The actual truth is that they work much harder on the homestead than they would had they stayed in corporate jobs, but they would have enjoyed it a lot less..
What a bunch of malarky! I worked, on average, 60 hours a week in corporate, with no overtime pay. Work is work. Corporate vs farming does not compare. It is a choice.
Totally debt-free.... good for them! The way the the system is set up that's not supposed to be happening on the reg... the banks and corporations want their human cattle to be fiscally ignorant and lacking a healthy aversion of debt.
Wrong. Debt is just an in-process promise to complete a trade over time and space. It's the creation and destruction of money. Interest-free living is the key to accumulating wealth. Interest is provably a con.
@@toddmarshall7573 sam sadly is a shill. You saw that! Now others will speak out against corruption of the HIGHEST order! The love of money is the root of all evil. KJV bible Timothy
That's right. Because going 'cheap' will cost more in the long run. But, frugal pays great benefits. If you watch your pennies the dollars will take care of themselves.
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you. I am shifting more to this life style. I am preparing and plan to retire in about four years. I do raise hogs for our own use. I don’t think I could kill anything myself but have embraced the rest. We have a butcher come in for our hogs. I plan on expanding our garden and I can and have canned for years. Both of you are beautiful people and you have greatly impacted my life. Thank you.
I would by lying if I didn't ask myself some of the questions you just answered. However, do not feel like you need to defend yourselves. You should be very proud and someday I hope to by financially independent like you are.
I'm hoping people are just asking because they are considering that lifestyle. I know for myself this information is helpful for us. Thank you Kevin and Sarah for your openness. 💖💖
Bless you and thank you for explaining homesteading does not mean to abdicate your responsibilities. It is so nice to see a mature, responsible, hard working couple who have their priorities in the right places.
Everyone is saying "people shouldn't ask these questions" or "you shouldn't have to give this info". Homesteaders are doing this to give people the tools required to follow the same path, so it's super important they have chosen to answer these types of questions. These are topics people are worried about when they are dreaming of making this type of switch. Especially when it concerns families with young children, topics such as insurance and providing an income are huge. So thank you Kevin and Sarah for hitting on some of these key points. Thanks for the content and instilling the hope in those of us who aspire to make the leap. Most, if not all, other homesteading channels either dont cover this vital information or skim over the topics breifly.. so thanks again. Also folks remember they are choosing to be this open about the financial side of homesteading as a full time lifestyle, so enough with the pitiful comments. If they didn't feel the importance of getting the info out, they would just choose to skip it like everyone else does. BTW guys i hope you all can make it down to VA for the homesteaders of America conference in October. It's a blast and it would be awesome to chat with you guys! Happy Easter and keep up the good work!
I couldn’t agree more. That’s what turns people off to homesteading, thinking they will have NO financial security or healthcare. Everybody gets sick and everybody has to buy something at some point.
I made the decision almost 19 years ago to leave a high stress, low pay, "corporate" position as a general manager on a salaried position working usually 80 hours a week, dictated by a board of directors on a 40 hour pay base, to work for myself. I received and still do very similar questions to the ones you addressed here. My husband has worked his career/job and after 36 years will retire in a few months. We live very frugally with a 120'x100' garden, 200 wooded acres with patches of fields for our needs. We hunt turkey and deer right off our land (and have been actively developing proper management of the the land and the wildlife for the past 20 years or so), we fish, can and freeze or dry our produce. We have bee hives. We have maple trees for syrup. We make our own meals and beverages from scratch. We walk the land for Morels and Fiddleheads in the Spring. In the summer we also have wild raspberries/blackberries (besides what is within the garden), grapes and apples. We've maintained 3 households since our early 20's - two for other family along with many of their expenses, and are FINALLY close to eliminating the expenses connected to others. We are not traditional shoppers. We like the "hunt" of garage/yard sales for a minimum of 90% of our clothing/household/farming/hunting needs. We volunteer in our local communities. We also have a son who will be graduating from high school in a month and attending a state university. We haven't had television programing for 10 years+. We are very physically active and healthy just as you are and find many ways to entertain ourselves in down time that do not involve money. Life is great and we are looking forward to even more freedoms to pursue our goals and visions even further of a lifestyle not just a living. Thank you for allowing us on your journey - there is always something to learn and we appreciate your ability to connect and teach and share.
In addition to regular income there’s also the smaller side projects that have the potential to generate money. Growing seeds for bakers creek, and those birdhouse gourds under the barn roof. You guys are so cheery and hardworking it’s a pleasure to watch your RUclips videos.
I think it's nice you guys did this video for your viewers. I also want to say that you don't owe anyone an explanation and this isn't any of our business. It really goes to show how much you value your subscribers by giving them answers to their repeated questions.
Thank you for being "responsible" for yourselves and your family. I had lost hope that the younger generation would step up and do the right thing. As young professionals many years ago, my husband and I left the rat race and started an agricultural life. We didn't call it homesteading back them,but it was the best decision we ever made. Love watching you find your way. Your children will learn so much from you.
Thank you so much for the kind, respectful clarification. There truly is so much confusion out here when seeing mostly only the upside of homesteading without understanding all the nuts and bolts of planning, sacrifice, etc. May God shine His face upon you during this next season of you business. 💐
I agree with previous comments. It's one thing to ask questions about homesteading but to ask questions about your private financial life is another. Its NO ONES BUSINESS !!! The nerve of people !!!! Oh and to go so far is to question your decisions as parents about YOUR children and their education !!! You both are fantastic and such excellent educators on the homestead lifestyle PLEASE DON'T EVER feel pressured to answer personal questions from nosey ignorant people !!! It's the Living Traditions Homestead channel NOT the Kevin and Sarah Tell All channel lol
I don't think it comes from a place of malice in most cases. I'm personally just interested in the finances of the operation because I'm trying to see if it's a reasonable endeavor for me to undertake or if it's likely to fail and end in me wasting a lot of time and money. I'm a young man in the south trying to avoid the rat race so any information on the actual logistics of the situation would be extremely useful to me. (not that they should be expected to answer anything, but you can't fault people for honest curiosity)
I think the biggest wealth you give to your daughters is the work ethics they witness, the respect one to another they witness, the Love for nature they witness, the life skills you teach them, following your heart, your dreams ( as you did by leaving city lifestyle) they witnessed... the list can go on and on...Blessings for everyone and Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Oh my goodness! For months now these are all things you’ve been thinking about but didn’t know how to ask without being rude!! I didn’t want to pry but I wanted to educate myself because a self sufficient homestead is my family’s goal! Thank you so much! I so appreciate you guys educating us all. Bless you both and your girls!
You seem to have worked out your finances in the same way that you’ve worked out the life you want to live. You both work so hard you deserve all that you have including the joy of working together. Good luck with the scholarships too. Enjoy the coming season.
You do things very similar to what we do except we have a health savings fund with currently no other health insurance on top of it but I do count my garden as part of our health insurance :D Good topic!
I cannot believe you are asked these questions. I've already seen your videos on how you got to your current position. You give so much of yourselves already. Some things should be private. I realize this may help others homesteading. I love your channel and appreciate your candor. Thank you.
It’s unfortunate that you have to explain in such detail your personal information. But it’s also very interesting. Thank you for sharing. Your channel is always rewarding to watch. ❤️
Nancy Cowan I don't think anyone is forcing them to. In.fact they make money off every video after all. Perhaps many people would,like to do this, but have no idea how to afford it, and are just curious?
I left working 14 hour days in the culinary world in Los Angeles to move back to the Midwest where I grew up and my family had a decently large piece of farmland that wasn't being utilized, to try my hand at homesteading and entrepreneurship. I sell plant starts, produce and baked goods. Last year I added some ducks and chickens and put in an 85 tree orchard in addition to a couple thousand perennials like asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, rhubarb and blueberries. We get a lot of visitors to the markets from Chicago and I completely understand that it is a different lifestyle and I'm pretty young (29) but it just makes my eye twitch when people ask what my real job is or my favorite, "But what do you do all day??" It's such a fulfilling and enjoyable life, I hope to never have to return to having a "real job"
Just enjoy listening to you so much. Farmers. Work so hard and it takes a lot of energy both mental and physical. I grew up on my grandfathers farm. I Am 76 now this brings a heart so many memories.We had chickens and he raised potatoes
"TRADITIONAL" seems to change with each generation. Remember at one point in our history, the woman of the house stayed at home while the man went to work. Way before that, both worked on the homestead. Now days, everyone has to work to afford our lifestyles that we love to enjoy. Society needs to slow down and enjoy the simpler things. The world speeds by while life is too short. Blessings!!!
I think the greatest part of becoming debt free, is when you start saving every month. Saving for Cars, education, an emergency fund, or retirement. It gives you such a stress free feeling. Just knowing you have money set aside for those things and you don't have to worry. It is such a relief.
This video is great. We paid cash for our house and my neighbor recently asked us how we could afford that. We are debt free and have saved. Everytime he comes over he is telling us about his new truck, his plans to buy a tractor, the property he wants to buy...my husband and I spend very little that is how we are able to create the lifestyle we want. Thanks as always for sharing!
People really are nosey and negative. I see that all over RUclips. I am not a farmer but love your videos! And the clever things you do . Don't tell all your business . And people are jealous you got where you are because you WORK .
RUclips is so sincere and so usually happy about things that come out with L that you've grown or that you're going to buy like little piglets. I'm very happy with the program it's a wonderful one. So thank you okay. And this was very educational for me.
I love your channel! I work in corporate America and don’t plan on being a homesteader but I still find your channel very interesting because I do a bit of gardening and some of your ideas are very helpful to someone like me. Thank you!
👍 big thumbs up for talking about things that most channels won't talk about. We love seeing younger folks who have their heads on straight. God bless you.
Great video... long time subscriber but first time commenting. My wife and I have purchased property to start a small homestead in Virginia. I will still be working, one thing that is keeping me working is the crazy cost of health care. Glad to know it’s possible to homestead and afford insurance if you work hard and plan. Love your videos
Linda Gayle and I did about the same thing back in 2005. We are in a very similar situation as you guys and we love it! We both really enjoy your sharing your experiences and expertise!
The homestead is enough of a job I say. You amaze me how much you do. I'm in awe of you both. I appreciate your time and advice and recipes and ideas. Happy Easter, GOD bless you ALL. HUGS and blessings from NY State 🏞👍🌌🌠🐾😎🐇👑💐. I'm amazed at the intrusive questions people have asked of you.
Sandra Conklin i don’t think it is intrusive why you say this?...when a person is thinking about going off grid there ARE QUESTIONS DOWN TO EARTH THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW..i really don’t think it is being nosy IT IS JUST PLAIN NATURAL QUESTIONS...i find that rarely can we Ask the ...real down to earth questions without either being turned down by the off grid people themselves or if they nicely answers....i see in the comments like you did being kind of shocked by those down to earth important questions...people ask....so i thank very much Sara And Kevin to be able to open their heart..to those very very important for the one’s who wants to began....
I agree with Sandra above. We totally appreciate your open-ness, but It's really none of anyone else's business. You are both so forthcoming, but know you have the right to privacy. God bless all and wishes for a blessed Easter.
Thank you for sharing such personal information. People who dream of, or are making plans towards moving onto a farm and/or homesteading need to know what they are getting into financially and you are very, very helpful.
You two are amazing as always! I look forward to every video you post. Thanks for being exactly who you are. Homesteading is life! Have a blessed weekend.
Oh wow. The nerve of some people. Just watching the both of you I knew you had a past in the rat race and chose homesteading. I couldn’t do it now with my age creeping up but I totally respect the both of you. If I had to work that close with my husband he would of been tilled under by now. Lol. Kudos to you both for the decisions you have made and don’t ever feel like you need to explain yourself to anyone.
@Teresa Martin , Your age is creeping up ? Me too ! lol I don't know how old you are but I am 76 and I am now working at developing my homestead . And why not ? I have to live somewhere so I choose to live on my six acre homestead. My younger brother chooses to live in a senior's apartment complex. He is granted one open air parking space for his car. And the regulation enforcers measure his car every day to make sure that his car is parked the proscribed distance from the parking lines . For that , Jerry pays about four times as much as my mortgage cost . Oh , and not only do I have a large three car garage , I also can park my truck anywhere I want to on my property !
Donald Miller...Go Donald!!! Good for you! I am 63 and my husband is 65, we have a small homestead but want a larger one. We don’t want to do You-Tube but just move closer to family and have a little more acreage. We give away a lot of what we grow and extra eggs etc. I could never live where I am told where to park and what the quiet hours are! We are free and want to stay that way!!!
@Lauren Andreas , I only have a small homestead. It's enough for me to take care of and large enough to do most of what I want to do . For my additional tasks , I do a little today , a little more tomorrow and again the day after until it's finished. Then I begin a new task . lol I actually look forward to winter. A time of rest and renewal . Spring m eans the beginning of the work season . I sell as much as I can so that my place helps to pay for itself. I try to produce a little more each year . I do not make much money but every little bit helps you know . If I were younger like you folks I could make a lot more money . I was 74 when I started my homestead. Next year my peach trees should be producing. I try to plant a few new fruit trees each spring. Time waits for no one you know . Waiting until next year to plant a fruit tree or berry bush is a whole year's growth . So , when it comes to planting , plant something now ! I always try to plant something that is edible. Even edible flowers .
Donald Miller - Mr. Miller, you sound like someone we would like to meet! You sound like the salt of the earth. God Bless You with Health, Prosperity & Happiness! ❤️
lol same thing over here at our farm lol folks need to update the thinking of BEING FREE and NO DEBT =) I knew you were TRUST FUND BABIES bwhahahaaha that was rich!
I learned something cute today: my dad watches you all, too! He told me he left a comment, saying Sarah reminds him of me, and was absolutely tickled when Sarah responded! Great video...!
Being debt free is a huge plus and like you guys, my husband and I worked so hard, paid off our house in the suburbs and our small remote off grid cabin and our vehicles (we have no debt). We also own a little S Corp business that gives us a decent income and we only spend about 1 or 2 days a week working. Our new adventure is to sell our current home and purchase with cash a smaller home with an acre or two on the outskirts of town (kids are grown with families of their own). We plan to grow a much bigger garden than we've had and have a few small farm animals. I learned sooooo much from both of you. So pleasant to watch your channel. God Bless! 🌷🌸🌷🌸
If you don't do this already, you may want to.... (I do have a point.) I grew up on a farm and money was tight, though my siblings and I didn't really know that. My dad also worked construction and during the years when I was very young, construction jobs in our area were sparse and often short lived. Dad had to go out of state sometimes to work. They raised acres and acres of gardens, selling to the local Co-op when possible, the rest of it went on the table or was canned for later. So many of the things other families and kids were doing, we couldn't (eat out, movies, annual vacations, etc.) but we didn't know we were missing anything and as adults looking back, we all agree that it was the other kids that missed out. Our parents did so many fun things with us, we had wonderful childhoods. Firstly though, our parents never told us that money was tight. They didn't want us to feel afraid about not having something we needed. We never knew that sometimes they didn't know where the next day's meals would come from. We were told enough to understand that "no means no" when we asked for something and we knew that just because a sibling got something when they needed it didn't mean we were entitled to get something at the same time. But one of the fun things our parents did, that we still reminisce about, is picnics in the woods. After church sometimes, Dad would hook the hay trailer to the tractor and mom would pack a lunch and we'd ride into the woods. As children, it seemed that we went miles from home to picnic. Now we realize it was a couple of stones throws away from home. As a matter of fact, one of the most frequented picnic sites is where I built my house and now live. Another wonderful memory is: when the winter was cold enough, Dad would take a sledge hammer to the pond to check it and if it was frozen solid enough, Mom would bundle us up until we could barely move and we would have a blast skating on the pond (just in our boots, no skates). I was too small to manage staying on my feet so Mom and Dad would lay me on my back and slide me back and forth from one to the other as I spun wildly in circles. Both of these things, and many others, were practically magical to us as children and are highly treasured memories now. I've said all that to say this: you both seem like such great people and parents and your property reminds me of my parents' farm (minus the cattle). If you're not doing things like this with your daughters, you might want to. Of course, that depends on what they enjoy. These things took only a few hours and weren't done all the time, but that time is still precious to us. We all still agree, it's the other kids who missed out.
I caught myself wondering the same thing when I first started watching you guys but told myself that's non of my business so I never asked. Also put off watching this video for 3 years. But ad I watched seen how hard you guys worked and quickly seen how your money was made. The small things you guys do to save money have put me on a very tight budget over the years so I thank you for teaching all that you do. We have grown our little hobby farm. We started with bees and a decent sized garden and boy has that really taken off.... we've now had chickens for 3 years and bought our first calf. We hope to be self sufficient grocery wise in 2 years. And you guys have played a huge part in it. From the bottom of our hearts. Thank you Kevin and Sarah from the A-M-K apiaries family. Ps we have a fb page if you would like to drop in and say hi sometime.
Homesteading lifestyle is not for the faint at heart it is hard work living this lifestyle and being debt free. We live this lifestyle on 15 acres and it can be a challenge at times . My husband is a owner operator truck driver and finds his own loads and I take care of the homestead he takes a month off a year just to help with seed times and harvest .
I just asked this question on another video. Sorry for the repetition. Thanks for answering the question though. I'm so glad you all are taking care of business while enjoying your homesteading. God Bless.
I know what this video costed you two. It was baring a part of your private lives to the public that many believe to be best left private. You two did a great job in your explanations. You two rock.
Being a farmer is super hard my family and i worked around the clock. No time for fun or eachother. Today a rather go to my 8 hr per day job than come home relax and enjoy my family.Glad it works for your family .God Bless
AWESOME VIDEO! I already knew the answer because I watched the other videos where you talked about it BUT I'm glad you addressed this again because I think what you did and are doing is something a lot of "ordinary" people can achieve if they learn to cut back and save. Thank you again for sharing and God bless.
I love you both and your cooking is outstanding. God Bless Both of you. Your hard workers it’s easy to see, Hats off to you! Your living the Dream folks, Rock on! Love from Texas .....💐🙏💐
You two are great I've been watching your stuff for a few years and you inspired me to stated my own channel to document the 2020 season. I have a small farm but use tractors and field implements (I'm too old to do all the hand work). I have tried the woven fabric but the wind is just too strong here. I can't wait to see how you do this summer. May you enjoy the bad days as much as you enjoy the good. You have proven through your life style, God provides all we need, stay safe.
God bless you and your beautiful family your are very hard working family. I remember my childhood when I grow up in Romania at my grandparents house and every time I fallow your iTube I am back in my home country at the farm, keep up the good work Your are very nice people 👍
Don't worry about college. My husband and kids worked out what classes they too in highschool so that they had usable skills. They both worked in the summer and a little during the semester. They both got state funding they earned from good grades. They both got a few scholarships. The only thing we paid for we're books. After 2 year in community college and 4 years at UK they came out with 2 associate degrees and 2 bachelor degrees and debt free. College can be done without debt. God Bless and Happy Easter
We are in the process of becoming debt free as well as we set up our homestead. We were already on our property when we started our journey so mostly we live by "how can we reuse things and find free/inexpensive stuff?" Ha! It's tough when you can't just go plop down money and buy what you need, but I think it makes you value what you have so much more. And it's great for kids to see that too. Love your videos!
Congrats to you! I'm sure since your RUclips subs have exploded and you're now at 272K you're pulling in an amazing amount of $$$! All the best, you guys are great!!!
These are very personal questions that many wouldn't answer. You didn't have to either, but these are important answers for anyone considering this lifestyle. Cheers!
Thank you for being open and honest yes it's a bit nosy asking about how you survive by homesteadering but there's someone ready to make that leap every bit of info helps unless people stop eating food will always be sold God Bless and have a great Easter 😇😇😇
This is wonderful how yous live. You don't need a million dollars to live. You live simple and really no one needs to really know. But hard work it is. If people think its not , they got another thing coming. Love watching you both. Thank you.
This is the best ‘homesteading’ video. I’ve grown tired of those you tubers who put on a good homesteading show, but don’t take real risks. It (homesteading) is a way of living a more simple life for yourselves and your families. Real life is not a reality show.
Thanks for another fabulous video! Great content that I think many of us wish we knew, so thanks for helping us!!! Have a blessed day! It comes down to PRIORITIES plain & simple.
Found out my son's last year of college. You can work during the normal semester and take a years hours in the summer. He said it was intense but once your in the zone it's actually easier. No time for distractions. No time to forget before the test.
No body could watch your videos and think you don't have jobs. Love what you do and how you live, and I bet those who disagree are not as happy as you ! God bless and keep you and your family.
We are a homestead family and have medi-share. It’s super affordable and has been great to use. We are super healthy and rarely go to the dr, so we carry a high deductible. I highly recommend it.
I remember a quote that hung on the wall in the county clerks office in Kiowa county Kansas. " It's a great country but you can't live in it for nothing" JFK. Well done Kevin and Sarah. Best of success to you in your endeavors.
Love you guys! I knew you had money set aside for the girls education. I never would have thought otherwise. You guys don’t sneeze without a plan. I pray for a lifetime of good health and full scholarships for you and the girls. 🙏
Right now we are trying to get our infrastructure set up so we can expand to build a business off of our little homestead. We are blessed to be in the home and on the land my husband grew up on. Because I don't work outside of the house in a traditional job I have friends and even family who think I'm being lazy or just gave up on life. That couldn't be farther from the truth! It is hard work getting everything ready but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Keep up the good work you guys ❤️
Saw your video about , hand writing plant lables. Had a idea why not get a stamp set with letters, that can be changed To what ever word you need. Then use permanent ink. Use a type of stick that the ink will stick to. It should speed up the process. Hope this helps.Bonnie.
The actual truth is that they work much harder on the homestead than they would had they stayed in corporate jobs, but they would have enjoyed it a lot less..
I am sure that is true. Nothing wrong with that
Harold Bevins
VERY TRUE,
@Roger Balcer We all are born and all will die. What did we do in between to make the world better for others? All else is irrelevent.
@@daliacn8848 6
What a bunch of malarky! I worked, on average, 60 hours a week in corporate, with no overtime pay. Work is work. Corporate vs farming does not compare. It is a choice.
Americans… living within their means…a dying creed. God bless you!!!
Totally debt-free.... good for them! The way the the system is set up that's not supposed to be happening on the reg... the banks and corporations want their human cattle to be fiscally ignorant and lacking a healthy aversion of debt.
bobshenix has a
I love this couple
Debt free living is key to wealth! Live off less than you make and save the difference!! Way to go!!!👍
Wrong. Debt is just an in-process promise to complete a trade over time and space. It's the creation and destruction of money. Interest-free living is the key to accumulating wealth. Interest is provably a con.
@@toddmarshall7573 sam sadly is a shill.
You saw that!
Now others will speak out against corruption of the HIGHEST order!
The love of money is the root of all evil. KJV bible Timothy
You are not cheap, you are frugal. Great video.
That's right. Because going 'cheap' will cost more in the long run. But, frugal pays great benefits. If you watch your pennies the dollars will take care of themselves.
I just wanted to reach out and say thank you. I am shifting more to this life style. I am preparing and plan to retire in about four years. I do raise hogs for our own use. I don’t think I could kill anything myself but have embraced the rest. We have a butcher come in for our hogs. I plan on expanding our garden and I can and have canned for years. Both of you are beautiful people and you have greatly impacted my life. Thank you.
I absolutely adore that you guys are simple, happy, healthy and hardworking!!! Y’all continue to amaze me. May God bless you abundantly ❤️
I would by lying if I didn't ask myself some of the questions you just answered. However, do not feel like you need to defend yourselves. You should be very proud and someday I hope to by financially independent like you are.
They are not trying to defend themselves, they are answering important questions that people considering this lifestyle need to know.
I'm hoping people are just asking because they are considering that lifestyle. I know for myself this information is helpful for us. Thank you Kevin and Sarah for your openness. 💖💖
Bless you and thank you for explaining homesteading does not mean to abdicate your responsibilities. It is so nice to see a mature, responsible, hard working couple who have their priorities in the right places.
You are both so open and honest. Thank you for sharing your lives with us!
Everyone is saying "people shouldn't ask these questions" or "you shouldn't have to give this info". Homesteaders are doing this to give people the tools required to follow the same path, so it's super important they have chosen to answer these types of questions. These are topics people are worried about when they are dreaming of making this type of switch. Especially when it concerns families with young children, topics such as insurance and providing an income are huge. So thank you Kevin and Sarah for hitting on some of these key points. Thanks for the content and instilling the hope in those of us who aspire to make the leap. Most, if not all, other homesteading channels either dont cover this vital information or skim over the topics breifly.. so thanks again. Also folks remember they are choosing to be this open about the financial side of homesteading as a full time lifestyle, so enough with the pitiful comments. If they didn't feel the importance of getting the info out, they would just choose to skip it like everyone else does. BTW guys i hope you all can make it down to VA for the homesteaders of America conference in October. It's a blast and it would be awesome to chat with you guys! Happy Easter and keep up the good work!
MasterOfNone well said!
I couldn’t agree more. That’s what turns people off to homesteading, thinking they will have NO financial security or healthcare. Everybody gets sick and everybody has to buy something at some point.
Cash is buried in rusty coffee cans under the Morells you can't find!
Sarah i have to tell you, ever since i started watching your channel i have admired your beautiful hair.
I love yer farm!!!
It's the Apple cider vinegar rinse 😊
Y'all keep it up, you look happy in your homesteading life.
It's amazing how little you spend once you give up being a mindless consumer!
I made the decision almost 19 years ago to leave a high stress, low pay, "corporate" position as a general manager on a salaried position working usually 80 hours a week, dictated by a board of directors on a 40 hour pay base, to work for myself. I received and still do very similar questions to the ones you addressed here. My husband has worked his career/job and after 36 years will retire in a few months. We live very frugally with a 120'x100' garden, 200 wooded acres with patches of fields for our needs. We hunt turkey and deer right off our land (and have been actively developing proper management of the the land and the wildlife for the past 20 years or so), we fish, can and freeze or dry our produce. We have bee hives. We have maple trees for syrup. We make our own meals and beverages from scratch. We walk the land for Morels and Fiddleheads in the Spring. In the summer we also have wild raspberries/blackberries (besides what is within the garden), grapes and apples. We've maintained 3 households since our early 20's - two for other family along with many of their expenses, and are FINALLY close to eliminating the expenses connected to others. We are not traditional shoppers. We like the "hunt" of garage/yard sales for a minimum of 90% of our clothing/household/farming/hunting needs. We volunteer in our local communities. We also have a son who will be graduating from high school in a month and attending a state university. We haven't had television programing for 10 years+. We are very physically active and healthy just as you are and find many ways to entertain ourselves in down time that do not involve money. Life is great and we are looking forward to even more freedoms to pursue our goals and visions even further of a lifestyle not just a living. Thank you for allowing us on your journey - there is always something to learn and we appreciate your ability to connect and teach and share.
Honest people
cheapskates in other words...
Your family is living the life! There is no better life than farm life! Blessing to you and Happy Resurrection Dat!
In addition to regular income there’s also the smaller side projects that have the potential to generate money.
Growing seeds for bakers creek, and those birdhouse gourds under the barn roof.
You guys are so cheery and hardworking it’s a pleasure to watch your RUclips videos.
I think it's nice you guys did this video for your viewers. I also want to say that you don't owe anyone an explanation and this isn't any of our business. It really goes to show how much you value your subscribers by giving them answers to their repeated questions.
Thank you for being "responsible" for yourselves and your family. I had lost hope that the younger generation would step up and do the right thing. As young professionals many years ago, my husband and I left the rat race and started an agricultural life. We didn't call it homesteading back them,but it was the best decision we ever made. Love watching you find your way. Your children will learn so much from you.
Thank you so much for the kind, respectful clarification. There truly is so much confusion out here when seeing mostly only the upside of homesteading without understanding all the nuts and bolts of planning, sacrifice, etc. May God shine His face upon you during this next season of you business. 💐
I agree with previous comments. It's one thing to ask questions about homesteading but to ask questions about your private financial life is another. Its NO ONES BUSINESS !!! The nerve of people !!!! Oh and to go so far is to question your decisions as parents about YOUR children and their education !!! You both are fantastic and such excellent educators on the homestead lifestyle PLEASE DON'T EVER feel pressured to answer personal questions from nosey ignorant people !!! It's the Living Traditions Homestead channel NOT the Kevin and Sarah Tell All channel lol
I agree 💯 why people think they need to know everything about people,is just so so wrong .
I don't think it comes from a place of malice in most cases. I'm personally just interested in the finances of the operation because I'm trying to see if it's a reasonable endeavor for me to undertake or if it's likely to fail and end in me wasting a lot of time and money. I'm a young man in the south trying to avoid the rat race so any information on the actual logistics of the situation would be extremely useful to me. (not that they should be expected to answer anything, but you can't fault people for honest curiosity)
@@flapcat4681 Totally agree.
I think the biggest wealth you give to your daughters is the work ethics they witness, the respect one to another they witness, the Love for nature they witness, the life skills you teach them, following your heart, your dreams ( as you did by leaving city lifestyle) they witnessed... the list can go on and on...Blessings for everyone and Thank you so much for sharing your story!
Oh my goodness! For months now these are all things you’ve been thinking about but didn’t know how to ask without being rude!! I didn’t want to pry but I wanted to educate myself because a self sufficient homestead is my family’s goal!
Thank you so much! I so appreciate you guys educating us all. Bless you both and your girls!
I just love how humble you guys are. Definitely relationship goals, right here!
Thanks for sharing!
My opinion you don't have to explain your privacy life to the public and I respect your family😌
You seem to have worked out your finances in the same way that you’ve worked out the life you want to live. You both work so hard you deserve all that you have including the joy of working together. Good luck with the scholarships too. Enjoy the coming season.
You do things very similar to what we do except we have a health savings fund with currently no other health insurance on top of it but I do count my garden as part of our health insurance :D Good topic!
Great video. For people who are considering homestead life a must watch 👍
I cannot believe you are asked these questions. I've already seen your videos on how you got to your current position. You give so much of yourselves already. Some things should be private. I realize this may help others homesteading. I love your channel and appreciate your candor. Thank you.
It’s unfortunate that you have to explain in such detail your personal information. But it’s also very interesting. Thank you for sharing. Your channel is always rewarding to watch. ❤️
Nancy Cowan I don't think anyone is forcing them to. In.fact they make money off every video after all. Perhaps many people would,like to do this, but have no idea how to afford it, and are just curious?
You two are really intelligent. Love watching your adventures.
I left working 14 hour days in the culinary world in Los Angeles to move back to the Midwest where I grew up and my family had a decently large piece of farmland that wasn't being utilized, to try my hand at homesteading and entrepreneurship. I sell plant starts, produce and baked goods. Last year I added some ducks and chickens and put in an 85 tree orchard in addition to a couple thousand perennials like asparagus, strawberries, blackberries, rhubarb and blueberries. We get a lot of visitors to the markets from Chicago and I completely understand that it is a different lifestyle and I'm pretty young (29) but it just makes my eye twitch when people ask what my real job is or my favorite, "But what do you do all day??" It's such a fulfilling and enjoyable life, I hope to never have to return to having a "real job"
Just enjoy listening to you so much. Farmers. Work so hard and it takes a lot of energy both mental and physical. I grew up on my grandfathers farm. I
Am 76 now this brings a heart so many memories.We had chickens and he raised potatoes
It shows you’ve thought things out, work hard, and a loving family.
"TRADITIONAL" seems to change with each generation. Remember at one point in our history, the woman of the house stayed at home while the man went to work. Way before that, both worked on the homestead. Now days, everyone has to work to afford our lifestyles that we love to enjoy. Society needs to slow down and enjoy the simpler things. The world speeds by while life is too short. Blessings!!!
I think the greatest part of becoming debt free, is when you start saving every month. Saving for Cars, education, an emergency fund, or retirement. It gives you such a stress free feeling. Just knowing you have money set aside for those things and you don't have to worry. It is such a relief.
This video is great. We paid cash for our house and my neighbor recently asked us how we could afford that. We are debt free and have saved. Everytime he comes over he is telling us about his new truck, his plans to buy a tractor, the property he wants to buy...my husband and I spend very little that is how we are able to create the lifestyle we want. Thanks as always for sharing!
People really are nosey and negative. I see that all over RUclips. I am not a farmer but love your videos! And the clever things you do . Don't tell all your business . And people are jealous you got where you are because you WORK .
RUclips is so sincere and so usually happy about things that come out with L that you've grown or that you're going to buy like little piglets. I'm very happy with the program it's a wonderful one. So thank you okay. And this was very educational for me.
I love your channel! I work in corporate America and don’t plan on being a homesteader but I still find your channel very interesting because I do a bit of gardening and some of your ideas are very helpful to someone like me. Thank you!
👍 big thumbs up for talking about things that most channels won't talk about. We love seeing younger folks who have their heads on straight. God bless you.
Great video... long time subscriber but first time commenting. My wife and I have purchased property to start a small homestead in Virginia. I will still be working, one thing that is keeping me working is the crazy cost of health care. Glad to know it’s possible to homestead and afford insurance if you work hard and plan. Love your videos
Linda Gayle and I did about the same thing back in 2005. We are in a very similar situation as you guys and we love it! We both really enjoy your sharing your experiences and expertise!
The homestead is enough of a job I say. You amaze me how much you do. I'm in awe of you both. I appreciate your time and advice and recipes and ideas. Happy Easter, GOD bless you ALL. HUGS and blessings from NY State 🏞👍🌌🌠🐾😎🐇👑💐. I'm amazed at the intrusive questions people have asked of you.
Sandra Conklin i don’t think it is intrusive why you say this?...when a person is thinking about going off grid there ARE QUESTIONS DOWN TO EARTH THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW..i really don’t think it is being nosy IT IS JUST PLAIN NATURAL QUESTIONS...i find that rarely can we Ask the ...real down to earth questions without either being turned down by the off grid people themselves or if they nicely answers....i see in the comments like you did being kind of shocked by those down to earth important questions...people ask....so i thank very much Sara And Kevin to be able to open their heart..to those very very important for the one’s who wants to began....
I agree with Sandra above. We totally appreciate your open-ness, but It's really none of anyone else's business. You are both so forthcoming, but know you have the right to privacy. God bless all and wishes for a blessed Easter.
You're job is very important. I think it is nice that you can work at what you love doing.
Thank you for sharing such personal information. People who dream of, or are making plans towards moving onto a farm and/or homesteading need to know what they are getting into financially and you are very, very helpful.
You are rich in the sence that you have worked hard to have the life you love and dreamed of :-)
THANKS FOR SHARING YOU LIVES WITH US.
You two are amazing as always! I look forward to every video you post. Thanks for being exactly who you are. Homesteading is life! Have a blessed weekend.
Oh wow. The nerve of some people. Just watching the both of you I knew you had a past in the rat race and chose homesteading. I couldn’t do it now with my age creeping up but I totally respect the both of you. If I had to work that close with my husband he would of been tilled under by now. Lol. Kudos to you both for the decisions you have made and don’t ever feel like you need to explain yourself to anyone.
@Teresa Martin ,
Your age is creeping up ? Me too ! lol
I don't know how old you are but I am 76 and I am now working at developing my homestead . And why not ? I have to live somewhere so I choose to live on my six acre homestead. My younger brother chooses to live in a senior's apartment complex. He is granted one open air parking space for his car. And the regulation enforcers measure his car every day to make sure that his car is parked the proscribed distance from the parking lines .
For that , Jerry pays about four times as much as my mortgage cost . Oh , and not only do I have a large three car garage , I also can park my truck anywhere I want to on my property !
Donald Miller...Go Donald!!! Good for you! I am 63 and my husband is 65, we have a small homestead but want a larger one. We don’t want to do You-Tube but just move closer to family and have a little more acreage. We give away a lot of what we grow and extra eggs etc. I could never live where I am told where to park and what the quiet hours are! We are free and want to stay that way!!!
@Lauren Andreas ,
I only have a small homestead. It's enough for me to take care of and large enough to do most of what I want to do . For my additional tasks , I do a little today , a little more tomorrow and again the day after until it's finished. Then I begin a new task . lol I actually look forward to winter. A time of rest and renewal . Spring m eans the beginning of the work season .
I sell as much as I can so that my place helps to pay for itself. I try to produce a little more each year . I do not make much money but every little bit helps you know . If I were younger like you folks I could make a lot more money . I was 74 when I started my homestead. Next year my peach trees should be producing. I try to plant a few new fruit trees each spring. Time waits for no one you know . Waiting until next year to plant a fruit tree or berry bush is a whole year's growth . So , when it comes to planting , plant something now ! I always try to plant something that is edible. Even edible flowers .
Donald Miller - Mr. Miller, you sound like someone we would like to meet! You sound like the salt of the earth. God Bless You with Health, Prosperity & Happiness! ❤️
@Lauren Andreas ,
LOL , please do not nominate me for Saint Hood just yet .
lol same thing over here at our farm lol folks need to update the thinking of BEING FREE and NO DEBT =)
I knew you were TRUST FUND BABIES bwhahahaaha that was rich!
Thank you for your transparency, honesty, your helpfulness and for being so darn cute. Be well and keep up the wonderful work you do.
I learned something cute today: my dad watches you all, too! He told me he left a comment, saying Sarah reminds him of me, and was absolutely tickled when Sarah responded! Great video...!
The red backdrop with the greenery was very eye pleasing
You are living the same way we are living. And we get asked the same question. It is a job.
Being debt free is a huge plus and like you guys, my husband and I worked so hard, paid off our house in the suburbs and our small remote off grid cabin and our vehicles (we have no debt). We also own a little S Corp business that gives us a decent income and we only spend about 1 or 2 days a week working. Our new adventure is to sell our current home and purchase with cash a smaller home with an acre or two on the outskirts of town (kids are grown with families of their own). We plan to grow a much bigger garden than we've had and have a few small farm animals. I learned sooooo much from both of you. So pleasant to watch your channel. God Bless! 🌷🌸🌷🌸
If you don't do this already, you may want to.... (I do have a point.)
I grew up on a farm and money was tight, though my siblings and I didn't really know that. My dad also worked construction and during the years when I was very young, construction jobs in our area were sparse and often short lived. Dad had to go out of state sometimes to work. They raised acres and acres of gardens, selling to the local Co-op when possible, the rest of it went on the table or was canned for later.
So many of the things other families and kids were doing, we couldn't (eat out, movies, annual vacations, etc.) but we didn't know we were missing anything and as adults looking back, we all agree that it was the other kids that missed out.
Our parents did so many fun things with us, we had wonderful childhoods. Firstly though, our parents never told us that money was tight. They didn't want us to feel afraid about not having something we needed. We never knew that sometimes they didn't know where the next day's meals would come from. We were told enough to understand that "no means no" when we asked for something and we knew that just because a sibling got something when they needed it didn't mean we were entitled to get something at the same time.
But one of the fun things our parents did, that we still reminisce about, is picnics in the woods. After church sometimes, Dad would hook the hay trailer to the tractor and mom would pack a lunch and we'd ride into the woods. As children, it seemed that we went miles from home to picnic. Now we realize it was a couple of stones throws away from home. As a matter of fact, one of the most frequented picnic sites is where I built my house and now live.
Another wonderful memory is: when the winter was cold enough, Dad would take a sledge hammer to the pond to check it and if it was frozen solid enough, Mom would bundle us up until we could barely move and we would have a blast skating on the pond (just in our boots, no skates). I was too small to manage staying on my feet so Mom and Dad would lay me on my back and slide me back and forth from one to the other as I spun wildly in circles.
Both of these things, and many others, were practically magical to us as children and are highly treasured memories now. I've said all that to say this: you both seem like such great people and parents and your property reminds me of my parents' farm (minus the cattle). If you're not doing things like this with your daughters, you might want to. Of course, that depends on what they enjoy. These things took only a few hours and weren't done all the time, but that time is still precious to us. We all still agree, it's the other kids who missed out.
Hi Kevin and family very impressive and congratulations on your decisions happy for you success may God bless you all guys 🏡🙏👍🖐️
This is good info for people want to change their lives. Most either can not or won't change. Those who do can live healthier and live longer.
I caught myself wondering the same thing when I first started watching you guys but told myself that's non of my business so I never asked. Also put off watching this video for 3 years. But ad I watched seen how hard you guys worked and quickly seen how your money was made. The small things you guys do to save money have put me on a very tight budget over the years so I thank you for teaching all that you do. We have grown our little hobby farm. We started with bees and a decent sized garden and boy has that really taken off.... we've now had chickens for 3 years and bought our first calf. We hope to be self sufficient grocery wise in 2 years. And you guys have played a huge part in it. From the bottom of our hearts. Thank you Kevin and Sarah from the A-M-K apiaries family. Ps we have a fb page if you would like to drop in and say hi sometime.
Homesteading lifestyle is not for the faint at heart it is hard work living this lifestyle and being debt free. We live this lifestyle on 15 acres and it can be a challenge at times . My husband is a owner operator truck driver and finds his own loads and I take care of the homestead he takes a month off a year just to help with seed times and harvest .
I just asked this question on another video. Sorry for the repetition. Thanks for answering the question though. I'm so glad you all are taking care of business while enjoying your homesteading. God Bless.
I know what this video costed you two. It was baring a part of your private lives to the public that many believe to be best left private. You two did a great job in your explanations. You two rock.
I will be on this ride for a long time thanks, for making some of us be happy and put a smile on our faces.
This was a huge help and insight since we are self employed and trying to learn how to make our small farm productive! Thanks!!
Thank you for the personal insight. This was really informative!!
God Bless you both. You are " hard working down to earth " Americans.
Being a farmer is super hard my family and i worked around the clock. No time for fun or eachother. Today a rather go to my 8 hr per day job than come home relax and enjoy my family.Glad it works for your family .God Bless
AWESOME VIDEO! I already knew the answer because I watched the other videos where you talked about it BUT I'm glad you addressed this again because I think what you did and are doing is something a lot of "ordinary" people can achieve if they learn to cut back and save. Thank you again for sharing and God bless.
I appreciate your candor. No doubt MANY viewers had these same questions. We did!
Too bad there aren't more families like you guys. Love it and your are doing a great service.
I love you both and your cooking is outstanding. God Bless Both of you. Your hard workers it’s easy to see, Hats off to you! Your living the Dream folks, Rock on! Love from Texas .....💐🙏💐
You two are great I've been watching your stuff for a few years and you inspired me to stated my own channel to document the 2020 season. I have a small farm but use tractors and field implements (I'm too old to do all the hand work). I have tried the woven fabric but the wind is just too strong here. I can't wait to see how you do this summer. May you enjoy the bad days as much as you enjoy the good. You have proven through your life style, God provides all we need, stay safe.
Your message of fiscal responsibility is one for everyone. Smart living.
Living with ones own means . Thank you for your honestly .
God bless you and your beautiful family your are very hard working family.
I remember my childhood when I grow up in Romania at my grandparents house and every time I fallow your iTube I am back in my home country at the farm, keep up the good work
Your are very nice people 👍
Don't worry about college. My husband and kids worked out what classes they too in highschool so that they had usable skills. They both worked in the summer and a little during the semester. They both got state funding they earned from good grades. They both got a few scholarships. The only thing we paid for we're books. After 2 year in community college and 4 years at UK they came out with 2 associate degrees and 2 bachelor degrees and debt free. College can be done without debt. God Bless and Happy Easter
We are in the process of becoming debt free as well as we set up our homestead. We were already on our property when we started our journey so mostly we live by "how can we reuse things and find free/inexpensive stuff?" Ha! It's tough when you can't just go plop down money and buy what you need, but I think it makes you value what you have so much more. And it's great for kids to see that too. Love your videos!
Congrats to you! I'm sure since your RUclips subs have exploded and you're now at 272K you're pulling in an amazing amount of $$$! All the best, you guys are great!!!
These are very personal questions that many wouldn't answer. You didn't have to either, but these are important answers for anyone considering this lifestyle. Cheers!
Way to go guys!
Not a simple lifestyle, but a Beautiful lifestyle. Blessings ❣️
Thank you for being open and honest yes it's a bit nosy asking about how you survive by homesteadering but there's someone ready to make that leap every bit of info helps unless people stop eating food will always be sold God Bless and have a great Easter 😇😇😇
This is wonderful how yous live. You don't need a million dollars to live. You live simple and really no one needs to really know. But hard work it is. If people think its not , they got another thing coming. Love watching you both. Thank you.
Thanks for your answer, many people believed that they have to look for a job before living a good life.
This is the best ‘homesteading’ video. I’ve grown tired of those you tubers who put on a good homesteading show, but don’t take real risks. It (homesteading) is a way of living a more simple life for yourselves and your families. Real life is not a reality show.
Thanks for another fabulous video! Great content that I think many of us wish we knew, so thanks for helping us!!! Have a blessed day! It comes down to PRIORITIES plain & simple.
Found out my son's last year of college. You can work during the normal semester and take a years hours in the summer. He said it was intense but once your in the zone it's actually easier. No time for distractions. No time to forget before the test.
No body could watch your videos and think you don't have jobs.
Love what you do and how you live, and I bet those who disagree are not as happy as you !
God bless and keep you and your family.
We are a homestead family and have medi-share. It’s super affordable and has been great to use. We are super healthy and rarely go to the dr, so we carry a high deductible. I highly recommend it.
I just started watching. I'm from Gilbert AZ. We Have a cabin up in northern AZ and love my flowers up there.
The barn looks nice and red and white and clean I like!
I remember a quote that hung on the wall in the county clerks office in Kiowa county Kansas. " It's a great country but you can't live in it for nothing" JFK. Well done Kevin and Sarah. Best of success to you in your endeavors.
You guys are great and your just wholesome good people and it shows.
You are such wise folks. Great role models for your children! And Kevin, love your T-shirt!
Love you guys! I knew you had money set aside for the girls education. I never would have thought otherwise. You guys don’t sneeze without a plan. I pray for a lifetime of good health and full scholarships for you and the girls. 🙏
Right now we are trying to get our infrastructure set up so we can expand to build a business off of our little homestead. We are blessed to be in the home and on the land my husband grew up on. Because I don't work outside of the house in a traditional job I have friends and even family who think I'm being lazy or just gave up on life. That couldn't be farther from the truth! It is hard work getting everything ready but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Keep up the good work you guys ❤️
Saw your video about , hand writing plant lables. Had a idea why not get a stamp set with letters, that can be changed
To what ever word you need. Then use permanent ink. Use a type of stick that the ink will stick to. It should speed up the process. Hope this helps.Bonnie.
you guys are so real..not everything is given...working hard pays off..not looking for a free ride...great