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

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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
Grow great ONIONS FROM SEED| Pantry Chat with Melissa K Norris [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:34
This week's Pantry Chat we have a guest, and one of my best friends, Melissa K Norris! We're chatting about late winter in the garden and discussing growing onions from seed. Everything from when to start seeds indoors,…
Garden Planning Part 2 | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:02
We're diving even deeper into our garden planning strategies and sharing it with you so you can plan out your best gardens yet. We're talking about everything from the garden calendar, when to plant, how to avoid harvest…
Plan Your Best Garden PART 1 | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:58
Regardless of the space available to you, there are ways to maximize your garden space so you can grow as much as your area will allow. We're talking about garden planning basics in today's Pantry Chat!Learn practical wa…
Exposing OFF-GRID LIES: Should YOU go Off-Grid? | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:37
Should you go off-grid with your homestead? Maybe... or maybe not! What does going "off-grid" actually mean, what does it look like, and what are we doing to get there? We're sharing a few key concepts to consider before…
Are YOU Prepared for a Short Term Power Outage? | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:20
It's important to be prepared for emergency power outages whether you're living off-grid, on a large homestead, or even within the city. There are simple steps you can take to be prepared for short-term power outages.For…
Affordable Clothing for the Homestead | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:58
Living the homesteading lifestyle is definitely harder on clothing than suburban or urban living. So how do you source high-quality clothing that can be passed down from kid to kid, or even clothing that will last adults…
EASIER Homesteading | How to homestead SMARTER | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:13
Learning how to organize your property layout based on permaculture zones will help make homesteading an easier task without wasted energy. Learn about the permaculture zones and how to layout your own homestead in this…
How to Take A Vacation from the Homestead! | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:18
It's fall, harvest season is in full swing and the year has been long! Many of us are dreaming of a vacation. But how to you get away? Many of you have asked us about vacations and how to get time off from the farm.This…
How to Finance Your Homestead | The Pantry Chat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:13
Buying a homestead, whether it is 1/4 or 40 acres, is a big investment. What's the best way to go about it? Buy with all cash if you've got it and then develop it as more resources come your way, or is getting a mortgage…