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.
Love that passage at the beginning of the post. I was discussing this exact same thing with my mother just yesterday. She thinks the idea of homesteading is crazy and cannot fathom why I would want to leave a well-paying job even if I am miserable and have no life outside of my career…
This book has been on my Amazon wish list but winning a copy would let me put that $10 toward my little dream!
I’m disabled and live alone, so it is very difficult to meet all of my own needs. I garden, cook from scratch, and will soon start making my own laundry detergent. My survival policy is “make do or do without”. It would be so very helpful to learn of more ways to support myself.
Thank you for offering this. It would be such a blessing to win it.
My problem is starting, in that I don’t think I have enough saved to give it a go
always love new ideas 🙂
I have had to quit my job to take care of my sister. My sister is a veteran and has a TBI which causes seizures. I am trying to become more self sufficient. Would love this book.
We have a small farm and are trying our best to become more self sufficient. This book looks like an interesting read!
I have spent years saving money, cooking from scratch, cutting hair, etc. However, this was all done because we had one injured child and later a disabled one. It was all survival due to our situation, not making a dime. I would love to find a way to have our upcoming homestead be more than just mere survival for us, especially as the primary caretaker of our sn child.
I would love to read this book. We are very interested in homesteading and sharing knowledge, skills, and bartering with other homesteaders!
I recently retired and will become a farmer at the age of 53! Better late than never.
Becoming self sufficient and making money off my homestead is my goal. Right now I’m self employed and on the side I sell baked goods at my local farmers market. I’m making and selling Cranberry Butter and most of all having fun while doing those things.
This sounds like a wonderful resource. I totally agree that we all want the freedom to do what we love and what an awesome thing this book has ideas on how to do that! Can’t wait to read!
All my life I have wanted to homestead. Been doing my best in a suburban backyard and kitchen in my spare time. But for my retirement I want to do more so I can pass on this knowledge to my children and grandchildren.
I am a single parent on 5 of the original acres of my grandparents homestead that I bought back a few years ago. I have been gardening, canning, making my own skincare, and cleaning products for years now. I am also a teacher and decided to do a farmers market this past summer. It was not as successful as I had hoped. I would love to find a way to make more of a living off of this property so I can possibly retire early and do what I love on a more full time basis (I love teaching, but my heart longs to be working on the place). Would love to see how others do it! BTW, love the blog, the ideas and the creativity it gives me, thanks!
I currently work part time and raise a 4 year old girl and a 1 year old boy. I would love to find a way to be self sufficient and make money. That way I can stay home with my kids.
Looks interesting. would live to trysome ideasa
My challenges are as many as others. I also like to can everything I can get ahold of, and have it for future use. I am learning about bees and beekeeping to collect honey. Also learning of pallet furniture, but not a lot of used pallets here. Would love to read this book and learn more.
I would love to be able to come back home. My husband is already self employed. Being close to retirement this is my heart’s desire.
Great post. I’d love to read the book! 🙂
I’d love to win this book so I can learn more about making money with my future homestead. It’s in the planning stages for now.
I’ve really thought about starting a homestead and would love to win this book so I can learn way to also make money from it’s resources as well.