The Honest Truth About Starting a Homestead

Homesteading is one of the most fulfilling lifestyles — raising your own animals, growing your own food, building a home that reflects your values and intentions. But anyone who has actually gotten their hands in the dirt knows the truth:

The beginning is messy.
Rewarding? Absolutely.
But it’s also confusing, overwhelming, and full of moments where you think, “Why didn’t anyone warn me about this?”

So today, I’m sharing the top three pet peeves I had when getting started. If you’re just stepping into this lifestyle, maybe these will make you feel a little more seen… and a little more prepared.

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Pet Peeve #1: Everyone Has an Opinion — and They’re All Different

When you’re new, you want guidance. You want answers. You want reassurance that you’re doing it right.
But instead… you get 45 different opinions on:

• The “right” way to raise chickens
• The “only” way to plant potatoes
• The “best” feed, fencing, tools, breeds, seeds, or methods

And none of them match.

Ask one homesteader how to get rid of mites?
You’ll get ten answers.

Ask about watering seedlings?
Suddenly you’re debating philosophies that sound like they came out of a 400-page gardening dissertation.

Here’s what I learned:
You will never please everyone.
And that’s fine — because your homestead is uniquely yours.

Trust your instincts.
Learn through doing.
And remember that half of homesteading is figuring out what works for your land, your animals, and your lifestyle.

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Pet Peeve #2: The Learning Curve Is Steeper Than Anyone Admits

Homesteading looks simple from the outside — fresh eggs, garden baskets, adorable goats, jars of honey, and cozy evenings by the fire.

But the reality?

• Animals get sick
• Plants die
• Equipment breaks
• Weather ignores your plans
• Projects take twice as long and cost twice as much

And the hardest part is that you don’t know what you don’t know.

You’ll Google things at midnight like:

• “Why is my chicken limping?”
• “Is this plant supposed to look like this?”
• “How do you fix a greenhouse heater in December?”
• “What animal leaves that kind of footprint?”

Every day, you learn something new — often the hard way.

But here’s the secret:
That’s how every real homesteader learns.

No one starts out with all the knowledge. We all grow into it, one mistake (and one victory) at a time.

If you want a strong starting point, here are two of the best beginner resources:

• Virginia Cooperative Extension – Home Gardening
  https://ext.vt.edu/lawn-garden/garden-basics.html
• PoultryDVM – Backyard Chicken Care
  https://poultrydvm.com/

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Pet Peeve #3: Nature Doesn’t Care About Your Schedule

Homesteading is humbling because the land — and the animals — do not run on your timeline.

You can plan your day perfectly, and then:

• A chicken escapes
• A predator shows up
• A sudden frost threatens your garden
• A waterer freezes solid
• A storm rips a tarp in half
• A plant collapses for no reason at all

Mother Nature plays by her own rules… which means as a homesteader, your schedule is always flexible whether you like it or not.

And yes, that includes 4:30 a.m. feedings, midnight checks during storms, and the constant battle of “I’ll just fix one thing” turning into a three-hour project.”

It’s unpredictable.
It’s sometimes exhausting.
And it teaches you more patience than any other lifestyle.

But the payoff — fresh eggs, homegrown produce, quiet mornings, full freezers, and the peaceful rhythm of caring for land and animals — makes every inconvenience worth it.

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Final Thoughts: The Pet Peeves Are Part of the Journey

Every frustration you face in the beginning eventually becomes a story — a lesson, a laugh, a skill you didn’t know you’d master.

Homesteading isn’t about perfection.
It’s about learning, trying, adapting, and growing alongside your land.

And while the pet peeves can be real, the rewards are even more real.
You build resilience.
You become more self-reliant.
You grow a deeper relationship with your food, your animals, and yourself.

At J & J Homestead, the early frustrations are now part of the story we’re proud of — because they led us exactly to where we are today.