Why we started this blog

I’ve never been a big follower of blogs… or social media accounts… or YouTube channels. I’m a scroller, but not a loyal, committed reader.

So the whole journey of Homegrown Homestead has been quite unexpected. And yet, if I look back, there have been clues and parts to the story that have clearly led us to this point.

Where it all began

Words and communicating my ideas in written form has always been a natural outlet for me. I enjoyed essay writing at school and Uni and I majored in subjects where I could express my ideas and share thoughts via the written word.

An empty page doesn’t feel daunting and I know I can jig phrases and sentences around until they find their place.

Ideas also come to me quickly. A concept can have a vague shape or form to it and within minutes, the colours, dimensions, details and substance have become clearer and I’m ready to run with it. This can, of course, have its challenges and Sam has often been on the receiving end of agitated and frenzied conversations as a new idea moves from inception to necessary action almost instantaneously.

For many years I was also a contract writer for an online learning company and my role involved editing, checking and writing courses for educational and training purposes.

An online community

When our second daughter was a baby, I joined a wonderful company that I am still part of – Norwex. The products are amazing; they enable you to clean your home without the use of harmful chemicals or complicated systems. A cloth and water will clean pretty much any mess, from kitchens and bathrooms to removing makeup. You can see more here.

My Norwex journey has been such a blessing. It provided a great income, introduced me to hundreds of people and gave me the gift of travel around the world for several years.

During the years between 2020-2023 my business grew steadily and a big part of that was through an online community. This was my first experience of the unique way that I could communicate with people who I had never met in person, yet could share life with. Through social media I built relationships and a community of like-minded people.

I loved it.

Children helping unpack boxes of goods in a lounge room

Searching for our home

Before we found our land, we spent years driving to Open Inspections most weekends. We quickly eliminated some options and hung onto threads of hope that we would be the successful bidder on others.

Between house hunting adventures, we devoted ourselves to researching and watching videos about permaculture, homesteading, self-sufficiency and making the Big Move from surburbia to a rural location.

Most of the TV shows we watched were fixer-upper style or agricultural in nature. But almost none were based in our part of Australia. We followed families from Ohio to Yorkshire and some closer to home: Tasmania or Far North Queensland.

It wasn’t just the distance from us that was the problem though. Our family situation just felt different.

Trying to find likeminded people

In all our searching, we were trying to find some likeminded people.

Sam was still working full-time 45 minutes from our new home.

I was a stay-at-home mum, but I worked 1-2 jobs.

We homeschool our children, but not in the ‘just stay at home’ way… we pursue hobbies and interests and try to spend lots of time with other families and friends. In fact we have often felt as though we straddle two lives: establishing a strong family base at home, while still doing all the extra-curric and regular commitments.

A pile of fresh strawberries on a draining board

On top of all that, we have grand plans to establish veggie patches, raise animals, build a shed, make a home office, re-pasture the paddocks… all while leading a church full-time and with a new baby. Anyone else got a full life?

Things coming together

Humming along in the background of all of this was the nagging feeling that we had come to this particular farm for a reason. Sam and I couldn’t shake the idea that we both wanted to encourage other people to do what we had done.

Not necessarily to move to land, but to follow their family’s dream. Whatever that looked like.

We wanted to help other people take the plunge to do the thing they had talked about for years.

A boy stroking a calf in a paddock

In 2023 we missed out on THREE properties that we put offers in on. We felt so disheartened and discouraged, but we knew that what we really wanted wasn’t changed by those disappointments. In fact, they served to clarify what we were really looking for and made us even more determined.

Dreams are funny like that – they can seem so out of reach and yet, when it’s the right thing, everything often falls into place faster than we expect.

Sometimes I wish we had moved years ago when the children were younger and life felt less complicated. But now I’m not so sure we were actually ready.

How Homegrown Homestead was born

By mid-2024 the idea of a blog/YouTube channel was starting to stick. We wanted to share our journey, not because we felt like experts in ANYTHING that we were doing… In fact, I think we’ll learn more from this community than we’ll ever give back! But because we wanted to inspire and encourage others. The name grew on us because we’re first-generation homesteaders. We truly are working things out as we go along, learning from scratch and making plenty of mistakes along the way!

This is not a blog of us telling others what to do. In fact, it’s the opposite! We can’t wait to hear all your advice and wisdom and, in turn, you’re invited to see the mess and glimpse behind-the-scenes of this journey of adventure and growth.

Man and woman in front of the Eiffel Tower

Family life, homeschooling, homesteading and home making can also feel lonely or overwhelming at times. Our hope is that Homegrown Homestead can be a place of support and ideas as we navigate the ups and downs, the highs and lows and the joys and challenges of living more sustainably with the people you love most.

We’d love to hear from you – this life was meant to be shared.

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2 Comments

  1. Dan Potter says:

    Lovely reflection on the journey so far. More adventure awaits no doubt, Iā€™m sure your life will be even fuller (in a good way) as you go on.

    1. Ha ha… more full! šŸ’•šŸ˜‚ thank you for your encouragement!

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