Today, we talk about homestead burnout, why many new homesteaders feel tempted (and do) give up after only a year or three, and what to do about it. We also cover our usual Monday segments.

Featured Event August 23: Wild Edible Walk with Kerry Brown of Strong Roots Resources – 8:30 AM before Curds and Connection at the Holler Homestead.

Sponsor 1 Strong Roots Resources – Permaculture consulting, education, and more.

Sponsor 2 AgoristTaxAdvice.com/LFTN – Helping entrepreneurs, homesteaders, and freedom-minded folks handle taxes the smart way.

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

• Setting up Basecamp for long-term storage

• Road food from the pantry

• Fall garden focus

• Pushing for more dried herbs

Frugality Tip From Margo: Before making a large purchase, check multiple sites. Margo scored a $100 gift card from Northern Tool by ordering online (over $1000 purchase), then picking up in-store. A little research can literally pay off.

Operation Independence Adding value can make all the difference — like offering a Wild Edible Walk add-on for the cheese class.

Main Topic of the Day: How to Fix Homestead Burnout

• Discussion with Tactical about my dead garden bed

• Why so many homesteads give up after 1–3 years
  • Striving for perfection

  • Using 1 person to do the work of 2, 3, or even 4

  • Instagram homesteads vs. reality

  • The same reasons we burn out on anything

  • The homestead is always there — and you live there

• Why people get into homesteading
  • The homesteader's curse

  • My 140 tomato story

  • If you're not on a homestead yet, what you can do

• How to avoid homestead burnout
  • Create a space where you can truly let go and reset

  • Have other interests or hobbies

  • Adjust expectations before you start

  • Create goals that aren't fear-based

  • Learn to spot burnout early:
    • Constant fatigue

    • Irritability or loss of excitement

    • Letting maintenance slide

    • Avoiding certain areas or projects

    • More arguments or isolation

    • Spending more time on screens than outside

    • Self-check questions:
      1. When's the last time I felt genuinely excited about a homestead task?

      2. Am I doing chores because I want to or just because they have to be done?

      3. Have I been skipping or half-doing maintenance I used to stay on top of?

      4. Am I avoiding certain areas, animals, or projects because they feel overwhelming?

• How to address burnout if you're already there
  • Make space to get away for 2–3 days and stay off social media

  • Take a true day of rest

  • Move your body

  • Assess eating and drinking habits

  • Follow homesteaders who show their failures and lessons learned

  • Scale back without feeling like you've failed

The world, and we, are messy. Do three things anyway and see how far you can go in a month, then 2 months, then a year!

Make it a great week.

GUYS! Don't forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

• Follow me on Nostr: npub1u2vu695j5wfnxsxpwpth2jnzwxx5fat7vc63eth07dez9arnrezsdeafsv
• Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
• Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
• Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Resources

• Membership Sign Up

• Holler Roast Coffee

• Harvest Right Affiliate Link