How to Make Money Homesteading (Instead of Emptying Your Wallet)
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
“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:
Would you like to save this?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
- 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.
This would be a useful tool in the journey my husband and I have started. We are down to one income and would love to make our land self-supporting.
We just recently bought some acreage and are excited to lay out a plan to pursue. Thanks for this chance!
My daughter is a stay at home mom with 2 small boys. She would love to read this book to figure out how to make money without having to go to work in town from our homestead.
This sounds like a great read!
Oh! I could use this inspiration for our 1/2 acre little suburban farm. I have yet to make money here. It is more of a cash hog. What little (world’s view) we have is a blessing (our view) that has cost us our sweat and tears…. and cash, lots of it.
Sometimes I have extra produce or eggs, but I have no way of selling them. Then, there are the liability issues if we were to try and make money on such a small scale. So many folks are quick to sue. And what I’d get for our small surplus is so nominal.
I’d love some ideas about how to make this place a money-making endeavor!
Live in middle tn om 10 acre farm . We have grown are own food since moving here . This year we added to the gardens and starting selling are produce and put up a green house to grow food all year round. We are on are way but would love to get further off the grid and learn other ways ti make money from your book.
I would love to read this book. Thank you for offering.
Definitely interested in how to make my homestead a more profitable venture. Look forward to reading this!
I just started doing some part time free-lance data analysis work for a previous boss who is now working independently herself. The real challenge so far is carving out a chunk of time without feeling like I’m shortchanging my kids or husband or completely losing any personal time. The time management is the biggest challenge I think, regardless of what you are doing to generate an income.
Having a homestead that makes enough money where we don’t need to work elsewhere is my dream.
Bought mine on Kindle. 🙂 Thanks!
This is going to be my future!
We are a family of 5 living on 38 acres, 60 miles from the nearest town. Completely off grid, self employed and love it. Would really enjoy reading others experiences down this path.
What is hard is trying to sale your goods, getting good signs to put out at the road is too costly.
My biggest challenge is just getting started!
Sounds like an interesting read!
I would love to read this book and then pass it along to my grown children. Over the years, I have learned a lot about saving money…cut husband and boys hair, grow a garden and can the produce, hang the clothes outside to dry…etc. but I haven’t found a way to make much money.
I would love this book as this is a future plan for me to obtain.
I would love a copy too!!
I meant 2015 UGH…
Long term planning. 😉
I am currently raising an eight year old child, so working outside of the home is not an option for me. And my goal for 2105 is to be completely self sufficient as far as food and cleaning and body care items. This book would greatly help in kickstarting me with the knowledge I will need.
Thank you, Deborah