Tips for the Skip-Generation Homesteader
Hey y’all, welcome to Little Acre Homestead. Today, we're talking about a topic close to my heart – starting a homestead from scratch as a skip-generation homesteader. Little Acre Homestead, nestled between suburbia and acres of woods, is a testament to the perseverance and resilience it takes to set foot on this path. I hope it inspires you to come along.
The Skip-Generation Homesteader: Calling Back Ancestral Knowledge
You may be wondering, "Rowan, what’s a skip-generation homesteader?" Fair question - I just made it up. To me, a skip-generation homesteader is anyone who has a garden in their soul, soil in their bones, and a deep-rooted love for nature in the hearts. You are someone whose ancestors tilled and toiled, growing food and raising animals. And somewhere in your lineage, that history got broken. Maybe one generation back, maybe more, your family left the land for a different life. Not a better or worse one, simply a different one. And now here you are with dirt under your fingernails and a dozen questions, working to call back all the ancestral knowledge of your homesteading family before you.
Welcome. You are right where you’re meant to be.
Four Tips For Aspiring Skip-Generation Homesteaders
If you're considering starting a homestead from scratch as a skip-generation homesteader, I hope you find these tips encouraging:
Start Small: Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a homestead. By starting small, you won’t get overwhelmed and discouraged. Consider starting with a small project like building one or two raised beds or selecting seeds for the coming season. Begin with manageable projects and expand as you gain knowledge and confidence.
Embrace Failure: When we first bought our five little acres, they were almost entirely overgrown will weeds, brush, and trees - many of which were dead or dying. I failed to realize how much work it would be to make the land useable. And it nearly broke me. I felt so dumb, like a fraud and a failure. But through hard work and hard labor, our land is becoming useable. Don't let setbacks derail you. Have a good cry, then pick yourself up, dust off, and get back to it. Failure is part of the journey.
Find Resources: Connect with the homesteading community, both online and in your local area. Also learn about your local extension office. In the U.S., the Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network. Extension offices are staffed by experts who provide useful, practical, and research-based information to people like you. You can get soil testing done, find resources for canning, and so much more. You’ll find open arms and open hearts and people on the same journey who can help you.
Stay Passionate: Remember why you embarked on this journey in the first place. Let your passion for self-sufficiency, sustainability, and connecting with the land inspire you.
Starting a homestead from scratch as a skip-generation homesteader is challenging. It’s probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But it's also incredibly rewarding. Little Acre Homestead is a testament to what can be achieved through determination, a love for the land, and a commitment to a simpler, more sustainable way of life.
So, fellow homesteaders - whether you’re tenth-generation or first - embrace the journey. I hope it’s every bit as rewarding as ours. Little Acre Homestead welcomes y’all to the homesteading family with open arms.
