The Cost of Homesteading.
I wish I could say that homesteading is an inexpensive way to live, but in all reality the initial start-up costs can be very expensive, but the reward is by far the most satisfying thing we have ever done!
We had a dream to move to the country and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle for many years before it actually happened. We had to sacrifice our living conditions and alter our dream many times along the way. I do not want to discourage anyone from following their homesteading dreams, but I do want to write this post in a very open and honest manner so you know what to expect.
I know it is not socially acceptable to talk about how much things cost or how much we spend, but I do want to give an accurate look into the cost of setting up a homestead. If I am going against what is acceptable in your eyes, and you have no desire to know these things, please stop reading here.
What we have learned in the last few years is that whatever we purchase ends up paying for itself in the long run. We do not have large savings to go out and buy whatever we need, and we make our purchases slowly over time. Larger items are saved for or bought with overtime hour money. Smaller items are purchased paycheck-by-paycheck depending on what we can afford at the time. Any livestock feed is figured into our monthly budget, and we do not raise more animals then we can afford to take care at anyone time. The same goes for building our homestead; any improvements made are done piece-by-piece, one paycheck at a time.
Here is a breakdown of what we have spent, and the joy it brings us each and every day:
HOMESTEADING
COST
JOY IT BRINGS
Land
21 country acres. We live 30 minutes from the nearest town.
$66,000 (mortgaged)
$2,800 water well (savings)
$1,800 septic system (savings)
Waking up to a rooster, birds singing, and the shower of stars we view each night.
Home – 1,200 sq. ft.
We had to live in a camper for two years to save money for a down payment on the house.
$80,000 (mortgaged)
After using all of our savings for the well and septic we had to save more and dip into our retirement for a down payment for the house.
We downsized from a 2.500 sq ft house in the city to a smaller home that forced us to purge items we had collected over the years. With it came a freedom from owning less.
Barn – 192 sq. ft.
Our mini barn is still holding up, but will need replaced before adding any more livestock or farming projects to the homestead.
$3,000 – We build this one pay check at a time while living in the camper. In our area we can build this size outbuilding without having to get a permit.
Stores tools, livestock feed, lawn and garden items and building supplies.
Hen house
Hold 12 hens and one rooster. Our egg hens free-range most of the year, so the upkeep on this house has been very minimal.
$2,000 – We build this one pay check at a time while living in the camper.
The fresh eggs we get are shared with our adult children and their families, our neighbors and friends. We love sharing!
Tractor – 1050 Ford
An antique by many standards our 1950 tractor has plowed fields, built a driveway and planted corn.
$1,600 – We used a tax return to make this purchase.
$500 – Repairs to radiator, tires, battery, and water pump.
The joy hubby gets when he spends the day on his tractor is better than any vacation he could ever pay for.
Tractor Implements
Very used planter, back blade, box blade, rake and single plow.
$1,000 – Purchased from a friends grandfather who allowed us to make monthly payments for 3 months.
These tractor parts have been a big help in preparing our soil and taking care of normal farming chores.
Army Surplus Trailer
I am not sure what we would do without this trailer!
$400.00 – Paid for with overtime hour money.
Used for hauling straw, wood and building supplies.
Three Rabbit Pens
We raise and butcher about fifteen meat rabbits three times a year.
$100 for wire fencing and built with leftover wood from building the barn
$75 for three rabbits
$200 in feed and timothy hay each year
We raise all our own meat and never have to buy meat from the grocery store. We always know what is in our meat!
Meat Chicken Coop
We raise and butcher two batches of meat chickens twice a year.
$300 Pen – Paid for with overtime money.
$70 a year for chicks
$300 a year for feed
If you have ever never tasted a fresh butchered chicken you are in for a treat. The flavor is amazing and I can rest assured that no growth hormones were administered to our birds.
Pig Pen
We raise 2 feeder pigs each spring and butcher them when they are about 7-8 months old. Their pen is 20 x 20 with a covered area to sleep and get out of the sun.
$400 Pen – Bought supplies one paycheck at a time until we had enough supplies to build the pen.
$90 for two feeder pigs
$500 a year for feed. We supplement their feed with table scrapes and garden waste.
We feel better knowing what goes into the food we put on the table. Fresh pork that has not be injected with growth hormones is what we feel good serving our family.
Vegetable Garden
To grow enough vegetables to feed our family for a year we have to put a lot of time and money into the garden areas.
$1,500 – This cost covers lime, fertilizer, seed replacement, canning supplies, extra water usage, gas for tractor, raised beds, irrigation, fencing and over winter crops for a year.
The produce we put up each year keeps our pantry stocked all winter long. We preserve about 300 jars each year.
Homestead additions
We continually add to the growth of our homestead land.
We budget about $500 each year to growth. This includes planting new trees, grapes, berry bushes, landscaping and irrigation.
We see the fruits of our labor grow each year. Even though we have a limited budget for growth we do see our land gowning in value each and every year.
Tools
Living on a farm and homesteading requires that you have basic tools at your disposal.
Over the last few years we have purchased over $5,000 worth of basic tools, such as a lawn tractor, rototiller, weed eater, chain saw, axes, wedges, saws, shovels, picks, forks, post hole digger, wheel barrows, fencing, and building tools.
There have been times when we needed to borrow items but we have a good network of other homesteaders we can borrow from if needed. It is all about helping out your neighbors and forming a homesteading community.
This is just a peek into the cost of setting up a homestead.
We started with a blank piece of land that had no outbuilding or home already standing. The land had not been lived on or taking care of for over 20 years. The land was overgrown, in bad shape, and had no nutrients left in the soil. Over half of it was an open field that had no trees, no water and no source of power. We started from the ground up and have been building little by little each year as time and money allows.
What are we saving for and planning for the next five years?
Finish sunroom – $3,000
New raised garden beds – $500
Fruit orchard and irrigation – $2,000
Solar additions for power sources – $5,000
A newer used tractor – $10,000
A bigger barn – $20,000
Fenced in pasture – $3,000
Beef cows – $2,000
While homesteading can be very tiring at times, the satisfaction we feel at the end of the day is priceless. We continue to live frugally and recycle, re-use and make do with what we have to continue living this lifestyle.
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