Homesteading is often romanticized. The thought of growing your own food, raising animals, and living off the land sounds SO peaceful and fulfilling. But the reality of homesteading? It’s a journey of ups and downs, challenges, and, yes, some setbacks. Right now, I’m navigating a few bumps in the road that are testing my patience and resilience—but I’ve learned that it’s not the setbacks that define this journey; it’s how we move forward and celebrate the small wins along the way.
1. The Setbacks
At the heart of homesteading are the plants and animals we care for. Right now, my garden is struggling. After the work I put into starting seeds and getting the garden beds ready, things just aren’t progressing as expected. Some plants didn’t actually ever start, others are being nibbled on by pests, and the weather hasn’t exactly been cooperative. Thank you to Missouri weather for being all over the place and not making up it’s mind. It’s frustrating when you put so much time and energy into something, only to see it not thrive.
But this isn’t the first setback I’ve faced on the homesteading journey. There’s always something that doesn’t go according to plan. The ducks, chickens, and geese are wonderful, but they bring their own challenges—whether it’s dealing with feed issues, managing their living spaces, or dealing with a surprise injury. Even building Nutmeg’s new home has been a slow process, with unexpected delays and obstacles.
2. The Mental Shift
Here’s the thing I’ve come to realize: setbacks are part of the process. Homesteading, like life, isn’t about perfection. It’s about the resilience to keep going when things aren’t going according to plan. There’s a shift in mindset that’s required, where you embrace the setbacks as learning opportunities.
It took me a while to come to terms with the fact that I can’t control everything. Weather patterns, pest outbreaks, and even plant growth have a mind of their own. But I can control how I respond to those things. Instead of focusing solely on what’s not going right, I’ve learned to focus on what I can learn from each situation. It’s all about adapting and adjusting—not giving up. While I say that, I’ve just kind of let the garden go. Many things are planted, but they’re not growing- and that’s okay. What will grow, will grow, and we will take that win when that time comes.
3. Small Wins Matter
Despite the setbacks, there have been plenty of small wins that keep me going. A few seedlings have finally sprouted, even though the garden overall is struggling. Nutmeg, my Rex rabbit, is doing well in his new setup that my husband just finished, and I’m learning more every day about how to care for him. The ducks and geese are growing like weeds, developing personalities like crazy, and bonding more with us every day.
These small wins may seem insignificant, but they’re the building blocks of success. It’s easy to get discouraged when the big picture doesn’t look the way we envisioned, but it’s the small, daily wins that give us hope and momentum. Whether it’s a happy animal, a tiny sprout, or a moment of peace in the process, these victories matter more than we sometimes realize. Having Nutmeg run to us every time we go to his home is one of those small wins. He is such a little light and he doesn’t even know it yet.
4. Moving Forward with Optimism
So, what’s next? Well, I may have slightly given up on my garden. While I might not be able to control everything, I can adjust my approach and begin planning a better garden for next year. That is, while I’m not trying to learn so many things at once. I’m thinking about ways to improve the soil, manage pests better, and be more strategic with planting. There’s always room for improvement, and setbacks only fuel my desire to learn more and try new things.
I’m also looking forward to future projects around the homestead. Whether it’s adding new animals or refining my gardening techniques, there’s always something to work on. The key is to keep moving forward with optimism and patience, even when things don’t go exactly as planned.
Homesteading isn’t always easy, and it isn’t always beautiful. But the setbacks and challenges are part of what make it worthwhile. If we can embrace those moments, learn from them, and celebrate the small wins, we’ll find that the journey itself is just as valuable as the end goal. So, no matter where you are on your homesteading path, keep going. And when in doubt, look for the small victories—they’re always there.
Thanks for reading!
~ G’s Homestead