How to find confidence in your homestead passions

Thank you for joining me today on The Homestead Education.

If you have listened to any of my previous episodes you will know that I start off my sharing a little about my homestead or homeschool before jumping into the main topic.

Today I am going to talk to you about winter preparedness before we jump into the topic of finding confidence in your passions.

I know you think I’m crazy talking about winter preparedness. You’re like, come on woman, we are barely getting a taste of spring. But I’m telling you, you want to have this topic on your radar. We can have pretty rough winters up here in North Idaho and if you aren’t prepared, you’re going to regret it. I know this type of weather is common for much of the United States and Canada too, but many of you are just starting to homestead or expanding your homesteading efforts. Or you might even be seasoned homesteaders like us and are kicking yourself every year for not being as prepared as you would like.

I have a whole winter preparedness series that I will link in the show notes. But I would like to give you a quick run-down of the main tasks you should probably be considering right now.

The first thing I’m going to bring up is firewood. If you have a wood stove, fireplace or boiler system, then you know all about firewood. And every year I watch everyone scramble to get seasoned firewood in the fall. Seasoned means that it has sat out and dried for a reasonable amount of time, like for the whole summer season. So, when everyone is scrambling in the fall, they cannot even use what they cut until later in the winter if they has a place to the wood, or those trees have to lay on their property until the following year. If you are cutting on public land, that isn’t even an option.

I’m telling ya, now is the time to start considering where your fire wood is coming from. Do you buy from someone? Make sure you’re on their list so that they can plan to meet your order. Do you cut on your own property or public land? Now is a good time to get those trees down so that they have all summer to dry before you start cutting them up in the fall. Don’t cut too early in the fall though especially if you live anywhere in the west. Wildfires are no joke people, wait until your local fire department gives the ok to start running chainsaws. Another option that we are going to do this year, is have a truck load delivered to us. This wood is often by products from logging. Either the wood has imperfections where it can’t be milled, or it isn’t the right wood for making lumber.

I wish that I could give you more tips on where to find these loads, but we get ours from our neighbor that has a logging company. But that brings up the point of being part of your community. You can ask around or call up logging companies and often get a good deal. Remember, the average household uses between 5-10 cords of firewood a year.

The second tip concerns feed for your livestock. We don’t bring feed in for winter until late fall usually. But if we don’t catch that window, we either can’t get the truck down the road, or as many saw this year after the scorching heat in the pacific northwest, there was no hay or grain to be found. The key right now, is to try and put your orders in. I know that many of you buy by the bag because you don’t have the equipment to buy by the ton or because you can’t afford to buy in bulk. But if you can, start buying a surplus now or save and talk to your local feed mill about putting in a large order either by the bag or ton. They are often happy to be able to plan their orders much like that firewood cutters. They have to let the farmers that they buy from know how much grain to grow so that the mills even have it to make the feed you want to purchase. Grain is not an infinite commodity.

Grain is a hard one for me to give you suggestions on how much to buy because everyone has different feeding protocols. However, I know that with hay there is a certain amount of dry matter our horses, cows, sheep and goats need a day, and we have to make sure we have that amount in the barn before the snow flies. If I go off of a cow needing approximately 25lbs a day of dry matter and we try to have enough feed on hand for December to May, that is almost 2 tons of hay per cow. Currently, we have 6 cows on the property so that would be 12 tons of hay needed from our supplier just for the winter months.

When you start looking at numbers like that, it makes sense why we need to make these arraignments before our hay supplier even plants in the spring.

My final suggestion of winter preparedness to discuss in the spring is water systems. These are important all year long and can be just as big of a deal in the winter as it is in the heat of the summer. While you are watering all your animals this year, consider how you might be able to get automated systems in place for your livestock before everything freezes. Having the water constantly running for a float system could actually reduce your chances of freezing. Also, automated systems could save you if you have a bad storm.

So ok, really one last thing that I want to mention. Now is the best time to think about winter preparedness because you are probably at your wit’s end with everything you are frustrated with coming out of winter. So, sit down and make a list now. Talk to your spouse, your kids, and anyone who helps out on your homestead when you vacation and see what their frustrations are as well. And start fixing the things that you can now and over the next six months rather than wait until that frustration is back in front of you again at the dead of winter.

That was longer winded than planned, but next December you’ll be thanking me. Hopefully.

Now on to my main topic today; finding confidence in your passion. I’m going to be speaking mainly to homesteaders and homeschoolers in this episode, but I really think that some of these topics carry over to businesses, hobbies, and some other life choices. I will be touching a little on actually figuring out what your life passions may be, but I feel like there is a ton of information out there on that. Pretty much everyone wants to find their life passion, so that is an easy topic to write and talk about. What I really want to bring to light is finding confidence in making that choice.

The reason I think that speaks to so many of you that are in my audience is that if you are already following a homesteading and homeschooling podcast, you have either already made this choice or know that you’re ready to start the journey. Chances are though, the world thinks that you’re crazy. What we want to do is going against the grain and there are going to be naysayers. Some of them might even be you.

I’m going to be referring to a couple of books in this episode. They both have bearings on how I came to some of these conclusions, and I would like to share that with you.

The reason I even came up with the idea of talking about confidence in your passions is when I was reading the book “Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod with a book club that I attend. This book brings to light a lot of ideas about success and how to achieve it. I gained a lot from what he had to say because I have been trying to implement positive structure into my own life.

However, in the first part of the book Hal talks about stats from the Social Security Administration that states if you follow 100 people for 40 years when they reach retirement age; 1 will be wealthy, 4 will be financially secure, 5 will continue working because they have to, 36 will be dead and 54 will be broke and dependent on others. What sad statistics! I believe, at least some of this, is caused from the celebration of mediocrity in our culture. From people settling for less and seeing everything as a struggle.

When I step back from these numbers and remind you that this isn’t all about money at the end of the day. I changed the wording. That out of 100 people; 1 is doing what makes them happy, 4 are pretty happy, 5 are still trying to be happy… anyways you see where I’m going with this. And, I’m not also not saying there isn’t merit in being financially stable, but there is merit in being happy with your place in life and often that has to do with weather or not you’re excited to take on each day. Do you have your life’s purpose?

So many are afraid to pursue what makes them excited or what they possibly view as their life’s purpose because of what outside influences say. I know that it has affected me more than once. Someone asking why I would rather put all the work into growing my family’s food rather than buying it at the store. I have been told that what I put so much effort into is a waste of time. I have been asked if I am doing right by my children by homeschooling them. I have been asked if I even know what I’m doing when it comes to teaching them. These comments and questions can really make a person second guess themselves and put a negative light on something that they feel so positively about.

Really what this comes down to is being ok with exercising your rights to personal freedom.

I began researching this idea to talk about. And yes, I can just say “do it”. But obviously that’s not very constructive, nor does it make for a very interesting podcast. That’s when it hit me, I have already read a book that perfectly lays out a road map to feel confident in embracing your passions. To be honest, this book has helped me in a few different aspects of my life.

It is called “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz and when I pulled it off the shelf to make some notes, I actually had to laugh to myself when I saw written across the top, A practical guide to personal freedom! What are the chances? Anyways, I am going to discuss this book and the 4 agreements that he outlines in how to use embrace this practice as a homesteader or homeschooler. I will do my best to state which ideas are mine, versus those that I gained from this text, however, either way I strongly suggest that you read this book for so many of the preprogramed insecurities that we have in life.

Don Miguel Ruiz begins his writing by discussing the idea that we are all taught certain agreements known as society’s rules. I believe that many of these agreements are positive as in rules like we don’t hurt other people. Some of them are basic, like we all agree that the sky is blue, and the grass is green. These rules help with order. But some that we have been programed to believe are detrimental to ourselves. We are trained to believe that we are not worthy, and this can carry over to so many aspects of our lives.

The first agreement discussed is to “Be Impeccable in Your Word”.

There are two parts to consider with this agreement. Speak positivity into what you want. Speak it to yourself and to others. You want to homeschool your kids? Tell yourself that you can. This is often referred to as positive affirmations. You know, the suggestion that you should put a sticky note on your mirror that you read every day as you’re brushing your teeth to remind you that you are capable of homeschooling your kids. The author refers to this as “seeds of love” which I find very fitting when speaking to homesteaders.

What we end up doing is listening to other people in our lives (or ourselves) when then say you can’t do something. The more someone tells you that you can’t succeed, the more you will believe that. But they are speaking against themselves, not you. Maybe they don’t believe that they would know how to homeschool, so question your abilities. Remember, Words are powerful, make sure that you’re planting positivity.

The book says that the word “Impeccable” means not to sin. SO, when considering the agreement of being impeccable in your word, it means not to sin against yourself. That applies to when you are speaking about yourself or when speaking about someone else. We are taught from a young age that it is ok to speak poorly, often in the form of gossip.

So, remember, what you believe in yourself, is directly proportionate to what you’re capable of.

The second agreement is to not take anything personally.

Don’t let your personal importance be reflective on someone else’s opinion of you. When I was told that the things I was doing to benefit the health of my family was viewed as a waste of time by someone, I originally took that personally. Really though, someone else’s opinions have nothing to do with me. Of course, compliments feel good, but be positive for yourself. If you do, you will feel and see positivity all around you.

I read a statement in this chapter that essentially said, if you know it’s a good idea, it doesn’t matter what others think. I remind myself of this often when I think about the reasons I homestead. The food, lessons, and hard work that my family receives is what is best. I know this because of the research I have done, the experiences I have had in my life and the positivity that I see in my in my family. My kids are happy and educated. My husband’s labs are also medical proof that what we are doing is right for us. So, I reiterate, if I know that’s it’s a good idea, it doesn’t matter what others think. Don’t let yourself suffer over someone else, and you won’t second guess yourself.

The 3rd agreement is “Don’t make assumptions”  

With this one, I solidly say, do the research about YOUR passion. Don’t jump into anything without your facts or as the book says, dream with a basis of reality. When you know that you have all your facts, you have nothing to question. This is probably the only place that I believe that someone else’s opinion matters and that is, your spouses. Make sure that they aren’t making assumptions about your dreams or your shared dreams and stand strong together.

Another piece to this that ties in with research, is have a plan.

You don’t want to be flapping in the wind when you finally take your leap. This will give you the confidence you need. And even though I just said to not care what others think, if some of your naysayers are people that you consider to be part of your support system, your executed plan will give them confidence in your passion as well. 

The fourth and last agreement is “Always do your best”

This isn’t referring to when your kid scribbles outside the lines and then bats their eyes at you and sweetly says, but I did my best. Because honestly, I think that should refer back to the celebration of mediocrity. I do want to clarify that I’m not suggesting you scold your child coloring outside lines. This is more when you know they are capable of accomplishing more than they are exhibiting and simply don’t feel like. Anyways, I digress.

This agreement states your best will change over time. You should focus your energy on your best. Don’t deplete yourself, and don’t judge yourself.

I was having a hard time picturing completely what this meant until I read the following passage…

“There was a man who wanted to transcend his suffering, so he went to a Buddhist temple to find a Master to help him. He went to the Master and asked, ‘Master, if I meditate four hours a day, how long will is take me to transcend?’

            The Master looked at him and said, ‘If you meditate four hours a day, perhaps you will transcend in ten years.’

            Thinking he could do better, the mad then said, ‘Oh, Master, what if I meditate eight hours a day, how long will it take me to transcend?’

            The Master looked at him and said, ‘If you meditate eight hours a day, perhaps you will transcend in twenty years.’

            ‘But why will it take me longer if I meditate more?’ the man asked.

            The Master replied, ‘You are not here to sacrifice your joy or your life. You are here to live, to be happy, and to love. If you can do your best in two hours of meditation, but spend eight hours instead, you will only grow tired, miss the point, and you won’t enjoy your life. Do your best, and perhaps you will learn that no matter how long you meditate, you can live, love, and be happy.’”

I really saw what the author was trying to say when I read the next part that said, “If you only work for money, you will never find joy in your work.”

I felt this in my soul! When I graduated from college, I would have worked for free to be able to continue doing what I had found to love so much. When I thought about it, it was physically euphoric! I knew that I had really found my passion and I wasn’t afraid to LIVE.

When the author goes on to talk about inactivity (which is another statement of this mediocrity that continues to play a role in this discussion) I really see that you can have amazing ideas, but if you’re inactive they make no difference. You need to honor the person that you are and act on that.

There was a reoccurring statement in the book that I questioned sharing with you. It says, transform hell into heaven. But it is so true! Why wouldn’t you follow your passions if you are unhappy with where you are at? Consider thinking back to the person or people who were questioning you. One of the parting statements in this chapter says, “Do not give your judge the satisfaction of turning you into a victim” and that spoke so strongly to me! I have victimized myself so many times by questioning choices that I knew were the right ones.

I chuckle again as I reach the final chapter of this book, Path to Freedom.

I have my own opinions about our freedoms within our government, but when I refer to personal freedom, ask yourself if you are really free.

Not form the government, not from your finances, are you personally free? Free from people’s opinions and free from your own self-doubt?

To reiterate the things that will help you in being confident in your passions:

• remember that you don’t want to look back with regrets in not choosing to be happy
• speak positivity to yourself,
• don’t let what someone else has to say hold you back,
• do your research and have a plan,
• and do your BEST!

What I have given you today have been empowering concepts for me. So, I will link both The Miracle Morning and the Four Agreements in the show notes. These are easy reads that will give you a whole new prospective in life.

Remember that giving yourself personal freedom can empower you to seek your passions.