Homesteading is an art that everybody can practice.
All it needs is a passion for learning, an ability to work hard, and the willpower to overcome failure.
But, many people who are planning to start a homestead are scared of doing mistakes at the early stage.
And that’s obvious because homesteading often involves tried and tested methods.
Some methods might work brilliantly for you while others can lead to utter disappointment on your farm.
Yet, you can stay one step ahead if you know some of the common mistakes that most homesteaders make initially.
And so, I was thinking of making you aware of these mistakes so that you can avoid them easily.
Here it is! Just scroll down to know the 11 mistakes most new homesteaders make (and how to avoid them).
Mistake #1: Not Having A MASTER PLAN Beforehand
Logically, planning is the first step of homesteading.
But, there are homesteaders who just start it anyway without a proper plan. Some of them don’t see the consequences or challenges that they might come across with.
Homesteading itself is a challenging journey that involves multiple tasks. And though you can’t be a master of all trades, you need to keep on growing your knowledge and skill. This is impossible if you don’t have a master plan.
You need to plan your budget for the land, seeds, livestock, and even the tools. Plus, planning the structure of your homestead and which crops to grow is essential.
And in case you’re looking for a financial opportunity, planning for how to achieve it is a must.
Mistake #2: Not Having A FENCE BUILT before Bringing Home Livestock
Livestock refers to the animals you grow in your homestead for food and entertainment.
While chicken is the most popular livestock, some homesteaders grow goats, pigs and cattle as well. But, many homesteaders do a mistake by bringing them before building a home for them.
If you plan to grow livestock in your homestead, building their coop, cage or at least a fence is a must. It’ll help you to ensure the safety and comfort of the animals from the first day.
And so, the best idea would be to plan for their shelter before bringing them to your new homestead.
Mistake #3: Not Having An AIRTIGHT BUDGET
Homesteading is expensive and to start off, you need to have a budget.
But, many homesteaders do the common mistake of spending a lot on unnecessary things in the initial years. And for this reason, they become clueless when it’s time for repair or poor harvest.
That’s why I keep on suggesting to every new homesteader to have an airtight budget. That way, you’ll be able to stash away a fund for crisis management.
And the startup budget should include every single expenditure starting from seeds to livestock and equipment.
Mistake #4: Not CHECKING ZONING Before Purchasing Your Homestead
Every new homesteader desires to be self-sustainable but that’s not easy.
If you want to rely completely on your homegrown crops, you definitely need to grow a good variety of plants. And zoning of the garden is something you can’t afford to go wrong with.
I’ve seen many new homesteaders not checking zoning before purchasing their homestead.
And ultimately, it leads to a situation of utter confusion about which all plants to grow and which ones to leave as the land and resources are limited.
Mistake #5: Growing Way TOO MUCH Food
When homesteading is a new skill that you’re adapting, it can be really difficult to estimate your crop.
And for this reason, many homesteaders end up growing more food than required. Though there are ways to preserve, some amount of crop gets wasted in the process.
But, it’s not impossible to estimate your crop and there are ways to do it. Depending on the cultivar and the number of your family members, you need to decide how many plants to grow.
And another way to ensure minimum wastage is by starting small and then expanding in the next season.
Mistake #6: Thinking Friends & Relatives Will SUPPORT Your New Lifestyle
Let’s confess that homesteading can also go in the opposite direction, leading you to instability.
And that’s the reason why your family and peers may fear about your future. So, expecting everyone will understand and support you will be a huge mistake.
As a new homesteader, you need to have faith in yourself to overcome all obstacles. And the journey is not going to be a cakewalk and so, the decision is all yours.
Considering all these things, if you still think homesteading would be fun, just go ahead!
Mistake #7: Choosing A Horrible Homesteading LOCATION (no shade, bad soil, etc.)
Location is one of the basic requirements when it comes to farming because a lot depends on the soil, climate, sunlight, etc.
So, choosing a horrible location for homesteading is definitely something you should avoid. I’ve seen homesteaders suffering hugely from this mistake.
For your new homestead, you need a good location with all the qualities for growing fresh crops. A moderate climate, fertile soil with proper drainage capacity and shade are such requirements.
And if you want to grow the best quality crop, choosing cultivars according to your climate is a must.
Mistake #8: Not Having FOCUS & Too Many Projects Going On
Starting small is the key to successful homesteading.
If you’re a new homesteader, you can’t lose focus on the things you’re growing and other related tasks. And that’s why too many projects can break your concentration and ruin all your effort.
I’ve seen some homesteaders starting off with a huge variety of plants and that too, in a small area. Also, they’ve included too many animals without proper shelter and resources.
This is something you really need to avoid if you want to succeed.
Mistake #9: Thinking You Will Be SELF-SUFFICIENT Immediately (or even in the same year)
Though homesteading can make you self-sufficient, it takes a considerable amount of time.
And if you think you’ll be able to rely on the firm for living immediately, you’re wrong. It can take more than a year or several years to make that happen.
To keep yourself motivated, you can join the homesteading community in your locality. To see others getting rewarded with a happy homestead will make you more assured of what you’re up to.
And needless to say, you really need to be patient.
Mistake #10: Not Being Knowledgeable On Local LIVESTOCK LAWS
In the USA, there are different livestock laws in different states and cities.
The laws usually come under the Animal Welfare Act regulated by USDA and other organizations. Raising animals without knowing these animal protection laws can be taxing in the long run.
So, all you need to do is know everything about the livestock laws in your locality. If that sounds difficult, you can consult an advocate who can enlighten you about the same.
And then, you need to make sure that you never break these laws in the future.
Mistake #11: Not Becoming Dedicated To LEARNING SKILLS (the right ones)
Homesteading includes multiple skills such as cultivation, preservation, and livestock management- just to name a few.
And if you want great success, you need to be a good learner. There’s no other way of making the most of your land, budget, and resources.
But, it’s also important to learn the right things from a reliable source. The best sources are books, online blogs, local farmers, etc.
And I’m always there if you need some useful tips and suggestions to lead the ideal homesteading lifestyle.
Conclusion
So, that’s all about the 11 mistakes most new homesteaders make (and how to avoid them).
These are the most common ones that I’ve seen a lot of homesteaders regret in the future. So, I’ve tried to keep the entire post simple so that everybody can avoid such mistakes.
With great power comes great responsibility. And for me, a self-sustainable lifestyle is definitely all about strength and power that demands great responsibility.
Now that you know how to avoid common homesteading mistakes, I wish you all the luck!
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Homestead Lifestyle Board!!
