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#1070

Episode 1070: How To Deal With Homestead Burnout

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Today, we talk about homestead burnout, why many new homesteaders feel tempted (and do) give up after only a year or three, and what to do about it. We also cover our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event
 August 23: Wild Edible Walk with Kerry Brown of Strong Roots Resources – 8:30 AM before Curds and Connection at the Holler Homestead.

Sponsor 1
 Strong Roots Resources – Permaculture consulting, education, and more.

Sponsor 2
 AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN – Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way.

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

  • Setting up Basecamp for long-term storage
  • Road food from the pantry
  • Fall garden focus
  • Pushing for more dried herbs

Frugality Tip
 From Margo: Before making a large purchase, check multiple sites. Margo scored a $100 gift card from Northern Tool by ordering online (over $1000 purchase), then picking up in-store. A little research can literally pay off.

Operation Independence
 Adding value can make all the difference — like offering a Wild Edible Walk add-on for the cheese class.

Main Topic of the Day: How to Fix Homestead Burnout

  • Discussion with Tactical about my dead garden bed
  • Why so many homesteads give up after 1–3 years
    • Striving for perfection
    • Using 1 person to do the work of 2, 3, or even 4
    • Instagram homesteads vs. reality
    • The same reasons we burn out on anything
    • The homestead is always there — and you live there
  • Why people get into homesteading
    • The homesteader’s curse
    • My 140 tomato story
    • If you’re not on a homestead yet, what you can do
  • How to avoid homestead burnout
    • Create a space where you can truly let go and reset
    • Have other interests or hobbies
    • Adjust expectations before you start
    • Create goals that aren’t fear-based
    • Learn to spot burnout early:
      • Constant fatigue
      • Irritability or loss of excitement
      • Letting maintenance slide
      • Avoiding certain areas or projects
      • More arguments or isolation
      • Spending more time on screens than outside
      • Self-check questions:
        1. When’s the last time I felt genuinely excited about a homestead task?
        2. Am I doing chores because I want to or just because they have to be done?
        3. Have I been skipping or half-doing maintenance I used to stay on top of?
        4. Am I avoiding certain areas, animals, or projects because they feel overwhelming?
  • How to address burnout if you’re already there
    • Make space to get away for 2–3 days and stay off social media
    • Take a true day of rest
    • Move your body
    • Assess eating and drinking habits
    • Follow homesteaders who show their failures and lessons learned
    • Scale back without feeling like you’ve failed

The world, and we, are messy. Do three things anyway and see how far you can go in a month, then 2 months, then a year!

Make it a great week.

 

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce. 

 

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