Hi, my name is Dan and I’m the owner of this website. I took over from Kendra, the previous owner, years ago, and brought in a team of homesteading experts to constantly add and improve articles on a variety of subjects ranging from raising livestock and gardening to DIY.
But first, let me introduce you to the previous owner…
Kendra Lynne
- ✉️ E-mail
Kendra Lynne is the founder of this website, a gardening and canning expert with over a decade of experience. Though Kendra isn’t writing here anymore, some of her previous articles can still be found in the archives.
Dan Sullivan
I started homesteading when I was 5 years old, with early memories of going with the cows on the pasture every day and helping my grandparents stack and transport hay with our slow but reliable cart pulled by our humble cows.
Gardening and raising chickens were part of my daily life, particularly in the summer, when I would stay on the homestead for 4-5 months at a time.
Later in life, I discovered the prepping movement as well as blogging, so it all started to make sense to me. I began writing prepping articles, and once my first websites started to take off, I started to look for experienced writers who could cover way more than I ever could with my humble experience.
Dig through the articles archives here on New Life on a Homestead and you’ll find tons of info shared by the homesteaders, DIY-ers, preppers, and the kind, self-reliant folks I was able to find.
Tom Marlowe
- ✉️ E-mail
Tom is an experienced homesteader and prepper from a small and quiet town in Ohio. He’s the best handyman you’ll ever meet, but also a seasoned gardener. His wide range of experience includes fixing homes, working on various farms, and teaching folks defense and security.
He raises decorative plants, as well as a variety of vegetables and herbs. During harvest time, you’ll find him canning and dehydrating his produce – unless somebody calls him up for a site security analysis or a home remodeling job.
Rebekah Pierce (former White)
- 🌐 Homesteading blog
- ✉️ Email
I’m eternally grateful for Rebekah agreeing to share her wisdom and knowledge with the community. She’s a former English teacher who left her career behind to focus on homesteading, and on writing about it.
Rebekah specializes in gardening, but she also raises dozens of chickens, pigs, sheep, and even bees. She’s also an avid canner and follows the strictest guidelines and recipes. See her articles here.
Tara Dodrill
Tara lives on 56 acres in Ohio, and is an excellent farmer, gardener, prepper and DIY-er.
She raises goats, chickens, donkeys, horses, and a ton of other livestock. She also experiments with wild edibles and various crops, and during winter she likes to try new things such as crocheting, making dolls, soaps, and much more.
Tara is the brains behind one of the most popular prepper camps in recent history, the Old School Survival Boot Camp.
Check her articles out to see how detailed her text and videos are.
M. I. Grey
- ✉️ E-Mail
Mr. Grey’s expertise encompasses things like canning and other preservation methods, survival and preparedness, personal security, and foraging for wild edibles. He’s also a pro photographer and you can see that in his articles.
Linda Wilson
- ✉️ E-mail
Linda Wilson also practices what she preaches. A long-time homesteader and gardener, she’s never satisfied until she fully covers the subject matter. Click here to read her articles.
Kendra’s Story
I’m leaving the original message from the former owner, Kendra Lynne, below…
This is the journal of a Southern California girl trying to learn her way around in the country. I love life in the South now, but it took many years before I adjusted…
Growing up on the beautiful West Coast, in warm and sunny weather, surrounded by beautiful people and places was paradise; life was good… wasn’t it??
Until one day when my teenage life was abruptly uprooted and I found myself on the other side of the world, or so it felt, living in the middle of nowhere in the Bible Belt South. Talk about major culture shock!
At first, I hated it. I was lost and longed for the glamor of home. But after a couple of years, this new slower-paced living started to grow on me.
I began to contemplate life and true happiness, and my perception of the “good life” slowly began to change.
I realized that I had grown tired of fast city living, rude, self-centered people, and a superficial lifestyle. And, as I got a little older and found the Lord, I started to realize that this new simpler life brought me much more joy.
Over the course of 2008, my husband and I decided that we were ready to switch gears and learn to live more self-sufficiently.
We bought a repo’d modular home, fixed it up, and put it on an acre of land deep in the country. Eager, and well on our way to building our homestead, we realize that it will be a long, trying journey, but a rewarding one as well.
I’m so glad you’ve come to join us! I hope you will follow along as this naive city girl fumbles her way through learning to garden, raising chickens, canning and preserving food, living on less, and everything else along those lines! Boy, are we in for a ride!
If you are like us, in the learning stages, I hope that from my accomplishments and mistakes, I can provide some knowledge for you.
And if you’re an experienced homesteader, I hope that you will be kind enough to share your insights with me when you see me in need of advice. And who knows, you too might just learn a new trick or two along the way!
Blessings and Shalom!
Kendra
Hello all this info is great but nothing here mentions how to acquire land to homestead on. Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks, Margaret, I added your article suggestion to the queue.
Kendra, I have worked all my life in the hum drum of 8-5 (which translates to 7-7) running my own accounting firm. But now in my later years I have the time to pursue the things I always wanted to do as a young mom. Of course I’ll have to try it on the grand kids since my kids are already on their own. I now live on 300 acres of pine tree forest and some garden lands. I have a pond where I can go meditate or fish. I usually meditate because if a fish doesn’t bite in 10 minutes I throw in the towel……or pull in the worm. But I’m ready to try canning and prepping and becoming self sufficient. My second husband passed away 3 years ago and being so far out in the woods it isn’t easy to meet new people. So I love your website. I just finished canning 2 baskets of pears. I canned some using your recipe and some from the idea of mint pears since I have mint growing in my herb garden. Thank you for the blog. Don’t stop because it is inspirational and informational. You are a blessing!
Hi Cindy! What a blessing to hear from you. It sounds like you have an amazing piece of paradise there. Please don’t be a stranger here. There’s nothing I love more about blogging than being able to interact with my readers 🙂 Thank you for your kind encouragement! It’s the readers like you who keep me inspired 🙂
Hi Kendra, I am also from Southern Cali. Chino & Palm Springs to be exact. I also was transplanted here in the south as a teenager & it took me years to fall in love with it. So now at age 38 here I am married a good ole country boy that grew up working on a tabacco farm & knows how to drive any kind of tractor you give him. We just bought 5 acres a year ago with the dreams of having our own homestead. So far we have 10 chickens (4 buffs & 6 reds). They just started laying eggs & we are so excited. We tried a large garden but I think we bit off a little more than we could chew for our 1st time. We have some frozen & canned items as well as about 100 lbs of potatoes we are storing under the house. But is is not going to get us though the winter at all. We have 2 boys age 7 & 13 & one on the way. I am trying very hard to find some local families that are living the difficult but very rewarding dream. I am not sure where to start. We want to do it right this season and start our garden indoors. Any suggestions on finding local friends or support in our area?
Thank you,
Melissa
Wow…just wonderful stuff…I’m looking for a single female kindred spirit to join me in my small town in southern Virginia of just 1,000 people, rural home…until I found this site and a couple others, all the discourse about homesteading has been by men….would love to hear from women who seek a partner matapeake@msn.com mike
Don’t know what led me here, but I like your viewpoint. I think perhaps I’m trying to do a similar thing, while also juggling what I thought to be a lost “career” on the side. Even more, I think I’m trying to do WAY too much myself, and it’s taking a huge toll on a body that’s still fit, but will turn 52 tomorrow. Yep, I’m your momma’s age, but still fighting hard to build a life that matters, and share the wisdom somewhere along the line! — My facebook page has been pretty mundane of late, but I think you might appreciate some of the photo albums. “On the farm” is the overview, but I’m pretty sure you might like others, as well. : )
Though I’m a graphic designer by trade (a very successful designer, I might add), this is just my life, for better or worse. As hard as it is, I still like to think that I’m doing something worthwhile.
Planning to launch a site/blog once I can finally find the time, but I’m pretty sure we’ll have very different perspectives. Just wanted to send a word of encouragement/support and also tell you that you’re not alone!! 🙂 : )
Hi,
This was an interesting thing to see on my timeline. A friend shared this as she know where I am trying to point my life.
I grew up in a city in the North but moved to a more rural region in the northeast out of necessity. I always looked at farming and was interested but on a much smaller scale. In the 80’s I saw an article about horticultural farming in “Mother Earth News” and was deeply intrigued. I never got to follow up on it and it became dormant.
The past few years have changed my life dramatically and I will in a year or so have the opportunity to realize this dream of heading south and growing my sustenance. At my age I felt it wise to gather info ahead of time and was doing so….then, I saw this on my timeline and I had to investigate.
This is so perfect to find someone who has some experience and is getting it by the OJT method and willing to share. I will cherish this and file it so that when the time comes, I will hit the ground running so to speak. Thank you so much.
So nice to have you here, Kirt! I’ve definitely learned a lot over the past several years by trial and error. I wish you the best with your endeavors, and hope you won’t be a stranger 🙂
Hi there,
I’ve been keeping chickens for a few years. The price of feed has gone up a lot and between maintenance on their chicken shed, fencing, the hassle of keeping them in water and food when it’s snowing out. I have been selling the eggs, but even that has gotten to be a hassle – neighbors gave me egg containers collected by their church which was very, very, nice, but I still have to drive the eggs into town to drop off when I run other errands and sometimes things happen and one gets broken, making a mess. During the summer I have WAY too many eggs to even consider eating and during the winter and spring the chickens molt and stop laying. I am getting two a day right now and they are still eating lots of chicken food and leftovers. I do quite enjoy the birds and even have a little ‘pet’ white crested polish.
…I’m thinking of cutting back my flock of 14 to only about 3 or so for these reasons. Are you still keeping chickens and how are you making it worthwhile?
Am Thai woman from Thailand but now living in USA for 9 years and 57 yrs of age..Read your story so interesting … and want to have life likes you … will follows you and keep reading more about you ..
My English is not good enough to write or communicate with you but I like to know and learn from you.
Nice to see you on my FB and hope you understand me.
Thanks
Hi Yosita,
So nice to have you here! Thank you for saying hello 🙂 Feel free to comment any time!
Hi Kendra!
Hey there sister! We have been here on the “stead” for 11 years now and I would not exchange this life for anything, especially right now. My boys are grown and gone, but I still work it as much as I can. Cool thing is that now I am making a little teeny income from the farm. Living the dream! Only by God’s amazing grace and strength everyday. Read our story and like our page! http://www.dodsonspromisedlandfarm.com
ps I linked a bunch of people to your page on how much in a quarter beef. Good info! and I didnt have to write it. Thanks!
Liz Dodson at the PLF
I enjoyed reading about your homestead beginnings. Once of the great things about homestead or living self-sufficiently in the countryside is that we can “stumble around” and God gives us grace to do so. That’s part of the adventure.
Blessings and Peace to you.
Sally
Stable Road Homestead
Nice to have you here, Sally!! 🙂 It’s good to be surrounded by kindred spirits.
My good friend gave me your website address just a few days ago, so I am a new reader. I love it!!!!! So much good information. I am a farmer’s daughter, but live in town. Nice to know you can have a farm anywhere!! Thank you for what you do and keep on doing it. I am going to share this with everyone I know. Sue
So happy to have you here, Sue! Don’t be a stranger 🙂
Thank you for posting the video about pressure canning. I am considering buying one but was somewhat frightened of this gizmo. The video was straight forward and very helpful…I love canning and I think I would enjoy add the low acid foods to my repertoire. Please share what recipes you like to do in your pressure cooker.
Thanks, and enjoy your day.
Joanne
So glad I could help, Joanne! Keep your eyes out for my upcoming canning DVD 🙂
Iam going to purchase 10 barrel-buddy-bung-wrenches, which thrive sells. Wanted to give commission to someone, not just the thrive website. Your name popped up in my google search. Is this a product you are able to sell me and get some commission? I am not looking for anything in return, just wanted to help someone out.
Brian Cundy
I just stumbeled across your blog. It’s great. If you don’t ming pm me where your living. I am in GSO NC and would love to share tips and notes. I am a mom of 11 and I have just heard about Thrive ! I have been uning Emergency for my Freezed dried items. Would love to get to know you better… My youngest is 5 oldest is 30!
have a blessed day
JR
My situation is a little different from yours. I live in South Texas, but have 24 acres in east Texas we purchased for retirement and have been improving for the last several years. I have a pond which is larger than your entire homestead. There is a small frame home on the property that is livable for a weekend or a couple of weeks at a time. We intend to build something in about 4 years, when I retire and can be there to manage the construction process.
I have always been big on gardening, and now I have space for most anything I want to try.
I have a well, which I am going to convert to solar power for irrigation, and also have access to community water.
Currently, I only have long term things planted….fruit trees and asparagus….because I cannot be there to take care of it. The asparagus can be harvested starting next spring. The fruit trees should begin bearing in about 4 years, which is when I retire and will,be there to enjoy the process.
Currently, we have three varieties of apples, two varieties of plums, three varieties of figs, two varieties of almonds, and also two types of native fruit trees (pawpaw and mayhaw) as well as three types of pomegranate and a mulberry tree.
When I bought the place, I also bought an old tractor (1954 Model 40 John Deere) which has proved very useful.
I recently started my own blog (more to catalog things for myself and family menbers than anything)
I think it will be close to impossible to be completely self sufficient on one acre, but you will be able to do much towards that end. If you have the chance to pick up any adjoining acreage, You should do so. That will allow for keeping some larger farm animals (goats or sheep, for instance). It will also give you room for fruit and nut trees, as well. You can grow a limited number of fruit trees on one acre, though. Don’t buy the trees listed as dwarf or semi dwarf. The rootstock is not as vigorous and the life of the tree will be shorter. Buy standard trees and keep them small by pruning.
Loved reading this.
Your life sounds like mine I grew up on the California till I was seventeen, then mom and dad wanted to move to Oklahoma
O my what a culture shock I was mad for a very long time at them.
Im sorry they are both gone now and it is one of the things I cant tell them Im sorry about.
But never the less
I only live there about 6 or 7 yrs and I have been in Louisiana now for 28 yrs. we just bought 5 acres and a small rock cabin in Oklahoma on 5 acres as a get away place for us and our kids.
I’d like to try canning some things and bring there so we have things cooked and can just open it, heat it, and eat it,
There was a time when I lived once in the state of Maine. It took some time to get used to such a rural state since I grew up in Syracuse, NY. My father had always wanted to bring my mother to the Wilderness and have a Wilderness family. My mother never gave in to the idea, and told my father (before I was born) that she was a city girl who would die a city girl. Well, instead, my father brought my sister, brother and I to the movie, The Wilderness Family. Little did I truly now growing up what it was like to live in the country until I got married in Maine and had bought a house in Bucksport,Me. I had heard about the “Nearing” couple who came from Europe and were I think some of the first Homesteaders in the state Maine. I learned how to grow food better than I had, chop down a tree, use a chainsaw, learned about bees and making honey, as well as how important good traditional eating of whole foods was to one’s health and well being. Though I had experienced some of country living while growing up in New York it wasn’t till I moved to Maine in 1995 till January 2000 did I really understand what homesteading was all about. I live currently in Pa, not in the country and realize now (I have for some time actually) how important to each person individually, as a family and society altogether that country living truly is to our country: the United States of America. It not only is Healthy for the person, family, the community and state; but to every person in the world who lives this way. I’ve seen how a group of people can be 80% self sufficient without too much help from the outside. Living on a homestead and becoming self sufficient will be the key to survival in America in the near future. It’s very liberating to the human soul as well to be able to do much of what you need by you and your family.
God Bless you all for the blessing you are to yourselves, your family, your commmunity and others in this once great country of ours called the US of A! May you realize the most important tool of information on your homestead is the redeemed soul that will one day be in heaven with Jesus Christ, the Lord and Saviour of all mankind, especially to those who believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again the third day for your justification! To be justified is another way of saying To be made Righteous in God the Father’s eyes due to what His Son, God the Son, Jesus Christ did on the Cruel Cross of Calvary!
In His Grace, an admirer of homesteaders, and friend to all those who Believe;
Michael Anthony
Kendra, i just came across your blog on Christmas and i just wanted to thank you for sharing this revelation. My family is in the exact same place of searching and studying about the roots of this holiday and we know that it will be hard to pull our family out of what we have been deceived into believing. With 5 children and 1 on the way it makes it difficult to establish convictions into their lives that we once did not have. Your blog moved me in my spirit and i thank you. I hope that i can have the same courage that you have in pulling my family out all together. Thanks and God bless you and your family!
I was very glad to come across your site! I am a mom of 4 kiddos as well, who this past year has moved to my in-law’s old family farmstead. We are in our first year of homeschooling as well, which has been quite a challenge at times. I have major swings…one day feeling it goes really well to the next day wanting to give up! Over the past few years, visiting “the farm”, to now living at “the farm” have provided some great life experiences for our family. Our kids are learning where food actually comes from, and all of the work it entails! It is very hard gardening…growing the food…picking the food…cleaning the food…freezing and canning the food :). When it is all said and done there is a sense of accomplishment though. Plus, it just tastes great! I hope to keep following your blog and learn some helpful tips! I recently started blogging as well. If you want check out my blog at http://www.foodandword.com. May you and your family be blessed!
I applaud you. What you have chosen is not a “simple” life. One needs either a fantastic memory or one heck of a yearly notebook to be more self sufficient! Go for it. By the way – you have a lovely family.
Really enjoy the information you provide, I was just wishing I had away to keep my lovely Greek basil plant alive! I grew up on a farm, went off to college and received an education on how contrived most people are, and isolated from reality. I am now back on the farm and investing in live”stock”. It’s the only place you can truly manage your portfolio. Thanks for having an awesome site!
That’s so awesome, Tom. Nice to have you here 🙂
Hello, I am new to your blog and want to let you know how exciting it is that I found you. I too am in my 30’s and am living a new county life with my husband and our boys…we have 2, I am always interested in seeing how other people like us are set up with their farms and schedules. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Anna! So nice to meet you, and to have you along. I hope you find encouragement and friendship here, and maybe a few laughs as well 🙂
I just found you by accident tonight yet I feel I have learned a lot. I at one time tried homeschooling one of my five daughters but caught so many snide comments from my mother in law that I sent her back to school for JH. I wish I had the strength to do it for all of them.
We have started gardening in the last couple years. Living in Illinois there are great conditions for it yet a lot of weather issues to contend with as well. We have just started a plan to save for a downpayment for a place in the country and hope the good Lord has the same plan in mind for us…This is the first I have spoken of it publicly 🙂
I look forward to following you more!
I am so glad I found you! By the Grace of God, I too had the opportunity to share. Big City Girl goes country. With my best friend and husband we have created a little piece of heaven. Thank you and I consider your site a blessing from Our Awesome God!!!
I just found your website today and I’m amazed by your tenacity. We are definitely living in a “more is better” society, so your choice to live a more simple life is to be commended. I wonder, do you have any pictures of your homestead that you could share? Are you living without electricity, running water etc? I’d love to hear more about your homesteading adventure.
this is gonna be one exciting read. maymay
Kendra, I’ve been following your blog for a little while now, but never read your “about me.” I love it your story! I, too, am a 20-something, but was born and raised in the South. I’m so glad you are here where the sun shines, the thunderstorms are sang about, and the humidity keeps your skin looking young(heehee!). My husband and I started our homestead a year ago come September and have learned from and loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to see all the LORD blesses you with!
You can see my blog at http://www.amateurteacher.yolasite.com
God bless,
Heather
Oh, we’re kindred spirits, Heather 🙂
Hey Kendra,
This is Gaurav from India. I recently move 2 a semiurban area from the national capital. I am trying to grow veggies and fruits on my terrace. Looking ahead to rear some chickens, rabbits and fish. Your blog is really inspiring. When I feel failed I read ur blog. I must say it’s bible for the upcoming homesteaders.
Regards,
Gaurav Marwah
The Desi Homestead
Gaurav,
So nice to hear from you! I wish you the very best in your endeavors 🙂
What state are you in? I live in Oklahoma and as I read your posts, I am new to your site :), I wonder about how different/same the conditions are for growing! Thanks!!
Hi Kendra,
thank you for all those great ideas!unfortunately i’m still a little student lost in the big Montreal( Quebec)and can only dream of a homestead, but one day i hope i will be able to reach this. I must say that i hope to be able to live in the Arctic, where i often go for my researches. thank you again for making me dream and giving me great ideas!
How do I sign up to receive your blog?
You are too cute Miss Kendra 🙂 We do share some striking similarities. I am fumbling my way through trying to live more self-sufficiently but I figure better to figure it out now, then if the time comes that I don’t have a choice in matter and really fumble. I lived in a big city and I just hated the keeping up with the Jones mentality. We live on 5 acres and 30minutes outside of a different big city but associate mostly with people in our small town and it’s a totally different world. You have a great heart which really shines through your blog.
ourjourneytoselfreliance.blogspot.com
Fellow homesteader here! Found your blog through the Barn Hop! Very excited to read your posts!
We recently started blogging at the end of 2011.
Would love for you to stop by some time! http://www.thechickncoop.blogspot.com!
Hi Kendra. Just came upon your blog. Looks like lots of fun. You are braving a lot of things in your new way of life. I was born a country girl in the Pacific NW, although we just had chickens, dogs and a garden. My brothers and I played for hours in the creek and woods! I lived the first 11 years of my married life in Hawaii and I really missed having land and space (and seasons!) We now live on 40 acres in Wisconsin where I could use a little less of one particular season! I wanted my two kids to experience country life. Now that I’m forty, I wish we had been able to do this long ago, but God had other plans. We have horses (dd’s) and laying hens. I have a nice garden now and a few apple trees. We hay the rest of the fields for the horses. I’ve learned a lot about raising meat chickens and how I’d rather just eat the eggs. 🙂 You can read more on my blog where I’m going to add you to my follow list. http://www.frugalful.blogspot.com Thanks for sharing all you do with us.
Kendra – HATS OFF to you and your family for – “just doing it!”
Courage is needed to take the leap. Passion makes the effort successful. Your success shows in this great blog. Thank you for sharing!
I was raised in the San Fernando Valley. I left when I was old enough to drive and had a stake. Lived remotely all over the west on several ranches.
Great to see that your family is doing so well.
Thank you all for your efforts.
Hi
I have just discovered your BLOG and will very enjoy redaing your experiences. My sister and I moved from Toronto, Canada (pop. 2.5 million) to Arthur, Canada (pop.2450) to a 50 acre hay farm.
I have worked as an employee of the City of Toronto for 24 years and I am sorry to see you state ” fast city living, rude, self-centered people and a superficial lifestyle. ”
Really? were all the people like this? There are plenty of lovely, kind, and sincere people living in big cities. Not very Christian.
No exaggeration- you’ve come up twice in conversations between me and my husband about who we should leave our kids with if we died. (in jest of course)
But seriously- I love how willing you are to try things and also how sensitive you are to what God really wants. I love your blog and I really don’t comment enough.
LOL… I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said jokingly about me before. Thanks for making me smile 🙂
So nice to meet you! I am looking forward to exploring your blog. Thanks for stopping by mine. 🙂
I came upon this website I don’t know how and I love it!
I am a 50 something Chrisian lady who homeschooled all but one of my children….it is so worth it! They are confident, able to think for themselves, always live outside the box, and are all really impacting their worlds! They have done really well academically also. Just want to encourage all you homeschoolers! Also, you end up having a much closer relationship with them. This is such a great site! Good job!
Barbara,
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement 🙂 Glad to have you here with us!!
I love reading your blog. Glad you are a sister in Christ.
We have the opposite journey in some ways. I grew up in a country area of Tennessee and now live in an apartment in Colorado in the city. That is, until we can buy some decent land out here. Self sufficiency is difficult in an apartment, but we can and preserve food, have a patio vegetable garden, and barter for most things. It’s not bad, but I long for some space. Good luck in your journey toward self sufficiency. I’ll be following your blog.
What a neat blog! Enjoy the simple life!
I love the Morristribe, and have been following that blog for a while – which led me to you when she linked to one of your recipes! I’m so excited to have found you. 🙂 I’m a West Coast girl, too (grew up in NW Washington), and have been transplanted to the rural North Dakota (not quite the middle of nowhere, but you can definitely see it from here).
I have four children of my own, plus I am step-mother to two and a foster parent, so we have a big, beautiful family with lots happening in all kinds of directions. Your blog posts offer a wealth of thoughtful information, thank you for sharing!
Hi Kendra –
I stumbled on your website while searching for home vegetable gardening tips. I just had to say hi because I am also California born and raised, still living here in an LA suburb, plus I have a niece named Kendra! I love California and its natural beauty and variety. But, I have also reached a point in life where I desire more simplicity, less stress and more self sufficiency. I started gardening just last year after coming across a book on tomatoes that had belonged to my beloved mom; she had passed away several months before. She had written something in the book, calling it her “tomato bible” and to “treat it with TLC”. I felt like she was reaching out to me and telling me to do something positive, and so I started out with a tomato seedlilng and some herb plants. I’m trying LOTS more this year … still learning by trial and error, but I find great satisfaction and peace when I am tending to my veggie garden. I feel connected to my mom, even though I can’t even remember her growing tomatoes!! The Lord does work in mysterious ways. I wish you and your family well, keep up the good work.
Kathy in Torrance
Hi Kathy!
It’s so nice to hear from you. What a great blessing to find inspiration through something of your beloved mother’s. I am sure she would be very proud of you in all that you are trying to learn. Keep it up! I hope to hear more from you as you go along on your own adventure 🙂
Hello Kendra,
So glad to see you reaching out to people and sharing God’s love
through homesteading. Maybe it’s all about nuturing the
truth about life in the garden at home as well as in the heart.
I’m starting on the journey and will be following you and
your friends with great interest.
Thanks.
Charles Cavanaugh
Switzerland
Glad to have you along, Charles!
Hi Kendra,
I just stumbled across your blog. I haven’t read much of it yet (just today’s post and your ‘About Me’ post), but I’m looking forward to reading more.
My husband and I are also Christian 20-somethings who are interested in living a more self-sufficient lifestyle. We’re about to close on a fixer-upper on five acres in rural Alaska. We plan to do all the same things you are doing, including homeschooling our two children.
My husband has suggested that I start a blog about our new adventure. I haven’t yet, but I think I might once we get settled into our new home. I’m sure I’ll learn a lot from you and your blog!
Hi Susan!
Good luck with your new adventures!! You won’t regret this lifestyle change. It will be challenging, but very much rewarding as well 🙂
Oh Kendra, didn’t know you were a believer too 🙂 This is great. Blessings to you and yours. Numbers 6:24-26
Hi Kendra,
Although I’m in a slightly different stage of life, your blog is refreshing and I am enjoying it. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you blue j!! I’m honored to have you along 🙂
Hello, a friend posted your blog on her FB, so this is how I found you. I have to respond to your “about” page because I too am from California and bigger cities. I came to the same conclusion as you. It’s funny because I’m going to visit So. Cal. this week. I wonder what my impressions will be now. 🙂 We also have an acre that we want to do more with… I’m going to put you in my google reader. Love your new woodstove too. Looks great.
I just wanted to let you know I have enjoyed reading your blog. My family and I are just beginning homesteaders and hope to one day be self sufficient. Follow our journey at Kan-green.blogspot.com
Michael
I wish it hadn’t taken us so long to “get down to business”. We have known and loved the Lord most all of our lives. But we didn’t realize just how much closer we could be to Him by shutting out the business of the world! We love our life and are striving each day (week, month, year) to becoming more self sufficient. This IS a tough journey but like you said a REWARDING one too! Glad I found your site, come by and visit me from time to time.
Blessings to you,
Monica
You are such a gift! Have shared your website with Christian friends who are going off the grid, and or are homeschooling. We are a third generation homeschool family. Live in the CA Sierras. Often think I was born in the wrong era, as I feel more of a kindship with folks like The Waltons. ~Beth~
Thank you Beth!! You are so sweet. I hope to hear from you and your friends often 🙂
Just happened to stumble onto this site and clicked around and read a bit as we are trying to live more frugal both by choice and by need. I just wish we would have started years ago but all things happen in good time! I’m planning on getting chickens this spring and that’s what started this search chicken coops…………….I love this site and have bookmarked it! Thanks for sharing!
Hello,I really like your site.Very Well put together.Me and my family our future homesteaders.Crossing fingers.I have learned about frugal living the past 5 years since becoming a mother.
Kendra, your blog is very refreshing and I thank you for it and for standing up for what you believe in. I too am a homeschool Mom and wife of a wonderful Godly man. I used to work in downtown Minneapolis in a high profile corporate position and I sure don’t even miss thinking about it. Now we live deep in the woods of the Ozark Mountains where we take life as God gives it to us, striving to be self sufficient in a world that has thankfully passed us by. I have enjoyed looking around on your pages and will continue to do so!
Hi Kendra,
Well, I just found you here and really love this site. Your sweet personality comes through your writing. What an adventure to follow with you.
I’m building a new website called Homestead Homemaking. The URL is http://www.homesteadhomemaking.com. It serves the interests of traditional homemaking in a rural setting. Topics include gardening, canning, farm animals, family life, recipes, handcrafts and other homestead skills.
I wanted to invite you to visit. Perhaps you would consider adding it to your links list.
Thanks for the excellent work you’ve done on New Life On A Homestead. It is a delightful place to visit.
Gwen
I just found your blog and I’ll be following by facebook. We are just getting started on our homestead journey, we bought acreage 2 years ago and are just now hiring a builder to build our home. Should be an adventure 🙂
Kendra,
I just came to your website and love it! I am twenty -something as well married to my husband for 4 yrs. and we have two little boys :), I love your site! My husband and I would love to own some land and make our own homestead. We live on 0.06 acres haha but we do as much as we can until we have enough saved. Your website is so inspirational! thank you for sharing all your trials and achievements it will help us when we start ours up! May the Lord Bless your family as you go on this exciting journey! 🙂
Hi Katie!
So happy you found your way to my site. I wish you the very best in everything you do! And I hope to hear more from you along the way 🙂
Kendra,
You are living the life I dream of! I am very impressed with your blog and your homesteading accomplishments. Yay for SoCal girls!
City Girl to Country Girl
Wow Kendra! I’m Impressed! You never cease to amaze me…
Kendra,
I have to say, your story was precious! I was not always of the homesteading mindset, and it has only been in the last few years that I really have longed to get back to the land.
You have made me proud because you are so young, yet see the value of what you are learning. You have given me hope that not all is lost when it comes to the value of our grandparents and what can be passed on to the next generation.
I am a single gal of 44 and hope to soon be doing what you are doing. Your blog has found a permanent bookmark on my browser and I look forward to hearing more about your journey.
Sharon
Great blog! You guys are doing really well. You have laid your blog out very nicely as well – meaning well organized. My wife and I did this once, including the off-grid experience – only it was in SW Montana. We miss it a lot, but an unfortunate business experience caused us to have to take a break from that lifestyle and build our savings back up. he plan was go back to the “real” world for 2 years and then go back. Well, 9 years later, we are still in west Tennessee. Longing to return to the lifestyle though. We have 7 kids, with one starting college out west this year, so planning is key but I don’t want it to be an excuse not to do it. Thanks for the re-inspiration! Can’t to share blog with my wife.
Hi! I just found your blog… and decided I wanted to add you to my sidebar/blogroll. I’m looking forward to hearing/reading more of all your adventures…you sound like you and you’re family are living “our dream”. Keep us informed!!! So, we know what to “expect” when we get there. 😉
Awesome! My friend gave me a link to this site and I, too, am very inspired to see other young women getting back to the simple life. It is how I grew up, helping in the garden & getting food ready then watching Mama can and freeze that delicious food. Every so often having to say goodbye to the pig or calf that would be winter dinners.
Luckily, my husband grew up the same way. Now in my late 20’s and with 2 small boys, I am ready to start back where I left off when I moved out of Mom&Dads house. Just aquired 2 chickens from my wonderful fried that I went to school with, she is getting into homesteading also. Having another young lady nearby doing these same things is a great help. For those of you that are not blessed with many acres of land, look for the book “Backyard Homestead” it tells how much you can harvest from 1/4 acre. Tons of fun & useful info.
My husband also lost his job over a year ago, and like in your story that I read we also felt like it may be a blessing. He has been home for our youngest sons whole first year, oldest is only 2 1/2. I really liked your quote about God taking care of the birds and how much more must He love us. Wonderful site, God bless you! Steph
WOW!!!!!!!! I just found your blog…It is awesome…very inspirating…very nice to see that there is another homemaker out there has the passion to homestead..My family has just started and we are loving it….Thanks for doing this blog, I will be using this as a reference…In Christain Love, Holly Crawford
Hi Kendra! Nice to meet you. After reading through your intro I see we have quite a few things in common. I am a Christian homeschool mom of 3 girls that has been moving toward a frugal and self sufficient lifestyle for 10 yrs now. Living in South Florida were land is expensive and at a premium, I don’t have any acreage. But I grew up with country roots & homesteading is a mindset and matter of the heart. I love to cook & bake and am sharing that journey in a food blog I started 6 months ago. I focus on meals made from scratch using real food & organic when possible. I also use a grain mill to make my own organic whole wheat flour….this has revolutionized our life and health. I’m excited to have found your blog & am now following you on twitter.
Just discovered your FB page and blog. What you’re doing is so neat, and I was very surprised to discover how young you are! I’m impressed and excited that this is where the Lord is leading you. I’m a 40-something wife and mom of two living in rural Alaska and working toward many of the same things you’re doing. I’ll enjoy following your adventure!
We recently moved to a small lot of land in NH. I have lived in New England nearly all my life, except when I was in college in Florida. My husband and I are not really new at gardening, putting up vegetables and the like, but we are new at land managment and we have added ducks to our livestock. This year we would also like to raise a pig with our neighbor since we have heard it is more successful if you have two.
I will be following your blog and adding it to my favorites list.
Thanks.
Mrs. D
and I just became a fan on Facebook!
I never thought I’d be saying this, but I miss the farm I grew up on. It was a hard life, but I look back at it now and realize the different things I learned:
1) I learned mechanics, basically because I was the eldest child and also because I had no brothers.
2) The definition of hard work. It’s not what most grow up with today, at least not in this country.
3) Use it up, wear it out, make due or do without. I’ve used this philosophy in my hobbies as well as in my household duties.
Although you’ve chosen a tough row to hoe, as we used to say, it will well be worth the venture. Keep your eyes on the author and finisher of your faith in all things and you cannot go wrong.
Your blog is wonderful. I really look forward into delving more deeply into it.
A sister in Christ,
Roberta
I had the dream when I was 22, but now I’m 60. I love reading your blog. As I write to you I have son who is 36 today, and two others that are 28 and 26. I lived in the hills of West Virginia for 11 years and then a mid-life crisis occured and I moved to Southern California for the next 18 years ( Oxnard – Santa Barbara ). In 2001 I moved to Colorado and now am the primary caregiver to a 90 year old mother with Alzheimer’s Disease. I am still hopeful of having a homestead when she passes away. I am so excited by your sharing it excites me to see others make it happen. I have about 400 books on various topics from home improvements, beekeeping, orchards and berry patches, gardening, herbs, alternative medicine and a zillion cookbooks. So let the Lord of all of us bless your families work and don’t get discourageed in anyway.
Larry
I have been meaning to tell you that your blog is my absolute favorite! Many of the things you are learning & doing appeal to me. We hope to do some homesteading someday. Right now we are 1/3 of an acre in the suburbs… so it’s more wishing & dreaming for us than reality. Nice to “meet” you. =o)
Hello,
The fact that you’re a CA girl in the country got my attention. I’m a CA girl (born and raised) but really wish I could live in the country! I’ll be back…=)
Kendra, I would like to invite you to check out my brand new website. I just started this week, and I really love your site. My husband and I are starting to homestead ourselves, but looks like we’ll be moving soon to a bigger city, but it’s still a rural community. Anyways, I look forward to chatting with you and learning from you as you are very knowledgeable on the subject of homesteading. PS I tried your homemade recipe for baby wipes and they are wonderful. Thanks again! Blessings, Alexis V.
I really admire what you are doing! I stumbled across your site when it was still Handprints on the Wall, and as a fellow 20-something newlywed I admire your strength to stand out against the want filled, desire based way that our economy has turned. I have always admired my grandma and her generation, as well as anyone else who was self sufficient enough to at least grow their own gardens, raise their own animals and do things for themselves, even if it isn’t “the convenient way”. They were really onto something…and your friend Adelia also…has it right on. The only TRUE way to save money is to be self sufficient…and that way is the most rewarding as well.
While I don’t think I could go entirely self sufficient, I am making strides each day to doing more and more on my own…and with the current state of our economy, we can’t go too wrong by doing things this way. Thanks for starting up this site to encourage and give us all ideas to being more self sufficient, even if it is only to a certain level. I love hearing your stories from the Butterberry Farm, and can’t wait to follow your adventures, as well as start some of my own!!
God Bless!
MoneySavinDiva
Jill,
Thanks so much for the encouraging words. I do hope that what I am learning and sharing will be helpful to many others like me. I hope to encourage every young lady out there to step up and take her wallet back into her own hands, and start doing things more cost effectively! I’m glad you enjoy reading; thanks for stopping by! I LOVE LOVE LOVE hearing from my readers… it keeps me going knowing I’m being held accountable!
wow! There are lots of posts on here….you have been holding out on us!! LOL. I have read most of your other blog and admit that I have enjoyed your butterberry farm posts the most. I,too, have moved to the south, but from the north and have learned to love the slower way of life. I love being more self sufficient! It is so gratifying to eat food that I have grown and preserved myself! I am looking forward to all of your posts!