Thinking about and planning a homestead is a rewarding experience, but let’s be real—I imagine the reality of it will be more like a never-ending obstacle course than a leisurely stroll through the countryside. We’ll be knee-deep in dirt, covered in sweat, and wondering why the chickens are plotting against us.

Missy and I have lived in the country before. Heck, I grew up in the country. Our son rodeoed so we’ve had several horses. At one time we had cows. We have fenced, planted, wrangled, painted, built, and done almost everything except chickens or a milk cow.

The good news is, while we’re waiting to move onto our next slice of paradise, we can start sharpening those old skills that’ll keep us from becoming a stressed-out-statistic.

Whether you are living the homestead life or just dreaming and planning for it, here are some things I have been thinking about we can prepare for in the meantime… and you can prepare along with us.

• Bear-Hug the Hustle (or at Least Tolerate It): I remember from times past that homesteading is like having a to-do list that breeds overnight. Something always needs fixing, feeding, planting, or harvesting. If you love staying busy and solving problems—or if you just really enjoy talking to your chickens about your life choices—you’re already halfway there.
• Time Management is Your New Best Friend: There’s a fine line between feeling productive and feeling like a squirrel on espresso. You’ll be balancing daily chores, surprise emergencies (like a rogue chicken or dachshund), and long-term projects. Learning to prioritize and schedule now will save you from future meltdowns when the fence collapses the same day the tomatoes decide to riot.

Use a planner, digital calendar, or cave drawings to write everything down. Whatever you use, be it digital or analog, the key is to write it down where you can see it and rearrange it when necessary. Put things to do on the calendar and plan backward. In other words, if you need to build a shed, for example, put ‘Build the Shed’ on the calendar. Ok, now what do you need to build the shed? Tools and materials. Make a list and plan to gather those on the calendar on dates prior to the actual shed building so when the time comes, you’re ready!

The secret to loving homesteading? Learning to embrace the chaos. But if the thought of never-ending projects and early mornings makes you break out in hives, that’s okay! This waiting period is our chance, yours and mine, to figure out if we’re ready for the adventure—or if we’d rather just visit a farmer’s market and call it a day. 😄

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