Most homesteaders have help in their homesteading journey. They have spouses, children, and maybe even other relatives and friends who help along the way. Homesteading alone is much different. It means taking on everything by yourself, with next to no help.
It also means you need to figure it out for yourself. You are the reason your homestead becomes successful or it fails. I did everything on my own here at my homestead because I did not have a husband or relatives that could help me, and all of my children lived in another state, so it was just me.
I didn’t mind at all being alone, but I’ll be honest, it had its pros and cons.
Homesteading Alone: The Pros
The good side of homesteading alone is that I could make all my own decisions. I got to choose every color I painted, every animal I wanted, every project I wanted to do, and every decision that needed made was mine. I had 100% control over my homestead and what happened with it.
There was a sense of accomplishment when I completed a project by myself and knew that I did it with no help. It was rewarding to make new things and know that my skills were growing stronger and stronger. You become proud of what you accomplish even if they aren’t as perfect as you wanted them to be.
When homesteading alone you learn to be quite crafty and smart about finding better and easier ways to do things because you don’t have any help. You also think twice about the plans you make knowing it is just you doing the work.
Finally, when you are encouraging others you can show what you have accomplished on your own. It helps other new homesteaders see that anything is possible especially if they will have help. After all, if you can do it alone, it should be that much easier for them, right?
Things I Have Accomplished Alone
Here are some of the projects that I have accomplished on my own over the years on my homestead with no help.
- Painted my chicken coop.
- Sealed the roof of my shed and RV.
- Enclosed my porch to make my kitchen larger.
- Made my own kitchen countertops.
- Laid my own pavers for a patio.
- Designed and constructed my own kitchen garden with a walkway.
- Installed a lattice fence around my garden.
- Built a bench for my yard.
- Designed my own 3-bin compost pile system.
- Installed a grape trellis.
- I designed my own desk for my office.
As you can see, it is possible to accomplish things on your own. You just have to look at the project you want to accomplish, make a plan, do some research, and get started. For more advice on getting started homesteading read this post.
Homesteading Alone: The Cons
Although homesteading alone has its upside, it has its downside as well. Doing anything alone is always harder. There are many limitations to homesteading alone.
Doing anything that requires heavy lifting is impossible to do alone without some sort of machinery or gadget to help. Also moving things that are large can be impossible without the help of another person. Some things just need more than one person.
Building a shed, a barn, a chicken coop, and other structures are virtually impossible without help, as well as installing fencing. Those tasks require a second person to help hold or stabilize materials.
Homesteading alone limits you to the knowledge and skillsets that you have. If you have an electrical problem and know nothing about electricity, the task is one that will require someone else to complete it. The same goes for machinery and equipment repairs, or the use of certain tools like chainsaws and the like.
Your Skillset Matters
Not having the required skill sets mean you have two option’s, find someone who can help you, or pay someone. Paying someone can be expensive and many homesteaders can’t afford that, so that is definitely a con of homesteading alone.
Another con is that you have no one to share your accomplishments and problems with. There is no one to discuss your problems and plans with. It’s all up to you. Don’t suffer from homestead overwhelm!
The last, and for me, the worst part of homesteading alone, is that there is no one to help you when you are sick or hurt. You have to work through whatever ails you because it is all up to you and you only.
Even a day away or a vacation can become impossible when you are homesteading alone. Read The Prairie Homestead’s post on how to take a vacation while homesteading.
Things I’ve Had To Get Help With
There are many times I have had to pay someone or find someone who could help me out with something I needed to accomplish.
- Building my chicken coop.
- Moving the shed.
- Running electric for my kitchen addition.
- Installing the water lines and drain for the washer.
- Fixing the tractor.
- Installing my security cameras.
- Help with installing the fencing around the property.
- Cutting and removing trees.
- Using the large bush hog for the backfield.
All of those tasks required me to find someone who could either help me or do them for me. Some of them cost me money, some people helped with freely. Either way, I had to plan around others, make time for their schedules, and work at their pace.
Homesteading alone can be difficult but it has its rewards also. Take on only the tasks you can do and don’t be afraid to ask for help with the rest. Do you homestead alone or do you have help?