]

i’m hmong, we came here from laos/vietnam. i grew up on farms in california and michigan. my parents basically struggled to live in a capitalist world after the american vietnam world. hmong people are some what known to be industrial farmers. it’s not an easy life but it is simpler than most others and was hard for many hmong people to adapt to a non homestead life. when i watched some of your videos i can understand why it’s so difficult to commit to a truly homestead life, mostly because you desire to still be apart of the modern community with modern technology and modern relevancy presented in the global pop culture with entertainment and community. i think for those who truly want a homestead life you should really consider a homestead community with similar core values so you can rely on others the way you expect to rely on yourself. most people don’t take that into account and think they can just do it on their own. but i see all sides of the homestead life because i’ve grown up with parents and family members that have been doing it all their lives before they stepped foot into a 1st world country. if you’re quitting the homestead lifestyle just move forward knowing you taught yourself a great lesson that most people are afraid to even explore. it’s great your children got to experience it. but take pride that you know it’s just not for you even though you know you can do it if it was the end of the world and that self reliance most people don’t have and often makes them weaker in trying to be dependant from free thinking

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! Community support makes a huge difference for sure. And the skills we learned here we'll carry with us for life ✌️

[@glow1815]

See Hang I'm Cambodian yes totally agreed. We Cambodians are not too far from you guys(Hmong)when it comes to farming majorities of us love farming grow our own food etc. Every Cambodian I know we all have some sort of garden in our backyard or Homesteader. I myself love gardening, Homestead would be the life I want because I understand what it takes( hardship) to be one. Definitely I would not be a Homesteader if I have to work full time. It's is 100% commitment when you're a "Homesteader" sometimes you don't know until you get your feel wet. So I can understand this their decision...

[@MosaicHomestead]

The experience and skills you developed are yours to keep forever, So you can always come back to Homesteading, Enjoy your new adventures, your only young once.

[@Slowsteading]

Cheers, I appreciate the support man! I plan to only learn more and gain more knowledge along the way. I gotta see the hurricane-proof chicken coop if I make it to your island!

[@wilmacallister]

Honest and thoughtful reflections - I'm glad it wasn't just clickbait! :D

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for watching, happy to hear we delivered on our promise! 😂

[@Northern_Grit]

I used to want a homestead so badly, I grew up in the country but I quickly realized the older I get the less I want to take care of. An acre of land is all I need.

[@Slowsteading]

That sounds great, an acre is a very manageable amount 👌👌

[@evelynbrooks4436]

Homesteading really is a lot of work but worth it if that is what you want. God bless your family on your journey. Wishing you all many wonderful and joyful adventures.

[@aaronoverbey2147]

You didnt realize that farming is an around the clock responsibility, and a way of life

[@MajikMedia]

❤🎉 that was beautiful. Gonna miss yah and stoked for your adventure ahead!

[@Slowsteading]

This message is dadbod approved 💪

[@kellygoodwin1439]

It's totally okay to try something and then realize it's not for you. I was watching all these homesteading books about cattle and having fresh quality meat and milk. But when I really thought about it, I didn't want to be tied down by such a large animal, and I don't really drink that much milk. I realized I could just buy those things from local farmers market. Then I could focus what I really enjoy, which is growing grow a manageable sized garden and flowers. And if I ever want a break, I can just not plant anything. Hope you have wonderful adventures!!!

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks for the perspective! I agree, how can we know if we like/dislike something unless we try it? That's my favorite way to learn 😂 I've thought about cows too but ultimately came to the same conclusion. That's a BIG animal to be responsible for, plus a LOT of milk (and then dry spells with none). Who knows though, maybe I'll try it one day 🤷🏻‍♂

[@denetietarot2726]

I wasted most of my summer watering heirloom tomatoes for the rats that live in our house. I came to the conclusion, I'd rather go to the beach, until the apocalypse.

[@pokeystar1980]

@den

[@pokeystar1980]

I feel your pain over that.

[@charliegruchy530]

A year isn't long enough to get a farm going, it takes years. Most city people have NO idea how much physical labour it takes. Homesteading is a lot of work

[@rharv3084]

Looks like you're in the Anacortes area of WA. I lived on Whidbey Island for 4 years when I was in the navy and I have to say, you're in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. But you're right, it is a big world out there so why not explore while you can. Best of luck to you on your journey.

[@FarmerBrad]

I made an IBC tote winter water system for my chickens that I fill it up at the beginning of winter and it has a heat element in it and then circulates 1700 gallons an hour. It makes the winter way way easier.

[@Slowsteading]

Sounds like an epic system. I'm sure it could be tied to a rainwater collection system for maximum hands-off!

[@FarmerBrad]

@@Slowsteading during the winter I bring all the animals close to the barn to make it easier. If you search for mother of all chicken waterers 2.0 it should show my setup

[@Slowsteading]

Wow very cool setup! I couldn't find V2 but even V1 looks very well thought out. Nicely done.

[@deadtreebark]

Homesteading is the dream, I need to get out the city and get into the woods

[@justine7143]

I can’t even find a dog sitter that can watch my German shepherd for more than 2 days to go on a vacation so I can only imagine how difficult it is to leave a Homestead with this much livestock 😢 you deserve to be able to travel and explore the world with your young children to help shape their minds. Having a support system that can watch and care for your property is truly a rare blessing.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much! It's true, even when we're able to find sitters it's not a perfect situation. Accidental breedings and missed feedings happen! Sounds easy on paper but not always so in real life 😅

[@angelabilyeu2927]

Your statement about wasting food resonates for me. My roots are in the Midwest where my ancestors raised at least some of their own food for generations. My dad is 81. He still has a huge garden. My mom, also 81, gets tired from all the cooking and canning to use and preserve what he grows. So, yes, it is a lot of work, and I can't stand to see it wasted! My husband feels the same way.

[@homegrownadventures7656]

We traveled for years when all the 4 kids were home. There are positive and negative to that too. Now we homestead. You won't know what you like until you try it. If we had to do it all over again. We would travel less. Homeschool still but have our kids in a community. Moving around is tough for kids. Wish you only the best.

[@Slowsteading]

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences! Totally agree that there will be positives and negatives, but I think that can be said about any path in life 🙂