The Pros and Cons of Homesteading
- lettersbyreesianal
- Oct 29, 2025
- 4 min read
What’s good fam? Let’s talk about something a lot of people been asking about: homesteading. Now, everybody loves the idea of living off the land, raising animals, growing your own food, and being self-sufficient.
It sounds peaceful, it sounds free, and in many ways it is. But let me be real with you, it also comes with challenges that most folks don’t see until they step into it.
Pros and Cons of Homesteading
So today I’m breaking it down for you, straight talk style. Here are the pros and cons of homesteading, from somebody living it day to day.
Pro: Fresh Food, Right From Your Land
One of the biggest pros is food. There’s nothing like collecting fresh eggs in the morning, eating vegetables straight from the garden, or raising meat birds that you process yourself. The taste hits different, and the connection makes you appreciate every bite.
When you raise or grow it yourself, you know exactly what’s in it. No extra chemicals, no guessing about where it came from. My kids see where food really comes from, not just wrapped up in plastic from the store. That’s a blessing.
Con: Harvesting Can Be Emotional
But here’s the flip side. Raising your own meat also means harvesting your own animals. And that ain’t easy, fam. The first time you butcher chickens, goats, or rabbits, it hits your emotions. Even now, it’s still a heavy part of the work.
My oldest son saw me process chickens once and to this day he won’t eat chicken. He’ll eat eggs, but chicken? No. And that’s real. The connection is strong. It teaches respect for life, but it also takes getting used to.
Pro: Independence and Self-Sufficiency
Homesteading gives you freedom. You don’t have to depend on grocery stores or supply chains in the same way. When shelves go empty, you’ve still got eggs, milk, and maybe even fresh meat in the freezer. That kind of security is priceless.
And the more skills you learn ,from hatching chicks to maintaining tools to preserving food , the more confident and capable you feel. You’re not just surviving, you’re thriving with what you’ve built.
Con: It’s Constant Work
But independence comes with a cost. Animals don’t care if you’re tired, sick, or just want a break. They need feed and water every day. Coops need cleaning. Fences break. Eggs need turning in the incubator. Gardens need weeding.
There are no days off. Homesteading is a lifestyle, not a hobby. If you’re not ready for early mornings, late nights, and being consistent, this will wear you out.
Pro: Multiple Streams of Income
If you play it smart, homesteading can actually pay you. Selling eggs, breeding livestock, selling whole birds, or even turning your journey into content on YouTube or TikTok can generate income. People want to learn, and they’ll support if you’re consistent.
Laying hens especially are quick sellers. Once they start producing, folks will buy them fast. Eggs move steady. Breeding goats, sheep, or even dogs can bring in solid money. And bees? I’ve seen people thrive just selling honey.
Con: Regulations and Profit Margins
But here’s the hard truth. Making money on meat ain’t always simple. Laws and regulations can make it tough to sell directly, depending on where you live. Here in Georgia, for example, you can’t just process and sell chicken parts out of your yard.
And profit margins aren’t what people think. A bag of wings at the store comes from dozens of birds. When you raise 50 meat birds, that’s only 100 wings. If you try selling cuts, you lose money. Whole birds and live sales are usually the only way it makes sense.
Pro: Connection to Nature and Family
Homesteading brings you closer to the land, your animals, and your family. Working together on projects builds memories. My kids learn responsibility, patience, and respect for life through this lifestyle.
And there’s peace in being outside, working with your hands, and building something real. It slows you down and reminds you what matters.
Con: Hard Lessons and Losses
But let’s not sugarcoat it. You will lose animals. You will waste money on mistakes. You’ll buy tools that break, animals that die, and feed that spoils. It’s part of the learning curve.
I’ll never forget my rooster Rudy. Strong bird, but aggressive. Came after my kids, even tried to spur me. I tried to kick him, missed, fell flat, and my wife laughed at me. But that was Rudy’s last day on the homestead. Hard lesson, but necessary for safety and peace.
Homesteading will test you, humble you, and sometimes break your heart.
Pro: The Reward is Worth It
Even with the challenges, the rewards outweigh the struggles. Fresh food, independence, skills, income streams, and that deep sense of pride when you look around and see what you built with your own hands.
It isn’t always glamorous, but it is always worth it.
Final Word: Know What You’re Signing Up For
So fam, here’s my word to you. Homesteading has pros and cons. It gives you freedom but demands sacrifice. It brings joy but comes with loss. It connects you deeply but requires work every single day.
If you’re thinking about starting, start small. Maybe it’s chickens. Maybe it’s a garden bed. Maybe it’s just learning how to make butter from cream. Build your skills step by step.
Take care of your tools, embrace the lessons, and don’t be afraid of mistakes. That’s part of the journey.
Because at the end of the day, homesteading is more than food. It’s about connection to your land, your animals, your family, and your Creator.
To get started , join the Set Apart Tribe , a community designed to help you start small, build skills, and grow into your own definition of self-sufficiency with support and accountability.
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