Host the ideal harvest swap now + goals? Achieve them faster than ever!

Oh and is raising livestock essential for a successful homestead, or can a plant-based homestead thrive just as well?

Is raising livestock essential for a successful homestead, or can a plant-based homestead thrive just as well?

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In Today's Edition:

  1. Homestead Tip šŸŒ±

  2. Poll Results From Last Sunday šŸ“Š

  3. All Things Homestead: Hosting a Harvest Swap šŸ˜Š

  4. Personal Development: Setting and Achieving Personal Goals šŸ’›

  5. Today's Top Picks šŸ›ļø

  6. Letā€™s Keep It Reel šŸ¤£

Brought To You By:

The Automated Backyard Micro-Farm That Works While You Relax!

Learn how one inventive soul turned his backyard into a powerhouse of productivityā€”on nearly autopilot! Imagine your backyard buzzing with life, producing:

  • Over 1,500 eggs from ducks and chickens

  • More than 12,500 quail eggs

  • Loads of meat: 210 lbs. of duck, 230 lbs. of chicken, 175 lbs. of rabbit

  • Fresh veggies galore: 120 lbs. of tomatoes, 30 lbs. of bell peppers, 110 lbs. of cucumbers

This system runs itself, using nature's own principles where every part nourishes another. The best part? The owner spent most of his time on vacation while his backyard did all the work. Experts are baffled they didnā€™t think of it first!

Donā€™t miss out on revolutionizing how you think about self-sufficiency and food production.

Homestead Tip of the Day:

Leave some parts of your garden undisturbed to provide winter habitats for bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. This might include leaving dead stalks and seed heads or creating brush piles.

Poll Results From Last Sunday šŸ“Š

Do you think thereā€™s a deliberate effort to discourage rainwater collection for self-sufficiency?

 šŸŸ©šŸŸ©šŸŸ©šŸŸ©ā¬œļø Yes, they want us dependent on the system.

 šŸŸØšŸŸØšŸŸØā¬œļøā¬œļø I think there could be some truth to that.

 šŸŸØšŸŸØā¬œļøā¬œļøā¬œļø Itā€™s an interesting thought, but Iā€™m undecided.

 šŸŸØšŸŸØšŸŸØā¬œļøā¬œļø No, thatā€™s just a conspiracy.

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! šŸ˜‰

Also, follow us on Facebook and Pinterest for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

All Things Homestead

Hosting a Harvest Swap šŸ˜Š

A Harvest Swap is a simple event where people can trade surplus garden produce, homemade items, seeds, or even tools. Instead of letting your extra veggies go to waste, you can swap them for something you donā€™t have, like fresh eggs or a loaf of homemade bread.

How to Host a Harvest Swap

1. Pick a Date and Location: Choose a date that works for your neighborhoodā€”weekend afternoons usually work best. You can host it in someoneā€™s yard, at a park, or even a community garden.

2. Spread the Word: Get the word out using social media, community boards, or flyers. Let people know what kinds of items they can bring to swap, like produce, seeds, homemade goods, or garden tools.

3. Set Some Simple Rules: Keep things fair and easy to understand:

  • Bring clean, fresh produce or homemade items.

  • Label any homemade goods, especially if they contain allergens.

  • No money should change handsā€”itā€™s a swap, not a sale.

On the Day of the Swap

1. Set Up: Set up tables or blankets for people to display their items. Group similar things togetherā€”produce, baked goods, etc.ā€”so everyone can easily see whatā€™s available.

2. Start Swapping: Once everythingā€™s set up, let people start trading! Whether itā€™s tomatoes for jam or herbs for fresh eggs, the fun is in the variety and the conversations. Thereā€™s no strict rule for how much to tradeā€”just let people figure it out and enjoy the spirit of sharing.

What to Bring

If youā€™re wondering what to bring to a Harvest Swap, here are some ideas to spark inspiration:

  • Fresh veggies (like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers)

  • Fruit (apples, berries, peaches)

  • Herbs (fresh or dried)

  • Homemade jams, pickles, or salsas

  • Baked goods like bread or cookies

  • Eggs, honey, or flowers

  • Extra seeds, bulbs, or gardening tools

Pro Tip: Want to make your Harvest Swap even more fun? Add snacks, drinks, or some music. You could even set up a table where people can swap recipes or share gardening tips.

Personal Development

Setting and Achieving Personal Goals šŸ’›

We all have goalsā€”whether itā€™s growing your own vegetables, learning a new skill, or making life on the homestead more productive. But sometimes, those goals can feel a bit overwhelming.

In Smarter Faster Better: The Secrets of Being Productive in Life and Business, Charles Duhigg shares some simple strategies for setting realistic goals and actually reaching them. Letā€™s break it down so you can start achieving your personal goals, step by step.

1. Use SMART Goals

  • Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound
    SMART goals are an easy way to make sure your goals are clear and doable. Instead of saying, ā€œI want to grow more veggies,ā€ try: ā€œI want to grow 10 types of vegetables by next spring.ā€ Itā€™s specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

  • Why it Works:
    Clear goals are easier to tackle. When you know exactly what you want to do, you can break it down into actionable steps.

2. Focus on One Goal at a Time

  • Donā€™t Overload Yourself
    Itā€™s tempting to tackle everything at once, but juggling too many goals at the same time often leads to burnout. Start with one or two priorities. For example, focus on setting up your garden before adding new projects like beekeeping or building a greenhouse.

  • Why it Works:
    Narrowing your focus helps you give your best effort to what matters most, making it easier to succeed.

3. Break Big Goals into Smaller Steps

  • Tackle Small Tasks First
    Big goals can seem intimidating, but breaking them down makes them more manageable. If your goal is to build a chicken coop, start by planning the design, buying materials, and scheduling a weekend for building.

  • Why it Works:
    Small steps feel less overwhelming, and every step completed gives you a sense of accomplishment.

4. Track Your Progress

  • Keep a Log
    Whether itā€™s a journal or a simple checklist, writing down your progress can be really motivating. If youā€™re learning how to can food, keep track of the recipes youā€™ve tried and how each batch turned out.

  • Why it Works:
    Seeing progress, even if itā€™s just a little, helps you stay motivated and tweak your plans if necessary.

5. Stay Flexible

  • Be Ready to Adjust
    Sometimes things donā€™t go as planned. Maybe your garden didnā€™t produce as much as you hoped, or you had less time to work on a project. Be flexible and adjust your goals if needed.

  • Why it Works:
    Life happens. Flexibility keeps you from getting discouraged and helps you keep moving forward.

6. Celebrate Your Wins

  • Enjoy the Successes
    Donā€™t forget to celebrate when you hit a goal! Finished your first batch of homemade soap? Built your raised garden beds? Take a moment to recognize your hard workā€”itā€™s worth it.

  • Why it Works:
    Celebrating keeps you motivated for the next goal and reminds you of the progress youā€™ve made.

All in all, progress is progressā€”no matter how small. Stay flexible, keep going, and youā€™ll be amazed at what you can accomplish!

The Steady Homeā€™s Giggle Chamber

How do leaves get from tree to tree in the fall?

They take the autumn-mobile.

Today's Top Picks šŸ›ļø

Letā€™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!

  1. When your motto is ā€œtry and try againā€ with plant care:

@plantsoftiktok.world.86

Not me buying the same plant I have killed 3 times already. #plantdaddykoss #plantsoftiktok #planthumor #stringofpearls

  1. If you want a peek at how I chat with my plants, hereā€™s a spot-on visual:

@thepalmstreetapp

We know that feeling! Thatā€™s why our sellers make sure to provide you with high quality plants that will ensure healthy and happy leaves! ... See more

  1. When your plant finally grows and you canā€™t help but get super excited:

@itsdanielsamuel

When you spot new growth on your recently repotted monstera #newgrowth #newleaf #monstera #houseplants #bigleaf #myhouseplants #plantcomed... See more

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