I took over my family's homestead, hasn't been used or lived on for almost 15 years, it took a lot to remove the barns that collapsed and have it hauled out, but I have 160 acres! I applied and received 2 grants to help me with the project. Now I have 30 cows, 20 chickens, 10 goats, and grow my food in a green house!

It was 1985 and I thought the country was going to come apart. I was disabled with a small amount of income. I bought a $200 dollar 12 ft trailer and started to pay off some land. High desert, no water, brutal winters in the first 10 years. I ate peanut butter and didn’t go anywhere for 4 years until I paid it off. All in with a land contract, miss a payment - lose it all. Being in jail in solitaire confinement would have been easier. The trailer had no door just a tarp. Face it if you have little to nothing now you probably can make the leap. As an old hippie I wanted to do it back in the seventies. I had serious problems because of a devastating accident so I had no medical care and was hospitalized over 12 times in shock. Eventually in the course of twenty years I finally got well again. Live within your limits and accept that not everything is possible. But what I am telling you is find a piece of land and get a payment plan worked out. Over time you will find new solutions. It would take hours to tell you all of what occurred but just make the move toward your dreams.

I think we're going to be taking the leap next spring.

No better place to homestead than Florida where you grow vegetables year round, the variety of fruit trees is enormous and you can raise nearly any kind of animal. I’m 5th generation homesteader

If you want to see what a small scale farm can look like even in the city look up weed em and reap, have have several dairy goats, pigs, chickens, and a fish stocked on one acre and live in suburban Arizona. Also they have a small orchard as well.

Truthfully, anyone can start for nothing! Cloning plants and herbs, saving seed, using pantry grains for seed (raw peanuts, quinoa, beans, etc), composting waste, fermenting veggies, making sourdough bread, foraging, learning to sew and make clothing... The list goes on and on. It's so easy to dump money into it though! I'm always adding something that peeps or sprouts. 🐥🌱

I hope I can homestead someday. I’m 16 and trying to get started, our house at the moment has like zero yard space because we live in a small out in the middle of nowhere town. We have chickens I’ve raised turkeys for two years. I really REALLY want a goat or two but we don’t have the space :(

I would like to point out that you need to check zoning laws. I live in a rural area, but they don't allow livestock on properties under 3 acres. Ironic since I used to live in a suburban area that did allow livestock as long as they didn't create a sound or smell nuisance.

I really appreciate the fact you don’t have a lot of click bait in your videos. You have content rich information with how to homestead with integrity and humility. Thank you.

I imagined a dairy cow on the back of somebody’s apartment balcony.

Do people agree that homesteady is the best Channel

I think if you live in a suburban area and are in the dreaming/planning stage, see if you can join a community garden. You can learn gardening while surrounded by people who can help you and get veggies for the table.

SARAH speaks pretty much EXACTLY what I've been feeling and going through to maintain and still having that DREAM/GOAL of homesteading/farming!! Seriously, it sounds like a letter that I would be writing almost to a T. I'm blown away by how similar she sounds to me... (including the living alone part LOL). I too know I can do the whole homesteading/farming thing, but it's that FEAR OF STARTING that is ALSO that brick wall in front of me I need to break down.

Thanks for the detailed information, I really appreciate this. Keep making these videos!

Honestly I don’t know what I would do without you guys, I plan on starting my own Homestead within the next three years and I’ve learned so much watching these videos. Just want to thank you.

Thank you for your service, Sarah! Good for you to take the leap! It's a lot to think about, a big change, yet well worth the effort. You're awesome!

Thanks for the great video @homesteady - our talks currently have been mostly chickens, Cows, pigs, and maybe goats. But those things are still a bit further in the future, We've still got our education to get through and everything! and ofcourse, finding a place to start it all.. Thanks for answering my question!

We have bought our land, our house is being built. We are using your channel and others to help in our homestead adventures. Thank you for what you do.

Great advice! Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

I am glad I found your channel. You explain thinks so easily. I decided to subscribe. Because I was looking info about homesteading and I think I found the right channel. Thanks once again.

Thank you so much for your advices

The whole point is independence. If you don't own the land, you could loose your way of living at any point. Renting or using someone else land, doesn't make it.

Love seeing your subscribers growing!

I started in 1968. This is a topic I know a lot about. Start with 1,000,000.00 dollars and farm till it is all gone. Won't take long! :)

Excellent video, thanks so much for the tons of valuable content! We have been binging you guys as we pack up to MOVE to our first homestead!! 🎉

Awesome video thanks for the information

Thx for awesome videos :) i have a small homestead in Denmark and live mostly of the land. Have a great day.

A lot of money is needed to start homesteading lol. We just started last March. I think it’s about pacing and budgeting yourself. Not everything can be done at once. We chose to wait a year before we got farm animals just so we could be prepared. Your house and your land takes lots of time energy and $$$. But it’s still worth it 1000000% homestead life is freeing once you learn to roll with the good and the bad of homesteading. Happy homesteading folks!

whoo hoo! Ask Homesteady is back!!

I think the question is “how much money (and how much land) do you need to be fully, or nearly self sufficient?” That’s what people mean when they ask how much money you need to homestead….not “well $2 for a pot and soil with seeds from the dollar store to grow basil! Now you’re homesteading in your apartment!”

Your videos are great! It’s like I’m watch a tv show on hgtv or something. Great production. Image, audio and music is phenomenal and perfectly matched.

Great video, thanks, as someone who has limited space I highly recommend quail as micro livestock, v quiet so don't annoy neighbours, easy to keep in ample space conditions even on a small scale, prolific eggs laid and can even compost their droppings. Will eat your garden scraps as well, describe them as 'the engine of my kitchen garden' :)

Lol @ the camel sneeze. I live in CT myself, but I'm in the city area of Hartford country.

You can definitely do a lot with little . I have built chicken houses goat and pig sheds out of scrape wood . Just takes a little bit of igenuity. They have lasted 20 years or more .

Wow!!!! Didnt know it was that cheap! THANK U SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCh. YOU ARE SO CREATIVE AND SMART! btw thats a cool barn

We have 5 acres of lovelyness. The land and house, plus outbuildings and a horse and lots of equipment and tools, cost the same amount as the house we sold in suburbia. Our bills have dropped by half. Solar takes up the slack plus lower council bills. Our water is so much nicer, no chlorine! We have fresh food and the joy of animals. I wouldn't swap this for city life ever!

I think Justin Rhodes on his great American Family tour interviewed some Florida farmers and they're actually doing really well with cattle

Ilove your videos . Thanks

Just found you guys on KZfaq and love your channel! I am looking forward to digging. How can I go back to the beginning of your shows and watch you guys grow. I am a 63 year old man and have always wanted to build a homestead. Growing up I raised rabbits and used them to buy a few horses and have had dogs and other small animals. My wife how is about 20 years younger than I am and we about about to be on our own and we are both looking forward to starting small and growing. We did just buy 11 acres in the Texas Hill Country with beautiful views. We can’t wait to get started.

I had a small farm many years ago but ended up on a house block. I sat own and thought about it. What made me feel like I had a farm on 3 acres. And realised it was my mind set. So now I have a farm on a quarter of an acre. We can’t do everything but we do grow a lot of food and have chickens and quails.

I built a 30' X 50' chicken pin for free using scrap materials I got from other people who wanted it off their property , you would be amazed what you can find for free

#askhomesteady If you could go back to the beginning, would you change the order of the animals you got for the homestead? Do you have a favorite housing for them? Do you have a favorite animal in each type of animals you have?

Knowledge and knowing the difference between necessity and wanting Land could be the biggest obstacle and cost.

This whole video led up to you saying how to start up a chicken or camel farm with 1 animal. What about property, materials, living costs, etc?

Merci from Montreal, Canada.

I’m glad you put out this video. It’s much better than the warning video. I didn’t care too much for the warning video. This one I like better. Gj

I really feel like you could have answered this in less than 30 minutes

I ran across a KZfaq community that is comprised of single women living alone. If I run across it I will come back and post the link on your page. Thanks for your posts.

I can't call a potted plant on an apartment balcony homesteading.

Starting age doesn't matter! I'm 49 and started my permaculture kitchen garden this past spring and plan on getting bees and chickens next year. Start small and work your way through what you think you can handle, and remember to always challenge yourself!

You could do two does and a buck in your house and room even. And that is tons of meat.

3:13 good answer

I think it also depends on where you live. As the cost depends on where you live or want to live.

I will be looking at pigs gots chickens and vegetables. Will be living in a bus or motor home first year.

When it comes to bees you need to think inside the Box😋

Hey Sarah..... come to Maine with me, let’s do it

It takes a lot at first Undeveloped land = inherited Getting it cleared and set up for house 20k House 180k Barn 12,758k 5 sheds 15,698k Fences 14000k Chicken coops 3000k Kiko goats 8000k Chickens 600.00 Guard dogs 2000k Tractor and equipment 40k Feed for all animals about 900 a year Garden for us Sell what you can coming in 4-8 thousand Is it worth it yes love every minute Only started 2 years ago still learning Oh forgot bee hives income is 400 so far. Retired early on 5 acres It can be done . Just very expensive start up . Of course I just jumped in used some of my retirement. If undeveloped land need equipment etc. I just still have mud cause grass is still trying to grow cause of being cleared So over 300 K at start but started with nothing . I went big at first You can take baby steps Oh and tax kickbacks 10k That’s a plus it will very every year

Since I live in a subtropical zone my plan is to buy a acer of land and apply both permaculture and homesteading mentality. We will plant lots of fruit trees and raise rabbits and chickens for meat protein as a start. Minus the cost of the land the startup cost is about 10k. we will be growing 70% of our own food.

Sarah you are rocking it. From vet. To another live your dreams. Sarah I live in Fl. It is the best. I have lived all over the world and now will live in Fl. To the end. I am a 77 woman and have in the last two years built my first chicken house. I have since built two more. One is is a hospital coop and the 3rd is a nice 4X4 house with a 8 ft run . Only one chicken lives there. I have no doubt you will have all the tools you will need to be successful. Go girl.

Fantastic video.... but one big question that I'd love to get info on. How are smaller homesteading families selling the meat chickens and rabbit meat? How are they navigating the USDA meat inspection requirements? I've seen so many videos from great resources like you or Joel Salatin, but I can't seem to find anyone sharing the step by step process for navigating the slaughter and meat sale procedures. It would be great if you could make a video on this or share some info here in the comments. Thanks in advance!

About 50 bucks a paycheck Will take time and late nights but doable

To whom it may concern, Rural land in Florida would not be a bad choice for homesteading. It is potentially going to be a good candidate for a year round growing season. The downside is going to be regulations regarding certain "exotic animals" that can easily get loose and become invasive. (Example: stocking a pond with tilapia.)

Why would anyone thumbs down...? Block them..

how much would i have to budget for homesteading for like maybe 2 acres with 4 chickens, 4 ducks, and 2 goats

Can you talk about the paperwork that someone needs to start farm business? What kind of documents we need or the company must be etc...? Thanks

Just what I was wanting to ask.

Question, Why not homestead here in Florida? Can we talk about it. Best for you guys.

I think i missed the part about CAMELS???? That's so cool

A hundred sixty dollars in materials, you could go with steel now for less than wood

Im in Florida too and I want to home stead in colorado

It is considered a federal offense leaving anything in someone’s mail box So be very careful doing this…

Ontario is one of the hardest places to upstart home stead the hoops we have to jump thought to process and sell Our produce and meat, and we could never get away without infrastructure, you Tell someone here your cows don’t have a barn you’ll have animal rights there to shut you down

We just got a 11 acre place , we want to start a homestead

#askhomesteady how do you get your chickens to go in the coop at night. Mine are bike games stubborn

greg judy has been a huge inspiration to me.

My question is this I have been searching for Jersey cows but I don't know what to look for what should I look for can a Jersey cow should I get a young one or should I get one that is old should I get one crossbred or should I get one that is full-blooded

We homesteader as a family when I was married. My ex took the property and everthing. 30 yrs down the road and I have retired and now am raising grandsons. I am 68 in good health.and have been looking for property in disloyal county calif. where I was born. I do have knowledge of basic animal husbandry and have land living. I have found property I am interested in and will need to finance half the cost. I will be starting out with bars land but with a creek and work g fed pond. Does this even sound feasable

#askhomesteady For many reasons my 11 year old son and me (an older mom with physical limits) are out looking for a place to start homesteading.We know we have a structured income for atleast the next 5 years but we will have had to figure out an income by then. Keep in mind we have very little funds to work with when answering this question. Which way is a better way to go? 1. should we buy bare land and live in an RV and build our homestead trying to stay out of debit. or 2. should we invest in property with a house and some infrastructure so we can get rolling with our homestead life but have debit.

About 50 thousand dollars is what it cost us.

Is there a tipping point where I will produce more diary and meat animals than I can process? I mean, will the animals reproduce faster than I can eat and preserve them? I will be able to sell my surplus easily, won’t I?

#Askhomesteady You said you were interested in getting pigs. Have you considered Idaho Pasture Pigs?

#askhomesteady What do you do to keep other critters away from your livestock?

Hi we are in CT and was wondering if you sell rabbits. We have chickens and rabbits are our next adventure but can't seem to find a good source to get started

Cant find the free Start homesteading today course ? Please

#askhomesteady I have been watching your videos religiously, as they have inspired a fire for me that I did not think existed. I am a city kid, born and raised. I know nothing about farming, animals, or working land besides the few bean plants and cucumbers I was able to grow as a kid in my yard. How possible is it to be 20% self sufficient? 50%? 100%? I think as a city kid looking in, there are a lot of things you think homesteading could be, and I am not sure how much of those things are reality, and how much is fiction. I work in the tech sector and make a decent paycheck at 23 now, but all I know is computers. I feel stressed, overrun by society, and can feel my health deteriorating staring at my code 8-10 hours a day on glass screens. I have a dream to someday almost never have to go to a supermarket, and to share my custom food and recipes with people (I love cooking and used to be assistant manager at a restaurant, best job EVER!). I someday dream of having everything I need on my homestead (meat, eggs, milk, lettuce), but it seems getting to that point is very hard, and, given my background of being a city kid, I will miss so much of society's products that I might never be able to really de-couple myself and soak in the land for what it has to offer. What are your thoughts on this type of radical transition for people, and what are some of those things most people might not think about giving up that you need to in order to start this lifestyle? Thanks :)

#askhomesteady what are the best and worst places to homestead?

Great advice Aunt! JO JO IN VT 💕😊

Im personally not sure why you are talking about an apartment balcony when the question was homesteading. Just answer the generic question. a few acres or more not a balcony. 28 minutes is way too long for this question. No more than 10 minutes is more than enough time to cover a few acres to many and also the different locations around the US.

What are the best chikens for eggs??

Equipment and land alone will take you 80 years to pay off and if it’s not paid for it’s the banks lol

I got a question and actually I asked this question to another homesteader I believe they're called off the grid with Doug and Stacy. I asked Doug how many hours on the average do you spend doing chores on your homestead but he did not answer I was wondering if you can answer that question? I know it probably is a lot more in the winter time because of he in the house with wood or whatever and all kinds of other stuff going on in the winter.

Although this video is 2-years old as I write this, I suspect if someone is wanting to start a homestead they might very well land on this video. First... let me say just about everything Austin says in the video is possible... in concept. I say in concept because although some folks have pulled it off, many have failed, or quit. WHY... because it ain't easy... its the hardest work you will ever do. Long hours, low pay, and lots of disappointment. Austin didn't mention (or mention enough for a focus) on this aspect. Homesteading failures are real, and plentiful. Land... yes, you can start "homesteading" on your apartment balcony. But is that YOUR idea of homesteading ??? Also yes, you can start on a quarter acre, half acre or 2,3,4, or even 5 acres... but is that what you eventually want ? How many acres will you need for YOUR idea of homesteading. If you start on 2-acres will you be wanting to move to a larger property in a few years ? If you will, just imagine relocating your operation. What will that cost, and how much time will that take to reestablish your say 3-acre operation to a larger property maybe miles and miles away from where you are now ? You can buy cheap land, even $1000. or less per acre... but will it need substantial development such as drilling a well for water (or building a pond as mentioned in the video) ? What will be the cost alone for one of the very first pieces of infrastructure that is a necessity of life, both for you and any animals you may want. Hint... it ain't cheap ! And, if you buy any land... is there a livable house on the property or will you need to live in a tent for a year until you can build a structure to live in. How about a driveway to the property (putting in a driveway (or repairing one in disrepair) is also not cheap. What will you do for power ? Is there already power ON the property, or will you need to have the power company install poles and run lines over a substantial distance ? Most power companies will charge you (a lot) if your property is hundreds of feet off the closest power line. Do you own a generator ? At the current price of fuel it could cost you hundreds of dollars a month to put fuel in the generator. Think you will do solar ? Have you priced everything you will need for even the solar power to run a couple of lights, let alone a refrigerator, coffee maker, well pump, etc. Hint... a lot ! Income... will you need to work off the homestead? The cheaper the land usually means the farther away from an income source. Assuming you will need to work (i.e. be employed) how much time will that leave you (counting commuting if you can't work from home) for working on caring for any livestock and making the desired improvements to the homestead? Think you will start a KZfaq channel and support yourself ? Think again... many channels fail because folks just don't have the personality for on-camera work, and making and editing the videos takes time also (time away from improving your homestead). Plus, building a successful channel can take years before it can generate enough supplemental income to make any difference. Add in... say the wrong thing and KZfaq can (and has) cancelled channels (I don't think they care for folks teaching others how to be self-sustaining), which could mean years of work vanishes in a heartbeat, along with any income it may have produced. Livestock... being self-sustaining means you eat what you grow. Do you have the moral capacity to take the life of something you fed and cared for for months ??? Its different than going to the grocery store where others have done that for you. You will actually need to end the life of an animal you painstakingly raised, then prepare it for eating or storage. Are you OK with that ? Also, after you have made the all investments of land, infrastructure, livestock purchases, etc... now you need the funds to feed that livestock. Depending on which type of livestock you purchase, that could mean months and months before you can harvest your first meal. Sill level... do you have the skills to build things, clear land, repair things, keep your livestock alive, etc ??? If not, you will need to pay someone to do those things. As you may know, getting a contractor to do work for you can be very expensive. Yes, you can learn those things, but not all at once. Depending on your family size, will you have the help you need to assist in the MANY projects needed to start a homestead. If you have small children they will take time away from the time necessary to maintain the homestead, let alone improve such. Equipment and tools... do you already have any tools and equipment ? You will need tools around the homestead, and equipment can free up time it takes to do a project, and they are NOT cheap ! Yes, projects can be done without tools, but lack of tools and equipment will substantially slow your progress, and burn up any valuable time you have. Lastly... don't be overly persuaded by the fantasies many KZfaq channels portray. Those channels need you to remain engaged with their channels for their OWN livelihood. Subs, clicks, views, and ad revenue will not materialize (if at all) by telling you things like I have outlined here. Fantasies sell... failures don't. Again... is what Austin said possible... absolutely... but for every success I suspect there are at least 10 failures. Also ask yourself, why do you see so many established farmers struggling and/or going out of business ??? For every piece of property you look at that appears to be started but is unfinished, you are likely looking at someone's failed dream. Don't let that be you by falling for the fantasy and not being realistic with the effort and money needed to make the dream a reality. Getting to be self sustaining ain't cheap, and producing enough products to sell (over and above what YOU will need to live) is even more expensive. Realistically estimate what amount of funds you think you will need... AND DOUBLE IT (at least) ! That might give you a fighting chance to succeed.

Aren’t you the mad scientist bbq guy?

What's wrong homesteading FL? Other than the heat and beach sand for "soil".

I wanna know what happened to Sara ? I'm from New Jersey and can't wait to make it to Tennessee n homestead with my seven sons 😊

As a homestead owner: start with none, then you won’t be disappointed if you never have any 😅😂

A beehive on a balcony? Lol they would call the exterminator on you.

Aust, you have said in this video… “I wouldn’t want to homestead in Florida.” WHY? Please let me know… or make a video I’m just curious as to why you yourself wouldn’t want to?

What site or places can I find best deals for land to start my homestead?

Hey! Sarah, I want to be a homesteader also! I come from a homesteader and share copping family and I live in Central, New Jersey and I would love to talk with you about the possibility of working with you on making both of our dreams come true. Please comment back to me and thank you.