- The Steady Home-stead 🏡
- Posts
- Can You Build a Homestead in 100 Days? Yes! 💪 + Year in Review for Homesteaders 📈
Can You Build a Homestead in 100 Days? Yes! 💪 + Year in Review for Homesteaders 📈
Question of the day: How often do you find yourself buying paper towels?
Cedie Omaña
December 31, 2024
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Landscapes of great wonder and beauty lie under our feet and all around us. They are discovered in tunnels and caves, in flowers and weeds, in patterns of water and weather, in the mysteries of the common and the ordinary."
— Edward Abbey
HOMESTEAD TIP OF THE DAY
Don’t toss your tree! Chop it into mulch for your garden, use the branches as winter mulch, or place it in your yard to create shelter for birds and wildlife during the cold months.
How often do you find yourself buying paper towels? |
IN TODAY'S EDITION
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊
All Things Homestead: Your First 100 Days on the Homestead - A Beginner’s New Year Blueprint 🗺️
Personal Development: Year in Review – Reflecting on Wins, Challenges, and Growth 📈
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Tired of Overcomplicated Living?
Reclaim control and simplify with The Homestead Movement—a year-long journey to self-sufficiency, without the overwhelm.
I get it. Balancing life while wanting better for your family is hard. That’s why I’ve packed 12 months of hands-on, beginner-friendly challenges into a program designed to fit your busy life.
From pantry staples to herbal remedies, we make homesteading simple, approachable, and doable—even if you’re short on time or resources.
Start Small, See Big Changes:
January: Budget-Friendly Pantry Staples
March: Gardening Basics
June: Food Preservation
… and so much more.
You don’t need a farm or a lot of money—just the desire to make real, meaningful changes. Because self-sufficiency doesn’t have to be complicated.
POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY
If you had just a quarter acre, what would you prioritize to maximize self-sufficiency?
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Growing fresh produce for year-round use
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Raising small livestock like chickens or bees
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Building a greenhouse for extended growing seasons
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 A mix of all of the above!
via @beehiiv polls
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD
Your First 100 Days on the Homestead - A Beginner’s New Year Blueprint 🗺️
Starting a homestead is an exciting adventure, but let’s be honest—it can also feel overwhelming. Where do you begin? How do you balance everything without burning out? That’s where this 100-day plan comes in. But let’s break it down, month by month.
Month 1: Laying the Foundation
Week 1: Set Goals and Assess Your Space
Write down your homesteading goals (e.g., grow vegetables, raise animals, start preserving food).
Evaluate your land and available space for seasonal conditions (e.g., snow, heat, rain).
Create a realistic budget for tools, seeds, animals, and supplies.
Week 2: Plan Your Garden
Research your growing zone and current season.
Choose crops suited for the season:
Spring: Peas, radishes, lettuce.
Summer: Tomatoes, peppers, squash.
Fall: Kale, carrots, beets.
Winter: Focus on indoor gardening or prepare beds for spring.
Sketch a garden layout, including companion planting.
Week 3: Gather Tools and Supplies
Purchase season-appropriate tools: trowels, gloves, or snow shovels if needed.
Gather seeds, starter plants, or indoor growing supplies.
Source animal care essentials if starting livestock soon.
Week 4: Learn Basic Skills
Start composting with kitchen scraps or fall leaves.
Attend a workshop or webinar (online in winter or in-person in warmer months).
Connect with local homesteaders for advice.
Month 2: Taking Action
Week 5: Start Gardening
Build garden beds or prepare existing soil for planting.
Sow seeds indoors if frost dates haven’t passed or start direct sowing in warmer weather.
Add compost or mulch to improve soil.
Week 6: Prep for Livestock
Build or repair housing like chicken coops or rabbit hutches.
Set up secure fencing or enclosures.
Order animals suited for the season (e.g., chicks in spring, rabbits year-round).
Week 7: DIY Projects
Build a rain barrel or set up irrigation systems for dry months.
Start a small herb garden (indoors or outside).
Create windbreaks or insulation for extreme weather conditions.
Week 8: Introduce Livestock
Move animals into their enclosures.
Establish a daily feeding, watering, and cleaning routine.
Monitor for signs of stress or illness due to weather conditions.
Month 3: Building Momentum
Week 9: Expand Your Garden
Transplant seedlings outdoors (spring/summer).
Mulch heavily for moisture retention or frost protection.
Set up trellises or row covers as needed.
Week 10: Build Community Connections
Visit farmers’ markets or homesteading meetups.
Trade seeds, tools, or knowledge with local gardeners.
Take a seasonal workshop (e.g., canning in fall, pruning in winter).
Week 11: Start Food Preservation
Preserve seasonal harvests:
Spring/Summer: Freeze berries, pickle cucumbers, or dry herbs.
Fall: Can tomatoes, freeze squash, or dehydrate apples.
Organize your pantry for long-term storage.
Week 12: Reflect and Plan Ahead
Review your journal or checklist to celebrate wins and note challenges.
Set goals for the next season: expand your garden, add animals, or learn a new skill.
Share your progress with your community or online homesteading groups.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Year in Review – Reflecting on Wins, Challenges, and Growth 📈
Homesteading and life, in general, are full of ups, downs, and lessons, and taking a moment to reflect can give you clarity and a sense of accomplishment. Let’s look at how you can review the past year and use what you’ve learned to make the next one even better.
Step 1: Celebrate Your Wins
Let’s start with the fun part—celebrating your successes. Wins don’t have to be huge to matter. Sometimes it’s the small victories that feel the best.
Ask yourself:
What are three things I’m proud of this year?
Did I learn any new skills or start good habits?
What brought me joy or gave me a sense of accomplishment?
Step 2: Learn From Challenges
Challenges are part of life, especially on the homestead. The goat gets out. The tomatoes get blight. Things don’t always go as planned. But instead of dwelling on what didn’t work, try to focus on what you learned.
Ask yourself:
What was the hardest challenge I faced this year?
How did I deal with it?
What did I learn, and how can I handle things differently next time?
Step 3: Find Gratitude
Gratitude is like a warm cup of tea on a cold day—it just feels good. Thinking about what you’re thankful for helps shift your perspective and makes even hard days a little brighter.
Ask yourself:
What am I most grateful for this year?
Who supported me along the way? How can I thank them?
What simple moments brought me peace or happiness?
Step 4: Create Your “Year in Review”
Now it’s time to tie everything together. Think of this as your personal summary of the year—a way to see the big picture.
Try this:
What’s one word that sums up this year for me? (e.g., “Resilient,” “Learning,” “Grateful.”)
What’s the biggest lesson I learned?
If I could give advice to my future self, what would it be?
THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER
What’s a New Year’s party favorite in the vegetable garden?
Turnip the beet!
LET’S KEEP IT REEL!
I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!
When someone spots you in the garden with a tape measure again, and you’re just like, “Yep, nothing weird here, keep it moving!"
@samanthaxoxxx Every single time 😂🌿 . . . . . . . . . #gardenhumor #gardensoftiktok #humortiktok #fyp #funnyreels
When you pushed your brain to the limit earlier while homesteading, and it’s still rebooting itself:
@caseyyjeanss Lemme read that back #booktok #gardening #bookhumor #thrillerbooks #fyp #momswhogarden
ENGAGE WITH US
How'd you like today's newsletter? |