Why Homesteaders Fail

Why Homesteaders Fail

Author: Homesteading Family October 18, 2025 Duration: 37:48

Why do so many homesteaders quit before they ever see their gardens thrive or their shelves fill with home-canned food? 

In this episode of Everyday Homesteading, I sit down with my friend Melissa K. Norris to talk honestly about burnout, expectations that don’t match real life, and the simple habits that make homesteading sustainable. 

We share personal stories, the mistakes we made, and the practical rhythms that helped us keep going. If you’ve felt overwhelmed, I want this conversation to remind you that homesteading is not about perfection. It is about purpose, persistence, and the joy that comes from doing the work with your own two hands. 

Check out the Homestead Kitchen Membership here: https://homesteadingfamily,com/podcast-homesteadkitchenmembership

💚 Thanks to ForJars for sponsoring this episode. Check out some of my favorite kitchen tools I use in my own kitchen and use coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY10" for 10% off your order: https://homesteadingfamily.com/forjars

👉 For more information and any links mentioned in this episode, check out the blog post here: https://homesteadingfamily.com/why-homesteaders-quit/

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MORE ABOUT US!

WELCOME! We're so glad you're here! We are Josh and Carolyn Thomas. Together with our eleven children, we are The Homesteading Family where we’re living a self-sustainable life in beautiful North Idaho. Let us welcome you and show you a bit about us here: http://bit.ly/HFWelcomeVideo

Grow, Preserve & Thrive with us!
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You know that every month, we send out a physical magazine to over 10,000 subscribers? Each issue has seasonal recipes, fresh inspiration for your kitchen, practical homesteading tips, and traditional wisdom from seasoned homesteaders. This magazine equips you to thrive on your homestead, whether you’re in the city, a suburban neighborhood, or on 40 acres. Subscribe today for just $9 a month.


There’s a quiet revolution happening in backyards and on small plots of land, where people are choosing to grow and preserve their own food despite busy modern lives. Everyday Homesteading, from the Homesteading Family, speaks directly to that reality. It’s for anyone who feels the pull toward self-sufficiency but is short on time, sorting through the noise to find what’s genuinely practical. This podcast focuses on methods that are tried and true, saving you from wasting effort and resources on well-meaning but unproven advice. You’ll hear honest conversations about fitting homesteading tasks into a realistic schedule-think five to ten hours a week-transforming that dream of a full pantry into a manageable weekly rhythm. Episodes delve into the nitty-gritty of growing food, cooking from scratch, and preserving your harvest, all with an eye on efficiency. The tone is less about achieving perfection and more about building confidence through simple, actionable steps. Tune in for a sense of community and grounded wisdom that makes the homesteading journey feel possible, starting right where you are.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 278

Everyday Homesteading
Podcast Episodes
How to prioritize your homestead projects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:52
Whether you have 40 acres or a 1/4 acre suburban lot, there are always projects on the to-do list and it isn't always easy to get them all done in a timely manner. So how do we prioritize homestead projects to get them a…
Pantry Chat with Justin Rhodes | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:05
In this episode of the Pantry Chat, we're chatting with Justin Rhodes. We discuss tips for building resiliency no matter where you are in your homesteading journey, and Justin shares all the various projects he has going…
Raising Goats 101: For Dairy with Anne of All Trades | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:02
If you’re looking to get into dairy animals, raising goats is a great way to get started. But to ensure you’re set up properly to give them the care they need, you need to know a few things first. We’re talking about eve…
Fermentation for preservation | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:43
We usually think about fermentation in the short term, a few weeks, maybe even a few months, but today Carolyn shares tips on adding Fermentation to your long-term food supply plan (up to 2 years of storage). For more in…
How to grow a YEAR OF FOOD with Melissa K Norris | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:03
Join us for this Pantry Chat with Melissa K Norris from Pioneering Today as she shares with us how to successfully grow a year's worth of food without getting overwhelmed. For more information, links, and step-by-step in…
Does homesteading REALLY save you money? | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:48
We're answering the question "does homesteading really save you money?" in today's Pantry Chat. We can't cover all areas of homesteading, so today we're focusing just on the food costs of growing and raising your own foo…
Best Preservation Tools on a Budget | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
What preservation tools do we recommend for a beginner on a budget? What's worth it, and what's not? Watch today's episode of the Pantry Chat to hear our best recommendations on how to get started with preservation and r…