Introduction to Lean Homesteading
This is a story about weaving looms, cars, shoes, and how it can change the way you run your homestead!
There are certain innovations that not only changes an industry, but change the entire world. The invention of the computer is one example, another is when Apple released the first smartphone.
I want to introduce you to an innovation that you may not have heard of but has changed your life. This innovation changed the wold of…
Property Update
I’ve learned since moving to Missouri that I need to be a little bit more proactive about checking the weather forecast. We got rain so infrequently in Utah and I learned to see the signs of rain coming. In Missouri, rain comes more often and I haven’t yet learned to see the signs so sometimes it surprises me and my plans for the day get washed away. I decided to check the weather last week and was surprised to see one day with a high of 72 degrees! I thought maybe that would be a good day for us to visit our property again. I checked the forecast for that location and it was showing a high of 74. I couldn’t ask for better conditions! We had to make some decisions regarding infrastructure and building plans but we needed some information first. So we made plans and headed out for the day.
What Animals Should We Get Next?
As I’ve gotten more active in the homesteading community, one of the most frequent questions I’ve seen is, “...what animals should I get next?”. Usually, those people already have chickens and they are looking to expand. When I hear this, my mind goes to the movie “I, Robot” where Will Smith plays a homicide detective named Spooner in a futuristic world that uses robots to replace most of the tedious work that humans have been doing. The man who invented the robots named Dr. Lanning has been killed and police assume it is a suicide, however, Lanning has left a mysterious pre-programmed hologram asking for Spooner to investigate.
Why we decided to blog
Some of you may be wondering why we decided to start a blog in favor of something more cutting edge like an exclusive YouTube channel or TikTok. Don’t we know that blogging is dead? It’s a thing of the past??? Youtube is the new blogging! Tiktok is the new Youtube!
Technology is always changing. I love to watch Youtube videos! They have become an integral part of my life. Especially when we have a vehicle issue! Youtube mechanics to the rescue!!! We actually talked about starting a Youtube channel. We talked about it for a long time. I imagined what kind of videos we’d make and different camera angles, etc. I took note of what was working well for different channels that I liked to watch and what didn’t do so well.
The Problem with Homestead Advice
She asked me a few questions about our homestead situation and I told her a little bit. She was pretty eager to give me homestead advice. I like it. I like to hear what other people are doing and why. I know I have a lot to learn. However, sometimes usually you’ll get conflicting advice from people on homesteading. That was the case here.
Did God Mess up Your Feet?
In a spur of the moment decision as we were getting out of the car and onto the trail, I ditched my boots and only took my sandals. Many of the older leaders scolded me for setting a bad example but I just had different tastes and different experience.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 13
So far in this journey I had learned about the importance of not allowing myself to stress out so much before a trip, how to repair/rebuild a trailer, and a lot about how to take-in apart and reassemble the intake manifold on my truck. The next part of the journey was an opportunity to learn about tires. Trailer tires in particular.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 12
In one day, our move went from being just around the corner, to covered in fog with no sign of when or how it would happen. Our truck was demolished… The front of the trailer wall hit the tailgate of the truck and bent in the trailer wall about 2 feet. It was obvious that some of our things inside were going to be broken. Of most concern was our heirloom piano which was loaded right up against the front of the trailer.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 11
Finally the day came. We were leaving that day no matter what! Especially since all our bedding and everything was packed already. Unfortunately, by the time we got it all packed up and were 100% ready to go, it was already dark. Our plan was only to go a few hours to Kanab and spend the night with family then get on the road for good. Unfortunately, by this time, I was exhausted, stressed, and hadn’t had nearly enough sleep.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 10
One of the systems I wanted to work on was water. We planned to buy a gas powered pump and a water tank that would fit in a truck or trailer to get water from the creek. I was frustrated when I drove a good distance to buy a pump and they were out of stock. They were also more expensive than I expected. Electric pumps were cheaper. I started looking into 12 volt DC systems that can run directly off solar but it started to get a little complex. I wanted a simple solution. I looked at AC pumps and they were way cheaper and had more selection. Then it hit me! We had a portable power station!
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 9
It was clouding up and we could hear thunder in the distance so we figured we would go grab something quick like a peanut butter sandwich and keep working until the rain came. We headed back to the trailer and just as we started getting food, I heard a few rain drops hitting the trailer roof. I told Ethan I was going to go back to get the tools put away while he made food for us. By the time I got back to the build site, a large storm had rolled in. It was thundering, pouring, and blowing like crazy. I got the tools gathered but was 100% soaked by the time I got back. Water was already running on the ground and the heavens unleashed!
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 8
Then it happened. The one difficult neighbor pulled up. She had a nasty look on her face and she pointed at me and signaled for me to come over. My first reaction was to totally ignore her. I didn’t really want to talk to her and I had set my boundaries through text. I didn’t want her to think that she could just summon me at her whim and I would obey like a dog. However, something happened that I wasn’t expecting. It was like a fierce lion sleeping deep inside me woke up and roared. I felt a strange power well up from within. Something told me to go deal with that woman.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 7
At this point, I felt like I had removed the obstacles needed to finally get some work done on the road. However, there was one more. This obstacle was a little more complex.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 6
… I felt like I had all these tools and they were all rebelling against me. It was another big disappointment. Finally, I sat down and I just prayed. I asked God what I needed to do to fix the tractor. The answer that came surprised me.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 5
After returning home, we had finally started getting some good momentum on our house projects in Utah. There is always a lot to do, but we were feeling better about many of them. We continued to work toward that and selling our businesses. However, time waits for no one and the deadline for our road was approaching quickly. The old easement was expiring soon and the new one was not yet in a condition that was navigable.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 4
As time drew on, we knew we’d need to find our way out there and start working on this road project. We have a time limit, so while funds are limited, time is even more limited. I tried getting our new neighbor on the phone to discuss details but she wouldn’t reply to me. Finally, I told her that we are coming to work on the road and that they are liable for half the cost so if they want any input, to call me back or I’d just send them the bill.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 3
…we very much underestimated how much more gas money we would spend hauling 7 people, lots of gear, and a 25 foot trailer across the country. Then, the other thing we didn’t expect was that we would have car problems all the way there. It was intense, and stressful. We were having issues in the barren desert of Northern AZ in the middle of nowhere. We were just pushing to try to make it to the nearest city.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 2
We probably looked at hundreds if not thousands of properties online. Finally, there was one that caught our attention more than others. It was very interesting. It had a home on it and it belonged to an Amish family. We knew we wouldn’t want to live in that home forever, or even remodel it. But we thought that having a structure in place while we build would be very valuable.
The Great Off Grid Ozark Adventure: part 1
I was outside working last year when Mary came out and showed me a blog post she stumbled upon. It was written by an herbalist who had 30 acres in the Missouri Ozarks. The description and photos were amazing! The price point was even more amazing!
Why I chose to homeschool
Honestly, if I had known about homeschool as a kid, I would have loved to have done it. I had a VERY rough school experience. Right away in first grade we started alphabetizing. I struggled with it for some reason. It took me a long time and I had to sing the ABC song EVERY SINGE TIME! (Ok, I have to admit that I still do that on occasion). It took me three times longer than the other kids and the more nervous and self conscious I got, the slower I got at it. My teacher was a grumpy, frumpy, stern woman who had no empathy for children and had no business teaching sensitive young children like me.