10 Things You Don’t Expect to Hate About Homestead Life
Homesteading can be beautiful, but it’s not all Instagram-worthy sunrises and fresh eggs. Some parts are annoying, some are exhausting, and some you just plain didn’t see coming. Here are the things that sneak up on you and wear you out more than you’d expect.
The Constant Dirt
It’s everywhere—on your floor, in your car, under your nails. Between animals, dry soil, and unpaved driveways, you’ll feel like you’re always wiping something down or vacuuming.
Winter Animal Care
Getting up early is one thing. Getting up when it’s 20 degrees, hauling water buckets, and chipping frozen poop? That’s when it really tests your grit.
Bug Season
Mosquitoes, flies, and gnats don’t care that you’re tired. They swarm while you work, and every project becomes a slap-fest. Some days, it’s almost enough to make you retreat inside for good.
Lost Eggs
No matter how many nesting boxes you build, there will be rogue hens laying in tall grass, under porches, or inside tool sheds. You’ll find rotten ones weeks later and question your entire setup.
Feed Bags Everywhere
You’ll constantly be cutting open 50-pound sacks, dragging them around, then trying to figure out where to store them so the raccoons or ants don’t find them first.
Projects That Get Rained Out
Outdoor work doesn’t care about your schedule. If it rains for a week, your plans stall out and everything starts to smell musty. There’s not much you can do except wait.
Needing a Backup for Everything
When your one hose breaks or the well pump quits, you’re stuck. Homestead life means backups—of tools, water plans, and even chicken wire. Otherwise, you’re stranded mid-project.
Animal Injuries
They always seem to get hurt at the worst time. And out here, you are the vet, the medic, and the one trying not to panic while googling “how to splint a chicken leg.”
The Guilt of Letting Things Slide
There’s always something you should be doing. Letting weeds grow or skipping a chore leads to feeling behind. That mental weight adds up and makes it hard to rest.
Everyone Thinking It’s Easier Than It Is
Friends picture you sipping tea on the porch. Meanwhile, you’re knee-deep in mud, trying to stop a goat from escaping and wondering if it’s too early for a second coffee.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
