Is there an "age limit" to this?

[kat_ingram]

As I've been poking around various threads and conversations here, I've noticed a fairly general trend. It seems that most people here are older. I don't say that as a negative thing by any means. Age equals experience which I've been pursuing like crazy.

The word retire and subsequent suffixes gets used often, so far as I've seen and it got me wondering. I can see where homesteading, as a venture you choose and are not born into, is something more conducive to a time where your obligations are fewer.

Most of my friends are getting married and starting families, or choosing career paths. They aren't exactly time rich, or even money rich, whereas people like my parents are looking forward to the stage where they are working less, their families are grown and moved on and they are time and experience rich.

I get that for a lot of people it's not a matter of combining lifestyles, but rather choosing one over the other. Of course, that's not to say that people can't make it work all around, but for the average person you're either raising kids or raising crops.

My question is this: is homesteading feasible for twenty somethings? I recognize it can be the right choice for the right person, regardless of age. My boyfriend and I have our eyes set on a good place and we'd really like to pursue it together.

We both would like to get away from the city/suburban life and find a bit more peace in the countryside. We want to be able to work hard and reap the benefits of what we do, not just trade our time for a paycheck. I feel blessed to be with someone who agrees with most of my ideas concerning this, as even my own family has made me feel a bit alienated because of my enthusiasm for prepping/survival/homesteading things.

While nothing is certain, we are headed toward a future together, and as neither of us wants kids, it's not like we would wait for that to happen. The benefit to being young I think is that we can pick up and settle wherever we want and not uproot too much.

However, we are young enough that I wonder if that might discredit us. Our age certainly has nothing to do with our work ethic (and we would have our youthfulness on our side in terms of keeping up with a home/property) but I'm afraid that people might not take us seriously. We have limited resources in every aspect. Little money, limited work experience, little to no experience in home ownership and all that good stuff.

Can a person be too young to homestead? My gut tells me no, but I realize that with different ages come different struggles. I think our biggest right now is simply finding the funds to make our dream a reality. I'd love to hear from other people my age, as well as people older. What prompted you to pursue homesteading earlier in life? What are you giving up, if anything, to do this? Or if you're doing it in a later stage, would you have attempted to strike out on an adventure in your twenties?

[Callieslamb]

Nothing wrong with young. It's stupid that will stop someone in their tracks. Anyone can live a simple life. The most important thing is for a married couple to be in complete agreement. I wish we had started earlier but gardening is the only homesteading activity we have done since the first year we were married - which was when I was 18.

[kat_ingram]

I didn't think so. And since we have our whole lives ahead of us, I'd like to get started now. I don't want to look back in 30 or 40 years and say, "Oh I wish we had started when we were 20."

Just can't shake the feeling that we'd be skipping ahead in life some how. Sounds silly, but it's almost like being able to live this way is a reward for working hard and putting in the time, and to do it now is like pulling strings to avoid all the "normal" stuff.

But then I remind myself that I've never been normal and that's boring anyway.

[Maura]

Homesteading means different things to different people, and can change with circumstance.

Right now, save your money and learn what you can. You can grow many vegetables and fruit in containers, if that is your option right now. You can learn to live simply, regardless of where you live. Keep an open mind and love rather than hate.

[kat_ingram]

Maura, that is so true. I've heard that before, and yet I forget that my idea of homesteading is not everyone else's idea of homesteading. That sounded way more juvenile and self-centered than I intended. I just mean that it's easy to get a picture of how something should look and base all else off that image.

We are definitely working toward saving our money, but there comes a point when you have to start spending some of it. There will always be something to save up for, and while I am great at socking money away to get what I want, I also want to get it when I can.

My best friend, who just bought a house of her own, invited me to start a garden with her this summer. We live just a mile apart and I'm thrilled that she asked. Neither of us has too much experience in the way of vegetable gardening but we'll be able to learn together.

As a side note, what did you mean by that last sentence?

[Alice In TX/MO]

We moved from the Houston, Texas, area to 111 acres in 1979. I was 25. Hubby was 35. Just because we are talking about it now, doesn't mean we haven't been homesteading a loooong time.

[kat_ingram]

Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO

We moved from the Houston, Texas, area to 111 acres in 1979. I was 25. Hubby was 35. Just because we are talking about it now, doesn't mean we haven't been homesteading a loooong time.

111 acres?? Wow, and I thought 40 sounded daunting! I've grown up on a 5 acre plot and I always felt like that was a decent bit of land, so looking at 40 seemed huge.

[Harry Chickpea]

The twenties are generally the years you want to start on amassing money and knowledge and making mistakes. Unless you came from a farm family and know the drill, I would say that for full time homesteading that it IS too early. Animals are 24/7/365 without fail. That limits opportunities. Learning how to garden, OTOH, is a great seasonal idea with less absolute responsibility. The death of a crop because of lack of care is a lot different than the death of animals.

Take master gardener courses, talk to the old timers and ask to lend a hand in exchange for knowledge. Learn how the co-op works and why certain crops get planted. Get back issues of Homesteading Today, TMEN, and other magazines, and read.

Don't get set on land until you have seen enough of various areas, learned enough about taxes and homeowner rights, and moved at least a half dozen times just for the variety of experience. The twenties are a time when we tend to jump in with both feet and find ourselves in mudholes - sometimes DEEP mudholes if we jump too far and fast. Rent or lease a small amount land if you want, but recognize it as a training bed.

[big rockpile]

17 me and my wife worked 4 Jobs, rented a Farm, saved for two years bought our first Farm at 19.

big rockpile

[kat_ingram]

Oh my goodness, yes. While I love animals and it is a goal of mine to have them someday, I am TERRIFIED of getting any now. The key word there is someday. I've grown up with a dog and cat, and was responsible for a goldfish and snail growing up, but to actually be responsible for other animals? Nope, nope and nope. Not yet anyway. I recognize that I would have SO much to learn about the responsibility of another creature's life.

As for gardening, my dad has offered to help me get started with some containers this spring. I live in an apartment so I don't have much room for indoor stuff, but I've got a decent sized balcony that's not be used for anything else.

I've been talking through some of this with my friend, since she has the most recent experience with buying a home and dealing with taxes and property lines and waste removal and the general experience of growing up. I've also got a slew of adults who have dealt with that stuff for years now that I can interview.

I have moved a few times by now. I've lived in 4 states, 5 cities, 7 homes, and three climates. Everything from a trailer to a dorm room to a 4 bed, 3 bath home. I've had 22 years of living through all four seasons and seen some of the worst each has to throw at people.

I've got more bookmarked websites and threads than I know what to do with and I'm learning all my little brain can handle. Guess I'm just eager to get started. I'm not exactly blessed with an abundance of patience.

[kat_ingram]

Originally Posted by big rockpile

17 me and my wife worked 4 Jobs, rented a Farm, saved for two years bought our first Farm at 19.

big rockpile

I'm 22. My bf is 27. I guess I got a little spurred on by a conversation I had when I asked him where he saw his life going in the next five years. He pointed out that he would be 32 then, and that just sounded so old to me, even though I know it's really not.

I can only imagine what he and I could do in two years, or five, if we worked 4 jobs (I'm assuming that's between the two of you, not four each?) I'm in a position now to pick up some extra hours right now. At any rate, I think it's a good idea. If you can make more money, pick up more skills, why wouldn't you?

[jassytoo]

We started homesteading in our 20s.It's never too young to start learning. While we lived in town, we had a small garden and fruit trees so I learned to can. Made our bread etc. and generally lived a frugal life. With three small kids we then moved back to DHs home state and rented a place out in the country. DH had a job, I stayed home with the kids. We grew a large garden then added chickens, rabbits, milk goats, a cow and a couple of sheep over a period of time. We also had horses. Learned a lot in the first five years, then bought our own place. Been doing it ever since. I'm glad we started young, there was a lot to learn and we've had a really enjoyable life.

[am1too]

Originally Posted by kat_ingram

As I've been poking around various threads and conversations here, I've noticed a fairly general trend. It seems that most people here are older. I don't say that as a negative thing by any means. Age equals experience which I've been pursuing like crazy.

The word retire and subsequent suffixes gets used often, so far as I've seen and it got me wondering. I can see where homesteading, as a venture you choose and are not born into, is something more conducive to a time where your obligations are fewer.

Most of my friends are getting married and starting families, or choosing career paths. They aren't exactly time rich, or even money rich, whereas people like my parents are looking forward to the stage where they are working less, their families are grown and moved on and they are time and experience rich.

I get that for a lot of people it's not a matter of combining lifestyles, but rather choosing one over the other. Of course, that's not to say that people can't make it work all around, but for the average person you're either raising kids or raising crops.

My question is this: is homesteading feasible for twenty somethings? I recognize it can be the right choice for the right person, regardless of age. My boyfriend and I have our eyes set on a good place and we'd really like to pursue it together.

We both would like to get away from the city/suburban life and find a bit more peace in the countryside. We want to be able to work hard and reap the benefits of what we do, not just trade our time for a paycheck. I feel blessed to be with someone who agrees with most of my ideas concerning this, as even my own family has made me feel a bit alienated because of my enthusiasm for prepping/survival/homesteading things.

While nothing is certain, we are headed toward a future together, and as neither of us wants kids, it's not like we would wait for that to happen. The benefit to being young I think is that we can pick up and settle wherever we want and not uproot too much.

However, we are young enough that I wonder if that might discredit us. Our age certainly has nothing to do with our work ethic (and we would have our youthfulness on our side in terms of keeping up with a home/property) but I'm afraid that people might not take us seriously. We have limited resources in every aspect. Little money, limited work experience, little to no experience in home ownership and all that good stuff.

Can a person be too young to homestead? My gut tells me no, but I realize that with different ages come different struggles. I think our biggest right now is simply finding the funds to make our dream a reality. I'd love to hear from other people my age, as well as people older. What prompted you to pursue homesteading earlier in life? What are you giving up, if anything, to do this? Or if you're doing it in a later stage, would you have attempted to strike out on an adventure in your twenties?

Yes I think most of us are older. The problem for me is there is so much misinformation about way to many issues of life. Lots I won't buy into but have fought most of my life. I now live in the country and have a quiet life away from most nay sayers. Even here the mental attitude is that of a citiot. Really sad. Most people living in the country also want you to throw in the towel and fail just like them. I've even had to tell one to not come back. I find pursuing my dreams are best done with my mouth shut and just going about my business. The others will say they supported you when you prove them wrong by having a great garden or being successful in some other way.

[Aozora]

I'm 26, and closing on a house with 5 acres of land. I plan on having an orchard and small livestock. I don't intend to be a "true" homesteader (i.e. self-sufficient), but I want to be able to grow my own food. It's just my roommate and I, and I can't have children, so I don't see this really expanding too much.

My roommate has been keeping gardens for the past 4 years, and he's thrilled to be able to play with this much land and to be able to take care of more than one or two trees. He doted on his magnolia tree in a past house, so these are going to be the best-treated trees around.

I've grown up with animals my whole life, and fairly exotic ones at that. It can't be too much harder to care for goats than it is to care for a geriatric iguana who only eats certain foods and needs special lighting, heat, and supplements.

I think a lot of it is in work ethic and in accomplishing your dreams. I have always worked much harder than my peers to get what I wanted, even when it wasn't necessary. Money is very important, but I got where I am today by working my butt off and saving as much as I could. It's going to take a heck of a lot to get this "farm" ready to go, but our living expenses are not very high and we can easily afford to do so.

I figure I can always expand if I want to, or once I pay off this land save up again and move to a bigger property. That's the benefit of being young--you can make those plans and know that you will have plenty of time to accomplish them.

I think the biggest thing is realistically looking at what kind of work you're going to need to put in and have that committment to see it through. Age is nothing but a number.

[gone-a-milkin]

No matter how old you are when you start *anything* new,
chances are you will make mistakes.

I don't see why young folks cant learn to take care of livestock.
Even if they do accidentally kill some of them.
Heck, that happens to everyone eventually if you keep at it.
Sad but true. There will be some losses.

I say go for it. Learn as you go.
Try not to bite off too big a chunk, but if you do...
you can always change your mind and do something else.

It wont be a waste of your time because you will learn a LOT.

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by gone-a-milkin

I don't see why young folks cant learn to take care of livestock.
Even if they do accidentally kill some of them.

Us "older" members have one advantage over you younger ones. A lot of us grew up on a farm. We learned with the help of our mentor parents, who stood alongside us and gradually taught us how to do it. I didn't kill any animals(came close a few times), but I did in a lot of corn and bean rows by letting the tractor stray while I was daydreaming instead of paying attention to the cultivator.....

The other day I was remembering my hometown and wondering if the 4-H Fair is still as big as it was back then. All those pigs and dairy and beef cows, the sheep, the tractor driving contest, row upon row of quart jars filled with green beans, tomatoes, peaches. The cakes, cookies, pies, bisquits, quick breads, even angel food cakes. The rows of cages full of hens and roosters and rabbits. All the paper plates of sweet corn with the carefully made square holes in the husks to expose the kernals, and on and on. All tended to and created by "young" people from age 10 to 22.............

Our parents were the planners and financiers..They carried the risk, the payments, the taxes, and so much more. All we had to do was observe--and obey.....and work.

You'll have to do it all, from the get go. It can be done, but you will need a lot of book learning, a lot of forum reading, and a lot of mini-trials to take some of the risk out of it. I wouldn't start out on this journey without a lot of cash in my pocket, so I wouldn't have to "bet the whole farm" on it.

Welcome to the forum, and buy a good pair of gloves.

geo

[blooba]

You'd be surprised how many people start homesteading young. I have started working on my dream in my 20's but it takes time and money, both are in short supply..lol. As said it takes time to figure out where you wanna go and what you want to do. Then it takes time and money to make it happen after you do figure it out. It takes a while to build up a homestead (It's really never done) and most of the younger people are out making that happen and learning from their mistakes. Alot of the people on here have already gone through that part and are here trying to pass on what they have learned.

As for myself, I spent my early 20's living in different parts of the country to get a feel for where I wanted to go and now (31 years old) I have moved to the area I am gonna settle down in and have purchased 5 acres to start my dream on. It takes time to get the money together to do the things you wanna do but as long as you take it one step at a time it's not too bad.

And things change, someone may come along and offer me a boatload of money for my place and I would take it in a heartbeat and start over again. That's all part of the fun, never give up and do as much as you can whenever you can. It all adds up.

[where I want to]

Besides, when I was younger and working full time plus taking care of animals and a garden, not to mention family, I never had time to spend on websites. So it might just be a demographic of having time to post lots if 1) you're retired , or2) don't have work taking up time.

[hawknest]

Originally Posted by kat_ingram

As I've been poking around various threads and conversations here, I've noticed a fairly general trend. It seems that most people here are older. I don't say that as a negative thing by any means. Age equals experience which I've been pursuing like crazy.

My question is this: is homesteading feasible for twenty somethings? I recognize it can be the right choice for the right person, regardless of age. My boyfriend and I have our eyes set on a good place and we'd really like to pursue it together.

While nothing is certain, we are headed toward a future toge

Ya gotta start somewhere. I wished I had done it when I was young, but military service was calling and I went into the service to learn a trade. Now after 45 years of renting and travelling the world I can't tell you the joy of finally getting my own farm. The real joy is in building from scratch the home of my dreams. I saw all the perils of buying someone else's problems. So, if there's a problem now - it's mine to fix and not complain about.

Good luck in your search.

[kat_ingram]

Goodness. I get a short night's sleep and wake up to find a bunch of responses. That makes me happy. I am so so SO glad to hear from people. If I could just spend a day following you all around and listening to your stories, I totally would. I would like to respond to everyone individually, but time will not allow for that. So to briefly touch on responses:

In part, I am driven towards this because of people who say it can't be done. You tell me I can't do something? My response is "watch me." Not always a good thing, but I think with something like this, it could be. Then again, I could be wrong. That has happened before haha.

I've got a really good idea of what I want it to look like already. I realize that could change a thousand times before I even actually got started on a physical piece of land, but I think that so far I've got it thought out ok. The property we are looking at has a house and out buildings, so we wouldn't need to build ourselves. Though I've worked for my dad's construction business before, and while I wouldn't attempt anything too major, I'm quite handy with tools and I'm certainly not afraid of a little demo work

I'd get myself moved down there, find a job and just get settled. My boyfriend is a truck driver so he'd be off doing his own thing anyway. I'd start with gardening and once I had a good grasp on that, then it'd be onto chickens. Another notch in the belt, and then whatever animal I decide on next. Maybe rabbits or something. Add a little more to the garden. Get another animal. So on and so forth.

I know that it's a never ending story, and that I can't possibly learn EVERY thing there is to know about everything. As much as my personality would like that. I don't have grand plans to live solely off the land and make bank off of it. For us, we just want to go somewhere quiet, raise some of our own food, raise some animals, learn to hunt, and just exist. I intend to keep working, as will he (though it would be nice for him to get off the road, or at least have local routes and be home more), and if I can find a market to build a business of my own in, I'll take that when I can.