How to move a Homestead

After more than 30 years in the first and only house we ever owned, my hubby and I are moving from Illinois to Kansas. We need to be closer to family and have a house that we can truly age in place in. However, this was never in the cards til recently. Now in addition to a huge downsize and move of house stuff, I need to figure out how to move all of my perennial flowers and veg, berry and nut bushes, garden art, chickens, ducks, koi, 2 outdoor cats and an outbuilding full of tools, wood and various and sundry stuff.  We are 6-8 months out from the construction being done. Downsizing is daunting enough, but when adding in all of the other, its pretty much overwhelming. I am looking for suggestions and advice from anyone who has survived such an ordeal!

Hello Laura,

That's a big move you've got ahead of you! But no worries, you'll get there.
Make lists. That way you don't have to remember everything, and you can check off or score out things that have been done or decided to leave them out.

I'll start with the easier stuff: chicken and ducks can travel in cardboard boxes. Make sure there are enough and large enough ventilation holes in the upper part of the boxes. If you'd be moving in the summer I'd suggest travelling at night, but looks like your moving is going to be in the winter?
Once arrived, you should keep the chicken in the coop for at least 24 hours, 48 is better, to let them set their homing-radar I don't know about ducks.

You'll have to lure the cats with something they can't resist and perhaps wear welding gloves when catching them (or are they all right with you handling them?). Be prepared to hear loud protesting during captivity... Cats need two weeks of inside time to reset their homing radar. Unless you have the feeling they're settling into the situation earlier... I've lost a cat before to moving house. The cat just wandered off and never came back.

Maybe start looking for a large styrofoam box for the koi to travel in? Fish shops might have them for keeping their merchandise cool. You'll be needing it/them for keeping your koi at ambient temperature. You'd be putting them in a large (or two large enough) plastic bags 2/3 filled with water from their pond and 1/3 with air.
You'll need to think ahead where to put them once arrived and prepare that at least two weeks ahead of time, for the biome to settle before the fish arrive.

This coming autumn, dig up all the perennial veg and flowers you want to take with you, and plant them temporarely in pots or even plastic bags. Keep them fairly tight together in crates, they'll support each other and buffer temperatures. Keep in mind you don't have to move ALL of your plants , just the best individuals of each species you want to save. You can always multiply them later.

Berries, bushes and trees: in their established, mature form they really don't like moving.
Berry bushes; maybe you can dig up and divide the best ones, making many out of one or two bushes?
Nut bushes; can you take cuttings at the end of this summer and root them in pots when the weather is still mellow?
Trees; ...cuttings?

Remember; it's going to be a new start! Leave space for new stuff to come to your life!! This is your Great Opportunity to choose ONLY that what really makes you happy (or any strong reason to carry something to the future) and gift, sell or recycle/discard the rest.

Good luck!

nina has given you some great advice.

I feel that moving the chickens, ducks and koi, not to mention two outside cats is a big undertaking.

Moving a household is another big task.

If this were my move I first would rent storage at the new location and beginning the move of the household stuff as it can sit in storage better than the live stock and perennials.

Next I would be transferring the perennials though they will need attention to stay alive so hopefully I will be able to be there often or hire someone to look after them.

The last to be moved would be chickens, ducks and cats.  Between the livestock and perennials would be the koi.  Would I need to feed them or hire someone to look after them?

Thank you both for the advice. I am finding that sentimentality is going to be my downfall, both indoors and out. So many
Of my plants were either started from seed or have come down thru family ( peonies and Iris). The other tricky bit is that
Our realtor is fairly certain that our 150 year old farm house will be purchased to flip and everything outdoors will be leveled. It somehow feels wrong to leave them behind. The other tricky bit is having somewhere for everything to go, even if it's just to store until spring and of course where the coop and cat houses will be, even before we have gotten to live there.....It will all be good, but right now it's freaking me out
Lists....I can do lists and lists of lists!

I have to congratulate you, I would not do such a move.
For anyone.
But I am not 'close' to family so I dont talk, meet or help them.
Well done.

Laura Trovillion wrote:Thank you both for the advice. I am finding that sentimentality is going to be my downfall, both indoors and out.
...Our realtor is fairly certain that our 150 year old farm house will be purchased to flip and everything outdoors will be leveled. It somehow feels wrong to leave them behind.

Good morning Laura,
I get the pain, I really do.
But somehow you need to find a way to balance it all, for the sake of a smooth-ish move and your own well-being.
I can't think of anything else to add than: take photos of everything!! Document in images what you have built, for you to return to whenever you want to.
Save seeds this season, to carry with you to the New Place.
Sometimes it's the smaller treasures, of the size of portable-in-the-pocket that are the dearest, not the bigger ones.

I had to move 2years and 3months ago, and leave behind the homestead I had. I didn't even know where I'd end up, in the first place I lived in a small rented space.
Now I'm watering my new garden, established from seed and plants from my old garden, from friends from near and far and from Adaptation Gardening seed swaps.
My animals make happy. There are a few chicken from the old homestead, a cat and a dog. Newcomers: more chicken, sheep and a horse! And 5 Sarasa fish in a pond.
We're FAR from 'yep, it's finished!' - I doubt it'll ever be "finished", but this place, and I, are humming with contentment and joy.

Take a deep breath. It'll sort itself out, one step at a time.
And if you ever feel freaked out (I did), overwhelmed (I did) or just interested to contact, send me a Purple Mooseage. You've got this!

Is this an “I own both pieces of land and can move stuff now” or I have to pack everything in one day and move or something in between?

If you own the new property and can afford it:
build a shop or buy shipping containers to store stuff at the new home.
Set up a nursery with shade and watering system so you can move potted plants whenever.
Plan the animal move for cool weather or at night or in an air conditioned space.

I know a guy that bought a school bus for his move. Picked one that was desirable for schoolies (highway gears, tall roof and working ac), stripped most of the seats except enough for the family up front, and used it like box truck. When he was done, sold it for the same he paid for it.

Thank you all who responded!
I appreciate your suggestions and advice!