I often receive emails from readers wondering where to begin their homesteading journey. And much to their disapproval, I'm sure, I always respond with the same, vague answer (which I'm sure offers them no help but I say it anyway):
DREAM.
I can't overemphasis the importance of dreaming for the homesteader. Because, after all, who would choose this life if it were not a dream?
I can run to the grocery store and have a dozen eggs in a matter of minutes for a handful of change.
Or I can specially order heritage fertilized eggs, spend 21 days watching and hatching said eggs, have a 70% hatch rate, feed and water the chicks while they grow to sexual maturity, have an 80% survival rate of the remaining chicks, try and keep them safe from predators, wait for the first egg, clean their coop, continue to keep them fed, watered, and safe from predators, only to have a few hens escape and be eaten by a dog or die of, frankly, no reason at all. And then, eventually, get that dozen eggs.
You've gotta want this life. You've gotta day dream about it. You've gotta spend time wandering through fields of wild flowers in your head, remembering the hard work and loss but focusing on the beautiful and the present.
I, nor anyone, can really tell you where to begin on your own homestead. Where do your dreams begin?
My dreams began in a garden. Which is still one of the happiest places in the world for me.
Even now, with all our animals, land, and gardens, I still continue to day dream. Just ask my poor husband. The thoughts of breeding, fodder, pasture, and picket fences never cease.
Want to know what I'm dreaming of right now? Care to walk a few steps in my daydream?
I'm dreaming of a place of our own. A farm that we could own, whose ground would grow our homestead orchard that we could harvest for decades to come – and much, much more.
We've been so blessed on our current rented farm – how much we've been able to grow and harvest from it's soil.
…but since we're dreaming… if I were to build a chicken coop, from scratch on my very own farm, what would it look like?
… if I were to build a garden bed that would serve us for years, what would I surround it's borders with?
… if I were to remodel an old home, how long would it take me to splurge on an old cast iron, clawfoot tub? (Hint: Probably not that long.)
What sort of permanent fencing would I put up? (Hint: I hate hot wire!)
What sort of shelter would I build for my Old Spots? My rabbits? My milking cow?
These questions that I ponder in my dream will serve me well in the years to come. They give me momentum, drive, and focus on the road ahead for our farm. I'm simply not one of those people that can sit still and watch others achieve their daydreams. If it takes sweat equity, I'm all in. If it takes vision, I'm there. If it takes money and patience… well, I'm working on those parts.
I tell you this to encourage you, my friends. Because on the homestead, there will be moments when you find yourself with your arm halfway up a pig's backside pulling out a stuck piglet. And, even worse, moments when you find yourself burying the best farm friend in the history of the world. The loss and heartache on the homestead is incessant. If you don't dream… if you don't continue to dream… you'll crumble. Because this life can have it's moments of pure hell.
So dream! Dream of small accomplishments: raw milk, fresh honey, and a good cup of home roasted coffee. And dream of huge accomplishments: learning to milk a cow, butcher a pig, and chop your homegrown tomatoes into the best bruschetta.
Got a few window boxes for herbs? Perfect. Room on your apartment porch for some potted lettuce? Yay, you! 10 acres to play on? Booya.
Wherever you are – whatever you're doing – put your phone away, turn off Netflix, leave Facebook alone, and DREAM. Spend time in your thoughts and dream.
Want me to say dream one more time?
DREAM.
And Amen.
Kelly
Dreaming big. In the beginning of the dream! Great post!
Abby Jo
This was a lovely post… Daniel and I have been dreaming since day one ๐ We even had to take a step backwards, to fulfill our life long dream of owning a big piece of land, leaving our precious five acres behind. I’ll tell you it wasn’t easy, I still have yet to write about it. Dreaming is what keeps the dream alive!
St1ckyBum
I’m there. The land of “someday”.
Mary Margaret Ripley
I agree with Abby Jo. This was a lovely post and I too dream everyday of my homestead.
Olivia Watson
THANK YOU, SHAYE!
My husband and I want to homestead so badly but all we’ve done so far is dream. Thanks for encouraging me that there is purpose behind dreaming. You gotta start somewhere ๐ bless you!
Pamela
This is so beautiful. I’m working on my small farm, just on the border of the city. One small acre that also started with a garden.
Soon onto the land purchase and the build of our tiny house. It’s my dream and it takes a dream to be motivated!
Ellie
Nicely written! Any chance you could do a “look back/comparison” post on how far you’ve come in the last few years? In the spirit of Thanksgiving, of course!
Peacock Orchard
Just last week I was pushing a pigs anus back into it’s body with my hands while it was freezing outside. If not for the dreams of that eventual bacon I don’t know that I would have done to and with that pig what we did, and are still doing. We don’t butcher Thanksgiving because it is fun, we do it because we dream of the taste of that fresh, well fed, happy bird on our tables. Also, Thanksgiving was a biter, so there’s that.
I also dream of a cast iron tub. I’ve been looking for one. I’m excited! Good luck getting your own!
Ally | The Speckled Goat
Oh, I’m so glad that all my wild ideas have a safe space in this post! I’m good at the dreaming, not so good at the holding myself back before spending 29 hours researching rabbit breeds. ๐
Alan
When we got married my wife and I had a dream of someday having our own homestead . Being of the 60’s the “back to the land” idea was very big. All our lives we worked towards that goal. I am happy to say it is now coming very close for me. One must never lose sight of your dreams but keep them alive day by day.
Camille Olivia
I’m ALL IN on this one, Dear Shaye. I’ve come to know that when you can SEE it, you can CREATE it. It works for me! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Anna
This is lovely! We are starting with our livestock guardian dog now, and hopefully by the end of next year we will have our chicken coop ready for chickens! And from there, I can’t wait to dream more! Thanks for the encouragement Shaye!
Gregory Hogan
On this Thanksgiving, I wish you and your family the best. I share your dreams and hope you reach them a step at a time so that you always have more to dream. You are an inspiration to many.
Greg
Melissa York
I second your amen! Amen! Lovely post, Shaye!
Sarah
Beautiful! I feel so fortunate to have a family that supports my wild homestead dreams. There have been moments I’ve wanted to give up, but the dreams are what keep me going!
Shelley Story
Where do you order your heritage fertilized eggs from?
Shaye Elliott
We orders ours from a local breeder.
Tamara
Hi Shaye,
I have to tell you how much i love reading your post. We are just north of you, across the border in Canada. very small piece of land that allows us to have chickens, a few fruit trees, a veggie garden and a few beehives (LOVE Fresh Honey)!!!
My hubby and I definetely dream of homesteading a bigger piece of land but you’re so right about dreaming . I always say to my hubby imagine if we had a cow? Fresh milk? our own cream? buttermilk? Yoghurt? the list is endless! Dreaming of spring with the new little animals being born. That makes me excited ๐ I’m praying that God will provide us a little more land for homesteading but in the mean time we’ll just keep dreaming. Thanks so much for sharing your homesteading life with us ๐
Suria Esterhuizen
Writing from South Africa where a part of my dream is in the process of happening.
Thank you for sharing this. It inspires me to keep on dreaming …