homesteading friends.
Sometimes it feels like there’s a canyon-sized disconnect between us and our non-homesteading friends, particularly when it comes to things about our way of life. There are so many things non-homesteaders don’t understand, which can make connecting even more challenging.
I mean, the people in your life might love you—but when you waltz into town with hay stuck in your hair, manure on your boots, and a wild-eyed look because you forgot what “leisure time” is, they’re probably thinking, “She’s an alien. Or just a little… off.”
I totally get it. After years of pursuing this scrappy, self-sufficient lifestyle, those closest to me now accept that I’m just a little… weird. But to the uninitiated? Our lives make zero sense at all. So in the spirit of building bridges and maybe saving you a few awkward stares, let’s break down the things your-homesteading friends just get.
10 Things Your -Homesteading Friends Just.
1. We’re rather proud of the dirt under our fingernails
You know those perfectly manicured, glossy nails some people have? That’s not us. My short, chipped, dirt-caked nails are a badge of honor. These hands have pulled calves, coaxed reluctant tomatoes to grow, wrangled wayward goats, and whooped bread dough into submission. When I catch my reflection and see embedded garden soil, all I think is: “Heck yes. That’s what real work looks like.” Manicures? I’d rather have mud and pride, thanks.
2. We really, truly like having a lot of projects going at once
To outsiders, our schedules look “busy” in a panic-inducing way. “Why are you always doing something?” they ask, eyes wide. Here’s the thing: I like overflowing lists. Milking the cow, planting the garden, writing, fencing, making soap, chasing chickens—these jam-packed days fill me up. Give me a “pleasantly full” routine any day over wandering a mall just to kill time. If I ever need to stroll a mall for entertainment, please send help.
3. Food you grow yourself really does taste better.
If you’ve only ever eaten supermarket produce, this one’s hard to explain. But once you taste snap peas straight off the vine, or an egg still warm from the coop—something inside you changes forever. There’s magic in knowing exactly where your food comes from, and trust me, the freshness is unbeatable. When you sit down to a meal where every bite has a backstory? That’s the best spice there is.
4. We don’t do what we do to make anyone else feel inferior
Listen, I know “comparison” is everyone’s least favorite game now that social media runs the world. It’s not about being Super Mom, Super Human, or proving anything. We homesteaders pick our priorities—maybe that means bread from scratch and homegrown salads, but it also means birthday parties are basic and sometimes our laundry is, well, tragic. We’re just living our best weird lives, not judging anyone who buys their applesauce at the store.
5. Getting the first egg from your first chicken is a thrill like no other
Forget lottery wins—the sheer excitement of finding that first warm, perfect egg after weeks of chicken-keeping stress and anticipation? That’s pure joy. It never gets old. Same goes for your first tomato, your first home-raised steak in the freezer, the first block of homemade cheese. We’ll gush about it endlessly, because to us, it is a big deal. We promise to stop… someday. Maybe.
6. We know it’s easier and faster to buy _____ at the store. But we still want to make it ourselves.
It’s not about convenience. Anyone with a functioning credit card could buy bread, cheese, soap, candles—you name it—at the nearest store. But homesteading is about empowerment, skills, adventure, and sometimes just the joy of making a big ol’ mess and ending up with something useful. Is it easy? No. Is it worth it? Absolutely.
7. We’re not trying to reenact Little House on the Prairie
Not every project involves cast iron and homespun dresses, I promise. Modern homesteading is about blending the best of the old with the best of the new. If a tractor will get the job done in ten minutes instead of a week with a shovel, I’m using the tractor. If Ma Ingalls could’ve had a slow cooker, dishwasher, and Netflix, you better believe she would’ve used them. We appreciate the romance of “olden days”—but we’re not giving up our washing machines unless absolutely necessary.
8. We actually like living a bazillion miles away from town.
People think we’re deprived because the nearest Target is an hour away. Here’s the secret: we love it this way. The peace, the quiet, the ability to walk outside and hear nothing but wind and birds? That’s our slice of paradise. No pizza delivery? Who cares—I make a mean pizza from scratch and I’d rather stargaze on my porch than hear car alarms all night.
9. Scooping poop is better than therapy.
Scoff if you want, but give me a pitchfork and a pile of barn cleanup on a bad day, and my mood improves instantly. There’s something about physical labor—mucking stalls, weeding the garden, mowing a (giant) lawn—that melts stress away faster than any spa treatment. Bonus: if you’re a compost nerd, you know that “poop” means better soil next season. Around here, dirt and manure are just part of the cycle of life. So, yeah, embrace the poop.
10. If we don’t answer our phone, we’re not ignoring you on purpose
Summers on the homestead are a whirlwind, and sometimes (okay, often) we forget to carry our phones or check messages. We’re not ghosting you or being flaky on purpose—our brains are just laser-focused on tomatoes that need canning or goats that need milking. Pro tip: if you ever want uninterrupted quality time with a homesteader, offer to help with canning season or come pick apples. You’ll get us at our happiest, and the companionship is way more rewarding than coffee in town.
So there you have it. If your non-homesteading friends think you’re odd, or you get confused looks at your dirt-crusted hands in public—own it. You’re part of a tribe that’s a little bit quirky, a little bit stubborn, and very much in love with a life that’s equal parts hard work and pure joy.
Dirt under the nails, the thrill of the first egg, satisfaction from a hard day’s work—these are the things may never fully . But honestly? That’s okay. We’re too happy (and too busy) to care.
