How to Make Money Homesteading (Instead of Emptying Your Wallet)
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“How to Make Money Homesteading So You Can Enjoy a Secure, Self-Sufficient Life” is a new book by Tim Young, author of The Accidental Farmers: An urban couple, a rural calling and a dream of farming in harmony with nature. Tim and his wife, Liz, farmed at Nature’s Harmony Farm in Elberton, Georgia.
One of the most memorable passages in the book (to me) is where Tim discusses the role of money in our lives:
I suspect what we really want is not money. Rather, we simply desire increased freedom…the ability to do more of what we want, when we want, without our time (labor) being controlled by someone else. And since most of use were born into a world centered on money, we seem to believe the path to this increased freedom is having more of it.
He goes on to discuss ways to reduce our expenses, which to my mind is a common sense choice for most of us who wish to have greater financial freedom.
Pros About How to Make Money Homesteading
- Suggestions for Reducing Expenses and Eliminating Debt
- Many, many ideas for income streams – from those that require larger acreage to those that can be done in a small home or apartment
- Interviews with real homesteaders are various stages in their homesteading journeys
- Personalized Homestead Entrepreneurial Life Plan Template to help your organize your homestead income making ideas
Each of the 18 interviews includes the following questions/information:
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- Name
- Location
- If you left a “real job” prior to breaking away to become more self-sufficient, what was it?
- Homestead/Farm Highlights
- What inspired (or scared) you into pursuing a more self-sufficient lifestyle?
- What were your criteria when looking for land? how did you make your choice?
- What are your income streams now?
- Why did you choose these income streams?
- How did you acquire the knowledge/skill to generate income this way?
- If starting over again on the path to self-sufficiency, what would you do differently?
- If relevant, what do you miss about city/urban life…you know, the “real” world?
- Finally, what advice do you have for someone considering leaving a “real job” to become more self-sufficient?
This information can help readers to see if a similar option may work for them in their area/circumstances.
Cons About How to Make Money Homesteading
I’m always a fan of photos, so I would love to see the small black and white images replaced by color, but that doesn’t significantly impact the utility of the book. I was also hoping to see more interviewees who were making a full time income off their homesteads. Instead, most are still working full time away from home. Hard numbers would be great, too, although I realize most people would be uncomfortable sharing that information. There’s a better breakdown of potential hourly wages from various homesteading income sources in The Weekend Homesteader.
To Summarize: If you’re stumped for ideas for possible revenue streams to fund your homesteading dreams, this book is chock full of possibilities.
You may also enjoy:
- Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less)
- The Weekend Homesteader
- The Encyclopedia of Country Living – Endless Homestead Inspiration
Originally published in 2014, updated n 2017. This post originally included a giveaway, which has now expired.