Homesteading Hobbies

[Smithfarms]

I have been thinking for quite some time now on the issue of getting a hobby, in order to help me with a few issues that I have. But while trying to determine what the best hobby would be for me is rather hard, if you will allow me I will explain why. First off, I work a very rather unusual schedule that is two weeks, worth of working twelve hour days then I have the next two weeks off and the cycle continues. Sure the time off is great but I spend most of it playing with my little two year old daughter and helping out with my pregnant wife, sadly though I have been finding myself spending more time each days off just sitting in the living room watching tv shows. Secondly, I need a rather moderate hobby that will not cost too much, by this I mean, I wouldn’t mind spending a few hundred dollars to get started and then I would rather not go over a hundred dollars a month maintaining the hobby. And lastly, space is sort of an issue right now I am pondering rather to have a hobby that I can do in my full basement and not have to worry about the weather, which would work great for me. But when spring rolls around, I know that I would want to spend a great majority of my time outside, however the issue with having one outside I know that I will have a medium to large sized garden this year, plus I have also interested some money into flowers, plants, trees and shrubs that I plan to plant in the spring in order to better the appearance of my farm and farm house.
Thus leaves me to the now, where I am writing on the forum in order to get a few ideas, from those who have more experience than I on this matter. My interests include working with my hands, building things of wood( but have never done anything extensive), seeing the things I do actually grow or come to been seen as completed. So I am open to any idea that any of you all have. I look forward to seeing your responses and as always thanks for responding.

[raybait1]

I've recently fell in love with philosophy. I guess I would consider it my hobby. Very portable. Theres a 100 page philosophy thread on this forum disguised with the word "Compost" that I cant get enough of.

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by Smithfarms

I have been thinking for quite some time now on the issue of getting a hobby, in order to help me with a few issues that I have. But while trying to determine what the best hobby would be for me is rather hard, if you will allow me I will explain why. First off, I work a very rather unusual schedule that is two weeks, worth of working twelve hour days then I have the next two weeks off and the cycle continues. Sure the time off is great but I spend most of it playing with my little two year old daughter and helping out with my pregnant wife, sadly though I have been finding myself spending more time each days off just sitting in the living room watching tv shows. Secondly, I need a rather moderate hobby that will not cost too much, by this I mean, I wouldn’t mind spending a few hundred dollars to get started and then I would rather not go over a hundred dollars a month maintaining the hobby. And lastly, space is sort of an issue right now I am pondering rather to have a hobby that I can do in my full basement and not have to worry about the weather, which would work great for me. But when spring rolls around, I know that I would want to spend a great majority of my time outside, however the issue with having one outside I know that I will have a medium to large sized garden this year, plus I have also interested some money into flowers, plants, trees and shrubs that I plan to plant in the spring in order to better the appearance of my farm and farm house.
Thus leaves me to the now, where I am writing on the forum in order to get a few ideas, from those who have more experience than I on this matter. My interests include working with my hands, building things of wood( but have never done anything extensive), seeing the things I do actually grow or come to been seen as completed. So I am open to any idea that any of you all have. I look forward to seeing your responses and as always thanks for responding.

You can have a "ball" with a scroll saw. When my Kids were small, I made many scroll saw jig-saw puzzle pattern, example for my daughter, neices etc, I took a piece of 3/4" board---drawed and cut out the shape of a Raggedy Ann---the board that the R.A. doll shape was cut out of---I was careful to cut it keeping it in one piece, because it was glued to a thin piece of plywood and it was painted as well as the doll shape was painted to look like the Raggedy Ann. After the doll shape dried I used the scroll saw to cut it into jig-saw pieces. Then the kids put the puzzle pieces together inside of the outer part of the original board that the plywood was glued to. I made many designs, wooden puzzles. I also got into bandsaw/scroll saw art (do a search) you can make some beautiful art with different color woods, turning the grain of the wood different angles. Being you like to do things with your hands---this is a interesting hobby. Does not cost alot to start and now days it would be easy to sell some of your work on FB/Craigslist as well as Have a Ball making things with your kid!

[7thswan]

You could set up a really nice grow system in the basement. Shop lights on a system to be raised and lowered over shelving. Fans to create good strong stems. I've even seen Koi raised in water troughs in a basement. That would be nice to incoperate it with Hydroponics. I've also seen a trout farm in a mans garage/small pole barn. He had it all set up like a man cave. Moisture is no different than dealing with a Michigan (dirt floor ) basement. Couple hundred bucks each month is a huge amount, really, after set up.
ps. I'm also a hands person, I have to create something to keep my mind busy. This is why I have a greenhouse(mumber 4 now) and a hoophouse and many "hobbys" ,homesteading fills the bill for me.

[simi-steading]

My brother builds and flies RC planes... I used to build and fly line control planes... There's some pretty intricate kits out there that can take hundreds of hours, and others that only take a few..

Line control is a lot cheaper, but if you have a place to launch high up from, RC gliders can be a lot of fun too. I used to go with a neighbor that flew glider models and we would spend all day out there flying them.

It takes a while to build up the tools, but you could build what I call heirloom style furniture. Well built heavy quality stuff that lasts generations, then be able to sell some of it to keep the hobby funded... Even simple items can sell well.

[pinfeather]

DH started disc golfing about 4 months ago. He has fun throwing a disc (I used to call them frisbees, but he corrected me!) at different targets around the property and goes to a park in town that has a formal disc golf course as well as being a skate park. The cost was about $100 for some discs and he had a backpack already. Monday after work he gets together with some like-minded folks and they play as much of the course as they can before dark. Wish I was into it. He really enjoys the walking and the fact that it doesn't cost much.

Good luck finding your hobby!

[Mrs.Swirtz]

Photography would be something you could do in any weather. Would be great with two youngin's and a homestead. So many possibilities. Woodworking would be good too and you could sell what you make. Canning is actually kind of fun. Or maybe I am just a weirdo. I consider improving my place a hobby. You could spend some extra time going through seed catalogs and researching your next project. I'm in Alaska and the warm season is so short here that we can't get everything done in the summer. 20 below doesn't end the improvement projects. i'm planning my chicken coop now. Hubby said we didn't have enough extra $ for it so I have decided to quit smoking. That should more than make up for it. Hobbies are nice but we both find alot of satisfaction in delaying gratification for ourselves to get things for the house or the property.

[Maura]

Knitting is a useful hobby. Yes, there are men who knit and spin and weave. With something like knitting or crocheting, you can pack it all up in a box and put it under the bed when you are working for pay. It's relatively cheap, and very portable. Like knitting, weaving was once a man's work. You can make beautiful fabric, or rugs, even tapestry. Weaving takes more of an investment, though.

[whipsaw]

Buy a used guitar on Craigslist and learn to play it by watching Youtube videos. That's my nighttime hobby. During the day, I like to be outside.

[hotzcatz]

There are a lot of hobbies which can be profitable as well as fun. Making things from wood and selling them at a farmer's market, perhaps. Or knitting, or making spinning wheels if you really get into the fiber arts and have wood working skills. Garden markers? Planning out your next garden? Making planter boxes?

Clock repair?

Jewelry making?

Making fishing lures?

How about bird houses and feeders to sell at a farmer's market?

[Dixie Bee Acres]

Someone else mentioned scroll saw, that was going to be my suggestion.
I have a DeWalt scroll saw, and love it. It cost $449 last year, but money well spent. Don't be fooled by some of the cheaper (under $200) saws on the market, they are mostly problematic. You can find used saws on CL for decent prices usually.
I make anything from fretwork clocks, intarsia pieces, Christmas ornaments, layered baskets (look hand woven), and a lot more.
But if you can get a saw for say $250, another $150 could buy you a good supply of blades and some wood. There are a lot of patterns you can buy, buy you can also get a lot of patterns free, or design your own.

[Smitty0560]

As a man with many hobbies, I can tell you that your possibilities are nearly limitless.

Do you have a toolbox filled with tools by chance?

Knifemaking may be something to explore. A very complex yet simple hobby. Can begin with as little as some small but decent quality pieces of appropriate metal stock, some hand files, a bench vise, and some sand paper. Or you can go much more complex as you so desire.

If you're a shooter, reloading is a great option for a winter time hobby. Investment may be a touch higher than what you mentioned, but only because you should buy quality resident that will last a lifetime with the tiniest amount of care. Do note that this one is not one to be handled lightly due to the "dangers" involved. Nothing dangerous about it at all as long as you use common sense, know how to read, and can follow instructions.

Cheese making. An art and a science combined. Takes a fair deal of patience, but is very satisfying and rewarding. Very minor costs for start up if you make your own press. Instructions can be found online or you can come up with an idea in your head with much ease. A recipe book is your friend.

Bread making. Can't give you a ton of input here as I don't have much experience. Fairly low starting costs and upkeep from what I know. A mixer would be the biggest investment if you or your wife don't already have one. I recommend a Kitchenaid, but that is a matter of personal preference. In my experience they do last a long time though.

Cooking, but you must take enjoyment in it. Some men consider it to be "womens work" but truthfully it is not. Especially if you make manly meals, and things with flowers or cute little designs are forbidden for a male in the kitchen.

Those are some ideas to get your brain working. I can provide further info on most of them if you are so inclined. Feel free to PM if needed or post here.

Smitty

[Horseyrider]

I see that you're a very articulate person. I don't know why you're seeking a hobby right now (hobbies tend to seek me) but perhaps you should consider writing.

Writing is very low cost. You just need paper and pencil, or a keyboard and computer. The easiest way is to begin by journaling-- writing down your daily happenings, your thoughts about your life and the world around you, and see where that leads. Some people then go on to blogging, which can actually be fairly lucrative for the dedicated ones who write interesting things. Fiction or non-fiction, writing can help us focus on what's important to us, and help us discover things about ourselves that would otherwise remain unknown to us.

Many ideas for hobbies have already been suggested. Perhaps you could write about your exploration of these ideas, and see where it leads you. Introspection is good.

[Mike CHS]

Scroll saws has alrady been mentioned and the whole process can be self taught with just a couple of good books.

One of my all time favorites is the lathe. I have a full sized lathe but you can get a mini to use in your basement with the minimum of tools and you are off toward another addiction.

[jwal10]

Find things to do that compliment what you are trying to do in your life. Woodworking, gardening, landscaping. Things that will save you money and enhance your property. Fishing, hunting, gleaning. Things to improve your health. Things that can be done with your children and your life mate. Never a wasted moment....James

[unregistered5595]

Metal detecting for as long as the ground is not frozen. It's children friendly. If you consistently find silver and coins and jewelry, it pays for itself. The first question your wife will ask each time is "did you find jewelry, let me see". It is a physical sport and will keep you limber. You can do it when you travel or when you stay home. You can do it all day or at night with a head lamp. It is a social activity where you get to meet the police and nosy neighbors. You can find used equipment on craig's list or metal detecting forums. It's fun.

[simi-steading]

Speaking of Lathes... I had a friend that used to make some really beautiful pens and sold them fairly consistently.. I've got a couple of them and cherish and love them... Nothing like a high quality writing utensil.

[Wolf mom]

First, I want to commend you for being in touch with yourself to reach out. Inertia breeds inertia.

Lots of good ideas have been stated, unfortunately most incur an initial investment that if you decide this "hobby" isn't for you, unless you can recoup your costs, searching for a "hobby" can be expensive. One alternative could be a community college - they have lots of no credit classes. I've taken wood working (for credit), fused glass, and others. I think taking classes in itself is one of my "hobbies".

You stated that you find yourself watching TV more & more on a daily basis. I'd suggest that you get moving - it's suprising what a walk a day will do for one's mind and mood.

People say "find your passion" then neglect to tell you of the process. I believe your passion is when you are dong something and hours later, you realize that much time has passed and you are refreshed.

I've been there - only my escape was reading books. It still is. When I find motivation has gone, I get moving (taking the dogs for a walk in the forest), and take stock of what's going on with me, physically, emotionally and intellectually. Sometimes I have to go through the motions before something clicks.

I have found that I don't find "hobbies", things that I enjoy doing just evolve.

My best to you.

[PNP Katahdins]

Ham radio works great for both Paul and me, in fact that's how we met in real life. Lots of room on the farm for antennas but you can have antennas most anywhere. I love talking about farming and sheep to hams in other countries.

Peg

[topofmountain]

I build, customize & repair knives. Buy things like lawnmowers, trimmers, chainsaws @ yard sales cheap & fix them use what I need & sell the others.