Starting a homestead is a dream for many—building a sustainable life, growing your own food, and creating something meaningful. But like any great journey, it comes with challenges, and I made my fair share of mistakes when I first started. If I could go back in time and give myself some advice, these three things would have saved me months—if not years—of frustration.

Today, I’m sharing these lessons with you so you can avoid the same pitfalls and set yourself up for success from day one.

1. Just Start – Nobody’s Watching Anyway
When I first started, I was paralyzed by the thought that I wasn’t ready. I believed I needed more knowledge, more skills, or the perfect setup before I could begin. The truth? Nobody is watching at first, and that’s a good thing!

It’s like riding a bike—you don’t start out smooth and steady; you wobble, fall, and maybe even crash a few times. But over time, you get better. The same is true for homesteading and content creation. If I had waited until I was "ready," I never would have started. And the reality is, the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll improve.

Don’t overthink it. Plant that first seed. Get that first animal. Press record on that first video. You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to become great.

2. Own Your Contact List – Don’t Build Your House on Rented Land
This is the mistake that still stings to this day.

Years ago, I started a Facebook page dedicated to Poor Man’s Aquaponics. I shared everything—videos, photos of my DIY aquaponics systems, step-by-step builds, my greenhouse setup, and so much more. I spent months and months pouring my heart into that content, building an audience, and engaging with people who were excited about what I was doing. It was finally gaining traction, and I felt like I was making an impact.

And then, Facebook changed its algorithm. Practically overnight, my reach plummeted. One day, I logged in, and it was all gone. No warning, no explanation—just gone.

All that work, all those connections—vanished because I didn’t own my contact list.

The lesson? You must control your own platform. Social media is a great tool, but it’s not your business. If you rely on a third-party platform to store your audience, you’re building your house on rented land. You need to be collecting emails, growing a direct line to your audience, and making sure you never lose the connection you’ve worked so hard to build.

If I had started an email list back then, I wouldn’t have lost everything. Learn from my mistake—start building your list today.

3. Take a Leap of Faith – You’ll Get Better Over Time
If you wait until you feel confident, you’ll never start.

In the beginning, everything feels awkward. You don’t know your voice yet. You’re unsure about what to share, how to structure things, or whether people will care. That’s normal.

But the truth is, the more you do it, the more you grow into it. You’ll start to find your rhythm. You’ll learn what you love to talk about, what resonates with others, and what unique perspective you bring to the table.

I promise you—you will be bad at first. And that’s okay! Every expert was once a beginner. The only way to improve is to start now.

If you have a desire to document your homestead journey, help others, or turn your passion into a profitable business, you need to take action today. You’ll refine your skills as you go, and you’ll be amazed at how far you come.

The Next Step: Secure Your Homestead’s Future
If you’re serious about creating content to grow your homestead and make it profitable, don’t make the same mistakes I did. Start owning your audience today and take that leap of faith.

I’ve put together a free guide filled with content creation ideas specifically for homesteaders—things you can start sharing right now to grow your reach and connect with the right people.

Get access by subscribing to my newsletter today!

👉 Sign up here to get the free guide!  

Don’t wait. Start today. Your future homestead will thank you!  

SORRY EVERYONE.  I AM NOT QUITE DONE WITH THE FREE CONTENT GUIDE.  I WILL POST ABOUT IT HERE WHEN IT IS READY!!!  

THANKS FOR YOUR PATIENCE.  I'M PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON IT NOW.