In 2021, we took a leap of faith, leaving behind our subdivision life and moving into our dream home nestled on 15 acres of beautiful Georgia land. My husband and I had long dreamed of owning property where we could garden, raise animals, and live more self-sufficiently. Life, of course, had its own plans and here we are almost four years later, finally putting pen to paper and shovel to soil.
This year marks the beginning of our true homesteading journey. While our timeline looks a bit different than we originally imagined, the dream is still alive and now, it's becoming a plan.
In this post, I’m sharing our homesteading goals, including both short-term projects and long-term dreams. My hope is that by documenting the highs and lows, budgeting decisions, and learning moments along the way, I can offer a realistic view of what it takes to build a modern homestead from scratch, especially when you're working full time and building it slowly, on a budget.
Why We’re Choosing the Homesteading Lifestyle
We want to live a life that’s more grounded, sustainable, and intentional. For us, that means:
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Growing our own food
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Raising animals responsibly
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Learning traditional skills like canning and preserving
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Making the most of our land and time
It won’t all happen overnight and that’s okay. This journey is about progress, not perfection.
Our Homesteading Goals (2025–2026)
We’ve mapped out our core projects and goals over the next two years. Some are already in motion, while others are just taking shape.
✅ Complete Our Barn Renovation
We currently have a large structure with a concrete foundation (formerly a garage) that we plan to convert into a functional barn. The foundation is solid, which gives us a major head start. This will be our most costly project, so we’re tackling it in phases. The first phase is set to begin by the end of 2025.
🌱 Clear & Prep Pasture Land
We have about 5 acres of pasture that have become overgrown with small pine trees. Our goal is to clear this area for gardening and, eventually, animal grazing. This is a big task that we’ll be handling ourselves, with plans to complete it by spring of 2026.
🥬 Expand Our Garden
We currently grow a variety of produce including:
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Pumpkins & squash
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Kale, spinach, lettuce, carrots
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Tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeños
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Strawberries, blueberries
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Basil & parsley
We’ve been using two raised beds and a mounded plot, but we’re ready to expand. Our goal is to grow enough to feed our household and begin preserving the harvest through canning.
🌿 Build a Greenhouse
Between deer, rabbits, and unpredictable weather, we’ve learned how challenging it can be to grow consistently outdoors. A greenhouse will help protect our plants and extend our growing season. We’ve already selected the location and plan to build it ourselves this fall.
🍎 Start an Orchard
Once the pasture is cleared, we’ll begin planning a small orchard with fruit trees that thrive in our area. This will be a slower process, but we want to create a beautiful, productive space for years to come.
🐔 Raise Chickens for Eggs
We plan to build our own chicken coop and eventually raise hens for fresh eggs. This project doesn’t have a hard timeline yet, we want to give ourselves time to plan and prep before welcoming animals to our homestead.
Homesteading on a Budget
One of the most important parts of this journey is staying realistic about what we can afford. My husband and I both work full-time jobs, so we’re taking a slow and steady approach to homesteading. This means:
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Doing most of the labor ourselves
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Prioritizing one project at a time
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Reusing and repurposing materials whenever possible
We’ll be sharing our homesteading budget in upcoming blog posts; what we spend, what we save, and what we’d do differently next time.
A Realistic, Honest Journey
There are so many dreamy homestead accounts out there (which I love!), but I also want to show what this process really looks like for everyday families like ours; messy, meaningful, and worth it.
I’ll be sharing updates right here on the blog and over on Instagram @living_in_wonderland. I hope our story encourages you to explore your own version of a simple, balanced life, whether that’s starting a small herb garden on your balcony or dreaming big like we are.
FAQ: Homesteading for Beginners
Ready to Follow Our Homesteading Journey?
We’ll be posting regular project updates, tutorials, and real-life lessons learned, so be sure to subscribe to the blog and follow along on social:
Final Thoughts
Building a homestead is a long game. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly fulfilling. Whether you're here for inspiration, planning your own project, or just love a good transformation story, I’m so glad you’re here.
If you’re starting your own homesteading journey, I’d love to hear about it! Comment below or reach out on social. Let’s grow together 🌱
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