Top 5 Biggest Mistakes buying land to start a Farm and Homestead....Learn today!

[@brianhillis3701]

All of my family cousins were farmers. Few now farm. Costs for equipment was the killer.

[@stellarjayatkins4749]

Greg Judy doesn’t use or need a ton of equipment.

[@brianhillis3701]

@@stellarjayatkins4749 doesn't live near my relatives. His methods would not be very useful there. They grow cotton, sun flowers, and limited ranching. Never saw GJ burn needles off cactus so his cows could eat.

[@andyflatt5066]

Buy a good rain suit, before you do any building, planning of buildings, or attempting to divert water. Put that suit on, and walk around during a good hard rain. Watch where the water wants to go -- it's easier to enhance that, than to fight it. Watch the water through a good 4-5 torrential rains, and only then should you start drawing & planning. Include water catchment in the plan.

[@dungeonmaster6292]

Based. Quit trying to fight nature

[@norfolk7573]

Excellent advice. Water rules the Earth

[@somethinsomethin7243]

I bought an old farm in WV. I had some plans, and as I starting mowing and clearing brush I started notice old ditches and catchments. In the summer I noticed the house was situated perfectly up against the hill so that the house would start cooling off about 2-3 hours before dark. It took less than a year for me to abandon my "original plans" and I am more in a repair/discovery mindset at this point.

[@heidisnow]

I don't know how it is there, but taxes are MUCH cheaper in Texas for people in Mobile Homes compared to properties with slab or pier & beam houses. Another thing for TX - if you are using your land for agricultural purposes, you can get Ag-exemption which will make ag related purchases (feed, tractors, etc) tax free.

[@strictlyconservative8777]

Absolutely LOVE your channel!

[@andrewgraeme8429]

Learning from one's mistakes is one of the most important things one can do in business - and running a farm is a business like any other in many aspects! It's a business - never forget that!

[@karlrovey]

Yep. Mistakes and/or failures aren't the end of the world as long as you keep them on a small scale that won't break the bank if they backfire.

[@daneilfagot1772]

We purchased our farm in February 2020 the first equipment I purchase was my Kubota tractor, side by side, and zero turn mower since than I've add a kubota mini excavator. We raise show horses, hogd and meat chickens.

[@susanlane7057]

You are so right! We started this adventure 17 years ago at age 50. Not a cheap adventure but oh so much joy.

[@jeffery19677]

I have missed a few months. Too much going on in my life. (Now, I am LITERALLY shopping for my farm in SOUTHEAST MO. Sitting in a motel, getting ready for a 10 am appointment to see 40 fenced acres with a cabin and two barns.) I was hoping you were just living well when you lost the weight. Divorce sucks. For both parties. This is one of the BEST BEGINNER VIDS I have ever seen. Some I knew about. Others, I hadn't thought about.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

shoot brotha...I am living well...that's why I lost the weight...less stress...more exercise and happiness!

[@FarmallFanatic]

The learning curve farming is perpetual

[@danielalamo2075]

I bought 20 acres with a mobile home, small shop, a small 40x80 barn, a riding arena and pasture. We moved in and brought our horses. They were loose in 10 minutes. A bunch of gates and fencing that was supposed to stay was gone. Most recently our Lab/Pyrenees cross brought home a chicken (which I know she was going to eat). I told her to drop the chicken and she spit it out. The chicken stayed, her boyfriend showed up and then she had babies. Now we have more than 20 hens and roosters. So I built a small structure, 3 sides and a roof, with 12 nesting boxes and a roosting rack. I started buying food and I put in feeders and a waterer. So, sometimes you get a cart then you have to get a horse to pull it. You don't try to do things backwards but it happens.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yep....got yourself a nice little lesson there....sometimes you gotta take what life throws at ya brotha

[@livesoutdoors1708]

One thing we as farmers are finding …. No one wants to work so getting help has been a big problem. Good thing we can do it all (just about).

[@MyClutteredGarage]

Josh, this is probably the best video you’ve done. Love the talk and all the b-roll. Nothing better than real world experience and advice. Man, I’m with you regarding goats. I had them and if they didn’t go over the fence, they’d go under, around, or through. You have done an amazing job with the Stoney Ridge Farm. Hang in there! -Ed

[@kdegraa]

Having the family onside and supportive plus an income to keep going is important too.

[@Monkchip]

I think it's really a good idea to know and understand the (hidden) expense that occurs with a large land purchase such as yours, but didn't see you make 5 mistakes. Only saw a multitude of well thought decisions. Wishing you many years of prosperity! Wooo!

[@billyhaddock5540]

Congrats SRF on setting-us straight about running a Farm. lots and lots of money, and work. lv ur crazy videos.

[@PineyGroveHomestead]

Farm looks GREAT!! You've done so much work. And Yes, your #1 topic...cost....we're living through it now. It was never cheap, but in 2022 everything is 2x the cost easily. And that's with our "free" labor, right! Take care, Josh.

[@bob7478]

Josh, we bought 8.5 acres. You are sooooo right about the land being the cheap part. We did build our house on the highest point on a ridge. Great drainage, but did not anticipate the cost of concrete retaining walls. Ran electric to our chicken coop/greenhouse area. 250 yards of trench cost $7K plus $4K for the electrical. Then the costs for the tractor, brush hog. I could go on and on. Thanks for sharing your story.

[@erwinbrubacker7488]

T Y, Josh. For educating so many. At least you doing good with what you know, learn. I kept watching you with so many expensive toys, tractors, etc. Good job. Lord Bless U & your's.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

cost money to build a farm...toys, tools and more my friend

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Great video

[@jamescarnes5550]

And are you're the best with all your information. Good teacher

[@garys8415]

Enjoy and keep having fun, that’s priceless 🕊

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

If I ever wanted to start a farm, I don't now! LOL! More power to you. I'm glad there are people like you out there to have farms like this. It's a wonderful tradition!

[@chrisowen5497]

Great video! My uncle used to say that you are always going to make some mistakes, but you just have to learn from them and keep going. He ran his dad’s farm until he passed a few years ago, and now his son is keeping it going. Just keep it moving. Take care.

[@dalewcjr]

Thank you for telling us this very important items. I did the same thing upstate NY. Still working on it

[@martyh299]

Hey Josh, just checking to make sure you and the farm are okay. We live just across the line from you in Henry County, VA and tornadoes were close to both of our locations. Missed us but still did wind damage, especially near Ridgeway where our church is. Saw some limbs and signs down on our way there this morning. Keep up the great work you are doing. Your efforts help and teach so many folks!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

yeppers...safe and sound

[@huntera123]

Thanks for the transparency.

[@theBakersonafewacres]

I have a lot smaller farm than what you do but have done 100% of the infrastructure including the house out of pocket. I don't recommend that. It's taken almost 20 years to get to a place where I only feel slightly overwhelmed with the workload that is still in front of me. 🤪 I have also worked 50-70 hours a week off property, so that really cuts into the progress. Also I underestimated the time needed for rest and recovery, especially as ive aged.

[@critical-thought]

Thank you for sharing these pointers. I totally agree … buying the land is by far the least expensive part of the process. Especially with the rise in costs lately. It is no joke.

[@jeannedigennaro6484]

This is a real eye opener. Looking good, SR farmer!

[@safffff1000]

Thanks for the costs, so rare people say that. I admire you saving that much money to start and run this farm.

[@karenfrye805]

Thank you this is my dream!!!!

[@AuneRanch]

Thanks for sharing. We are also 1st gen ranchers in Montana. We have done things & then re done them. It all costs money to get things running & it’s a tough business with small margins so every penny counts. It is so much harder to have to redo things as we spend money redoing things to make them right but it happens.

[@dmark6699]

Very good information Josh. I worry about the coming animal feed prices and how high prices will go.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

get ready ...it's gonna hit you in the grocery store soon!

[@iseere]

Thanks for this a young female farmer who has fallen due to her mistakes, I find this encouraging n funny.... thank you, I'm not quitting now.

[@brenda9140]

Thx Josh

[@tonygough8713]

Good information Josh, people should listen. Thanks for your good videos.

[@sickmannduane633]

Wow ... a brutally honest ... very informative ... video, for anyone considering an undertaking similar to your own. I was impressd Thank You for sharing your insights!

[@chatoriveras63]

I’ve put the cart before the horse lol with goats

[@pekinknollfarms9235]

Great topic and tips. Definitely a lot of expense that people are not aware of. I have seen several jump in with both feet trying to do to much to fast. Most of them have lost interest or lost everything due to debt. You must be prepared for the unexpected and sometimes (in most cases) make do with what you have now in order to survive and grow. Very good video.

[@bryceferg5519]

Hope your doing well buddy. I had my goats in my neighbours veggie patch, they had just planted out everything and they don’t have much! Love my goats. But can be a pain.

[@mwanatz5980]

Thank you.

[@vinceg6337]

Oh man, been there! The chicken debacle of 18. My now dead to me tractor that needs a part I can't get. Plus I learned the hard way, tractors are designed to pull a plow. Everything else is a compromise. A skid steer is the way, at 2x the cost(and weight) of a mid size tractor I can't justify it. But then if you do plow, cut hay, you need a tractor....lol. After all that I've found it cheaper to hire out the tractor work for what I need. Oh and all that, plus the spraying, grading, etc, is just to MAINTAIN our property. We're not even trying to grow stuff yet!

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

not too sure where you got "tractors are designed to pull a plow" because they are much more than that. I have both a tractor and skid steer and both are very handy...I don't plow at all on the farm

[@russellbaughnjr6457]

Very informative video Josh, thanks for being so candid about mistakes made, maybe others will learn from your information. Good Job!

[@barryskaggs7187]

LOVED "Don King" :-)

[@henrymorgan3982]

It's all about scale. More land, more animals equals more money, more time and more expensive equipment. Josh is right, do the math FIRST! Thanks Josh! We are searching as I speak for a nice homestead in Missouri. Wish us luck!

[@jtc1947]

@ HENRY.... Y'ALL gonna farm? Raise any kind of critters? GOOD LUCK! Maybe Y'ALL will encounter Doug & Stacy ??

[@dungeonmaster6292]

Missouri is terrible. Go somewhere else.

[@rustychambers7816]

Amen...I'm feeling it

[@darrenh5665]

Awesome advice Josh - many thanks for taking the time.

[@charleswise5570]

Josh, thanks for sharing this important information! So others don't make the same mistakes. My question is a deep one. One that might be the basis of a video. What or who inspired you to become a first generation farmer? Was it your upbringing, your military experience, or your nursing career? Could it have been a combination of all three? Your videos are inspiration to me, as well as many others. Thank you in advance.

[@muhammadrizwan7179]

Oh man, great and honest information. You really deserve a salute!!

[@kurtbrown9618]

A great video topic ( if your haven’t made it yet) is lessons learned with certain types of contractors / for example a lower cost quote for equipment operator but they may be less experienced and efficient to it’s not actually less. Or things like leaving a hold back payment amount agreed upfront until all the cleared debris has actually been burned and buried, since there is a pattern of operators clearing land but not making the return trip or during the process burning the piles.

[@fmeach7711]

Great info Josh. It takes money and a lot of effort.

[@martinmeltzer2696]

Hey Josh! NOBODY gets it all right the first time, and ANYBODY that says they did is telling a fib. It is okay to make mistakes... as long as they can be corrected... it's all part of the learning curve. I suppose the object is to make NEW mistakes and NOT keep repeating the OLD mistakes. Ha, ha, ha, ha! In a lot of ways, we learn more from our mistakes than our successes. You are following your dream... and if you keep at it... you will eventually achieve your goal. The "Pursuit Of Happiness" and all that. More power to you!

[@juancortez4726]

Thank you for all your insight... I wish many other homesteaders really put out the numbers when they're talking about running their farm/hobby farm/homestead... I don't mean they go over the numbers in EVERY video for every little thing, but every once in a while we like it when they put the numbers out there so those of us that are studying you guys get a better idea... thank you for doing just that... in this video, you've made me think about things and it's going to make me plan better... please keep up everything you do for your viewers, it's making a difference!!

[@otiskeithwatkins1679]

That's a beautiful background you picked. If you'd put some of those vehicles up on blocks I'd think we were related.

[@____________________________.x]

Thanks. The most useful aspect of any educational video is 'sharing how much stuff costs', doesn't matter if it's a cow or a drill or a computer, if people don't have a ballpark figure of how the economics of that decision works then it's just some random showing off their shiny new cow/drill/computer. Like a new drill costs say 200, but then I can do job X with it so it's payback will be 6 months

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

well....it's a bit more complex than that buddy....because if I don't have a drill I can't drill a hole...so the return is often not something that's gonna be a simple "buy this....takes this to pay for it" You can lay out the costs all you want...but build fence....cost is just part of the consideration...function is the other part. So it's not simply dollars spent v/s dollars earned because you're increasing your property value and net worth also

[@____________________________.x]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer yep for me it’s looking at what opportunities are out there within my skill set and then what investment in equipment will make that viable, it’s not so much a capital investment, it’s just having multiple income streams. I guess yours is more like building a factory, nothing really gets shipped until you have the production line up. So it’s nice when you mention how much a say a cow/fence costs, as then we can see the whole acres per cow thing in context 👍

[@mkbcoolman]

I just closed on my land this week, and I'm looking forward to starting my 20-acre regenerative farm. This info is pure gold...upfront costs are no joke. Fortunately, our land already has sturdy fencing around the perimeter. The land has also never been tilled, insofar as I can tell. Recent rains have really greened up the pasture, and it's already pretty dense will several species of natural grasses. I'm excited to see how it will look after rotating cattle and chickens for a couple of years. There's a small cattle pond already, but the land has a natural slope which will allow us to put in a cascading series of ponds. The plan is to have them all filled from a small water well with a trickle pump putting out 1-2 gals per minute. That gives us ~2000 gallons per day, which should be sufficient for our needs. The plan is to have each pond be able to access 4 paddocks.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

My advice is keep your cattle out of the ponds. They will ruin them. Build gravel watering areas and only allow the cows to drink by fencing off the rest of the pond with electric fence. Cows will ruin the pond and the ecosystem around it my friend

[@mkbcoolman]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer Oh wow...that's good info! You've saved me a lot of headache.

[@stellarjayatkins4749]

@@mkbcoolmanGreg Judy talks about this in several of his videos. If you NEED to give them access to your pond or other water source, make sure their access point has solid ground, preferably rocky. And hot-wire around it so they can only access by sticking their necks under the wire and can’t walk into the water. If you don’t they will ruin your pond very fast.

[@mkbcoolman]

@@stellarjayatkins4749 Yeah that's my plan. We've decided to have more sheep than cattle. But I'm still looking to build several watering holes with gravel around the edges with hot wire just inside the bank so the cattle can't get into them.

[@khan2910]

Thanks for Info Buddy 👍

[@angelzhomestead]

I'm listening to advice b4 I do anything with my land I purchased last year.

[@patriotref7536]

Great video Josh thanks. Going thru the beginnings of some of that now. Appreciate the insight

[@techdivaful]

Thanks for being transparent about the challenges you have faced, they've helped me rethink a few things! You totally nailed it. Besides the learning curve - fencing and equipment are my biggest challenges at the moment, and they boil down to $$ flow. I may have to learn patience along the way, (life doesn't happen on my timeline 😂) but I see that this process (building patience muscles) as just another benefit. No doubt I'll overcome the challenges and find more to boot. Every dollar and drop of sweat put into building something I am passionate about is worth it. This way of life is something that I can share with my community, friends and family. The work and shared concepts are a heritage that can be left behind. It's a beautiful sight to behold, seeing you live your dream, inspiring man! Keep up the good work. 👍

[@kevinlangley5515]

Awesome info Josh!! Thanks buddy

[@davidlang576]

GREAT GREAT GREAT Thanks

[@farmerandadeleacres2726]

Love your channel!!

[@calmahoney5959]

You must have the Patience of Job yo do what you have done God bless you !

[@74Spartan]

Love your work brother from Australia Down Under👍🏼🙏🏼

[@Clark4345]

Really great video. Thank you. And yes, I have made the mistake of animals before infrastructure!

[@dolorescreekranch7185]

Great topic. My biggest issue is wanting it all done NOW.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

better get over that idea....it takes time and money to get this stuff done....I'm into it 6 years now and made monumental steps.....lots of worry, time and money....how do ya eat an elephant? One bite at a time!

[@tauraigura9361]

Thanks for a very educational video

[@patriotallen9717]

Cart before the horse. My wife wanted to expand our chicken run and coops. She bought a coop and tore down a part of the run before we had the material to expand it. So the baby chicks had to spend a week inside the coop until the run was completed. Left out some details but you get the gist.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

man...that's just normal everyday stuff there brotha.....it's tough to keep up...especially when animals are constantly depending on ya

[@NGU09513]

Thank you!

[@BrianJoyce-dk2sg]

Informative, thanks.

[@scottsmith6846]

Hey Josh thank you for the video now I know a little bit more of what I didn't know so that means that it'll take me years maybe 20 years before I get at least halfway there so it don't make a difference to me as long as I have my property because Rome wasn't built in a day I'll get there slowly when that Gloria's day comes and hopefully it's soon

[@batpherlangkharkrang7976]

Hi.... Josh, thank you for showing your video homestead 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 bye 👋 👕🐔🐓🐣🐥🐕🐈🐐🐄🐖🐝🌱🏡🎥👍👍👍

[@moorabinda]

Great advice 🇦🇺

[@Spartan-cz8wc]

Awesome video

[@jamescarnes5550]

Build a cistern to catch that water

[@philliplucke1339]

Great video bud love the information

[@carlosrodriguez5900]

Great info and great video.

[@samwitty1462]

Great information, thanks!

[@canadiangemstones7636]

I’m amazed. Last I heard about cattle was that the selling price was lower than the cost to feed ‘em. Had no idea people were still doing this. Good luck.

[@terresiagregg9326]

Thanks so much for the video great advice

[@matthewtaylor2185]

Practical question, Josh: you have the sawmill now, and contracting out the logging didn't pay that much...I have heard that from many others as well. Do you think it would have been more practical to have the sawmill first and log the timber yourself and sell the lumber? Slower pace of clearing, but you keep more of the resources to reinvest in the land.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

not at all my friend....so in order for me to be in "lumber production" then I'd have to run that mill 8 hours a day every day....folks seem to have a skewed view of what raw lumber cost....let me tell ya...folks aren't jumping out of the woodwork to buy lumber off the mill. Best money earned on that mill is milling someone else's lumber for them as a mobile mill. Then you can make $1k a day or so

[@matthewtaylor2185]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer well, 40 hour week logging wasn't exactly what I meant, because the market may not make that practical in your area. BUT it may be possible to do over time with very little debt. I think the debt cycle is why so many farmers end up abusing the land because they have to run more cattle and feed more and over graze and so on. 15 years ago I was enamored with the idea of buying a mill and contract sawing for land owners. I didn't see a lot of money there for all the dealing with distance and people unable or unwilling to have a proper setup for you when they are on your schedule. My neighbor has an electric wood mizer for that reason. 3 phase power runs through here and he said it was always more practical to bring logs to him. I know what I have paid for walnut, cherry, poplar, cedar, and pine at the sawmill, and it is astronomically more than what you make from having it logged. I have five kids under ten, one with some expensive healthcare needs, and debt makes me very nervous.

[@dstafford2200]

Yeah the equipment and setup for running cattle isn't cheap by any means. We just got our yard fenced off here this weekend to keep the cows out. Man the land is cheap the labor and equipment is a killer on the pocket book. Josh keep.upnthe great work on the farm buddy.

[@stormbilly6767]

🤣 that is a good video. Think we all can relate to having screwed up atleast once. Great video and list! Stay safe up there and keep on growing 🤠

[@richardwilkens4577]

I sold my house in town 3 years ago and bought 32 acres in a valley built my house and a small barn now have 42 acres and access to close to 200 for crops and hay. I have 15 beef cows and milk 16 dairy cow at the moment

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

so you know what it's like to spend money and not make enough to pay yourself eh? lol...it's a tough grind for sure!

[@richardwilkens4577]

@@StoneyRidgeFarmer its been a challenge but I but older equipment and that helped alot my newest tractor is 1978 John Deere 4040 and the oldest is the 1951 model A the my grandfather bought new in 1951

[@joanhilton8495]

Good information 👍

[@SimonTekConley]

Yup on all of the above. I still will buy used though.

[@stepitupmorons8704]

great stufffff,, good stuffffff,, thank you,,,

[@crookedpines]

Great info! We just put an offer in for 12 acres in Central NC. Can’t wait to get farming!

[@tinacoleman200]

I commented on an older video, not realizing it was so long ago. My question is…… how long do you leave the chickens in each water bath? Love the video! Started processing my own chickens. Watch your video over and over before I processed my first batch. Am thinking about showing others as well. If they ask how long in each water bath (cold, colder, coldest) I’d like to have some sort of answer besides 🤷🏼‍♀️ lol Thanks for the video

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

there's no set amount of time....just enough time to cool them off a bit....once you start working with them you'll get it...it's pretty simpl and very common sense once you get started....if you don't have a 3 bay sink then simply use 35 gallon food safe barrels. Just use your best judgement...you'll know..I promise...the birds will cool very quickly

[@tinacoleman200]

Awesome! Thank you

[@5049444448]

Hello happy 💗

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

if this is your phone number as your youtube handle..let me recommend you change this asap my friend

[@s.pursell8901]

Have you ever considered putting a swale in behind your your house and garage? I know there (buildings) are not going anywhere anytime soon. I know you have the equipment to do it. But probably not the time. I put a swale in right after hurricane Katrina. And it eliminated all my water issues and I directed the water where I wanted it to go.

[@StoneyRidgeFarmer]

I installed a french drain system...works unless we get a huge storm dropping 2 inches or more in an hour

[@jims3650]

Josh, I own just 22 AC and I do not have large animals and the cost is there. I had to do or some of the same issues that you are talking about. I had to get some the equipment your mentioned. I have a compact tractor and it cost , and the accessories needed to keep up the farm . I am having to up date the fencing and that cost a lot of money.

[@ronniewalker2881]

Good video good content 👌

[@HollerTenn]

Good stuff man… thank you.

[@jalopyjoe4483]

very informative. wooooo!

[@quantumhomeimprovements]

Great advice Josh! Very honest of you which will help others to hopefully avoid the same issues!!!

[@shawn8163]

Anyone else find themselves singing Stoney ridge wooo!

[@ShortbusMooner]

Mistakes acknowledged should keep them from being repeated! 😉 Hope the Mothers (cows, chickens?) in your life have an Absolutely Wonderful Day!! 🥰

[@thomasyerbey337]

Great video Josh 🇺🇲 WOOOOOO 🇺🇲