What a good advice video! I'm an old farm girl, raised on a farm but had a nice Nursing career. I tried living in Ky for the first ten years of my retirement. Asthma returned and now I'm back to "farming" in dry Az the desert outside Wittmann! I'm 86 but I've learned lots of new things from watching you two! I used your newest method of using raised beds out here. I Just had my first fried zucchini snack yesterday! I'm eighty six and my "Farm" keeps me active. Thank you for all the advice! P. S. My DIL also has goats!
Hello from Michigan 👋🏻 I had a great Nursing Career too! 42 years….i miss it, but I think you and me had the best of the best times in Nursing. God bless you and family, Merry Christmas 🎄✝️🎄
Thank you got posting. You are inspiring me. I am 60 yrs and sometimes I think is it too late for me to be starting to homestead. You are inspiring to me. God bless you and have a Merry Blessed Christmas.
@@cbass2755Just retired from nursing with 28 years, but my health just won’t allow me to do nursing anymore. We don’t really have a homestead although we have a nice garden and can, freeze, dehydrate our food. We often have cows we raise out, we have chickens for eggs, I just can’t raise them for meat , lol not yet. My health has improved some but I can rest when I need to. I really enjoy working our land
Ditto for everything you said. I would add to that run buried water lines and hydrants everywhere you plan on raising livestock or plants. You don't want to depend on hauling water especially if you live in an area that has hard freezing. If you have a hose I love those lite weight expandable ones. The other thing I would suggest is have tools stashed away from your main shop. It's a waste of time running across the farm back to the shop to grab a shovel, hammer , wrench or screw driver. Have some stashed in the barn well house out house or just a 5 gallon bucket with a lid hung by a gate.
One thing I noticed in your fence line.... you got some baby cedar trees growing. It's best, if you can , to cut those down and keep them controlled, because you'll have a cedar apple rust gall move in and give a lot of disease issues to your apple trees.
@@deliarivera6753 My apple trees died from cedar blight because we have the big cedars in the backyard and the blight traveled to the half acre orchard behind the yard. All the apple trees were treated over and over again, but they still died.
Same in my orchard. Neighbors had very large cedars. Our apple trees clung to life for 3 years, finally died. Replanted, those lasted about 2 years. We also lost 12 stone fruit trees from some other kind of blight. Spraying did not stop the disease only slowed it down. Pulled all the orchard trees except for Mulberry and Pecan. Very sad.
@@sidepasser Early in the spring, you can also go out and cut all the gall off of the cedar trees, use pole pruners if you need to. Anything you do to reduce the galls will help the apples.. even if you just cut off SOME of them, it will help
Such Wonderful advise as always ❤ - it’s been so educational watching your videos and the changes process’ through the years - Wonderful honesty and common sense practices! From animals to gardening to kitchen & the home - you are my main go to when I have questions - answers are always found in your videos💫A Huge Thank You!! Wishing You & Yours a Wonderful Blessing Filled Holiday Season❤❤
Trying is just the beginning. You will get better and more confident as you do things. Also youtube is a huge help for many things. In 20 years you'll be so handy it'll almost be unbelievable. My husband has become SO handy in the last 25 years!
As you go through your learning curve, consider what you can produce and share with others. Not bartering because bartering is an IRS taxable enterprise; many states tax bartering too.
The only thing I would add is to layout your paddocks and pastures with animal movement in mind. With gates that allow equipment to get through. And watering systems that allow 2 or 3 areas access from one source.
Boy are you right!! I started with bronze breasted turkeys! I couldn’t understand why eggs were not fertile. Well, they can’t naturally breed. Kevin was the one who told me I had turkeys who couldn’t breed. Make sure you really read descriptions!! Who would have thought some animals can’t naturally breed. Great video you both!!
Great advise. My parents grew a I will call a traditional type garden and they would pull weeds every day. I tried that my first year and the weeds ate me alive. I've been using the weed fabric and it's been a game changer! Merry Christmas!
I totally agree with you … I built raised beds and don’t let anyone throw grass in them when mowing or weed eating…here in Texas .. the coastal and common Bermuda grass will take over
Good advise on being careful with net fencing. I raise goats and got netting to fence the goats out of the haystack. Worked initially, but once they realized they could breech it, it was all over. I found them all tangled up in the netting and it took an hour or more to get them out and now the netting is sitting in my shed. Ugh.
Hello Sarah and Kevin. Thank you for this video gem! I’ve watched you now for many years. You’ve both developed such an amazing and successful lifestyle. Mistakes and all. Kevin’s diligence has seen to it that the homestead is well built, accommodating for all you house and grow. Sarah, your farming skills and food preparation and storage are amazing. You both share so many skills interchangeably. Kevin’s no knead bread has fed us for years! Last of all, I have enjoyed most of all, seeing the ducks get up in the morning. Thank you, thank you. You have so many reasons to be proud of yourselves! Kindness and a an ethical approach to farming describes you both so very well. Happy Holidays, may 2025 bring you all the happiness you deserve! ❤❤
The amount of time you may need to care for things is NEVER what you think. Too much garden &/or animals can become overwhelming. Feeding my critters didn't take too long in good weather, but add ice or heat (extra water times) may take FOREVER
With the electric netting, premier one has an option called permanet pro. That stuff is amazing. We have kept male goats in the fence with very heavy weed pressure because it has settings to electrify only certain strands. It's designed for a heavy weed load.
Been using electric netting “temp” fence for rotational grazing of sizable sheep flock in TN for years - rarely have issues. Keeps 2 large LGDs in as well. I do it all myself & no spring chicken. Diff soils may prove challenging for “step in” posts but the fence is a good solution to keep animals in & predators out!
Even sickness shouldn’t keep an owner from feeding, watering checking on your animals. If you have them you must feed them… I own a small farm in Alabama. I have hollers and a major creek that floods a couple times a year which compromises my fences. I found by running a light guage cable across the flood zone and hanging pannels( they stand on the ground, when it floods, the water just pushes the panel base to the flow of water, but no completely down. After the water recedes just right the panels. Much easier than restringing wire and posts. Just another Way to keep your fence sound in deep hollers. Merry Christmas Kevin and Sarah and your family.
We decided to live on a property for a year so we can learn the seasons and weather before investing in projects. Also orchards do you not have deer. They love fruit trees and racoons love fruit.
I so appreciate this program. In order for me to relax I need to know my animals are contained inside a secure fence. And most of all they have large fields or areas to live in comfortably. I noticed that electric fencing on most homestead channels always have animals breakkig out and the area they have is so small. Seems so inhumane to have horses, cows and sheep in a tiny paddock together. I also noticed that when homesteads using electric fencing they move every day, they say that is the chore they dislike the most. What a waste of time moving fences and chasing livestock every day. Great topic. Thank you from my little homestead in Canada.
And while it is the chore they dislike the most, so many forget to re-evaluate their needs or begin phasing in permanent infrastructure as they can afford it. They also forget that when Joel Salatin first was recommending temp fences was when he was teaching people how to start their farm even if they couldn't afford to buy their own property. It was a way to develop infrastructure without investing money that only benefited their làndlord. As a rapidly aging senior my homestead planning involves remaining on the property as long as I can and being able to manage it as a small farm rather than just a rural house. That means animal and gardening infrastructure is just as important as making sure the home is handicapped accessible. I'm not going to want to have to go out after a storm mucking through mud to move animals and fencing risking a fall at 80 years old.
@bettypearson5570 Absolutely. I am 72 and do not want to be moving any fences, and I dont have kids helping me. I have large pastures with secure fencing and just open gates as I rotate my animals. I love to give my animals the best life with lots of room to run and lots of pasture, stress free. Less work and much more enjoyable long term situation. Farming should be enjoyable and smartly managed without being a timed event and harder than it should be. I love the way homesteads like Sow the land and Living Traditions Homestead give their animals a stress free life and the best life. I recommend them to all my friends. There are those I will not recommend. Sadly those poor animals on those farms are not living a natural life.
🌺This is such great advice, thank you for sharing, such a huge help for all, not just new beginners.Your both such a blessing and inspiration. Have a very wonderful Christmas with families. Looking forward to this New Yr. May God continue His hand on you. God Bless
Great advice! We moved from our one acre hostead in MA (zone 6) to 5 acres and access to more in ME(zone 5b). It’s so hard not to race out and buy the milk cow lol! But building the house and the safe spaces for the animals we do have is paramount. I love your advice. Truly one of the best homesteading channels out there. Thank you.
@sblauss- Hello from our family farm in Central ⛵ Lakes Region New Hampshire. Yes this channel has good,common sense advice on homedteading. Our area is zone 4B.We are blessed to be surrounded by other working farms who can offer a variety of foods, like honey, eggs and meats. We raise grass fed Hereford for breeding stock, sell hay and commercially log. Sometimes our organic gardens preform well, sometimes not, but we can buy fresh produce locally. It supports our community. I used to have a 1970s book, 5 Acres and Independence or something like that. We have 350 acres, but you can do a LOT on 5 acres! We have 40 acres in prime hay fields, pasture land and woodland. 3rd generation. If I didn't live in NH, I would live in Maine. The rural areas are still pretty much "down home Americana". We like a Norman Rockwell lifestyle, especially in these times. All the best with your new venture. And Merry Christmas! ~ Diane
O watch Justinrr Rhodes from N.C. and the way he is trying to recover from Hurricane Helena. The storm damage is excessive, and the daily work to restore it is amazing.
Goats would be great for your property now though; they would help with alllll that under brushing big time and they do rough terrain really good also. I used to live on a rocky hill side, but now live here near Sikeston, MO and it's a sandy dirt which is really great for gardening.
I over bought chickens last year. I love raising chickens and had all I needed. I went in Tractor Supply and they had them marked down to 1 dollar each. Not a good day, I have a weakness, lol.
Yeah I did he same thing when I first got chickens and had to sell some of mine. I got lots of different breeds and had lots of feather pecking and it was driving me nutty. now after a couple years I am better prepared and more knowledgeable and have figured out what breeds work for me and which ones I don’t want.
❤❤Kevin and Sarah day!!!!!❤❤ Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family. I'll miss your videos this week, but have a blessed Christmas!!! I'll be waiting impatiently for the next Kevin and Sarah day 😊 🎄
Thank you for the awesome video. Your advice sounds like pretty much what I've had in mind. I think my biggest problem is going to be my health andyyùUùyÿÿĥö my age. I'm 50 years old. And my fiance is 51. We're pretty worn down. He plans to keep working out in the world. So I'm planning to add animals and gardens slowly as I see what I am physically able to do. We don't think we will ever be able to homestead fully. But as much as we're able to.
As always this is a well thought out video. We do not have homesteading on the radar on your scale but it is good information even for a small homestead! In our 10 years (2007-2017) living just south of your current property in Arkansas we did have a mountain lion wander through the area and up your direction. 21:41 Just keep the usual ear to the ground for that rare occurrence.
Thank you, thank you! You are so spot on with everything you said. I'm an old horsewoman, and the number one thing with farms, ranches and homesteads is INFRASTRUCTURE!!! Fencing is #1. Water is #2 and Barns/sheds #3. I will guarantee you livestock will get out on occasion cause someone is going to forget to latch a gate, or an animal is gonna figure out how to unlatch it. (Did you know Cows can jump fences like a deer!?) Where do you think the idea "the cow jumped over the moon" came from? So make sure you have appropriate fencing for the animals you keep. Each group of animals require different needs. Then put in water lines and frost free hydrants to each pasture or paddock. Nothing worse than hauling buckets of water. Design the layout like a wagon wheel. House and gardens are the center hub, then expand outwards, small livestock, medium and then large. Walking takes time to get everywhere. Get a 4 wheeler or a scooter to get around quickly. In the winter, don't just break the ice in the troughs. Scoop the ice out, otherwise it will freeze over quickly. I have done both types of gardens. In ground and raised. Some crops are better in ground, other do well in raised. But I prefer in ground for most crops.
Thank you Merry Christmas to you and yours God bless you this is m o n a in clintonville Wisconsin 68 years old God bless you all in the mighty name of Jesus Amen❤❤❤❤❤❤
Those same common-sense things you discussed can apply to everything in our lives. Plan Ahead! Thanks, and a very merry Christ filled Christmas to you and your family!
Very good information Kevin and Sarah , we have watched you go through these motions after starting over on your new (THEN) homestead in Missouri. You have done well for yourselves and families so we know you know what you are talking about. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Merry Christmas to you all. Fred
Always enjoy watching you both and all of the advice is so helpful for people that are homesteading. Have a Merry Christmas back there on the farm. Blessings from Arizona
I live in the Texas Panhandle now and I agree with you, not all weeds are the same all over the country. I have seen weeds here come up through a blacktop road! The northeast did not have weeds of the same caliber 😅
I am in the tx panhandle, Amarillo area, as well and it's a challenge. When Goodnight explored our area he wrote jn his journal that this land is "totally uninhabitable " lol
Great suggestions! You also have to think about the work. It's not always fun raising animals. They often don't do things the way you want and expect them to. They are a huge commitment of your time and resources. Farmers and homesteaders don't get to take spontaneous vacations. Sometimes you're lucky to be able to make it to the store once a week or month😊
Kevin, I have often wondered how your solar system setup is still working for you in your shop. Merry Christmas to you, Sarah and your family. May God bless you in the New Year.
This was good to hear. I appreciate learning from your experience! It's Christmas Day as I watch this. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas & have a Happy New Year!! 💕
Things don’t work in the ozarks like they do everywhere else. The other thing newbies should know is: don’t come to the Ozarks, spend all your money on a homestead and think you can just recoup the money, it’s not there, the only money is slow money from growing things, or money new people bring with them! The new people are a major source of revenue for the area. Once you’re broke you’re gone.
I got a book, some years back. It was CATO's book on farming. The biggest take-away that I got from the book, which is and was excellent in it's teaching, along with the wisest advice- build the farm, and then figure out where you ae going to live on it, and then build your house. 😊😊
All good advice. Anyone that has ever had animals learns quickly, have everything ready before you ever get your animals. If you don't you'll be running every day to stay even, never get ahead. Thank y'all for all the great advice, y'all give. Thanks for taking us along with you on your journey. God bless y'all and hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas.
Ozark "soil" is anything but! I see people putting fence posts 3 foot in the ground and easily digging holes to plant things and get envious. If I can get the auger to go down 2 feet before hitting hard pan, big rocks, or big roots I'm very lucky. Rocks, rocks, more rocks, boulders, hard pan. It definitely impacts how we do things.
In the sentiment of Christmas, I wish Peace and Goodwill to EVERYONE on this board!! Concentrate on spending time with family and building relationships and giving thanks to God!! That God gave His only Son to save the world, let us all remember that is it truly more blessed to give than to receive. Merry Christmas to ALL!!
My backyard with 15 chickens and 5 goats are all I ever plan to do. I had to get a goat mentor and took several courses. The learning curve was steep. I milk one goat now, just dried one off and that is all I want milk wise. We researched fencing and did it right. At 75 we are where we want. Gardening methods are really regional for sure. If you can grow food in south Texas you are a real gardener. We use the woven weed fabric because of you folks.
Such great advice! I’ve been a long time follower and still go back to some of your beginning videos. You have taught this “old girl” a few new-ish things that really work! Wishing you a blessed Holiday Season as we reflect on the real Reason of the Season. Our Lord and Savior came to save us all. Merry Christmas to the LTH family one and all!
Very good information. Thank you for the specifics. Hearts and Flowers coming your way. Merry Christmas to you both and your family. Have a great time celebrating with all. ❤️💐🎄🧑🏻🎄🎅🏻☃️❄️
Watching the videos about the ground cover was just what I needed! I’ve been using ever since! I still have to deal with some weeds but it’s not hours and hours every day! 😁
100% the movable fencing is not what I dreamt of when we started homesteading. The daily upkeep of grass and weeds, making sure the fencing stays tight, breaking poles, and the task of moving the fencing and storage is a time sucking chore. Layout is sooo important. The property that we purchased has the home stuffed back in a corner. There is very little room around the sides of the home to create close proximity areas for animals and gardens. I am still struggling with placement of my vulnerable animals. And upkeep of a "larger" property, 7.5 acres for my family is hard. We don't have a big lawnmower to keep the property properly maintained. We don't have the equipment or the finances to buy said equipment. With all that said, I love my property and wouldn't leave it to go back to the city if you paid me a whole truck load of money. It's been almost 3 yrs in a new state. It'll take time to acquire, learn, and grow the vision we have. Peace and Love Neighbors 💞
Moving on our 20 acre property I completely understand this. We have 10 acres wooded and 10 acres fairly flat land and we spend our days off work mowing and attempting to keep fence rows trimmed. We haven't been able to afford a tractor yet and our Zero Turn mower takes a real beating. God bless. Merry Christmas..
Very good advice! I have some experience that proves this, lol ! I do have to say that it did help me learn what I needed to know to move forward and how to approach my goals.
Mam... my volume is at 1/2, and it's loud. Merry Christmas to you all. God bless you and many prayers 📿 😇 🙏🏻 ✨️ ✝️ prayers for my son Brian. We're hoping for great test results next week! Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and E Minister 📿 ❤❤❤
Owning a tractor is a huge advantage too. But whew! 30 grand outlay is not too attractive. I have to hire someone with a back hoe to move dirt around here.
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What a good advice video! I'm an old farm girl, raised on a farm but had a nice Nursing career. I tried living in Ky for the first ten years of my retirement. Asthma returned and now I'm back to "farming" in dry Az the desert outside Wittmann! I'm 86 but I've learned lots of new things from watching you two! I used your newest method of using raised beds out here. I Just had my first fried zucchini snack yesterday! I'm eighty six and my "Farm" keeps me active. Thank you for all the advice! P. S. My DIL also has goats!
Hello from Michigan 👋🏻 I had a great Nursing Career too! 42 years….i miss it, but I think you and me had the best of the best times in Nursing. God bless you and family, Merry Christmas 🎄✝️🎄
This is so inspiring
Thank you got posting. You are inspiring me. I am 60 yrs and sometimes I think is it too late for me to be starting to homestead. You are inspiring to me. God bless you and have a Merry Blessed Christmas.
@@cbass2755Just retired from nursing with 28 years, but my health just won’t allow me to do nursing anymore. We don’t really have a homestead although we have a nice garden and can, freeze, dehydrate our food. We often have cows we raise out, we have chickens for eggs, I just can’t raise them for meat , lol not yet. My health has improved some but I can rest when I need to. I really enjoy working our land
Ditto for everything you said. I would add to that run buried water lines and hydrants everywhere you plan on raising livestock or plants. You don't want to depend on hauling water especially if you live in an area that has hard freezing. If you have a hose I love those lite weight expandable ones.
The other thing I would suggest is have tools stashed away from your main shop. It's a waste of time running across the farm back to the shop to grab a shovel, hammer , wrench or screw driver. Have some stashed in the barn well house out house or just a 5 gallon bucket with a lid hung by a gate.
Hope you have a Merry and Blessed Christmas to all of you at Living Traditions along with family and friends. He's the reason for the season!
One thing I noticed in your fence line.... you got some baby cedar trees growing. It's best, if you can , to cut those down and keep them controlled, because you'll have a cedar apple rust gall move in and give a lot of disease issues to your apple trees.
Wow..I’ve never heard of that before, but I can tell that’s not good….I hope they see this 🎄🎅🏻🎄Merry Christmas!
Our apple trees have been ravaged by cedar blight.
@@deliarivera6753 My apple trees died from cedar blight because we have the big cedars in the backyard and the blight traveled to the half acre orchard behind the yard. All the apple trees were treated over and over again, but they still died.
Same in my orchard. Neighbors had very large cedars. Our apple trees clung to life for 3 years, finally died. Replanted, those lasted about 2 years. We also lost 12 stone fruit trees from some other kind of blight.
Spraying did not stop the disease only slowed it down. Pulled all the orchard trees except for Mulberry and Pecan. Very sad.
@@sidepasser Early in the spring, you can also go out and cut all the gall off of the cedar trees, use pole pruners if you need to. Anything you do to reduce the galls will help the apples.. even if you just cut off SOME of them, it will help
City girl here, l live vicariously through you. Thanks you for all these many years of entertainment. Merry Christmas, Christ is King!!
Such Wonderful advise as always ❤ - it’s been so educational watching your videos and the changes process’ through the years - Wonderful honesty and common sense practices! From animals to gardening to kitchen & the home - you are my main go to when I have questions - answers are always found in your videos💫A Huge Thank You!! Wishing You & Yours a Wonderful Blessing Filled Holiday Season❤❤
Having pro-carpenter skills like Kevin's is another huge advantage. I am not a very good handyman. But I try.
Trying is just the beginning. You will get better and more confident as you do things. Also youtube is a huge help for many things. In 20 years you'll be so handy it'll almost be unbelievable. My husband has become SO handy in the last 25 years!
As you go through your learning curve, consider what you can produce and share with others. Not bartering because bartering is an IRS taxable enterprise; many states tax bartering too.
I’m too old to even start!
The only thing I would add is to layout your paddocks and pastures with animal movement in mind. With gates that allow equipment to get through. And watering systems that allow 2 or 3 areas access from one source.
Hat's off to you for your generous sharing! Hope you will have a happy New year!
Boy are you right!! I started with bronze breasted turkeys! I couldn’t understand why eggs were not fertile. Well, they can’t naturally breed. Kevin was the one who told me I had turkeys who couldn’t breed. Make sure you really read descriptions!! Who would have thought some animals can’t naturally breed. Great video you both!!
I did the same thing with the turkeys
They were pretty
@@tambrasmith4199 you’re right! They are beautiful!! Lesson learned:) merry Christmas
Great advise. My parents grew a I will call a traditional type garden and they would pull weeds every day. I tried that my first year and the weeds ate me alive. I've been using the weed fabric and it's been a game changer! Merry Christmas!
I totally agree with you … I built raised beds and don’t let anyone throw grass in them when mowing or weed eating…here in Texas .. the coastal and common Bermuda grass will take over
Excellent information for any level!! Thank you for sharing!! Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Good advise on being careful with net fencing. I raise goats and got netting to fence the goats out of the haystack. Worked initially, but once they realized they could breech it, it was all over. I found them all tangled up in the netting and it took an hour or more to get them out and now the netting is sitting in my shed. Ugh.
So glad someone has told the truth about homesteading, not everything works out, and sometimes you have to find out what works for you.
Hello Sarah and Kevin. Thank you for this video gem! I’ve watched you now for many years. You’ve both developed such an amazing and successful lifestyle. Mistakes and all. Kevin’s diligence has seen to it that the homestead is well built, accommodating for all you house and grow. Sarah, your farming skills and food preparation and storage are amazing. You both share so many skills interchangeably. Kevin’s no knead bread has fed us for years! Last of all, I have enjoyed most of all, seeing the ducks get up in the morning. Thank you, thank you. You have so many reasons to be proud of yourselves! Kindness and a an ethical approach to farming describes you both so very well. Happy Holidays, may 2025 bring you all the happiness you deserve! ❤❤
The amount of time you may need to care for things is NEVER what you think. Too much garden &/or animals can become overwhelming.
Feeding my critters didn't take too long in good weather, but add ice or heat (extra water times) may take FOREVER
With the electric netting, premier one has an option called permanet pro. That stuff is amazing. We have kept male goats in the fence with very heavy weed pressure because it has settings to electrify only certain strands. It's designed for a heavy weed load.
Been using electric netting “temp” fence for rotational grazing of sizable sheep flock in TN for years - rarely have issues. Keeps 2 large LGDs in as well. I do it all myself & no spring chicken. Diff soils may prove challenging for “step in” posts but the fence is a good solution to keep animals in & predators out!
Hi y'all, I have missed you, hope all is well, your in my prayers always
Another class from LTH University. Thank you. Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry and blessed Christmas Kevin, Sarah, and all of your family!
We went slow, it was still a bit overwhelming. Thanks for all the info you guys share. Happy Christmas!
Have a Merry Christmas and a blessed year ahead.
Even sickness shouldn’t keep an owner from feeding, watering checking on your animals. If you have them you must feed them… I own a small farm in Alabama. I have hollers and a major creek that floods a couple times a year which compromises my fences. I found by running a light guage cable across the flood zone and hanging pannels( they stand on the ground, when it floods, the water just pushes the panel base to the flow of water, but no completely down. After the water recedes just right the panels. Much easier than restringing wire and posts. Just another
Way to keep your fence sound in deep hollers. Merry Christmas Kevin and Sarah and your family.
❤ watching your journey and sending love and prayers your way ❤
Merry Christmas 🎄 and a happy New Year 🎆!
We decided to live on a property for a year so we can learn the seasons and weather before investing in projects. Also orchards do you not have deer. They love fruit trees and racoons love fruit.
I so appreciate this program. In order for me to relax I need to know my animals are contained inside a secure fence. And most of all they have large fields or areas to live in comfortably. I noticed that electric fencing on most homestead channels always have animals breakkig out and the area they have is so small. Seems so inhumane to have horses, cows and sheep in a tiny paddock together. I also noticed that when homesteads using electric fencing they move every day, they say that is the chore they dislike the most. What a waste of time moving fences and chasing livestock every day. Great topic. Thank you from my little homestead in Canada.
And while it is the chore they dislike the most, so many forget to re-evaluate their needs or begin phasing in permanent infrastructure as they can afford it.
They also forget that when Joel Salatin first was recommending temp fences was when he was teaching people how to start their farm even if they couldn't afford to buy their own property. It was a way to develop infrastructure without investing money that only benefited their làndlord.
As a rapidly aging senior my homestead planning involves remaining on the property as long as I can and being able to manage it as a small farm rather than just a rural house. That means animal and gardening infrastructure is just as important as making sure the home is handicapped accessible. I'm not going to want to have to go out after a storm mucking through mud to move animals and fencing risking a fall at 80 years old.
@bettypearson5570
Absolutely. I am 72 and do not want to be moving any fences, and I dont have kids helping me. I have large pastures with secure fencing and just open gates as I rotate my animals. I love to give my animals the best life with lots of room to run and lots of pasture, stress free. Less work and much more enjoyable long term situation. Farming should be enjoyable and smartly managed without being a timed event and harder than it should be. I love the way homesteads like Sow the land and Living Traditions Homestead give their animals a stress free life and the best life. I recommend them to all my friends. There are those I will not recommend. Sadly those poor animals on those farms are not living a natural life.
Enjoy you two so much! Have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year!
🌺This is such great advice, thank you for sharing, such a huge help for all, not just new beginners.Your both such a blessing and inspiration. Have a very wonderful Christmas with families. Looking forward to this New Yr. May God continue His hand on you. God Bless
Nice, like a fireside chat. Love it.
Great advice! We moved from our one acre hostead in MA (zone 6) to 5 acres and access to more in ME(zone 5b). It’s so hard not to race out and buy the milk cow lol! But building the house and the safe spaces for the animals we do have is paramount. I love your advice. Truly one of the best homesteading channels out there. Thank you.
@sblauss- Hello from our family farm in Central ⛵ Lakes Region New Hampshire. Yes this channel has good,common sense advice on homedteading. Our area is zone 4B.We are blessed to be surrounded by other working farms who can offer a variety of foods, like honey, eggs and meats. We raise grass fed Hereford for breeding stock, sell hay and commercially log. Sometimes our organic gardens preform well, sometimes not, but we can buy fresh produce locally. It supports our community. I used to have a 1970s book, 5 Acres and Independence or something like that. We have 350 acres, but you can do a LOT on 5 acres! We have 40 acres in prime hay fields, pasture land and woodland. 3rd generation. If I didn't live in NH, I would live in Maine. The rural areas are still pretty much "down home Americana". We like a Norman Rockwell lifestyle, especially in these times. All the best with your new venture. And Merry Christmas! ~ Diane
Great things for new homesteaders.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year.
God Bless you two. And, thanks, for the great insights.
O watch Justinrr Rhodes from N.C. and the way he is trying to recover from Hurricane Helena. The storm
damage is excessive, and the daily work to restore it is amazing.
Merry Christmas from Canada, I wish you and your family, health and happiness💖💖💖
Goats would be great for your property now though; they would help with alllll that under brushing big time and they do rough terrain really good also. I used to live on a rocky hill side, but now live here near Sikeston, MO and it's a sandy dirt which is really great for gardening.
Hi Kevin and Sarah, thanks for the wonderful advice. Merry Christmas and happy new year.🎄
I over bought chickens last year. I love raising chickens and had all I needed. I went in Tractor Supply and they had them marked down to 1 dollar each. Not a good day, I have a weakness, lol.
Yeah I did he same thing when I first got chickens and had to sell some of mine. I got lots of different breeds and had lots of feather pecking and it was driving me nutty. now after a couple years I am better prepared and more knowledgeable and have figured out what breeds work for me and which ones I don’t want.
I moved our berries and fruit trees closer to the house in the hope that the birds would eat less. This was really a helpful video.
❤❤Kevin and Sarah day!!!!!❤❤ Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family. I'll miss your videos this week, but have a blessed Christmas!!! I'll be waiting impatiently for the next Kevin and Sarah day 😊 🎄
Merry Christmas from my home in Australia to your home my all your. Wishers come true may you be blessed in the coming year love Kathy
This is a very informative video. Thank you for making it.
May you both and your family have a blessed
Christ-mas.
It looks like you have found out that you need to control time and labor on your homestead. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Thank you for the awesome video. Your advice sounds like pretty much what I've had in mind.
I think my biggest problem is going to be my health andyyùUùyÿÿĥö my age. I'm 50 years old. And my fiance is 51. We're pretty worn down.
He plans to keep working out in the world. So I'm planning to add animals and gardens slowly as I see what I am physically able to do.
We don't think we will ever be able to homestead fully. But as much as we're able to.
As always this is a well thought out video. We do not have homesteading on the radar on your scale but it is good information even for a small homestead!
In our 10 years (2007-2017) living just south of your current property in Arkansas we did have a mountain lion wander through the area and up your direction. 21:41 Just keep the usual ear to the ground for that rare occurrence.
Merry Christmas from Australia 🇦🇺
Wishing you and family a truly blessed Christmas together. Soli Deo Gloria!
Thank you, thank you! You are so spot on with everything you said. I'm an old horsewoman, and the number one thing with farms, ranches and homesteads is INFRASTRUCTURE!!! Fencing is #1. Water is #2 and Barns/sheds #3. I will guarantee you livestock will get out on occasion cause someone is going to forget to latch a gate, or an animal is gonna figure out how to unlatch it. (Did you know Cows can jump fences like a deer!?) Where do you think the idea "the cow jumped over the moon" came from? So make sure you have appropriate fencing for the animals you keep. Each group of animals require different needs. Then put in water lines and frost free hydrants to each pasture or paddock. Nothing worse than hauling buckets of water. Design the layout like a wagon wheel. House and gardens are the center hub, then expand outwards, small livestock, medium and then large. Walking takes time to get everywhere. Get a 4 wheeler or a scooter to get around quickly. In the winter, don't just break the ice in the troughs. Scoop the ice out, otherwise it will freeze over quickly. I have done both types of gardens. In ground and raised. Some crops are better in ground, other do well in raised. But I prefer in ground for most crops.
Thanks for sharing so others can learn. I wish I lived closer, I'd purchase rabbit at the farmers market.
So grateful you talked about the trend parts especially - I’m not really set up for rotational grazing and it has bothered me…
Thank you Merry Christmas to you and yours God bless you this is m o n a in clintonville Wisconsin 68 years old God bless you all in the mighty name of Jesus Amen❤❤❤❤❤❤
Those same common-sense things you discussed can apply to everything in our lives. Plan Ahead!
Thanks, and a very merry Christ filled Christmas to you and your family!
Very good information Kevin and Sarah , we have watched you go through these motions after starting over on your new (THEN) homestead in Missouri. You have done well for yourselves and families so we know you know what you are talking about. Stay safe and keep up the great videos. Merry Christmas to you all. Fred
Sara, love the shirt today. Christmas is the reason, not the commercialized view.
Always enjoy watching you both and all of the advice is so helpful for people that are homesteading. Have a Merry Christmas back there on the farm. Blessings from Arizona
I live in the Texas Panhandle now and I agree with you, not all weeds are the same all over the country. I have seen weeds here come up through a blacktop road! The northeast did not have weeds of the same caliber 😅
I am in the tx panhandle, Amarillo area, as well and it's a challenge. When Goodnight explored our area he wrote jn his journal that this land is "totally uninhabitable " lol
The best video you have ever put out! Thank you.
Great suggestions! You also have to think about the work. It's not always fun raising animals. They often don't do things the way you want and expect them to. They are a huge commitment of your time and resources. Farmers and homesteaders don't get to take spontaneous vacations. Sometimes you're lucky to be able to make it to the store once a week or month😊
Kevin, I have often wondered how your solar system setup is still working for you in your shop. Merry Christmas to you, Sarah and your family. May God bless you in the New Year.
Merry Christmas to one of the top 3 videos I watch all the time!! Jesus is the reason for the season!!
This was good to hear. I appreciate learning from your experience! It's Christmas Day as I watch this. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas & have a Happy New Year!! 💕
Good evening! I agree 100% with the tips in this video. 😂we have also made same mistakes 😅
Thank you!
Just thought about you guys🥰
I saw someone freeze dry cabbage (they shredded it, not too small) just a thought 👍
We did the getting too much at one time, and it was very overwhelming.
Things don’t work in the ozarks like they do everywhere else. The other thing newbies should know is: don’t come to the Ozarks, spend all your money on a homestead and think you can just recoup the money, it’s not there, the only money is slow money from growing things, or money new people bring with them! The new people are a major source of revenue for the area. Once you’re broke you’re gone.
These days, remote working is helping the situation.
I got a book, some years back. It was CATO's book on farming. The biggest take-away that I got from the book, which is and was excellent in it's teaching, along with the wisest advice- build the farm, and then figure out where you ae going to live on it, and then build your house. 😊😊
All good advice. Anyone that has ever had animals learns quickly, have everything ready before you ever get your animals. If you don't you'll be running every day to stay even, never get ahead.
Thank y'all for all the great advice, y'all give. Thanks for taking us along with you on your journey.
God bless y'all and hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Ozark "soil" is anything but! I see people putting fence posts 3 foot in the ground and easily digging holes to plant things and get envious. If I can get the auger to go down 2 feet before hitting hard pan, big rocks, or big roots I'm very lucky. Rocks, rocks, more rocks, boulders, hard pan. It definitely impacts how we do things.
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and may God bless you and your family.❤
Thank You ! Great Advice !
Just a few acres farm has alot of good information as well.
In the sentiment of Christmas, I wish Peace and Goodwill to EVERYONE on this board!! Concentrate on spending time with family and building relationships and giving thanks to God!! That God gave His only Son to save the world, let us all remember that is it truly more blessed to give than to receive. Merry Christmas to ALL!!
Great information and appreciated your encouragement as well. Christmas blessings on you and your family Kiddos! 🌻🐛🌿💚🙏💕👵
My backyard with 15 chickens and 5 goats are all I ever plan to do. I had to get a goat mentor and took several courses. The learning curve was steep. I milk one goat now, just dried one off and that is all I want milk wise. We researched fencing and did it right. At 75 we are where we want. Gardening methods are really regional for sure. If you can grow food in south Texas you are a real gardener. We use the woven weed fabric because of you folks.
Such great advice! I’ve been a long time follower and still go back to some of your beginning videos. You have taught this “old girl” a few new-ish things that really work! Wishing you a blessed Holiday Season as we reflect on the real Reason of the Season. Our Lord and Savior came to save us all. Merry Christmas to the LTH family one and all!
Thank you for this video. I am working on making the big move, and these are all good reminders
I so appreciate this video.
Merry Christmas you guys! Blessings!
Very good information. Thank you for the specifics. Hearts and Flowers coming your way. Merry Christmas to you both and your family. Have a great time celebrating with all. ❤️💐🎄🧑🏻🎄🎅🏻☃️❄️
Watching the videos about the ground cover was just what I needed! I’ve been using ever since! I still have to deal with some weeds but it’s not hours and hours every day! 😁
100% the movable fencing is not what I dreamt of when we started homesteading. The daily upkeep of grass and weeds, making sure the fencing stays tight, breaking poles, and the task of moving the fencing and storage is a time sucking chore. Layout is sooo important. The property that we purchased has the home stuffed back in a corner. There is very little room around the sides of the home to create close proximity areas for animals and gardens. I am still struggling with placement of my vulnerable animals. And upkeep of a "larger" property, 7.5 acres for my family is hard. We don't have a big lawnmower to keep the property properly maintained. We don't have the equipment or the finances to buy said equipment.
With all that said, I love my property and wouldn't leave it to go back to the city if you paid me a whole truck load of money. It's been almost 3 yrs in a new state. It'll take time to acquire, learn, and grow the vision we have. Peace and Love Neighbors 💞
Moving on our 20 acre property I completely understand this. We have 10 acres wooded and 10 acres fairly flat land and we spend our days off work mowing and attempting to keep fence rows trimmed. We haven't been able to afford a tractor yet and our Zero Turn mower takes a real beating. God bless. Merry Christmas..
I love your shirt today, Sarah!!!
As always, great advice!
Very good advice! I have some experience that proves this, lol ! I do have to say that it did help me learn what I needed to know to move forward and how to approach my goals.
Have a Merry Christmas and holidays! Thank you
Goats can turn from cute and cuddly into four-hoofed, horned Houdini's in a hurry!
TY for the tips. Def had the gardening challenges.
Farming Nature's Way wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas, we got our future milk cow 🎉
Merry Christmas and God bless you.
Mam... my volume is at 1/2, and it's loud. Merry Christmas to you all. God bless you and many prayers 📿 😇 🙏🏻 ✨️ ✝️ prayers for my son Brian. We're hoping for great test results next week! Nurse Judi in Scottsdale AZ and E Minister 📿 ❤❤❤
Thank you so much for the great advice! Have a wonderful Christmas!
great video great advice, thank you for sharing. I'm discovering that not all things will work for you then it does on someone else's homestead.
Absolutely great advice and the back to Eden method epic fail in Virginia
Great advice for everyone. Best to plan ahead.
Merry Christmas to you both and your beautiful family! Wishing you a wonderful and prosperous 2025!!! 😊
Owning a tractor is a huge advantage too. But whew! 30 grand outlay is not too attractive.
I have to hire someone with a back hoe to move dirt around here.