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Have a hobby farm or homestead? Thinking about getting one? It can be an amazing and rewarding experience, but it can also easily get over your head. Let’s talk about homestead burnout, how to avoid it, or how to snap out of it before it’s too late!

Research Your Hobby Farming Ideas

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If you are reading this, hobby farming and homesteading appeals to you in some way. I can relate! The idea of my own little oasis where I grow most of what my family needs that is also Instagram worthy at all times and filled with animals that I love and also help sustain my farm seems so perfect… and maybe a little too good to be true! I know enough about hobby farming now to know that it’s a lot of work, but it’s important to truly understand the commitment that every part of hobby farming requires. That is why it is important to do your research!

What will you have in your Hobby Farm?

Whether you want chickens, cows, horses, or a massive veggie garden, you need to do your homework. Look at pros and cons, testimonials from hobby farmers that have come before you, and be honest with yourself about what you can realistically handle. If you don’t want hobby farming to feel like a never-ending list of chores, you want to make sure what you’re taking on doesn’t overwhelm the time you have to devote to it.
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Know your Local Laws

Different counties, cities, and HOAs have laws about what you can do with your property. Even if you are confident there aren’t restrictions, you may still need to acquire permits or register animals with the department of agriculture. Thinking of chickens? Check out this blog post on how to learn about and navigate local laws.You might have many aspirations when it comes to starting or expanding your hobby farm. Although, if adding chickens, a large veggie garden, and goats sounds amazing, you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew. One way to avoid burning off is making sure you don’t take on too much. Many homesteaders move to a new property with lots of land and feel pressure to fill it quickly. There’s a couple reasons why this isn’t the best idea.some text

Start One Project at a Time

• Expectation vs. Reality: The work for each new project might be more than you expect. Your chicken run might need frequent upkeep. Animals might have health issues and require extra care and vet bills. You might have a hot summer and spend more time than you expect watering. Especially if hobby farming is new to you, take on one new thing at a time so you really understand how much time and effort it requires before you add more.
• Beginner’s Luck: If you are adding an animal that’s new to you, you’ll probably have the most, well, “learning opportunities” the first year or so. Your goat pen might not be as “secure” as you thought. Your new chicken coop might attract unwelcome pests and require reworking. You’ll probably spend a lot of time just researching new problems that arise. Once you learn on the job, you’ll have more time to spend on other projects.
• Cost: I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that hobby farming can be far from an inexpensive lifestyle! We all hope to become more self-sustainable and to maybe even earn some extra cash with farm stands or markets, but most aspects of hobby farming cost money - especially in the beginning. Even if you build your chicken coop from scratch, you’ll need lumber, tools, and not to mention all the items your chickens will need. Starting a garden? Even with buying seeds instead of plant starts, the cost can add up quick! Doing one project at a time will help make sure you don’t spend more than your budget allows at one time. Check out this blog post on how to begin a homestead or hobby farm without breaking the bank.

Work/Life/Farm Balance

Whether you’re planning on taking on homesteading full time or beginning a hobby farm while continuing a full or part time job, balance is still important. Even if you love all aspects of farming, you’ll still have a hefty list of daily and weekly chores associated with your hobby farm. Just like with any job, it’s important (and healthy) to maintain a good balance. Think about what other things are important to you. Working out, reading, baking, gaming, entertaining, fishing, woodworking, painting, whatever it is! If it’s important to you and your farm keeps you from it, it will give you burn out.

Good Time Management

Hobby farming or homesteading can often create what seems like (and might actually be) a never ending list of things that need to get done. You might find it easy to spend entire days working on your property until you crash into bed at night. Carving out time to spend with family or on your hobbies might be something you have to do intentionally, but it’s very important! Setting an alarm to be done with “farm chores” or picking a time each day to step away can make a big difference. 

Delegate

If you have a family, get them involved! Spread out chores so you’re not doing too much. Even if your kids are young, there are still plenty of things they can help with. From egg collecting to helping water gardens, they can help and will get more and more efficient with practice.

Getting Help

If you’re feeling burnout and need help, or even need to get away from it all for a vacation, find a farm sitter you trust so you can have a break without worrying. Sign up for free on helpinghomestead.com to find local sitters near you and put your feet up!

Find Your Community

Social media can also be a great resource. There are so many groups out there for hobby farmers and homesteaders. Finding other people that have similar situations as your own can be really helpful if you’re starting to feel burnt out. Ask people for advice or even solidarity and find your sense of community. 

If you’re already burnt out and feeling like you need a change, that’s okay too. Maybe a weekend off wasn’t enough and you still have too much on your plate. If you’re hoping to not completely throw in the towel, you can still downsize. There are always people looking to adopt animals. You can do research and rehome some of your livestock or hobby animals to a good home and get some of your time (and sanity!) back. Have a massive gardening space? It doesn’t mean you have to fill it! Plant a little less next season, and maybe stick to your favorite produce or most low maintenance plants. You might be surprised on how some small changes might make a world of difference. 

Don't Wait Until it's too Late!

Everything we've talked about here is important to maintain a good work/life balance. Even if your hobby farm is your passion, it's still important to intentionally carve out time for hobbies, relationships, and even relaxation. Click here to join Helping Homestead for free so you can find trusted help whenever you need it!

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