What We Wish We Could Tell Our Younger Selves About Starting to Homestead

Jan 3, 2026

Reflecting on two decades of homesteading, the hosts share valuable lessons from their early mistakes. They highlight the dangers of trying to do everything at once, emphasizing that a slower, focused approach leads to sustainability. From prioritizing foundational garden skills to mastering kitchen basics, their insights urge listeners to unlearn the perfectionist mindset. They also debunk myths about needing vast land for effective homesteading, reminding everyone that nurturing relationships matters most in this lifelong journey.

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ADVICE

Start With A Sustainable Rhythm

Find a sustainable rhythm that fits your life before adding more homestead projects.
Let basics like laundry and household systems run smoothly so homesteading tasks can fit calmly.

ANECDOTE

Scarring First Chicken Butchering

Josh describes a traumatic first experience butchering chickens that left them scarred for years.
They avoided processing chickens again for about a decade after that initial attempt.

ADVICE

Start Small With Livestock

Start small with new livestock or projects to learn skills before scaling up.
Aim for modest first batches (Josh suggests ~25) to understand needs and tools without burnout.

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After more than 20 years of homesteading, we are looking back and sharing what we wish we had known when we first started.

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, we talk honestly about the mistakes we made, the pressure to do everything at once, and the lessons that helped us find a more peaceful, sustainable rhythm. From gardening and kitchen skills to land size, infrastructure, and people-first priorities, this conversation is full of perspective for anyone feeling overwhelmed on their homesteading journey.

Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been at this for years, we hope this episode helps you slow down, focus on what matters most, and remember that homesteading is a lifelong journey, not a destination.

🎓 Join the How to Homestead Anywhere Crash Course - Learn how to homestead wherever you live and build rhythms that actually work for your season of life. 👉 https://classes.homesteadingfamily.com/crash-course

🍞 Grab my free bread workshop here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

🌿 Thank you to today’s sponsor, Farmhouse Teas - If you love a cozy, nourishing drink but want to skip the excess sugar, check out Farmhouse Teas’ Hushroom Cocoa Blend. It’s an adaptogenic mushroom cocoa that’s calming, customizable, and perfect for cold days. Use code "HSPODCAST" for 10% off. 👉 https://homesteadingfamily.com/hushroom-cocoa

📌 In this episode, we discuss:
• Why doing everything at once leads to burnout
• The foundational skills we wish we had focused on first
• Why bigger homesteads are not always better
• Letting go of the idea that you ever “arrive” at homesteading
• Keeping people at the center of homestead life

Thanks for spending time with us. We’re glad you’re here.

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MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
Visit us on our blog: https://www.homesteadingfamily.com
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/homesteadingfamily
Instagram: https://instagram.com/homesteadingfamily
Rumble: https://rumble.com/HomesteadingFamily

A few highlights you don't want to miss are our FREEBIES!!

Healthy Healing at Home – Learn how to confidently use herbal medicine in your home with this FREE 4 video workshop: https://homesteadingfamily.com/HHHyt

Your Best Loaf – A Free 4 video workshop teaching you how to make great bread at home, every time, regardless of the recipe you are using: https://homesteadingfamily.com/free-bread-workshop

Every month, I host a free live training on a new homesteading skill. This January, we’re focusing on herbal medicine and how to create an effective family herbal protocol to help stop the cycle of winter sickness. Join the free live training on January 22 and start becoming a confident family herbalist. Register HERE!