Our Journey to Homesteading: Embracing Simplicity and Self-Sufficiency

Hello and welcome to our homestead! My name is Troy, and alongside my wife, Sarah, and our two young children, we’re on a journey toward a simpler, more self-sufficient way of life. Whether you’re concerned about the future, looking to get back to basics, or just curious about homesteading, we’re excited to share our story with you. We hope to inspire, inform, and bring you along for the ride as we navigate the challenges and rewards of living off the land.

Why We Chose Homesteading

Two years ago, Sarah and I made a bold decision to move out to a 20-acre plot of my family’s land, leaving behind the conveniences of city life to embrace the joys and trials of homesteading. We were drawn to the idea of reconnecting with nature and providing a wholesome upbringing for our children, who are now 7 and almost 4. Watching them grow up surrounded by animals, learning the rhythms of farm life, and experiencing the outdoors every day has been one of the most rewarding parts of our journey.

While the lifestyle isn’t always easy, it’s given us a deep sense of independence. We’re learning to grow our own food, raise animals, and teach our kids the value of hard work and self-reliance. It’s a slower pace of life, but one filled with meaning and purpose.

Our Homestead: Longhorn Cattle, Chickens, and Goats

Over the past two years, we’ve gradually built up our homestead, which now includes longhorn cattle, chickens, and goats. Our longhorns are by far our favorite animals on the farm. While we haven’t butchered any for meat, they bring a sense of presence and character to the land. We have Big Momma as our picture for this article.

Our kids love helping care for the animals, feeding the chickens and gathering eggs. The goats are also part of the crew, they bring a lot of fun and personality to our homestead especially Banana.

The Joys and Challenges of Homesteading with a Family

Homesteading with young children adds an extra layer of complexity, but it also brings so much joy. There’s nothing quite like watching our kids run around the farm, interacting with the animals, and learning about the land. At the same time, it can be challenging to balance the constant demands of full time jobs, farm work and the needs of a young family. There are always chores to do, animals to care for, and projects to complete, but we try to make sure that family time is a priority too.

On the hard days, when things don’t go as planned, the smiles and laughter from our kids remind us why we chose this lifestyle. Watching them grow up in this environment—learning about nature, animals, and the value of a hard day’s work—makes every hardship worth it.

What’s Next for Our Homestead

As we continue on this homesteading adventure, we have big plans for the future. We want to enhance our vegetable garden, introduce our kids more to gardening, and continue growing our skills in food preservation.

Through it all, we’ll keep sharing the ups and downs of our life here—whether it’s the joys of a bountiful harvest, the lessons learned from mistakes, or the everyday moments that make homesteading with kids an unforgettable experience.

Thank you for following along on our journey! We hope our story inspires others to embrace a simpler, more self-sufficient life, whether you’re looking to start your own homestead or just want to live a bit closer to nature.

-Love

The Homestead Heroes