In search of something new? A flighty homesteading couple has had enough...

I was scrolling YouTube videos and found this, about a young couple who one year ago decided to jump into homesteading. Now they're jumping out, for a variety of reasons which they go into.



Ponder this next to the SKIP program, and Otis looking for someone to will his land and stuff to...

Impressions? Do they seem a bit flighty? Do you think they had the skills needed to succeed? Do you think the family that put down a deposit to RENT their homestead will be successful?

j

The dream of homesteading and self-sufficiency is beguiling, sort of a mental escape hatch for young urbanites trapped in the rat race.

Most people work their way into homesteading activities by degrees, a little at a time. These folks went "all in" and perhaps didn't build their system to include time away to recharge their batteries and rekindle their passion.

They're not ready to be tied down. Fair enough. It would seem they have the funds and resources to spontaneously pick up and go, so they're not really chained to the land.

You don't know until you try. After an intensive year, I think they have gained skills and knowledge that will "stick." These will serve them well -- such things are never a waste of time. In the future. I wouldn't be surprised if they incorporated elements of homesteading into their lives even if they never go "all in" again. Or maybe they'll have a side business as "homestead sitters" to get an occasional dose without being locked in.

I like your take.  We truly don't leave our skills behind when we move on to something else.

At least they had an interesting year. I don't think they were doing a lot of permaculture, which maybe possibly would have shown them a path to less work/more output. But their operation was animal intensive, it looked like.

j

Douglas Alpenstock wrote:The dream of homesteading and self-sufficiency is beguiling, sort of a mental escape hatch for young urbanites trapped in the rat race.

Most people work their way into homesteading activities by degrees, a little at a time. These folks went "all in" and perhaps didn't build their system to include time away to recharge their batteries and rekindle their passion.

They're not ready to be tied down. Fair enough. It would seem they have the funds and resources to spontaneously pick up and go, so they're not really chained to the land.

You don't know until you try. After an intensive year, I think they have gained skills and knowledge that will "stick." These will serve them well -- such things are never a waste of time. In the future. I wouldn't be surprised if they incorporated elements of homesteading into their lives even if they never go "all in" again. Or maybe they'll have a side business as "homestead sitters" to get an occasional dose without being locked in.

Jim Garlits wrote:But their operation was animal intensive, it looked like.

Yes, and that can be a deal-breaker over time. It's easy enough to have a neighbour water your garden a few times while you're away. It's harder with animals that need constant care.

Not sure if I can watch...too cringey?

Were they tough at all?

Did they have any prior gardening, mechanic, construction experience?

Did they lack a strong vision/purpose?

Things take time to evolve. I've been living at what I can call my homestead for coming up on 3 years now. I've "wasted" probably a year of that (combined in seperate fragments) just being a lousy, lazy human that lost focus, got distracted, picked back up an old habit or 3, etc.

Being down and out is no fun, but I'm stronger here at this place now, than ever! New ideas, new prospects, same old "new" energy I've felt before ;)

The empowering truths of us holding on to high hopes are just a sunrise away so my advice to anyone would be to sleep on it before selling (or I guess in this place renting?) the farm.

Cole Tyler wrote:Not sure if I can watch...too cringey?

Were they tough at all?

Did they have any prior gardening, mechanic, construction experience?

Did they lack a strong vision/purpose?

Things take time to evolve.

Well yeah, I get it: in practical terms, a year is nothing. It's the warm-up act.

They had a fine experience for a year, and shared their experience with the world. Now they are off in search of new experiences. That is their business; no harm done as far as I can see. I'm sure the animals found a new home, or perhaps a new freezer in the sky.

I guess my point is that there is no single, perfect path. From my perspective, anybody who puts a shovel in the ground and grows food is part of the brotherhood. Good enough for me.

Certainly, the life is not for everyone.  Much depends upon expectations. The life seems to be easier if one moves in baby steps.  Our first serious attempt at homesteading was on 10 acres in MN.  After 4 years, we realized it was not meeting minimum expectations.  We took the time to find out why.  Then we worked out a plan as to how to address the identified problems.  My wife stayed on the homestead, slowly shutting it down.  I went off to find a new site that would address our concerns. When I found the general area and secured housing and a job, my wife sold off the MN property and moved with me. At that point I had contacted a number of realtors with specific details as to what I was looking. Most wanted to sell me anything they had.  One understood.  We have been at our present site for well over 20 years.