Claiming Simplicity | Simple Life, Natural Living, Cooking from Scratch, Intentional Living, Save Money, Simple Systems

Where is Your Money Going? Creating a Budget and Being Frugel Will Help You Save Money on Your Farm Whether You are a Beginning Homesteader or Seasoned Homesteader

Hey Hey Friend

if you are not budgeting and spending large amounts of money and don’t know where every penny is going, it won’t seem like you are making anything and you need to be conscious of that.  It is like a job, I’m sure you know people that get a pay increase, but because their spending goes up with it, they don’t even notice the additional income.  I’m not saying that you won’t ever have a loss because there are season’s where you are doing alot of investing to grow and that is ok.  I just want to give you some tips and encouragement if you feel like you can’t get ahead but you are dreaming of homesteading and simple living.

 

First, lets talk about mindset.  You can do anything you put your mind to when you are partnering with God.  You know that you get what you think about, so if you think you can’t make money, you probably won’t!  If you think you can’t save money, you probably won't. Also, if you are in the scarcity mindset, that will keep you from achieving your goals as well.  When you have control of where each penny goes, it will get you out of that mindset.  Now, I’m not a mindset expert, so this is just from my experience and the experiences of people around me.   When I gave a bigger % of my income away, I received more and that meant trusting God.  Pay attention to what the Bible says……everything we have is His and when we steward well with little, he will give us much. Luke 16:10 from the Psssion Translation says the one who faithfully manages the little he has been given will be promoted and trusted with greater responsibilities.  But those who cheat with the little they have been given will not be considered trustworthy to receive more.  Sometimes we dont even realize we are not being faithful in the little things because it is something we have always done or it doesn’t seem like a big deal, but to God, those little things are big things.  Pray for God to convict you of those little things that you are not even aware of.

Next, if you feel like everything is expensive, think about where you are looking for things.  You don’t need a fancy looking chicken coop or buildings that costs you a fortune. You can also cut bottom of barrels off for waterers or feeding pails people give away, there are so many options when you think outside the box!

 

Now remember, I recommend starting small and growing as you learn because you don’t want to get in over your head financially or overwhelmed with too much to learn.  

 

Buy used whenever possible.  I was thinking about this as I have been putting off getting a new blender until I find one for a good price.  I see kitchen aid mixers and big items like that on craigslist or swap and shops because sometimes people have good intentions to use something, but then don’t end up doing something they bought the item for.  I get my kombucha jars free from restaurants and there are so many ways you can save money on your homestead!

 

I am always trying to find frugal ways to do things without being tacky or looking junky.  So my handy husband goes to the dump and almost every time he brings something in, he finds something we can use on our farm.  He has gotten wood we made animal pens with and raised gardens with.  He got a rake to pull behind the 4 wheeler for our driveway and many many other item.  He scores some pretty sweet deals so we don’t have to buy much new!  Something else you can do is if you notice someone has something in their yard or field and they don’t use it, ask them if they want to sell.  We have gotten pig huts and many other items that way as well. He gets free wood shavings from a lumber place and is always on the lookout for things we can use  He is always picking up good pallets to build gates, shelters and other things too! 

 

Our chicken coop just has tree branches across for the chickens to roost on and that has been amazing along with the free wood shavings he gets that we place on the floor that are easy to scoop up.  A neighbor was putting new tin on their roof and he asked if he could take it and has made several buildings with that and they were happy they didn’t have to get rid of it.  There are so many ways you can make your homestead nice without spending much money.  We found used solar fencing this summer and that has been amazing to just put up and move the pigs easily in the woods.  They sure enjoyed eating all those acorns!

 

Gas and groceries seem to be a large portion of our budget, so something you can do with gas is make your trips very intentional.  Try to combine things together to make less trips if you can and the next episode I am going to talk about how to save money on snacks.  I keep hearing people say that the snacks at the store have significantly increased in price, so I want to do an episode on how to save money on snack food from the grocery store.

 

I hope that you will consider trying out a few of these ways to save money and simplify so you can stop feeling stressed and overwhelmed and become profitable on your farm or homestead.  

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Love ya friend!

Monica

 

Simple Ways to Make Money Homesteading So You Can Earn Money While Enjoying Living a Simpler Life

Hey Friend!

Homesteading can be a fulfilling lifestyle, but it can also be challenging to make a living solely through homesteading activities. However, there are several ways to generate income while homesteading:

1. Sell your produce: Homesteaders can grow a variety of crops, fruits, and vegetables to sell at farmer's markets, local stores, or online marketplaces. You can also consider starting a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, where customers can purchase a share of your harvest at the beginning of the season and receive a weekly box of fresh produce.  You can sell eggs and sourdough, but those are things you would have to sell alot of to make a living, but a great way to bring in extra income!
2. Raise livestock: You can raise animals such as chickens, cows, pigs, goats or sheep to sell their meat, milk, eggs, or fiber. You can also breed and sell livestock, or offer services like pet boarding, training, or shearing.
3. You can create value-added products such as cheese, butter, jam, honey, soap, or candles using your harvest or livestock. These products have a higher profit margin and can be sold online or at craft fairs.
4. You can host workshops, tours, or retreats on your homestead to teach people about homesteading skills, farming practices, or sustainable living. You can also offer lodging, camping, or glamping options for visitors.
5.  You can offer your skills and expertise as a freelance writer, photographer, web designer, or consultant to other homesteaders or businesses in your niche.
6.  If your homestead doesn't generate enough income, you can work with a company until you are making enough on your own or you can sell products from a company you use and align with your values.  This is how I was able to transition from nursing. Growing a business while working full time  lets you transition out of a job as you replace that income

    

   It's essential to assess your skills, resources, and market demand before starting a homesteading business. You may need to obtain licenses, permits, or certifications depending on your business type and location. You should also develop a marketing plan, set realistic goals, and manage your finances carefully.

   Love you friend!
   

    

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Complete Pantry Staples. What I Keep Stocked and How I Organize My Pantry So We Don’t Ever Run Out of Common Food Items

Hello!

I'll discuss the essential supplies you need to keep your pantry well-stocked and becoming somewhat self-sufficient. Whether you're a seasoned homesteader or just starting your journey, you're bound to find some valuable insights in today's episode.

Let's talk about why having a well-stocked pantry is essential for homesteaders. In the last few years, the importance of self-sufficiency, food security, and being prepared had caused me to grow my pantry must haves to an even bigger list.  Anything I don’t have to buy at the store is a bonus and I am continually learning!  It is so amazing to me how simple it is to make many items and how  you can save money on food making items yourself!

When deciding the amount of basic staple items to keep on hand, think about the amount of that item you use and how long you can store the item for. For instance, can goods last years, but items like flour only last 6 months in the pantry and you can put it in the fridge or freezer to last longer, but I don’t like to use up my room in those areas for flour, so I only buy enough for 6 months!  Now I do go through alot of flour making sourdough, so I do buy it in bulk, but if you don’t use much of it, you can just buy a bag or 2 at a time.

One of the joys of homesteading is growing your food and preserving it!  It sure grows your pantry quickly.

You will want your pantry to be fairly well-organized, and items should be rotated regularly. So that I use up the oldest item first, I always add what I buy the the back of the shelf so I am constantly using up the oldest items first to keep things from getting outdated.

Building a well-stocked pantry can be cost-effective if you know where to look. Buying in bulk on things you use alot of and also buying things when they are on sale can save money on your grocery bill.

Remember, your pantry is the heart of your homestead, providing you with security, sustenance, and the means to share with others. Whether you're a homesteading veteran or just starting out, building and maintaining a well-stocked pantry is a rewarding journey.

 

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See ya next week!

Monica

 

7 Proven Strategies to Save Big on Groceries Each Month and Why You Want to Start Your Homestead Journey Now

Hello Friend!

Here are some ways to reduce your trips to the grocery store by producing and preserving your own food

First up, we have homestead meal planning. One of the keys to reducing your grocery store visits is planning your meals around what you produce on your homestead. Whether it's fresh vegetables, fruits, or even homemade dairy products, creating a monthly meal calendar based on what's in season and available can significantly cut down those trips to town and then plan weekly using up what you have. Find locally sourced raw milk, meat, eggs, and seasonly produce if possible!  Collaborate with neighboring homesteaders to exchange surplus produce or goods. Bartering can be an excellent way to acquire items you don't produce yourself, further decreasing your reliance on outside sources

 Next, let's talk about growing your own food. Consider cultivating crops like grains, beans, and root vegetables that can be stored for an extended period, but also growing what you use whether it be in pots or a small yard, you can grow all kinds of your own food even if you live in an apartment. By doing this, you'll reduce the need for frequent trips to stock up on staples. And if you can’t grow it, azure standard is a great place to order bulk or you may have a mennonite or amish store in your area that sells these items like we do!

Preservation is the name of the game on the homestead. You are going to want to learn various food preservation techniques like canning, dehydrating, fermenting, and root cellaring. These methods will help you extend the shelf life of your produce, reducing your reliance on store-bought goods.

Storing essentials in bulk is a tried-and-true method for minimizing grocery runs. Flour, sugar, grains—these are the items you can purchase in larger quantities to reduce the frequency of your shopping trips. I will add a quick bonus episode later this week with my pantry must haves that I always have on hand!

For those lucky enough to have farm animals, they can provide a consistent source of fresh eggs, milk, and meat. This reduces your reliance on store-bought protein sources and adds a unique dimension to your homesteading journey.

Another essential strategy is creating a cold storage solution. Whether it's a root cellar or a deep freezer, having a place to store vegetables, fruits, and meats for an extended period is invaluable.

Why not produce homemade items like bread, cheese, and yogurt using ingredients from your own homestead? This not only adds a personal touch to your meals but also reduces the need to buy these items from the store.

Continuously build your skills in food production and preservation. The more you know, the more self-sufficient you can become over time, reducing your dependence on external sources.

Lastly, don't forget the importance of community involvement. Join local homesteading or agricultural communities to share knowledge, resources, and experiences with like-minded individuals. Together, we can all strive for a more self-sufficient and sustainable way of life.  I started a monthly homesteading women’s event last month and we had an amazing turnout and really looking forward to next month!  It is such a blessing to be surrounded by like minded women!  If your in Central MN and would like to join us, just reach out to me!!!

 

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Claimingsimplicity.com

 

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xoxo,

Monica

 

Are You Living on Purpose? Breaking Away from the “Norm” and Simplifying Could Change Your Life

Hey friend! 

I hope you are having a fabulous day!    

I just want to talk to you about living life on purpose, so today you may want to grab a pen and paper or if you are driving, you can always listen to this again. If you are just going through the motions to get by each and every day, but not doing what God has called you to do, you may be unhappy.  I can’t believe the amount of people that go to college, get a job, but feel stuck and very unhappy in their every day to day life and look forward to the weekend instead of enjoying every single day, but feel that have to stay there.  If that is you, I want you to know you can change that!

Something that will set you apart is personal development.  Start reading some sort of personal development daily.  I started this many many years ago and it has changed my life in so many ways!

Jesus tells us that whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, so start right where you are at….go to the library and rent a book-there are so many! Jim Rohn, John maxwell, napoleon hill, robert kiasayki just to name a few and that is a fabulous start to changing your life.

 

Next, I want you to think about your life and visualize what you want it to look and feel like.  Write down all the details from the house you want to live in to the area you want to be to how it all makes you feel.  What is stopping you from being there and doing what you love?  Do you need to redirect what you are doing?  What can you change? What is keeping you in the unfulfilled daily job?  Really think deep about these questions.

 

Another thing I want you to think about Is an area in your life you could simplify so you don’t have to be stuck in the 9-5 rut and can start enjoying what you value most?  I know so many people that say they can’t quit their job because they cant afford to.

It is amazing to me that people value material items more than their everyday life-think about that.  Just in case you didn’t know this - you can’t take your possesions to heaven with you, so why are you doing something you arent enjoying just to gather stuff and try to look good for the people around you! 

Look around, do you have things you spent money on that you didn’t really need?  You can always downsize vehicles and your home to live the life you dream of.  I applaud all the people moving from larger cities to rural towns to raise their families and live a slower life.  It is so worth it!  

I look back now and can see how God interveved and helped up to skip that speedbump to get to where we are now!  I still do not know why we are where we are, but when God speaks loud and clear, we listen!  

We really are living the dream right now and it is so incredibly enjoyable, but we had to go through many obstacles to get here.  We had to say no to many things that would take us away from our dreams and it all takes time.  

 

And my last advice would be to get out of debt as fast as you can.  Make sacrifices, walk with Jesus daily, give abundantly and do with less for a short while and God will Bless you.  The first step towards living this life is to do something out of the norm that most people won't do.  

 

Send me a message and let me know what you are doing to take your first step to break away from what most people call the norm!!

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I

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Love you friend! Chat with ya next week!

Monica

5 Simple Ways to Keep a Tidy and Clean Home Even as a Busy Mom with Kids

Hello!

With having animals, moving and getting everything here ready for winter to make it convenient to feed and water all the animals, 

we rarely spend time inside, so even being so busy, I wanted to give you 5 simple ways to keep your home clean when you have little time to do it.  Once you get into a simple routine, you are more likely to keep it tidy!  

 

First, you may have to just make a list of the things you want to get done in the morning, you might have to get up a little earlier than normal, but if you prepare the night before, you will be able to establish a very easy cleaning routine in less time to keep your house clean. I like to have lunches ready, clothes out, quick tidy, counters cleaned off and dishes put away in the evening.  Then when morning comes, I can make coffe, toss a load of clothes in while I make coffee, read my Bible and pray.  I then do chores outside, make bed, shower, put dirty clothes in laundry basket, make breakfast, clean up, put clothes in the dryer and we head out the door or I sit down to work. It is very simple and doesn’t need to take alot of time.  The house is then clean when I leave or start working.

 

Next, this is key to keeping a tidy house - declutter so you have less stuff to manage! You know I am a huge fan of keeping it simple!   If you have less stuff to put in its place, you will have less time you need to clean.  The mess can add up much quicker if you have more items in your home. Since we just moved a few months ago, I’m still getting rid of things I don’t need or won’t use in this home.  If it doesn’t have a place, you don’t need to keep it!  It will be treasured by someone who can actually use the item, so freely donate items!

Third, is to have some sort of storage containers, hook or baskets for loose items.  Look around and see what is causing the mess and if you could implement something to combat the items being piled up.  This could be mail, clothes, or something you could catorgorize together.  For instance, my husband loves to try different spices when he cooks, so we had a whole cupboard full of different meat rubs and spices and we could never fine anything, so I got some baskets and I put the spices I bake with in one basket life pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon and things like that in one basket, his spices for meat in another one and salt and pepper separate from that.  It is so much easier to find now since we just pull the correct basket out and don’t have to dig throught the whole cupboard.  Simple solution, but it saves so much time and I rarely have to spend time reorganizing it!

 

Fourth, take 15 minutes a day to do a quick tidy…..set your phone alarm and you will be amazed at what you can get done in that short amount of time.  It is really refreshing when you have a clean house and you will be much more productive as well!

 

And Lastly, make sure the whole family is involved.  I always say to my kids, if you see a need, fill it.  So if they see that something needs to be done, don’t just walk by and ignore, just do it quickly.  Teach them young and it will be the norm for them!  It doesn’t mean they can’t make a mess…..when my girls are baking, making pasta or anything in the kitchen, it always looks like a bomb went off, but they know that when they get done, it needs to all be cleaned up and that is what they do!  Very rarely do I even need to remind them anymore, but it does take time to make it a habit!

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God Bless!

Monica

Simple & Quick Healthy Lunches and Snacks for Busy Moms with Kids in Many Activities

Hello!

 

I wanted to bring up some simple meals and snacks to send with your kids! If I don’t send nutritious snacks and drinks with the girls, they will end up going to a gas station and spending money they don’t need to on junk food, so I like to prepare as much as possible.

 

Something we always have on hand and the kids like is cheese sticks and summer sausage or beef sticks.  Anything Made with eggs and boiled eggs are another one we always have around since we have chickens!  We make our venison sausage every year at deer hunting and they enjoy it and it is a great snack!  Sometimes I will make sourdough crackers, although they only last a day in our house and I haven’t figured out a longer storage solution where they stay nice and crisp for a longer period of time, so if you have any tricks with that, send me an email.  But really…., they probably wouldn’t last that long anyway…they gobble them up quick!

 

We have an abundance of plums and apples on our apple trees right now, so apples and peanut butter is another good snack.  I also like to buy cuties/clementines to keep on hand because they seem to last a little longer than berries.  Frozen grapes are another fabulous snack that my kids love!  Any kind of fruit, but these seem to be our go to that last the longest.  Watermelon is a cheaper fruit and stored correctly can last for a few weeks!  We really try to eat seasonally if at all possible, so this time of the year, we tend to have more fruit and less during the winter here.  

 

We love to make sourdough bread and bagels, and that is a great thing to pack for lunches with ham or turkey and cheese.  I try to stay away from things they have to heat up, but it has been very handy to have little thermoses if they want to take soup, chilli, or hotdishes because it stays warm for quite some time.

Breakfast muffins and sweet breads are super easy to make in big batches and keep in the freezer and  yogurt, berries and granola are some other favorites that my kids enjoy and simple to pack.

 

We also can at least 150 quarts of pickles, so that is a super snack that travels well and everyone loves!  Olives are another good food to add.

 

I could talk about this all day, but you really just need to prepare if you want to save money because otherwise you will spend money on expensive convenience snacks that are unhealthy and cost you so much more!  If you want more recipes, I have just added the blog on my website and will be adding more and more simple recipes for you to help you save money that are nutritious so you feel confident giving your family quality foods at a low price.  Go to claimingsimplicity.com and check it out!  I will be adding more recipes soon that you can use with your garden produce!  

Website:

Claimingsimplicity.com

 

Join our Community of Christian Moms ->

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See ya next week!
Monica

Keeping Life Simple and as Minimal as Possible Means Surrounding Yourself with Other Homesteaders and Building Community With Other Like Minded People

Hello and Happy Labor Day

Today I  want to discuss how important community is as we have been so amazed by the neighbors within a few miles of our home.  Everyone helps everyone and it has been such a blessing in so many ways.  The weird thing is that we only moved  5 miles, but we have been surrounded with the most helpful people we call friends as they have helped us navigate so many things with adding 23 pigs and helping us get ready for our 4 dexters coming in about a month to helping us casterate piglets for the first time.  We have had a huge learning curve on our farm as we have had chickens and goats for a long time, but this will be the first time with pigs and cows.  So far it has been a fun experience with the pigs and we are really looking forward to the cows!!!!!  

 

There are so many things to learn and it has been so fascinating what we are learning along the way!  For us, we have worked on pens and fencing probably the last four weeks because as we needed more pens, we needed to make more space as the piglets get weened, another one will be having piglets anytime, so we had to move the boar out of that pen and then the boar cant be alone, so we put our American Guinea/Idaho Pasture Pigs in with him as they have most of our garden for next year rooted up.  It is a great time for the pigs to be in the woods right now because there are so many acorns falling from the oak trees and they are in heaven with all the vegetation.  It has been a process, but we are sure enjoying it!

 

With our cows coming next month, we had hay to cut and a neighbor borrowed us their machinery and we were able to buy a semi load of round bales from them as well as we will need a bunch for the winter because we never know how long that will be here!  

 

When we got our pigs, another neighbor had borrowed us their trailer to haul them and that was so helpful as well.  We have such incredible neighbors and we are able to pay back with heavy equipment work and my husband will be able to fix their equipment in the winter.

All this to say, reach out to those around you because it is so important to build community where you are at.  We are all in this together.  Reach out to others and see what you can help with and learn as much as you can from those that have gone before you.  

 

It is so nice that we can learn from you tube, but there is so much more power in surrounding yourself with those right in your own community.

 

I’m so excited to share that I will be having our first Monthly Women’s Homesteading gathering next month, so if you are in central Minnesota, we would love to have you join us.  DM me for the details or send me an email at monica@claimingsimplicity.com

https://fb.me/e/1dkvlPWsw

Have an awesome week friend!  Talk to ya next week!

Monica

 

How to Build a Small Farm as Homesteading Beginners When You Work Outside the Home and Time is Limited

Hello

I know you are busy and overwhelmed as a beginning homesteader working outside the home, but I want to help you to get started with less stress so you can enjoy the process of building your own homestead!

 

It can be exhausting thinking about all the things you want to do and could do, so I always suggest, start slow because there are so many things you can learn as you are trying to become somewhat self-sufficient!

 

One of the simplest things you can do is plant some fruit trees or bushes.  At our home we just sold, that is something we wish we would have done sooner.  We planted several different kinds of apple trees and were just enjoying the fruit the last couple years!  There are so many things you can do with apples, but I suggest you research what grows best in your area.  We have a long cold winter here in Minnesota, so we aren’t able to grow any kind of citrus trees here unfortunately, but we do use apples for many different things and the apples we arent able to use, the pigs, goats and chickens go nuts over!!!!  Luckily we have several apple trees and plum trees to the farm we moved to.  Another thing that I planted last weekend was rhubarb, it won’t be ready for a few years, but we use rhubarb for jams, jellies, pies, desserts and many other things and we like to freeze it so we have it all year long, so I wanted to get that going.  I have some strawberry and raspberry shoots I will be getting from a friend, so we are going to get those planted as well this Fall.  The nice thing about getting these fruits planted is that it is something you can do now and it doesn’t take much time, but then don’t have to do anything with them until the future, so find some time to get things like these planted!

If you have a small space or don’t have land, another activity you can do is learn how to preserve food just from either going to farmers markets and purchasing produce, or finding bulk items and learning different ways to make it. You don’t have to do a large amount if you don’t have the space to store it, but it is so good to figure out these methods!  Learning skills is something that you can easily do in your extra spare time and you don’t need acreage to do this, so if you are wanting to eventually move to the country, learn all you can while you are waiting.  You can learn how to make sourdough and cook from scratch with little time because I know you are busy!

Don’t complicate the process!  Sometimes we wait for things to be perfect, but like I said before, they most likely will never be perfect!  I like to simplify everything I do, so right now I am trying to make our pig pens, goat area and fencing as simple as I can for watering and feeding because I don’t have alot of extra time these days!  I have had to switch this around several times because we keep moving fencing to rotate them, so this is a process as we have never had this many animals and it is ever changing!

I hope these give you a few ideas to get started now even as you are just beginning no matter what your living situation is!

 

Website:

Claimingsimplicity.com

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:) Monica

 

Perfection and the Pursuit of Homesteading as a Busy Overwhelmed Mom

Hello

Let’s explore how the pursuit of perfection influences the homesteading lifestyle, and how the ideals of self-sufficiency and simplicity intersect with the human desire for perfection.

Do you strive for perfection in various aspects of life? I think of how perfection may stall you in your pursuit of homesteading.  Most things here on our little farm are not perfect…in fact I don’t know of anything that is, but if I was waiting for perfection, most things may not get done.  Here is an example from this last week.  We got 21 pigs 2 days after I went to look at a couple piglets!!!!  The neighbors down the road had to sell all their Kune Kune pigs because he was waiting on a transplant any day, so we looked at them on Friday and Saturday we were fencing and making pens because 3 of the sows had piglets and they each needed their own pens.  We used wood around our place to make pens, cut 5 gallon pails off for their feed and watering dishes and made it work so that we could move them over to our farm on Sunday!  We do really well on improvising so that we don’t have to spend alot of money, but that means things are not perfect!

Social media and modern culture contribute to the pressure of presenting a perfect life-I mean if I would have taken a picture today, I was filthy from working on animal pens and there was nothing pretty about it, so when I see these beautiful pictures on instagram with beautiful women in dresses in the garden or barnyard, I realize that it isn’t realistic for most people.

There is such an appeal of a simpler, self-sufficient lifestyle in today's fast-paced world, but you do not have to wait until you know everything.  It is good to start small and add, but you will learn as you go and you will never know everything.  There are so many things to learn when you homestead and it seems there are a hundred ways to do each thing because everyone does things differently!

There are so many benefits of homesteading, such as reconnecting with nature, sustainable living, and community building and I encourage you to just get started!

With homesteading, you will have setbacks, failures, and the unpredictable nature of farming and living off the land, so you will have to let go of the need for perfection.  I promise, you will find joy in the journey if you do!

Remember that the pursuit of perfection is a journey, but it is usually unrealistic with homesteading, so don’t let it steal your joy. Embracing imperfections and finding beauty in the process can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful experience, both on the homestead and in life.

Website:

Claimingsimplicity.com

Join our Community of Christian Moms ->

https://www.facebook.com/groups/claimingsimplicity/

Email -> monica@claimingsimplicity.com

Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/claimingsimplicity/

You Tube -> https://www.youtube.com/@claimingsimplicity/ 

 

xoxo,

Monica