What We’re Changing on the Homestead This Year

If you’ve ever hit a point on your homestead where you wonder, “Can we actually keep doing all of this?” you’re not alone.

Last year, Carolyn and I made a decision that honestly felt a little uncomfortable at the time. We slowed down.

Not completely. The animals still needed care. The garden still needed tending. But we intentionally stepped off the gas just enough to take a breath and evaluate what we were building.

And I’ll tell you, that year changed everything.

Now we’re stepping into a new season on the homestead with clearer direction, a little more wisdom, and a willingness to do things differently than we have before.

Starting a New Seven-Year Cycle

When we first moved onto this property, I had this idea that we would push hard for six years and then take a seventh year to rest and regroup.

At the time, I’m not sure Carolyn fully believed me. But by year six, we both knew we needed it.

Taking that slower year gave us something we don’t often give ourselves. Perspective. It allowed us to look critically at what we actually wanted to keep doing and what just wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

Now we’re stepping into year one of a new cycle, and this time we’re building with intention instead of just momentum.

What We’re Doing Less Of

Before I talk about what we’re building, it’s important to talk about what we’re letting go of.

Because this might be the most important shift of all.

Simplifying the Dairy

We used to run two milk cows and produce a lot of cheese.

It was rewarding, but it also came with constant pressure. When you’re bringing in eight to ten gallons of milk a day, you don’t get much flexibility.

Now we’re down to one cow.

We still make cheese, but it happens when it fits our rhythm instead of forcing our schedule.

Check out our posts on recipes that use a lot of milk and how to make cultured dairy products.

Stepping Away From Pig Breeding

We’ve always liked the idea of breeding animals as a form of security on the homestead.

But our Kune Kune pig breeding program became more complex than it needed to be.

Managing multiple ages, stages, and feeding systems just added too much weight to the day-to-day.

So we stepped back.

We’ll still raise pigs, but we’re buying feeders instead of breeding for now.

A Shift Toward Multi-Generational Homesteading

This is probably the biggest change this year. We’re no longer doing everything ourselves.

Our adult kids are stepping in and taking ownership of real, meaningful parts of the homestead.

Not just helping, but leading. And that changes everything.

The Garden Is Becoming a Family Effort

For years, Carolyn and I managed the main production garden.

This year, our daughter Rachel is taking it over.

She’s fully managing it, and we’re stepping into more of a guiding role. It’s freeing up time for me to focus on other projects, and it’s exciting to watch her step into that responsibility.

Improving the Kids’ Gardens

We’ve always given our kids their own garden space. Not because it’s efficient, but because it teaches responsibility.

This year, we’re upgrading those spaces to make them more enjoyable.

We’ve been dealing with grass encroachment from the pasture, and this year we're managing it by installing deep edging barriers and resetting the beds so the kids aren’t constantly fighting a losing battle.

The goal is simple.

Make it easier for them to succeed so they actually enjoy gardening.

Read more on how to get your kids excited about gardening here.

Expanding the Beef Program

This has been a long time coming.

We’ve always had more beef cattle than we strictly needed because I had a long-term vision for something bigger.

Now it’s starting to take shape.

Our son-in-law Joshua is stepping in to manage the beef herd, and we’re working toward eventually selling grass-fed beef again.

It’s exciting to finally move that vision forward.

A New Egg Business

This one’s been fun to watch. Our daughter Hannah decided she wanted to start an egg business. So she got to work.

She’s been raising chicks, learning everything she can, and putting in months of effort before seeing any return.

Now we’ve got around 80 hens and more eggs than we can use. The next step is setting up a simple roadside stand.

It won’t be fancy, but it will be hers.

Learn more about how to raise chickens for eggs.

The Big Build This Year

Rebuilding the House Exterior

This is the project that’s going to dominate the year.

We’re rebuilding the front porch, replacing siding, and fixing structural issues that have been there since we moved in.

It’s a major project, but what makes it special is that our son Tristan is stepping in to lead the construction. So once again, this becomes a family effort.

Adding an Outhouse

Alongside the big remodel, we’re also building something simple but necessary.

An outhouse.

With livestock, mud, and people constantly moving around, it just makes sense. It takes pressure off the house and keeps things running more smoothly.

Rebuilding the Orchard

Our orchard has taken some hits over the years. We’ve lost trees to extreme cold and had to rethink some of our earlier decisions.

So this year, I’m focusing on rebuilding.

We’re replanting trees, improving watering systems, and working toward a more diverse food forest approach.

Read more on how to prune fruit trees.

Stocking the Pantry With Intention

One of the quieter projects this year has been stocking up.

We recently placed a large bulk order to fill in gaps in our pantry with things we don’t grow ourselves (flour, beans, oils, vinegar).

With rising costs and supply concerns, it just makes sense to plan ahead where we can.

For anything we can't grow or source ourselves, our first stop is always Azure Standard. Their high-quality standards match ours and their bulk pricing is hard to beat! If you're a first-time Azure customer, you can get 15% off your first order of $100 or more with the coupon code "HOMESTEADINGFAMILY15".

Learn the 7 pantry staples we'll always have on hand and how to build a well-stocked pantry.

Moving Forward With More Intention

If there’s one thing I’ve taken from this past season, it’s this: We don’t have to do everything to build a successful homestead.

In fact, trying to do everything is one of the fastest ways to burn out.

This year is about focusing on what matters most. Working together as a family. Letting go of what’s too much and building something that’s sustainable for the long haul.