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Friend, I need to tell you something important: I never planned to become a homesteader.
When I look back at 2015, I see a young wife working 45 minutes from home, barely seeing my daughter for more than 3-4 hours on weekdays, and watching my husband grow a rough-looking sweetcorn patch that was more weeds than corn.
I wasn’t trying to build a homestead. I was just trying to survive.
Maybe that sounds familiar?
The Moment Everything Had to Change
By 2019, I was pregnant with my second child and staring at numbers that didn’t add up.
Daycare for two kids. Gas for a 45-minute commute. Groceries that kept climbing. My paycheck—the one covering our insurance and food—was barely stretching anymore.
I ran the calculations over and over: Keep working and go broke, or stay home and figure something out.
The math was brutal. But it was also clear.
I told my boss I wouldn’t be back after my son was born. And then I had to figure out how to feed my family on half the income.
What My Grandma Knew (That I’d Forgotten)
That winter, I remembered something. My grandma had a garden that fed her family. My great-grandma’s garden fed even more. They didn’t have grocery stores on every corner—they grew what they needed.
So I started looking at what we actually ate. Tomatoes. Cucumbers. Peppers. Corn. Potatoes.
Could I grow that? Even on 3.4 acres in the middle of crop country?
I didn’t know. But I had to try.
How I Started Small (And Why That Mattered)
Here’s what I didn’t do: tear up the whole yard and plant a massive garden.
Instead, I started with what I could manage:
- A small fenced garden (because rabbits are relentless)
- Vegetables I knew my family would eat
- One new skill at a time—growing, then preserving, then cooking from scratch
The first year? I failed at a lot. But I also learned what worked.
And here’s the truth that changed everything: You don’t need 40 acres to homestead. You just need to start where you are.
Year by Year: How Our Food System Grew
I wish I could tell you it happened overnight. But real change on the farm—like real growth in a garden—takes seasons.
2016-2017: Expanded the garden. Learned to preserve what I grew. Eliminated boxed dinners and learned to cook with whole ingredients. (2019 also brought food allergies into the mix, so I had to learn gluten-free and dairy-free cooking too.)
2020: Got my first chickens. Fresh eggs meant one less thing to buy.
2021: Added guineas, ducks, and turkeys. Started a polyculture orchard for fruit. It takes years to mature, but once established, it practically takes care of itself.
2022: Welcomed geese, honeybees, and learned to butcher chickens. That was a hard day, but it meant true food security.
2023: Added our milk cow and a small greenhouse to extend the growing season.
2025: Added pigs.
Each step built on the last. Each year, I added what I had capacity for—nothing more.
Where We Are Today (And What It Cost)
Our family of five now raises:
- 95% of our own protein (beef, pork, chicken, turkey, duck, eggs, milk)
- 70% of our own vegetables
- Working toward 50% of our own fruit as the orchard matures
My monthly grocery bill? $300. Many months, we trade for what we need.
Would it be nice to spend more? Sure. But we eat well. Really well. And we’re not worried about running out.
What This Means for You (And Where to Start)
I know what you might be thinking: “That sounds great, Cassandra, but I barely have time to keep up with what I’m doing now.”
I get it. I was there.
But here’s what I learned: You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to start.
Three Questions to Ask Yourself:
- What is your family eating most often? Start by growing those 3-5 vegetables.
- What skill could save you money this year? Preserving? Cooking from scratch? Raising chickens for eggs?
- What can you add when you’re ready? Not now. When the current thing feels manageable.
You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you need to be to take the next step.
The Real Reason I Share This
This isn’t just about saving money—though that matters when every dollar counts.
This is about taking back control when life feels overwhelming. It’s about knowing that no matter what happens with the economy, your kids won’t go hungry. It’s about building something that lasts.
I didn’t start with a plan to homestead. I started with a need to feed my family.
And you can too.
Ready to Start Growing Your Own Food? Here’s What to Do Next:
- Assess your situation: What does your family eat most? What could you reasonably grow or raise this year?
- Start with one thing: A small garden bed. A few chickens. Herbs in pots by the back door.
- Learn as you go: Every gardening season teaches you something. Every failure is just information for next year.
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to start.
Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Download my free guide: “5 Ways to Reduce your Grocery Bill” – with simple, actionable steps you can take this week.
Download Your Free Guide Here
Share your journey: What’s one small step you could take this month toward feeding your family from your own land? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear from you.
As I’ve grown as an entrepreneur, mom, gardener, and livestock owner, I struggled to find a planner that met my needs and kept me organized. So, I MADE MY OWN. You can look at it on the link below and buy it on Amazon.
Look inside the 2025 Planner 2026 is very similar
Don’t want the whole calendar part? I got you! I pulled the gardening and animal care pages out and put them in a book all their own.
Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Thriving Through Farm Life: Wife’s Support Network! In our community, we embrace the challenges of farm life and provide a supportive space for wives facing the complexities of managing a family farm. Whether you’re navigating financial pressures, day-to-day operations, or seeking ways to create a thriving home, we’re here for you. Explore garden and preservation tips for cultivating your oasis, share insights on animal care, and discover practical family budgeting strategies. Together, let’s grow through challenges, flourish authentically, and sow the seeds for a resilient and thriving farm life. Join us on this journey of resilience and abundance!
Starting a garden doesn’t have to be hard! I gathered all the tips I’ve learned over my gardening seasons and made them into a simple course to jump-start your gardening life.