So We Bought Land and Accidentally Started a Farm

I’ve always been a little obsessed with homesteading.

Not in a “shut the world out” kind of way — more like the I love people, I believe in equality, love is love kind of way… but also I want a garden, fresh eggs, and a life that feels a little slower and a lot more grounded.

I’ve been chasing this dream forever, but city life (and rentals and HOAs and “not yet” seasons) had a hold on us. And then, after years of talking about it, we finally did it — we escaped to the country and quite literally started a farm.

And when I say farm… I mean farm. Farm dogs. Ducks. Chickens. Bunnies. And yes, I already have goats lined up and ready to make their dramatic entrance.

Now listen — I didn’t imagine it would be easy… but y’all. It is work. Like, real work. The kind that makes you proud and tired at the same time. And if I could go back and tell myself a few key things before we jumped in, it would be these:

1) Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle

You are probably (actually, almost definitely) not going to have a picture-perfect garden, shelves of canned food, and homemade sourdough right out the gate. And that’s okay. Baby steps count. Progress is progress.

2) You can start before you “have land”

This one’s big. You don’t have to live on acreage to start homesteading. You can learn skills, cook from scratch, grow herbs, shop more intentionally, even start small routines — even in an HOA rental. I wish I’d done more of that earlier.

3) You will have a billion ideas… and you’ll want to do them all at once

You’re going to want chickens, a full garden, a greenhouse, bread, bees, a farm stand, and a compost system by next Tuesday. You can pace yourself… or you can be like me and full send. Either way, just know: it’s normal to feel like your brain has 47 tabs open.

4) Research before you commit to animals

I cannot stress this enough: farm animals are not all “the same but fluffier.” The types of chickens and ducks alone will humble you fast. (Ask me about the time I accidentally ordered meat chickens… when I was absolutely not ready for all that.) It’s wild out here.

5) Expect the unexpected — and prepare to fail a lot

You’ll mess things up. Things won’t work. Something will escape, break, die, freeze, flood, rot, or explode (sometimes emotionally). I’m only just starting, and we’ve already had a handful of failures. Don’t sweat it. Learn, adjust, and keep going.

This is the start of my homesteading journey — messy, real, and very much “figuring it out as we go.” If you’re new too, you’re in the right place.

Happy homesteading, from one newbie to another. 🤍🌿🐓