You can read all the books, follow all the YouTubers, and still feel like you got smacked with a shovel your first year on the land.
Ask me how I know.
Starting a homestead was one of the best things I ever did — but man, it came with a learning curve. If I could sit down with my past self (or with you, if you’re just getting started), here’s exactly what I’d say.
1. It’s Okay to Start Small
You don’t need 10 acres, a milk cow, and a $30,000 solar setup to be a homesteader.
I started with a 4×8 raised bed, a compost pile, and a beat-up shovel. That was enough. You build as you go.
2. Animals Are Amazing — and Exhausting
Chickens are cute. Goats are hilarious. But they also escape, scream, get sick, and attract predators.
Start with animals only when your fencing and shelter are solid.
3. Failing Isn’t Just Normal — It’s Required
You will kill plants. You’ll build something backward. You’ll forget to shut the coop door.
That’s not failure — that’s the tuition for learning how to live free.
4. Tools Matter More Than Gadgets
I wasted so much money on “homesteading gadgets.”
A good shovel, a sharp knife, and a solid hoe will take you way further than any $80 compost thermometer.
5. Your Time Becomes Your Most Valuable Resource
You’ll learn fast that you don’t have time for fluff.
You start asking: “Do I really need to mow this again, or should I build the rainwater system first?”
Prioritize like your freedom depends on it — because it does.
6. Weather Will Humble You
Rain, drought, wind, frost — they don’t care about your plans.
Always have a backup plan for everything: crops, water, power. Assume something will go sideways and prep accordingly.
7. Community Is More Valuable Than Gear
You don’t need to do it all alone.
Having one neighbor with a tractor, or someone to call when your well pump fails, is more useful than any tool in the shed. Build relationships early.
8. You’ll Learn What Actually Matters (and What Doesn’t)
You stop caring about TV, fast food, and the latest drama.
You start caring about soil, water, firewood, and whether your tomatoes made it through the storm.
It’s not just a lifestyle shift — it’s a mindset shift.
9. You’re Gonna Get Tired — But In a Good Way
There’s a difference between being drained from city stress… and being tired from building your own future with your hands.
One breaks you.
The other builds you.
10. You’re Gonna Screw Up. Do It Anyway.
You’re gonna mess up. You’re gonna waste time and money. You’re gonna feel like quitting.
But the wins — the first egg, the first harvest, the first real off-grid shower — those make every hard day worth it.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
Homesteading isn’t about looking like a Pinterest farm. It’s about building something real — one shovel, seed, and solar panel at a time.
And if you’re already on the path? Keep going.
You’re doing better than you think.
Related Posts You Might Like:
👉 Beginner’s Guide to Building a Backyard Survival Garden
👉 Top 7 Tools Every New Homesteader Should Own
Anything I missed? Drop a comment or shoot me a message. I’ll update the list with real advice from real people.
— VetStead