As a single mom, my journey into homesteading has been nothing short of an adventure. When you think of homesteading, images of serene country life and slow, deliberate living often come to mind. However, the reality I’ve come to understand is that homesteading, when done without support, can feel like anything but slow living. In fact, it often resembles the pull-yourself-up-by-the-bootstraps capitalist hustle mentality more than the idyllic, tranquil slow living we might imagine.
Don’t get me wrong; I cherish the connected, immersed in nature, lifestyle that comes with homesteading. But the idea that this lifestyle inherently represents a slower pace of life can be misleading. In my experience, true slow living through homesteading only becomes attainable when it’s done in community.
Here’s why:
1. The Never-Ending To-Do List: Homesteading involves a laundry list of tasks, from tending to livestock and gardens to maintaining infrastructure like fences and buildings. When you’re doing it alone, there’s no one to share the workload. It can feel like a 24/7 job, leaving little room for relaxation or downtime. 2. Emotional Exhaustion: Homesteading can be emotionally exhausting. Between the long to-do lists and the care for the animals, it’s easy to feel drained. While caring for the animals and spending time with them brought me energy, I struggled with losing animals I had loved. Losing a chick, a duck, and animals getting sick, it was heart breaking. Homesteading, having livestock, inherently comes with animals getting ill and even loss. 3. Learning Curve: Homesteading demands a broad range of skills, from animal husbandry to carpentry and food preservation. When you’re on your own, the learning curve can be steep, requiring countless hours of research and hands-on experience. While I’ve loved the learning experience, and all the new skills I’ve gained, from baking from scratch to canning to gardening, there are some skills that I didn’t enjoy, but still had to regularly do because it was needed to maintain the homestead. For example, putting up fencing and repairing fencing, was absolutely exhausting and not a skill I had any interest in continuing to do.
So, what’s the solution?
In my experience, true slow living through homesteading comes when you’re part of a supportive community. Here’s why community matters:
1. Shared Responsibilities: In a homesteading community, tasks are distributed among members, lightening the load for everyone. Whether it’s caring for animals or harvesting crops, the work becomes manageable, allowing you to enjoy a more balanced life. 2. Resource Sharing: Community means shared resources. From tools and equipment to knowledge and experience, a supportive network can provide invaluable help, reducing costs and stress. 3. Emotional Support: Homesteading can be emotionally taxing. Being part of a community provides a safety net of emotional support and camaraderie, ensuring that you don’t feel isolated in your endeavors and don’t need to process the weight of homesteading alone.
In conclusion, while homesteading can be a fulfilling and sustainable lifestyle choice, the idea of it being synonymous with slow living can be misleading, especially when you’re doing it without community. To truly embrace the principles of slow living, I’ve found that it’s essential to build a community of like-minded individuals who share the journey and responsibilities. Only through support and community can we experience the balance, tranquility, and fulfillment that slow living through homesteading promises.
In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of slow living has gained immense popularity among adults seeking respite from the chaos of daily life. But what about our children? Can they also benefit from the principles of slow living? Absolutely! Teaching kids to embrace a slower, more mindful way of life can help them develop important life skills and foster a deeper connection with the world around them. In this blog post, we’ll explore some valuable slow living tips for kids, inspired by the sweet children’s book, “Bear Becomes Aware.”
Introduce Mindful Moments: Slow living begins with mindfulness. Encourage your child to take a few moments each day to simply be present. Inspire your kids to observe the beauty of nature, whether it’s through watching clouds, listening to birdsongs, or observing the changing colors of leaves.
Embrace the Joy of Simple Pleasures: Slow living is all about finding joy in simplicity. Share with your children the delight of simple activities like drawing, reading, or baking together. Help your little ones find happiness in the little things, like the warmth of the sun on or the sound of a babbling brook.
Disconnect to Reconnect: In our digitally connected world, it’s crucial to teach kids the importance of unplugging. Encourage device-free time, especially during family meals or outdoor adventures.
Nurture Patience: Slow living teaches us the value of patience. Teach your children to be patient when waiting for things, whether it’s waiting for cookies to bake or a special event. The best way to teach patience is leading by example!
Explore the Outdoors: Nature is the perfect teacher of slow living. Take your children on nature walks, hikes, or camping trips. Let them experience the wonders of the natural world.
Encourage Reflection: Slow living invites us to reflect on our experiences and emotions. After a day of play or exploration, encourage your child to reflect on what they learned or felt. This practice helps them connect with their inner selves. Prompt the dialogue by asking questions like “what was your favorite part of the day and why?”
Read “Bear Becomes Aware”: Finally, consider reading “Bear Becomes Aware” together as a family. This enchanting children’s book tells the story of a bear’s journey to slow down and discover the beauty of life. It can serve as a wonderful conversation starter and a source of inspiration for your slow living journey with your children.
In conclusion, slow living is a valuable concept to introduce to children, and “Bear Becomes Aware” provides a heartwarming example of this philosophy in action. By incorporating these slow living tips into your family’s daily life, you can help your children develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them and foster a sense of contentment that will stay with them throughout their lives. Happy slow living!
Join the 700+ mamas and Sign up for the Slow & Intentional Motherhood Course Here
Motherhood is a journey filled with challenges, but it also presents opportunities for creativity and innovation. In this blog post, we’ll delve into my journey, a single mom who traveled the US full-time, acquired a farm, and homeschooled my children, all powered by various passive income streams. Through methods like blog posts with affiliate links, a self-published children’s book, online courses, and online bundle collaborations, I found a way to balance financial stability with a flexible lifestyle. Let’s explore how moms everywhere can kickstart the process of generating passive income from the comfort of their homes.
Starting the Adventure: Balancing Wanderlust and Responsibilities
The idea of combining motherhood with travel may seem like a daunting challenge, but it’s a journey that can bring fulfillment. As a mom who embarked on an epic adventure from Oregon to the enchanting landscapes of the east coast, I discovered the art of building a business while soaking in the sights with my two daughters. This adventure wasn’t just about exploring new places; it was about exploring how as a mom, I can weave the fabric of income and passionate pursuits while being present as a mother.
Picture this: the three of us, setting out from Oregon with a van packed full of excitement and essentials. As we journeyed across the country, we embraced the awe-inspiring landscapes, historical landmarks, and cultural gems that the US has to offer (and mostly hung out amongst the trees of many different forests). From the rugged terrains of the Rockies to the charming streets of small towns, every moment was an adventure. Through it all, I used my phone as not just a means to capture memories, but as a tool to build my business and forge a path to passive income. No seriously I built my business from my phone, I didn’t even have a computer.
Moms, hear this: the digital age has opened doors to a new way of blending entrepreneurship with motherhood. Armed with our smartphones and laptops, we can dive into the world of passive income without compromising our roles as caregivers. And no, I am not about to tell you to join an MLM, I’ve actually never done that. As I navigated the journey of travel and entrepreneurship, I learned that it’s possible to create blog posts, manage affiliate links, and interact with potential customers, all while sharing new adventures with my daughters.
Building a passive income stream doesn’t mean being tied to a desk; it means taking moments that might be spent scrolling or watching a show to instead share your passions. It means using the moments when your child is engrossed in a new discovery to craft a compelling blog post that resonates with your audience and your own passions. It means transforming travel experiences into valuable content that not only captures memories but also captures the interest of your readers.
Let’s embrace the journey of building passive income while cherishing the moments we spend with our children. From the west coast to the east coast and every destination in between or abroad, let’s show the world that it’s possible to be both present at home and actively pursuing our dreams.
Unlocking Passive Income: The Magic of Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing might sound like a complex concept, but at its core, it’s a powerful way to turn your recommendations into a source of income. As we delve into the world of passive income, let’s demystify affiliate marketing and explore how it’s not only beneficial but also aligned with your niche and audience.
Grasping the Concept and its Benefits
Imagine this: you’re sharing a story about your journey from Oregon to the east coast with your readers. Alongside the narrative, you seamlessly weave in recommendations for products and services that have enhanced your travels. Now, imagine if every time a reader clicked on one of those recommendations and made a purchase, you earned a commission. That’s affiliate marketing in action.
The beauty of affiliate marketing lies in its simplicity. You become an advocate for products you genuinely believe in, and by sharing these recommendations, you’re not only helping your readers but also earning a passive income stream. It’s a win-win situation where your authentic content translates into tangible rewards.
Selecting Aligned Affiliate Products
Just as your journey is unique, so is your audience. When selecting affiliate products, it’s crucial to align them with your niche and the interests of your readers. If you’re a mom who’s explored various camping sites during your travels, recommending camping gear and accessories could be a natural fit. Your readers trust your insights, and by introducing them to products that resonate with their interests, you’re enhancing their experience while generating income.
Crafting Authentic and Compelling Content
Authenticity is the cornerstone of successful affiliate marketing. As you craft your blog posts and content, focus on telling your story and sharing your personal experiences. Describe how a particular product enriched your travels, how it solved a problem, or how it added value to your journey. You’ll better connect with readers as well as get to share your story to help others.
I’ve found platforms like ShareASale.com and Amazon affiliates to be invaluable partners in this venture. By joining affiliate programs on these platforms, I’ve gained access to a plethora of products that align with my journey and resonate with my audience. Whether it’s a travel gadget, a self care tool, or a book for homeschooling, these platforms have allowed me to seamlessly integrate recommendations into my content.
As you explore the world of affiliate marketing, remember that your passion and authenticity are what will set you apart. Crafting content that resonates and genuinely connects with your readers will not only enhance their experience but also create a sustainable passive income stream for you. So, let’s journey further into the realm of online income, where your recommendations become not only a source of value but also a source of financial empowerment.
Nurturing Dreams: Transitioning from Traveler to Homesteader
As the wheels of adventure transition from the open road to the rural landscape of homesteading, a whole new chapter unfolds. From the bustling highways to the serene tranquility of a farmstead, your journey continues, backed by the support of your passive income sources. Let’s explore how these streams of income can turn your dreams of farm life into a reality and how to harmonize homeschooling, farm responsibilities, and your ongoing income ventures.
Supporting Rural Aspirations with Passive Income
Homesteading embodies a slower, more intentional way of life, and your passive income streams can be your steadfast companions on this journey. As you cultivate the land, tend to animals, and create a haven for your family, the income you generate through affiliate marketing, online courses, and collaborations can continue to grow, potentially providing the financial stability to nurture your farmstead aspirations.
Balancing Homeschooling, Farm Life, and Income Ventures
Homesteading and homeschooling share a common thread—the desire to shape your children’s lives with hands-on experiences and personalized education. With your passive income ventures, you can strike a harmonious balance. The flexibility that passive income offers allows you to dedicate time to both teaching your children and managing the responsibilities of your farm. Your ability to create your schedule ensures that you can be present for the everyday moments that matter most.
Discovering the Flow in Slow Living
Transitioning from a traveler to a homesteader brings forth a unique kind of harmony. The unhurried rhythm of farm life fosters an environment where you can truly immerse yourself in your passions and discover untapped potentials. This slow pace has allowed me to delve deeper into my interests and find innovative ways to monetize them. For instance, I’ve created online courses to help other mothers find their flow in the art of motherhood. By sharing my experiences and insights, I not only contribute positively to the lives of other moms but also generate a sustainable income stream.
As you nurture dreams of farmstead life, let your experiences guide you in crafting content that resonates with fellow homesteaders and parents. Your journey, filled with the ups and downs of life on the land, can become a source of inspiration and learning for others, creating another avenue for passive income.
In this tranquil landscape, where each day brings you closer to the land and your family’s growth, remember that passive income is more than just financial support—it’s a testament to your dedication and creativity. It’s a reminder that dreams can be nurtured even in the midst of daily responsibilities. So, continue to sow the seeds of your passions, reap the rewards of your efforts, and inspire others to find their flow, just as you’ve found yours.
Initiating Passive Income: A Guide for All Moms
The prospect of generating passive income might feel like uncharted territory, but with the right guidance, determination, and a sprinkle of creativity, you can embark on this journey successfully. In this section, we’ll break down the essential steps to kickstart your passive income generation, help you identify your strengths and interests for potential income streams, and show you how effective time management and self-care can be your allies on this path.
Breaking Down the Essential Steps
Initiating passive income might seem complex, but it all begins with taking that first step. Whether you’re a single mom, a homeschooling mom, or pursuing your passions, the process remains universal. It starts by identifying your strengths and passions, finding the right platforms, and crafting content that resonates with your audience. As you gradually build your presence, income streams like affiliate marketing, online courses, and collaborations become avenues to secure financial stability.
Harnessing Your Strengths and Interests
Every mom has a unique set of strengths and passions that can be transformed into valuable income streams. Just as I found my calling in providing resources for motherhood and homeschooling, you too can tap into your expertise. Whether it’s cooking, crafting, fitness, or any other area you excel in, there’s an audience eager to learn from you. Like my Unschool with Confidence Workbook, you can create guided resources that cater to the needs of fellow moms, establishing both your passionate support and a extra income source.
Effective Time Management and Self-Care Strategies
Balancing the demands of motherhood, personal pursuits, and generating passive income requires effective time management and self-care strategies. Set clear boundaries to allocate time for your endeavors, ensuring you’re fully present in each role. Incorporate breaks and self-care rituals to recharge your energy and maintain your well-being. Remember, your journey to passive income is a marathon, not a sprint, and nurturing yourself is vital to its success.
Unlocking Your Passive Income Journey with Guided Support
As you embark on this journey, consider leveraging resources that provide guided support. My Passive Income for Moms Workbook has been designed with you in mind. It’s a roadmap that simplifies the process, offering actionable steps and insights that enable you to hit the ground running. This workbook is your companion, helping you navigate the intricacies of affiliate marketing, self publishing, and more, so you can start generating income while staying true to your passions and responsibilities.
Remember, just as you guide your children in their learning and growth, you have the power to guide your financial future. Embrace your uniqueness, make room for self-discovery, and utilize the resources at your disposal. With determination, perseverance, and the right strategies, your journey to passive income can transform your life in ways you never imagined. So, let’s step into this chapter of financial empowerment together, and make those dreams a reality.
The past two years I have been stepping away from the crunchy mom way of life and stepping into wild mothering.
For me, the transition was a natural part of my healing process. The last three years, especially the two after leaving my marriage, have been primarily focused on healing. I let go of bad habits, hurtful people, and primarily, mindsets that were impeding me from stepping into my power and flow within life.
Wild mothering for me, is allowing myself to be untamed and unimpeded in my flow. My intuition, my joy, and my love for my life and love for myself lead the way – not fear.
It sounds like common sense – to live aligned with our intuition and out of love – but fear is so prominent in our current society it’s challenging for it to not get a hold on us.
When I had began my journey into the crunchy mom life, I was deeply influenced by fear. If I’m being honest, fear ran my life.
As soon as I was pregnant, the fearful comments poured in. Hospital birth is dangerous, home birth is dangerous, this and that problem can happen in pregnancy, etc., etc. No one ever asked what I intuitively felt was the best path for me, but rather tried to influence me towards what they thought was best using fear.
I’ve always said, I went into motherhood knowing too much. I had a BA in developmental psychology, an MA in child development and nearly ten years of experience working in the field. And while yes, that had its benefits, it also had its downfalls. I knew all of the research and was hyper aware of developmental milestones, typical development, developmental disorders, and the causes behind things not going “typical.” It was a lot of pressure and rather overwhelming feeling fully responsible for every little aspect of my child.
While outsiders projected their fears onto my motherhood experience, I also created a lot of fears around not be able to fully implement the “optimal parenting” I had learned getting my masters degree. But there is no optimal parenting – there is only healthy and aligned parenting. Once I released the idea of some optimal, perfect, way to mother, parenting became a lot easier with more flow and space to find my own ease with my children.
One of the first big life changes that led me in the direction of Wild mothering rather than crunchy mom life, was my free birth. I had made parenting decisions from my intuition previously, but they were also decisions made from fear, research, and outside influences. My free birth was a decision I made purely from wisdom. It just felt right for me.
Having a free birth that I truly loved seemed to free me in motherhood, and while I still had a lot of healing and learning to do after my free birth three years ago, it was the beginning of unraveling my fears and the control they had over my life.
“I hope you will go out and let stories, that is life, happen to you, and that you will work with these stories… water them with your blood and tears and your laughter till they bloom, till you yourself burst into bloom.”
― Clarissa Pinkola Estés
To love motherhood, to be present within motherhood without resentment and without burnout, we have to release the hold our fears have on us and begin parenting from a space of trust. We have to trust ourselves to show up, to know what’s best, and to know that when we’re having trouble showing up in a way that’s aligned, we’ll learn how to become aligned.
Once we feel untamed and unimpeded, we can feel confident, secure, and even at peace within motherhood.
So many of us face the story of disconnect. Stuck in the cycle of rush, moving too quickly, to really pay attention to our present environment. A cycle that keeps many of us depleted, exhausted, and aching for something more. And there is a way to get more.
We can’t just say that we want the world to be different and keep living the same.
It’s our job to start living the way that we want to see the world change. That includes doing what we can to start creating more connection in our lives. From building communities, to slowing down in our own homes, to making home and connection the center of our lives rather than money and productivity. For me- this looks like child led homeschooling, practicing homestead skills like cooking from scratch and gardening, and slowing down to be more intentional in how I spend my time.
We can start living in ways that replenish our minds and our bodies rather than the ways that deplete us.
Reading, listening, and deep diving into my own passions, I have mulled over the idea of living a connected life time and time again. I do believe a connected life will look different for everyone but there are a few things that are core to living a more connected life: living aligned with what brings you joy, quality time with those you love, and community.
As we fall into a routine on our new 10 acres and old farmhouse – our farm – I noticed the days have become longer. As if I somehow now have more hours in the day, as if I can somehow now get more done with the same amount of time than I could before. I’m able to get my to do list done, for the most part, and still have time to rest and play. I thought maybe I would get overwhelmed running a farm on top of running a business and homeschooling, but honestly things have somehow felt easier. It is, of course, never perfect, and stressful moments still arise, but things are easier even though it’s technically more work, because I am doing things I love. The daily work nourishes me rather than depletes me as I flow through each bit of work with gratitude. It’s not about doing less but doing more of what feels you with joy, ease, and passion.
As we dove into our passions, as we heal, as we create more space for the things we love, we will start to fill a shift in our energy. I am asked nearly every day how I have the energy to do all that I do and everyone wants a quick fix or easy trick that will somehow make them super human and able to take on more than any human should, but the truth is the key is in setting boundaries, getting clear on your priorities, and realigning your life to flow with ease so that it takes less energy (if this sound likes what you need check out my Burnout to Badass Coursewhere we deep dive and transform your life to take your energy and confidence back).
Burnout IS disconnection. Once we hit burnout, it’s nearly impossible to be present, even when we are doing the things we enjoy. We just cease to have the energy. There is a process of healing and recovery that must take place between burnout and connection, but it doesn’t have to be checking out of life. It can happen within community, within support, within connecting with ourselves our passions and those we love.
Let’s be the change we want to see. Let’s step into a space of connection and lead our families to a life of connection.
Starting a homestead can feel really overwhelming. It will feel like there are endless projects to do and things to learn, but don’t worry, there are people who have been in your shoes and have created beautiful and successful homesteads. There are so many resources on starting a homestead and homestead skills that it can be hard to figure out where to start. My suggestion – start with what interests you most! Are you most interested in raising animals, growing a garden, preserving food, making homemade goods or in creating natural remedies?
You can create a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle regardless of where you are – an apartment, a frat house, or on a farm, there are little changes you can make to make a big difference.
Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earths natural resources, and one’s personal resources.
Wikipedia
Grow Microgreens & Sprouts
Don’t fret, I promise it’s easy! All you need to start growing sprouts is a mason jar, a draining lid, and seeds that work for sprouting! I also like to keep a drain stand and tray so I can keep them on the window seal, but they’re not necessary. Each seed pack will typically have their own variations but typically you soak the seeds for about 12 hours, drain and rinse, and continue to rinse twice a day for a few days until you have a lovely jar of sprouts! Seriously, it’s that easy!
“While their nutrient contents vary slightly, most varieties tend to be rich in potassium, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper”
Grind Your Own Flours (Especially Gluten Free Ones!)
You can save SO much money by making your own flours, especially when you’re making organic, gluten free, or unusual flours. I love using quinoa flour for baking, but it’s usually ten dollars a pound! When I make it myself, it’s usually under three dollars a pound! You can also save money and get a better quality flour by making your own wheat flour. While a larger initial cost, a grain mill is a fantastic investment. While saving money on flours, you also get fresher flour with a higher nutrition content. While store bought flours are typically lacking nutrients, fresh ground flour is actually a super food!
“Grains are the seed-bearing fruits of grasses. The fact that grains are the seeds of the plant as well as the fruit and that life-giving nutrients are contained and perfectly stored within, make grains an incredibly nutritious food. In fact, of the 44 known essential nutrients needed by our bodies and naturally obtained from foods, only 4 are missing from wheat–vitamin A, B12, and C, and the mineral iodine.”
Sue Becker (Source)
Sow A Garden
Even if you don’t have a lot of space, you can have a garden! My first garden was on a table inside my apartment!
Add a small grow light and you can grow a lot of things indoors! Some easy starter plants are basil, rosemary, oregano, lettuce, kale, and radishes. If you have a small patio you can grow all of your own greens and maybe even more! Vertical gardening can extend your usable space to be able to grow more of your own produce.
Make Your Own Teas & Tinctures
Studies have found that some teas may help with cancer, heart disease, and diabetes; encourage weight loss; lower cholesterol; and bring about mental alertness.
Making tea is probably one of the easiest and quickest methods to living healthier while saving money! Teas have endless healthy benefits from lowering anxiety to preventing cancer, but as with all plants the nutritional value is highest when fresh.
What are your favorite ways to practice sustainability?
A quote can take something that seems so difficult to explain and makes it wonderfully simple. Our bodies’ have an innate ability to heal within nature and that can be challenging to explain or understand. This collection of quotes simply and beautifully expresses the physical and mental healing powers that come from our connection with nature.
“Nature itself is the best physician.”
Hippocrates
“The art of healing comes from nature, not from the physician. Therefore the physician must start from nature, with an open mind.”
Paracelsus
“In clinical studies, we have seen that 2 hours of nature sounds a day significantly reduce stress hormones up to 800% and activates 500 to 600 DNA segments known to be responsible for healing and repairing the body.”
Dr. Joe Dispenza
“Walk in nature and feel the healing power of the trees.“
Anthony William
“The body is both a temple and a perfect machine. Our bodies have within them a healing potential, and we nourish this potential with the pure and simple foods found in nature.”
Angela Lindvall
“Place your hands into soil to feel grounded. Wade in water to feel emotionally healed. Fill your lungs with fresh air to feel mentally clear. Raise your face to the heat of the sun and connect with that fire to feel your own immense power.”
Victoria Erickson
“The greener the setting, the more the relief.”
Richard Louv
“I go to nature to be soothed, healed and have my senses put in order.”
John Burrough
“We depend on nature not only for our physical survival, we also need nature to show us the way home, the way out of the prison of our own minds.”
Eckhart Tolle
“Spare time in the garden, either digging, setting out, or weeding; there is no better way to preserve your health.”
Richard Louv
“Nature has the power to heal because it is where we are from, it is where we belong and it belongs to us as an essential part of our health and our survival.”
Nooshin Razani
“Never underestimate the healing power of these three things – music, the ocean and the stars.”
Unknown
“Those who dwell among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life.”
Rachael Carson
“‘Healing,’ Papa would tell me, ‘is not a science, but the intuitive art of wooing nature.'”
W. H. Auden
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
John Muir
Do you relate to these quotes? What are your favorite nature therapy quotes?
