It is time the truth about backyard homesteaders is out…and I’m going to come clean! Some of you think you know, but only the backyard homesteaders really know! There are too many untruths and straight-up bologna going around the net and blogs. Buckle up ya’ll, I have 12 truths about backyard farmers for you!
The Truth About Backyard Homesteaders
Truth #1 – Backyard homesteaders know how to use the space we are given. Sure we might not have acres…we might not even have a 1/4 acre. But we have learned to make the most of what we have; and every space is utilized.
Truth #2 – We love a good DIY. From making soap to building chicken coops from pallets. We love a do-it-yourself project.
Truth #3 – Many backyard homesteaders are trying to keep their homestead on the DL (down low folks). Some are in HOAs that don’t allow vegetable gardens, much less chickens and others have city ordinances working against them.
Truth #4 – Not all of us want to live in the country some day. Some like the city or suburb life and just want to be as sustainable and self-reliant as they can, right where they are.
Truth #5 – Backyard homesteaders KNOW that your yappy dog is a 1000x louder than the chickens they have in the backyard. But we will suck it up because we won’t complain, if you don’t.
Truth #6 – Backyard homesteaders have a lot harder time going away on a vacation. We have gardens, livestock and projects that need tending so we can’t just go away on a whim. There aren’t a lot of homestead sitting services out there!
Truth #7 – Backyard homesteaders don’t mind dirt under their nails, poop on their shoes and brooders in the family room (ok that last one might just be me). But we do like a good pair of gardening shoes. 😉
Truth #8 – We are constantly educating ourselves. We read books and blog. We get out in the community and learn from mentors. We’re never done learning or sharing in homesteading.
Truth #9 – No one can appreciate a hens first egg like a backyard homesteader. We usually know our girls by name and celebrate their first egg with pictures on Instagram and Facebook.
Truth #10 – We take our seeds seriously. Some of us even take our seed catalogs to bed for nighttime reading.
Truth #11 – Backyard homesteaders love their kitchen gadgets! Canners, dehydrators, mixers, fermentation helpers…yeah we have pantries full of them.
Truth #12 – WE ARE REAL HOMESTEADERS!
So there you have it, 12 truths about backyard homesteaders. Have one you’d like to add? Tell me in the comments.
More about Backyard Homesteaders & Farmers
5 Easy Steps Into Backyard Homesteading
How to Keep Secret Backyard Chickens
Great post!!! I hit all those notes too 🙂
Thank you Nancy! 🙂
Ok #7 made me snicker. My first brooder was a refrigerator box in my bathroom (yes a big bathroom with lots of wasted space). This year’s brooder was the bottom of my walk in closet,,,
Homesteaders are resourceful people! 🙂
I cringe every time my 7 hens start singing their egg song. I love hearing it- but I’m thinking of my very close neighbors sleeping late on Sunday.
Then the yappy dog across the street starts up (on the street behind my street) and the yappy dog below our house and the yappy dog two doors down. I”m thinkin’ – oh well! (oh … and the car alarms???!!!!)
I know EXACTLY what you mean! I think most people think chickens all sound like roosters. My hens are quiet 90% of the day…unlike my chihuahuas. Don’t get me started on the car and house alarms that go off. 😛
Welp,
You literally just summed up my life. I have chickens, rabbits, quail, a garden in nearly half of my back yard and may try to expand to even more this coming year. We had one person complain about a crowing rooster, yet he’s a drummer. Go figure. Thankfully, several of my neighbor’s are doing the same thing I’m doing, which is awesome.
Loved your blog post.
Debbie…(0;
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Haha! Yes, you hit all of the points. I, too, used to cringe when the girls would want to tell the world that they’d laid an egg! Now I only have one lone hen and she hasn’t laid an egg in a long time, kinda miss that noise.
You forgot to mention the annoying lawn mowers and landscape guys that mow, blow and go all day – in one neighbor or another’s yard – constant, all day noise pollution! I’d much rather listen to the sound of a rooster crowing or the hens clucking.
Good article! While I am not a backyard homesteader, I am trying to be the country version. It’s good to know what perceptions are out there. Thanks for sharing!
indeed you uncover some hidden truth about homesteaders.
The dog barking loud voice versus the hens get me laughing louder. Hope the neighbours with dogs get used t the crooking chickens and not complain because their dog creates more noise than the homesteader chickens.
Thanks for the post.
you just summarised the life of homesteaders it is so true we can make use of space we see. vacations, we don’t fancy