A Day in the Life of a Modern Homesteader

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A Day in the Life of a Modern Homesteader

As I was going through some very old posts on Little House Living I found one from several years ago with “a day in my life” theme and it was fun to revisit and read so I thought I would make another one since life is quite different now that I have children!

So today I’m sharing a fairly typical day in my life! For one day I kept track of everything that I did and also took pictures along the way so that you can have a glimpse into my daily life. This day was very typical for spring/early summer. Of course, life changes with each season!

You might notice on this day there isn’t much to do with animals. This is because at the moment we only have a few cows and since it’s summer and they are grass-fed and we have an automatic waterer on the well, there isn’t much to do with them (besides monitor them because they are pregnant). We had a big loss with our chickens and ducks due to the raccoons and possums so we are working on controlling the population of those critters before we have poultry again. 🙁

A Day in the Life….

5:30 am – I woke up a little later than usual because I let myself sleep in after a very long day in town yesterday. I got up and showered and then gathered the laundry to start.

6:30 am – Breakfast this morning is a Banana Oatmeal Muffin (new recipe that we are really enjoying!). I made them several days ago and just pulled them out of the freezer yesterday. I filled up the Berkey with fresh water and sat down for a little bit to eat my breakfast and quickly check my email and website before the day starts.

day

7 am – I’m all out of bone broth so I pull a whole chicken out of my basement freezer and get it going in the slow cooker. I also noticed that my menu plan says we are having meatloaf for supper so I get out some ground beef and put it in the fridge to thaw. Thankfully, the kids aren’t up yet (like they normally would be), they are still wiped out from town day yesterday too! It looks like it’s going to be a warm, muggy day out today but I have to finish getting my garden in…a monumental task that has taken me over a month now to complete since we’ve had so much rain.

8:30 am – I spoke too soon. The kids were up right after 7 so I helped them get dressed and they had breakfast and are settled into some imaginative play for a while. While they’ve been playing I’ve switched the laundry, folded yesterday’s laundry that I didn’t have finished, and finished painting both of our bathrooms. A project that I’ve been working on for a few days now. I also watered all of the veggies that I currently have growing in my sunroom; broccoli, lettuce, and the rest of  the tomato plants that need to get out to the garden today.

9 am – A little break and then it’s time to sweep the floor. I prefer to do it at the end of the day but it’s still messy from yesterday so I decide it needs to be done. I can tell it must be really getting humid out already because the house is starting to smell old. If any of you have an old, old house you know exactly what I mean! After sweeping I head upstairs to finish putting away the kids winter clothes while the boys played with their Legos in their room. It’s finally June so I feel safe doing it now!

9:30 am – My paint was already dry in the bathrooms so I hung up a few pictures and decor, then I did a quick clean on one of the bathrooms and changed the garbage and wiped the sink down. I also took a little bit of time to straighten me and hubby’s dresser and closet because it was looking a bit messy.

10 am – Time for a snack break! The boys asked for popcorn today so we did popcorn, pears (which I found for a great price at Costco yesterday) and Mommy also had a cookie…because you know….chocolate. 🙂 Since I was sitting down I decided to go over therapy evaluations for my oldest. He was just diagnosed with colorblindness so the speech therapist is requesting a renewal from our doctor for continuing therapy.

10:30 am – Switched the laundry, folded laundry, cleaned up breakfast and snack dishes, and replaced the batteries in my weather radio. A little playtime with the kids now and it will be time for lunch!

day2

10:45 am – I went to the pantry to find some pasta for lunch and got caught up in refilling containers that were getting low. While the pasta was cooking I managed to refill all the empty containers and clean up 2 shelves in the pantry.

day3

11:15 am – Lunch time! Today we had pasta, peas, and turkey since we are all out of leftovers at the moment. After lunch, I cleaned up the kids and put my littlest one down for a nap. Now it’s time to really get to work!

11:45 am – Out to work in the garden and FINALLY get it 100% planted. Home stretch!

Yummy potatoes that we've been storing from our garden last summer.

2:30 pm – In from the garden and had a little snack and salad. My garden is all planted now! Washed a few potatoes and stuck them in the other slow cooker to have for supper.

4:30 pm – Back inside from an afternoon of running through the sprinkler and enjoying homemade popsicles on the front porch. Being with my kids is an important part of homesteading to us because living a simple life actually allows us the time to do it! (If you are ready to live the simpler life for yourself, you might be interested in my new workbook, 31 Days to Simpler Living.)Being out of the front porch in the summer is our favorite activity. Sometimes I sit on the porch and read while the boys play but today we just laid back on our blanket together and watched the clouds. After we came in I gave the kids a bath since they were sticky from the popsicles and then I finished up the laundry for the day. I forgot all about making my meatloaf so that will be for tomorrow’s supper and we will eat some of the chicken I was using to make broth plus mashed potatoes and gravy.

5 pm – Supper is just about done so we are just waiting for the hubby to get home and we will eat!

6 pm – After supper we clean up the kitchen and the dishes. I have the kids clean up their toys for the day and I get out clothes for everyone for tomorrow and put them in the bathroom. We follow our little night-time routine of reading together and then the kids are off to bed. Yes, we lay our kids down to sleep early. Yes, they are tired and go right to sleep. 🙂

6:30 pm – I headed outside to shoot a video for the little garden series that I’ve been sharing with you this summer. Since I took care of all of the weeding earlier I felt like I spent enough time outside for the day and headed back in to take a little bath and clean up.

7 pm – Time for work. I sit down for the evening so get to work on the blog, writing articles, answering emails and comments, and checking social media. This is an important part of our homesteading journey as my blog helps me to be able to work from home and for that I’m very grateful!

barnsmaller

9 pm – Time to shut down working for the evening and do something relaxing before I head to bed. Right now I’m reading The Organic Gardener’s Handbook (which I’m really enjoying!). Before I head upstairs I also start soaking a bowl of beans to make tomorrow. I also pull the meat off of the whole chicken that I cooked today for broth and place the carcass back in the slow cooker with more water overnight for a second batch of broth by morning.

10 pm – Bedtime. Internal alarm is set for 5 am tomorrow so I can get up and do it all over again. 🙂

Once we get into the swing of things in late summer I will have to update again. That’s when things get really crazy around here!

merissabio

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25 Comments

  1. I love this idea Merissa! Thanks for sharing your day with us. 🙂 I may have to do this on my site soon.

  2. I really love your site. I have it saved on my computer. I don’t have any children at home anymore they are all grown and moved away. I’m starting a new season in my life alone but I’m so interested in living a simple way of life. I feel its time to get ready to live self sufficiently. I know its never to late to start. All your ideas on saving money and food prep canning I can’t wait to start.

    Thank you so much
    Angie in Texas

  3. I love this post so much. I laughed about forgetting the meatloaf as I also have done things like that with dinner. I would love to read your original “day in the life” post, but could not find it when I searched the blog. Could you send me a link?

  4. Wow Merissa! You are impressive! I am amazed by how much you accomplish and how well you multitask. I loved reading about your day and it inspired me to accomplish more during what little free time I do have. Thank you!

  5. Hi, do you have a post about bone broth? I have read different ways and times to cook it, and would like to see how you make yours.
    Thanks so much,
    ~Linda

  6. I love this post. It sounds a lot like how my life is day to day. I love your book. It helped inspire me to simplify. Made a huge difference in how much I get to enjoy life now. Thank you for that!

  7. Wow you are a busy lady, I’ve been getting your emails and save ideas etc. Do you have animals? They are not mentioned in your day, maybe a small oversight, or do the kids or husband take care of those? I would like a small farm, but I grew up in the city, I don’t know if I’m ready for that yet, I’m doing a lot of reading an it.

    1. We just have cows right now and my hubby generally maintains them, although they don’t take much day to day maintenance in the summer since they are in our pasture 🙂

      1. I am playing with the idea to get goats, sheep and alpacas, just a couple of each for yarn, milk, cheese and soap. But not until I retire, hopefully in a couple of years. Then get a garden and chickens. Oh and a herding dog. A person can dream right? Another person mentioned your book, what is the title please?

  8. I just kept smiling while I was reading about your day, Merissa. It must be a beautiful feeling to lie down at night with that sort of day behind you and another in front of you. Good for you for making this happen for yourself and your family.

  9. It made me laugh to read 7pm – time for work. You were working all day! You’re an inspiration 🙂 Thank you for sharing

  10. I enjoyed reading about your day Merissa, thanks for sharing. lovin’ that sunset photo too.
    Do you have more articles on making bone broth and how you
    use it? Do you add veggies?

  11. Hi I live in a small holding outside a small town in Kwazulu Natal South Africa. I don’t have small children at home now but your blog reminds me when I did. However I made full use of our glorious sunshine and dried my laundry(or washing) as we call outside. I really enjoyed reading this.

  12. I’m exhausted from reading about your day but so enjoy your daily routine blogs! They motivate me to get up and get going. Now, what can I get out of the freezer….

  13. Is this still pretty close to how your days go? I noticed this one was from last year..just curious if you have added anything to the day with new animals and such.

  14. Merissa,
    This is wonderful!! My husband and I are starting our homestead and I don’t think people realize how much we do in a day. My husband works full time; so many of the homesteading, homemaking, and homeschooling responsibilities are mine. I do not mind at all, I absolutely love my life! When we first talked about homesteading, your blog was the first one I subscribed to and read. My journey so far has inspired me to start a blog. I hope to inspire some people with my journey as you have inspired me.