In truth, I think I’m doing it!!
The homestead led us to create the LLC, and from there, things began to take shape faster than I ever expected. Months before that, I had already started our Instagram page, website, and blog — all with the goal of creating the heart of the brand and defining who we are as J & J Homestead. Later came our Facebook page, and now I’m even looking at starting a podcast to share more stories and lessons from this incredible journey.
It’s amazing to see how many things have happened in such a short amount of time. I ordered a bunch of books, did endless online research, and started taking each step one at a time. And little by little, this dream that started as a small idea is becoming a living, growing reality.
The Dream Behind the Homestead
When we first talked about starting a homestead, it felt like such a big goal — one that could easily go sideways if we weren’t careful. We wanted to raise animals, grow food, and eventually share what we learned along the way. But creating a business from it? That felt like a leap.
Registering J & J Homestead LLC gave our dream structure and purpose. It meant that we weren’t just doing this for ourselves — we were building something to share with our community. Our goal is to sell eggs, vegetables, chicken, and honey while continuing to educate and connect with others who are passionate about sustainable, small-scale farming.
If you’re interested in starting your own small farm business, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) offers fantastic resources on small farm planning, budgeting, and local agricultural regulations.
Learning As You Go
If I had been guaranteed not to fail, I would have jumped into all of this much sooner. But truthfully, I’ve learned that the small moments of doubt and discovery are what make the journey meaningful.
From learning how to build a chicken coop, to managing our beehives, to understanding what grows best in our Virginia soil — each challenge has become a lesson. And every bit of progress feels like its own success story.
If you’re on a similar path or just starting to dream about it, there are so many incredible resources to learn from. I’ve found the USDA Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Program and the Homestead.org blog to be especially encouraging for those looking to get started.
Looking Ahead
Right now, I’m focusing on growing our online presence and building a community that values authenticity, learning, and the simple joy of working with nature. I’ve come to realize that the homestead isn’t just a place — it’s a way of life built on curiosity, determination, and faith that hard work will always pay off.
So if I were guaranteed not to fail? I’d keep doing exactly this — growing, learning, sharing, and believing that each small step brings me closer to where I want to be. I can’t wait to see where we are with it all this time next year.
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