The Campfire Trail: August 5 - DIY Homestead

August 5, 2022

Day 228 of the Adventure

Check out some select videos at the bottom of the page!

Martin and the Babe!

As we've been looking back on our journey to self-sufficiency so far, we've found people asking the same questions we did prior to our start. Mostly, "How do you start?" I believe that question needs answers tailored to each individual and where they are in the process. So many, however, are in the "Dreamer" stage where it's a dream with no clear-cut path to reality. Today's posting addresses some of that with 3 things you can start doing right now.

Start Saving and Reducing Debt - I know it seems overly basic advice, but still, it's one of the most important things you can do. Not simply for the benefits of debt reduction and savings. These actions help establish all important habits that will not only benefit you as you begin your new journey, they'll become essential "life disciplines" as you continue on your journey for years to come. As I encounter "Dreamers", one very common denominator in their lives is that of having nearly no resources to boost them into their new life of homesteading. Indeed, many are viewing homesteading, or off-grid living as a way to escape the realities of the high cost of living. The true reality is that even though it's possible to reduce your cost of living, it's very likely to potentially cost more than you can imagine when you begin this journey. Especially if the purchase of land is part of the equation. You don't have to be out of debt and you don't have to have any savings, but both makes the journey much easier.

Begin Accumulating Tools - As an owner of many, many tools, I can only say that the greatest frustration I experience is needing the right tool and only having wrong tools to do a job. Now, that being said, there is almost no limit to the number of tools you may find yourself needing in the future. That, however, is not all that important if you are in the planning stages of your move to homestead life. What is important is identifying the activities you will want to launch along with your adventure and tool up accordingly. In the homestead life, for example, gardening is one of the quickest and easiest activities you can start. Of course, the tools can be as complex and as expensive as a tractor with all the farming attachments. But it can also be as simple as a few hand tools you can pick up at home stores, department stores or even yard sales. The same would be true for construction related tools or animal husbandry tools. Wherever you plan to start, simply begin to "tool up" in those areas. Obviously, if gardening is a high priority, then tooling up in the area of canning and food preservation is also a logical step.

Begin Accumulating Skills - Just as important to your tools (maybe more important) is your accumulation of skills. Like tools, there is almost no limit to the types of skills you will find yourself needing and using if you choose a Do-It-Yourself Homestead lifestyle. In our journey, we've decided to do everything possible on the Homestead ourselves, at 61 and 63 years of age, that can be a serious challenge. Things like roofing, digging and pouring cement top that list. Nevertheless, we've done all of it. I know that it's easy to look at construction skills as potentially insurmountable, and they can be intimidating, but not impossible. Again, just like with the tools, it is plenty easy to start with something that is not so overwhelming. To me a great place to start developing skills is in the area of food preservation. Canning produce is a legitimate homesteading skill but also something you can begin to practice far ahead of time if your actual move to the homestead is not in the near future. As we began to build our property, almost all of our focus was consumed with infrastructure and construction. Any hope for a garden and storing up produce never made it onto this year's radar. Instead, we shopped local farmers markets and produce stands. That has provided us with surplus produce to begin the canning and freezing process.

You really can, Just Start! Take small steps that work with you where you are. As you begin to enter in the journey, other steps will begin to become much more clear to you.

Adventure Quote: “They say no land remains to be discovered, no continent is left unexplored. But the whole world is out there, waiting, just waiting for me." ― Lisa Ann Sandell

Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Woods (Colombia/Costa Rica blend)

Click the following links to start your own adventure with us:

Our DIY Homestead story and how it can help you!

Sunday Morning Outdoor Breakfast of Biscuits and Gravy

The end of July "Unfinished" Cabin Tour

Are we already at SHTF? (Stuff Hits The Fan) Are we there already?