Any solo homesteaders here?
 

I was wondering, does anybody run a homestead all by themselves? It seems that the vast majority of people here have at LEAST a significant other, and usually a few kids. In contrast, my farm will be just me. I have a hard time with other people, and prefer to be by myself because of my autism, so I'll have to do all the work myself. I'm looking at land around 2-4 acres, which seems to me to be more than enough for one guy to handle. There's a singles forum on this site, but most of the people there seem not to be actually solo homesteaders. Terri the mod on the singletree has a son, and she's mentioned having a SO too.

Well I am single but I don't have much of a homestead. Got about 6 acres, about 4 of which are tillable (and all 4 are currently plowed up). I like living by myself as well. Somethings though I just get hired out or wind up conning a few friends into. When doing things by ones self proper equipment goes a long way. Some things just can't be muscled by one man. First thing I bought was a tractor and I use it all the time. Comes in handy when your all alone and don't have the man power. My friend's Uncle has a 20 cow dairy farm that he manages all by himself with no help. Mechanization was the only way he could have a farm that large. When your by yourself you tend to do things the easiest and laziest way possible (at least with that guy and myself).

My biggest issue which probably has very little to do with being by myself is getting off task all the time. I have ADD and I find myself constantly staring into space day dreaming. I also get insomnia so it probably doesn't help that either.

Two to four acres sounds plenty reasonable to me for a single guy but I would prefer more like 40 acres since I like a buffer between me and other folks (I am a rather private individual). If I were to start fresh with nothing but bare land I would have a very small house. Less time one spends on cleaning up the house the more time they have for more homesteady pursuits.

Just because there may be a SO, wife, partner, or a family does not mean that the homestead has more than one pair of hands working it. :nono:
Sadly, even this "homestead" has dealt with the "long on promise - short on results" from the family and over the years have adapted accordingly.

I'm solo at an urban/suburban homestead, so not quite the same thing. My sis and the kids now live across town (good for them!) and the kids are either in college or late teens and not so interested in helping anymore.

While it may not equal acreage, it is quite work intensive because I have to maintain the "front" for the neighborhood and the back is intensively planted and bordered by wetlands. And my house is big. Lots of work.

I also work during the day (Naval Officer) and sometimes at night..long hours. Totally doable.

Just remember to think about things from an old person's perspective rather than your current age when you're setting up. Prepare ahead of time for the contractions with age and being able to age in place. Especially important if you want to be alone.

Loquisimo,

I have worked Singletree Knoll solo for going on 10 years now and split my time between raising bait, making compost and raising produce and tracking and trading my portfolio, doing various forms of horse trading and going across the state line to gamble once in awhile for the rest of my income.

Course I dont do it all solo if you count the worms I use as field hands in the no till SFG beds and the dog I got broke to pulling the small garden cart for when I have to do some hauling and my arthritis tells me I aint gonna be the one doing the hauling.

2 to 4 acres is plenty of ground for one to work as long as you got other income streams lined up.

Two good books on the BISF approach can be found at www.squarefootgardening.com

Mel Bartholemew wrote the first, Square Foot Gardening when he was addressing a community garden in the early 1980s and he wrote Cash from Square Foot Gardening about 10 years ago.

Square Foot Gardening is geared to more of a general kitchen garden application and Cash from Square Foot Gardening looks at SFG from more of a farmers marketing perspective.

Solo here despite two DD as one is off at college and the other isn’t here enough to make a difference. I have 5 ½ acres which gives me space from the neighbors while allowing me comply with local ordinance for livestock. Not all of it is in use. I’d like to do more but, life being what it is, outside work & family obligations keep me busy. Soon enough, the kids will be on their own and I’ll retire which should make more time. In the meantime, it’s a little here, a little there.

Some endeavors are ‘easier’ than others like hives of honey bees which take very little time during the year except during harvest. The orchards are easy keepers too with annual pruning taking the majority of effort.

Livestock is more of a challenge as it is difficult to find reliable, knowledgeable help to tend the critters if you want to travel or even if you’re laid up for a bit. Critters don’t care if you’re running a 103F fever or had surgery, they need to be fed & watered every day. No such thing as a sick day when have livestock & are on your own.

Even big projects can be done with proper planning & tools. I put up a barn by myself though I’ll admit having an extra pair of hands when I did the roof…that’s why one end racked and had to be redone. At times, extra help is more effort than it is worth. Over time, you’ll learn your limits and how to work smarter, not harder to get done what needs to be done.

Homesteader of one here! Been doing it since 1988. Always had at least a full time job, sometimes a part time job too. Livestock has varied as the market has. When exporting goats was good money I had goats. Managed to ride the Haflinger market for several years. Switched to grass fed beef, those left when I had a hip replaced. Down to 2 old Haflinger mares, pair of mini donks, 20 Katahdin sheep (lambing starts any day), about 100 chickens, and 2 bee hives (to be 7 in the spring). Have a couple big gardens and about a dozen fruit trees and another dozen blueberry bushes. 16 acres here with my house and a rental house. It can be done!

Kathie

i am married, but my husband has a serious closed head injury, so he is more of work than help around here...so i guess you could say i run my homestead alone..my son does live nearby and helps out from time to time, but generally i do most everything alone.

husband with head injury occasionally will get in a mood to so some things..but generally he is on the sofa..that is his life..his bed...his restaurant..his entire day most days, and most nights.

even if i ask him to help me, most of the time i'm speaking to thin air (if you've known people with alzheimers, very much the same deal)..

i have 5 acres and adjoin son's 5 acres..i have no domesticated animals except 2 cats so no worries there, our animals are god given.

i do have extensive gardens though and over 2,000 square foot of house to care for as well as garage, 3 outbuildings and a wood burning furnace that feeds our house and our sons that i must keep going.

have lived on the property for 39 years in 2010, lost firsthouse to a lightening fire but have a lovely well established home since (2002).

if i didn't have to care for husband, i would likely have some domestic animals..maybe someday i still will? right now not an option

On singletree there are a lot of singles. Some of them do not stay single, and some of them become single again. Life rarely holds still for long.

Shrek, who is ALSO a moderator at singletree, is single again and handicapped as well. Shrek raises fishing bait (worms) and vegetables on his small homestead.

You guys have it tough. I can beg or pay someone in or out of family to help me at times though I am reminded my 'hobby' is getting to be work for them if it is too often, and I point out whenever possible the difference between my 'hobby' activities and OUR 'maintaining the estate' duties. (If we had a smaller place we'd have a smaller lawn mower and it would take JUST AS LONG.) But I keep everything low key small scale and doable by wheelbarrow or one shovelful at a time. Back when I had sheep I called in the big gun about once a year (and hired out the shearing!).

I milked 45 cows for 30 years and now have 40 head of beef. You don't need other people for most farm jobs. I do most of it myself except for machinery repairs. Garden, putting food up, well, that's just part of the package. Yes, you have very busy times of year, like during haying when the first stuff from the garden is coming in, but a lot of it gets spread out over the year.

It's just a way of life and you do it, is all.

Jennifer

I have lived solo since 88. As was said before, being highly mechanized helps expand what I can do. Also, as was said above, always plan your beginnings as if you are old. That will make it easier when you ARE old, B U T. Do it as quickly as you can, that is the planning, procuring the necessary tools, machinery, getting fennceing, and buildings built, as soon as possible, cause one day you will be old, and you will be faceing shortly a time when you dont/wont make the money you are makeing now, AND, you want to have everything bought and brouoght up into working order long before that time comes. AND, that day wwill come quicker than you think, like a thief in the night. Sometimes you buy things needed to go one direction, just to find you have found the need to change directions, and you may think, well, that was wasted money. Maybe, probably not. Dont worry about it. Shoot for what new directions you feel the need to take. It just might be, that you find a new direction being an old one you considered years ago. If you buy a tractor, whether a 4 wheeled farm tractor, or a 2 wheeled garden tractor, or whatever, Dont just think, well, thats done and taken care of. Doing that is worse than if you had never bought it in the first place, as youll be useing it in the tightest part of the year, and something will go south on you, V belts that were worn and dry and cracked, flat tires that you could see had cracks and maybe the tube showing, ect, as an example, Look your purchase over. Change the oil, trans fluid, put a new gasket in the fuel bowl holder. Look the tires over carefully. replace any bad ones with new ones, or be looking for used ones that you can have on hand when the tire goes, but a newer one is MUCH better, cause the worry is past, and you wont have to look at the gash in the tire and wonder if youll get done what your doing, or if it will blow mid way through. ALSO, a tractor, whether garden or farm is not of much use if you dont have the machinery to use it with. Ive never tried to plow my garden with my tractor but without a plow. I bet its hard and long work, and probably dont work at all. Keep at it, and you WILL get to the other end of owning what you need, to do what you want. Buy careful, buy smart. If your long on work, but short on machanics, look for a tractor that runs perfect, even if the steering is loose, or the tires are bad. You can fix these yourself. BUT if yuou buy a good looking solid tractor with just a slight ping in the motor, or the clutch dosent quite work right, or there is a slioght growl in the trans, Your are asking for the privilage to either pay a machanic plenty of money to fix the problem later, when it finally does become a problem, Or, you have the chance to learn machanics yourself, Which in the long run is a good thing. BUT, we farm and garden in the short run. Everything has to work when the time is right. You cant wait while parts are comeing in, as the rain, is comeing in also.

I have lived solo since 88. As was said before, being highly mechanized helps expand what I can do. Also, as was said above, always plan your beginnings as if you are old. That will make it easier when you ARE old, B U T. Do it as quickly as you can, that is the planning, procuring the necessary tools, machinery, getting fennceing, and buildings built, as soon as possible, cause one day you will be old, and you will be faceing shortly a time when you dont/wont make the money you are makeing now, AND, you want to have everything bought and brouoght up into working order long before that time comes. AND, that day wwill come quicker than you think, like a thief in the night. Sometimes you buy things needed to go one direction, just to find you have found the need to change directions, and you may think, well, that was wasted money. Maybe, probably not. Dont worry about it. Shoot for what new directions you feel the need to take. It just might be, that you find a new direction being an old one you considered years ago. If you buy a tractor, whether a 4 wheeled farm tractor, or a 2 wheeled garden tractor, or whatever, Dont just think, well, thats done and taken care of. Doing that is worse than if you had never bought it in the first place, as youll be useing it in the tightest part of the year, and something will go south on you, V belts that were worn and dry and cracked, flat tires that you could see had cracks and maybe the tube showing, ect, as an example, Look your purchase over. Change the oil, trans fluid, put a new gasket in the fuel bowl holder. Look the tires over carefully. replace any bad ones with new ones, or be looking for used ones that you can have on hand when the tire goes, but a newer one is MUCH better, cause the worry is past, and you wont have to look at the gash in the tire and wonder if youll get done what your doing, or if it will blow mid way through. ALSO, a tractor, whether garden or farm is not of much use if you dont have the machinery to use it with. Ive never tried to plow my garden with my tractor but without a plow. I bet its hard and long work, and probably dont work at all. Keep at it, and you WILL get to the other end of owning what you need, to do what you want. Buy careful, buy smart. If your long on work, but short on machanics, look for a tractor that runs perfect, even if the steering is loose, or the tires are bad. You can fix these yourself. BUT if yuou buy a good looking solid tractor with just a slight ping in the motor, or the clutch dosent quite work right, or there is a slioght growl in the trans, Your are asking for the privilage to either pay a machanic plenty of money to fix the problem later, when it finally does become a problem, Or, you have the chance to learn machanics yourself, Which in the long run is a good thing. BUT, we farm and garden in the short run. Everything has to work when the time is right. You cant wait while parts are comeing in, as the rain, is comeing in also.

I have lived solo since 88. As was said before, being highly mechanized helps expand what I can do. Also, as was said above, always plan your beginnings as if you are old. That will make it easier when you ARE old, B U T. Do it as quickly as you can, that is the planning, procuring the necessary tools, machinery, getting fennceing, and buildings built, as soon as possible, cause one day you will be old, and you will be faceing shortly a time when you dont/wont make the money you are makeing now, AND, you want to have everything bought and brouoght up into working order long before that time comes. AND, that day wwill come quicker than you think, like a thief in the night. Sometimes you buy things needed to go one direction, just to find you have found the need to change directions, and you may think, well, that was wasted money. Maybe, probably not. Dont worry about it. Shoot for what new directions you feel the need to take. It just might be, that you find a new direction being an old one you considered years ago. If you buy a tractor, whether a 4 wheeled farm tractor, or a 2 wheeled garden tractor, or whatever, Dont just think, well, thats done and taken care of. Doing that is worse than if you had never bought it in the first place, as youll be useing it in the tightest part of the year, and something will go south on you, V belts that were worn and dry and cracked, flat tires that you could see had cracks and maybe the tube showing, ect, as an example, Look your purchase over. Change the oil, trans fluid, put a new gasket in the fuel bowl holder. Look the tires over carefully. replace any bad ones with new ones, or be looking for used ones that you can have on hand when the tire goes, but a newer one is MUCH better, cause the worry is past, and you wont have to look at the gash in the tire and wonder if youll get done what your doing, or if it will blow mid way through. ALSO, a tractor, whether garden or farm is not of much use if you dont have the machinery to use it with. Ive never tried to plow my garden with my tractor but without a plow. I bet its hard and long work, and probably dont work at all. Keep at it, and you WILL get to the other end of owning what you need, to do what you want. Buy careful, buy smart. If your long on work, but short on machanics, look for a tractor that runs perfect, even if the steering is loose, or the tires are bad. You can fix these yourself. BUT if yuou buy a good looking solid tractor with just a slight ping in the motor, or the clutch dosent quite work right, or there is a slioght growl in the trans, Your are asking for the privilage to either pay a machanic plenty of money to fix the problem later, when it finally does become a problem, Or, you have the chance to learn machanics yourself, Which in the long run is a good thing. BUT, we farm and garden in the short run. Everything has to work when the time is right. You cant wait while parts are comeing in, as the rain, is comeing in also.

Just me myself and I.
Yup to the tractor......It was a barrel of fun setting all the trusses on the 48' addition to my barn . . .by my self (and the front end loader). . . . . .and of course all the steel for the roof........

I shall now start my laundry list of things to do:



Whew . . .that made me tired just thinking about it..........

what doesn't git done today........
gonna have to wait till I git toit..........

I'm married but homestead alone. My husband has a house in the 'burbs and I have an old trailer on 4 acres in the country. Cats, dogs, cows, and a goat. I love my little farm even though I have to work really hard to keep it going!

I can handle the work by myself, although I worry about how I'd manage if I got hurt, like a broken arm or leg or something. Kinda hard to haul hay bales around, but I guess I'll cross that bridge if I ever come to it (hopefully not!).

Lots of singles here. I'm 66, single & doin' it all myself on 5 acres, hopefully until I die. Some things just takes longer.

Don't worry about if you can do it or not, just do.

I'm single and don't really have a traditional homestead (yet) but I do grow and catch a significant amount of my own food and plan to increase that in the coming year. (In a one-room, rented, dry cabin, none-the-less!)

Just me and the dog (and the rabbit in the closet.)

I've sometimes wondered if I would ever manage to really hit it off with anyone that shared my goals. Seems I meet people that think this part of my life makes me crazy, or they love the eccentricity of it and just end up ----ing me off by doing it all wrong. (Ha! Can you tell I'm not too easy going about my gardening and small livestock rearing?!)

I figure the hardest part of being solo, for me, is going to be quitting homesteading long enough to actually save up and BUY the darn homestead! After that, it'll be a breeze. :)

single here also
 

been solo here since 1996 when last kid left home....it can be done especially when your younger but when you get older you tire out easy or at least i do but some health problems like back troubles don't help ya none either....

I have a tractor with a loader and other attachments to help with my work load,without the tractor it would take much longer to get things done or either have to hire someone for the work to get done...also have a 4 wheel drive 4 wheeler and cart...also a lawn mower and a cart to haul things with...got 2 chainsaws -one with a 14" bar and one with a 16" bar for larger jobs....i buy most of my winters wood but also cut up dead trees here on the place to keep from buying so much...i do borrow a wood splitter from a neighbor,i don't split it by hand no more...

I have 40 acres here cause i did not want any close neighbors but it seems always something needs to be done...especially with fencing even new fencing that i have as deer keep breaking the top barb wire strand....or either a tree falls on the fence...

I have chickens,goats,ducks,geese,cats and a dog and rent pasture out to neighbor who has beef cows...
i also have a garden and so lots of canning/freezing...don't pay to go real big when your going solo...

also don't be surprised when folks judge you for going it solo just 'cause you want to'.....as its a lot of work for one person when one person don't eat 'that much'.....

Anyways,sorry for rambling on but good luck to you and you can do it IF you want to....just don't go to big.....just my opinion and experience...

P.S. I still work outside the home a couple days a week...

I suppose it depends on what you consider "homesteading", but yeah, there are lots of us that go it alone.

I have acquaintences that like to play in the garden and think it's real neat to feed a hog......if the weater is nice and it's a "new experience" rather than a "chore" or resposibility.:rolleyes:

When it all comes down to it, I do everything here myself.

The upside is that you get to make all the decisions, and are the King (or Queen) of the castle.

It's a fine existance, and very doable, but the trick of it is smart planning, and hard thinking.
....and bugee cords.

Another soloer, here.

Don't know why some figure a few acres is too much? I know areas differ a lot though.

When I first went solo, I had about 7000 acres of leased land along with my own, and with a full time business that encomapassed a few thousand acres of hay. I've got 65 acres of irrigated with a few hundred of dryland of my own.

The job takes up most of the day and then some, frequently 14 to 18 hour days plus, But it's only in season.

Due to drought I let my leased country turn back, and sold my appreciated gain. (my cows).

I continue to take on more... cuz customers won't leave me alone. Off season, I torture leather. And I've got a GF that continues to encourages me to do more? It's good too!

I was worried about payments, just like everyone else. I researched the local market, and even though it looked liked a nip and tuck deal, i stepped out. And it worked for me!

Sometimes, you just need to gamble a little! Really, what do you have to lose?

I too fly solo (my husband and I divorced 5 years ago) and like alot of others my age
(55) I try to think towards the future and make things a little easier around here to take care of. I work full time 2 towns away from mine so am gone about 12 hrs a day during the school year. I only have 3/4 acre but have 2 goats, a handful of chickens, 2 rabbits and the normal dogs and cats...That is PLENTY for me to care for during the winter and school year. I also have a wood stove so need to keep a steady pile of wood and kindling within easy reach. I am working on making all of my garden into raised beds because of rheumatoid arthritis which is getting worse in my back and hips. Like everyone else - you just do what you can, WHEN you can and the rest will have to wait till tomororw. :) Don't start out too large and too fast - that's the easiest way to get overwhelmed.

not to mention duct tape, chewing gum and baling wire...

During some parts of the year I am basically home alone. It has always been that way. Like eveyone has said, do what you can. Animal load varies here but there is a minimum of four horses, chickens, cats, dogs, ususally more, lots of acres, wood furnace, at least one job off farm, etc. I have done chores when I had to stop and throw up a couple of times. I carry my cell with me in case something stupid happens, like I hit my leg with the chainsaw, get kicked, etc. A 4WD tractor with a fel is priceless.

Add to the list of helpful items is a good set of come alongs. Amazing what can get stuck at the most inopportune time.

Flying solo here on 15 acres in NW Washington, and it's a lot of work but definitely doable. Sheep, chickens, dogs and cats, a large garden, orchard, woodlot, etc. I've been able to almost completely provide food for myself year round, as well as all heat for the house from woodcutting. I work full time to pay the bills, and it is a challenge to juggle a paying job and all the work here at home, but hey, I'm never bored! I definitely dream of meeting somebody who wants the same lifestyle and working together towards a shared goal of living off the land, but in my experience so far, I get way more done here when I'm single.

Another person doing it alone. I have about 40 acres. I have dairy goats, and will be freshening about a dozen this year. Investing in an old Surge milking machine makes that a lot easier........and after having carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, I did not have much choice. Just to add to "fun," I lost my right leg a few years ago.........so everything takes longer than it used to.
I did not have a garden this year, but I hope to get back to that next year.

Just reading this thread got me to considering the possibilities. DH could easily homestead by himself as he has every skill it takes (fixing everything, gardening, cooking & all domestic chores). At 53, he is in excellent physical condition (due to his work- machinist/welder and has regularly lifted for many years). Hard to say how well he will do as he gets older. Kind of odd realizing he would do fine without me to help, but he doesn't like living alone (there's the rub).

Then there is me...47 and in good physical condition, but if I had to homestead by myself, I'd be capable of a surprising amount of the work involved. Then would then have to learn about a lot more than I do now! Like how to fix machinery, learn to weld, and use the right type of leverage to accomplish what requires more muscle than I have. It would be a tough road with just me, I can easily admit. I admire the spirit, drive, and determination you all must have to go it alone.

Billooo2- sorry to hear about your surgery and also the loss of your leg. I wish you the best & hope to hear about a gardening idea that works for you. I know of others who have challenges that grow in raised beds about 3 feet off the ground. This allowed them to stand and tend their gardens. Others in wheelchairs, had them at a lower height. Otherwise, all veggies you can grow vertically could help, perhaps.

I carry my cell phone with me always when working outside "just in case" also and it was a blessing last spring when I was burning a big pile of weeds etc. out in my barn yard section and stepped into a hole - falling and fracturing plus spraining (really bad) my ankle. I had to call the neighbor man to come and put out my fire and then call one of my sons to take me to the ER. I also worry when I split kindling that I might miss and hit my foot with the axe etc. You just never know what could happen when you're working alone!!!

I've taken care of the farm for 30 years by myself, even when I was married. Had lots of animals over the years and did anything that needed to be done. When your alone you learn to plan carefully. As I've gotten older I've found I need a hand now and then, just don't have the strength to wrestle with animals anymore. Got a great neighbor who will help me with the heavy work. I'm down to three dogs and two cats now, have to get my knees fixed and will be laid up for a while. Carry my cell phone on my body all the time. Heard on the news a while ago about a 72 year old women who was alone fell down between round bales of hay and was trapped for over 24 hours. I've been so close to being in a spot like that more times than I can count. I'll go back to sheep as soon as my knees heal.

I'm solo, and likely to remain so, but lack of a partner not only makes the work harder, but even worse it cuts into my motivation. I know I would get more done if I had somebody who would kick me in the but once in a while or at least make me feel guilty for not doing more.

I moved off of my land 5 or 6 years ago and haven't done much that I would call homesteading since then. I do hope to build a house and get moved back this year, but I've said that before too.

homesteadpaul

As soon as I find a place I will be homesteading alone. I want to find a place to rent long term where I can raise a few animals and a large garden.

I'm solo on 5 acres with a horse, dog and goat. I work full time and don't consider myself a homesteader because I don't earn any income from my property but I do live a homesteading kind of lifestyle. I hope to be able to earn some income from home when I retire. I am not highly mechanized at all and everything takes longer to do because there's only one pair of hands. It's also hard to find trustworthy and efficient paid help so unless it's something that takes a skill that I don't have the time to learn I do things myself. Couples do appear to have more free time than I do but they usually have one person earning income off the property and the other one taking care of the house and domestic chores. Where I live it's unusual to see the women involved in the outdoor stuff or being a breadwinner and I am looked at as an oddity. It can be lonesome and isolated at times but also gives me a tremendous sense of accomplishment and independence.

I am single and am looking to get off of the family farm to somewhere that I can homestead by myself. I certaily do not mind a woman's company but the ones my age don't really want to be away from wall outlets and blacktop. I do have a cabin started in the woods behind the house but that is just something to keep me from going insane until I figure out how and where to go.

Then you are definitely looking in the wrong places! I'm right around your age and want to be out in the middle of nowhere. Right now I'm stuck in an apartment in the city, but once I get through school I am outta here!

What part of Indiana are you from? I grew up in Spencer and miss it there. I really can't wait to get out of Ohio and have been thinking about moving to Indiana or trying somewhere new like Kentucky or Tennessee.