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/ Just Stuff / Doing What You Can Where You Are

Doing What You Can Where You Are

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UPDATE: I wrote this post back in the summer of 2014 and though some things have changed and we have far more experience and homesteading skills now (along with 2 more farm kids 😉 ), we find ourselves in a similar situation (Thanks to Hurricane Michael). We are also no longer living in my parents but are renting a single wide on a farm for now.

Doing what you can where you are is kind of a motto in our life. Where are we now? There seems to be many ways I could answer this question.

We are praying. Praying for our future and what God’s will is for our family.  We are dreaming. Dreaming of our own homestead.  We are waiting. Waiting is always the hardest part.  We are hoping. Hoping for our future and where our lives will lead us. We are planning. Planning for our homestead and gathering knowledge, supplies, and experience.  Most importantly, we are doing what we can where we are.

Doing What You Can Where You Are

It is so easy in life to always be waiting on everything to be “just right” before we act. I have learned that it is so important to do what you can where you are.

In a perfect world I’d have a huge secluded farm with a beautiful farmhouse or log cabin. It would have a clean flowing creek and a pristine spring fed pond. There would be lush hay fields and all of the equipment to bale hay. It would have fencing and cross fencing and the perfect barn. I’d have an A2/A2 family milk cow, a grass fed beef herd, pigs, chickens, turkeys. I think you get the picture, it would be amazing.

I could sit here and wait my life away on this picture perfect farm. Then, there is reality. Reality is a budget. What we dream of and what we can afford are two different creatures. Reality is time frame, we want to be able to have our dream now but we know that God has His own timing and it will happen when it is supposed to happen.

What is homesteading? What does homesteading mean to you? This is what it means to me.

I have learned so much in the last couple of years being here at my parent’s place. They have three and a quarter acres. We have been able to have two ponies, a large garden, lots of free range laying hens, meat birds, and now pigs. It truly is all about utilizing what space you do have in the most efficient way possible.

Keep on Going

I encourage you, even if all you have is a balcony, you can still grow some of your own food. You really can do more than you thought on less space than you thought. Read and gain knowledge. Gain experience on your own property or forge relationships with local homesteaders and help them around their farm. Doing what you can where you are is what it’s all about.

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Filed Under: Homesteading, Just Stuff, Our Story Tagged With: dream, Farm, farming, homestaeding, Homestead, Hope, pray

About Jenna

Hey, y’all! I’m Jenna, wife to my amazing husband, Derek, mom to 8 beautiful farm kids, homesteader, homemaker, homeschooler, and lover of Jesus. I enjoy all things farmy, family, crafting, old fashioned, and homemade.

Previous Post: « The Pros and Cons of Raising Goats
Next Post: Pros and Cons of Free Ranging Chicken »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heidi @ Pint Size Farm says

    October 2, 2014 at 2:00 pm

    This is really good information. So many people are stuck with small spaces, but you can do more on them than you realize! When I worked some co-workers and I set up a coop. We each grew one type of vegetable and swapped at the end of the season. 3 of them were in apartments so it worked really well.

    Reply
    • JennaDooley says

      October 2, 2014 at 2:12 pm

      That’s great! It really is all about utilizing your space and resources. 🙂

  2. Terra Ash says

    October 2, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    This was really good for me to read today. I’ve been so overwhelmed lately and I just realized that it’s because I’m focusing too much on what my end goal is. I have access to land and will be able to build a home and start my farm there… but that day is not today. Today I need to focus on learning, building my skills, traveling and writing. Everything will come together in due time; I just need to have patience. 🙂

    Reply
    • JennaDooley says

      October 4, 2014 at 4:45 pm

      Yes! I have to keep my mind in the right place or I get discouraged and overwhelmed. One baby step at a time it seems. 🙂

  3. Brianne Bohn says

    January 22, 2019 at 1:07 pm

    This is exactly what I needed to hear! We are just beginning our homesteading journey, and we don’t have a lot of anything really. So prayers it is!! Praying for patience, for God to bless us with what He wants for us, and contentment in the waiting! Thanks for sharing!

    -Bri

    Reply
    • Jenna says

      January 29, 2019 at 10:12 am

      I’m glad you found it encouraging!!

Trackbacks

  1. Weekly Links 10/5/2014 - A Prepping Homestead says:
    October 5, 2014 at 9:17 am

    […] Giving hope to any prepper. […]

    Reply
  2. How to Get Kids Excited About Homesteading | The Flip Flop Barnyard says:
    November 21, 2014 at 1:06 am

    […] Doing What You Can Where You Are […]

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Hey, y’all! I’m Jenna, wife to my amazing husband, Derek, mom to 8 beautiful farm kids, homesteader, homemaker, homeschooler, and lover of Jesus. I enjoy all things farmy, family, crafting, old fashioned, and homemade. Read More…

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