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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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 Pivot When Things Go Wrong on the Homestead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:46
Want to know what happens when you combine people, gardens, animals, and weather? A guarantee that things can and will go wrong when you least expect it! During this episode of Pantry Chat Josh and Carolyn talk about a r…
Positivity and Preparedness in Uncertain Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:55
COVID-19, flu season, civil unrest, education disruption, supply and demand issues. There’s a lot of challenges, uncertainty and fear affecting everyone right now, including homesteaders, in real, new and unprecedented w…
The First 7 Things You Must Do On Your New Homestead Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
You’ve bought your new homesteading property and you’re ready to move in. But don’t go buy the cow just yet! There are some key things you need to check off your list so you can be better prepared as you start to settle…
8 Things You Need to Know When Buying Homestead Property [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:47
There’s a big movement happening right now with people who are looking to leave the city life behind and make the leap to the country but making the move too quickly without the proper planning and due diligence, can spe…
How to Get Started Homesteading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:13
Josh and Carolyn debunk the most popular myths around what you really need to do to get started homesteading and share 16 essential skills you need to start mastering now before you can take it to the next level. Creatin…
Apartment to 40 Acres - Our Homesteading Journey [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:08
Welcome to the first episode of Pantry Chat! Josh and Carolyn have taken their popular YouTube series and turned it into a podcast so you can get all your homesteading tips on the go. If you’re new to the Homesteading Fa…
Introducing Everyday Homesteading [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:56
Desperate to grow, cook, and preserve real food for your family in only 5-10 hours a week, but stuck as a new homesteader looking for practical, tried and true methods that work? You wanted those pantry shelves filled ye…