What am I getting into? - Newsletter #1
A little bit about Prepared Roots and how we are going to be different than your average Homestead blogger. Like many of you, we are starting from scratch. Learn with us!
Beginnings are hard, that’s why I write.
What is PreparedRoots all about? Well like many people online, I have been following various creators, watching countless hours of videos and salivating over the wonderous meals that these ultra preppers and homesteaders created. I began to tell myself, “How hard could this be?” As a response to beginning this journey, I want to be real with you. It’s only been 2 years since moving out of suburbia into the rural part of our county and very much in the beginning phases of homesteading. I can’t wait to tell you what I have learned and what things I would already do over if given the chance.
It’s about community…
The reason why I chose this platform is because of the community aspects. I know there has to be millions of others just like me wanting to start out but no clue where to begin first. Well rest easy because I’m here to share that you don’t need some fancy property that you are oversold on youtube or instagram. You can be a homesteader right where you are. It’s not about what you have but how you choose to live. As soon as you begin this lifestyle, you quickly learn you need a community of supporters around you. That’s why we are here!
Are you going to get specific about anything?
I know it’s been general up until now so let me be specific with you. Here is what I plan to discuss:
Faith
Community Building
Becoming energy independent
Replacing modern technology with analog / mechanical tech
Gardening - in any environment (Urban, Suburban, Rural)
Budget Homesteading Tools
Looking for your first homestead property
Survival Gear Reviews
Communications Tips
Off Grid technology
Weapons
Herbs / Herbalism
More!
With every post, you will get a personal story, a picture or two and some tips :)
Story Time: A Humble Start to Homesteading
As I mentioned earlier, when I first set out to start homesteading, I believed that owning a large plot of land was an absolute necessity. I rushed through listings, determined to find property in my county that had one crucial feature—a house. Why, you ask? Well, like many others, I needed a mortgage to make this dream a reality, and that required a home that was livable for my family.
Before we go any further, I want to acknowledge something: for privacy reasons, I won’t be discussing my family in much detail. The internet can be an unpredictable place, and protecting their privacy is essential. Now, back to the story.
I remember the day vividly—it feels like it happened just yesterday. My wife and I, along with our three kids, were at the library. While they browsed for books, I was glued to Zillow. That’s when I saw it: a modest 950-square-foot, 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom house sitting on four acres of land. Your first thought might be, A family of five in a 2-bedroom house? Trust me, I had the same reaction. But when I showed my wife, she immediately said yes. Stunned but excited, we arranged to see the property.
An hour later, we had an accepted offer. That meant we needed to put our current house on the market and downsize—fast. This led to our first lesson in homesteading.
Lesson #1: Simplify Your Life
Take a hard look at what you own and decide what you truly need. Distinguish between what is essential for living and what’s just “stuff” taking up space. Focus on what brings joy, resilience, and connection to your family and community. Life is fleeting—are the things you’re holding onto worth it? Can they be passed down, or are they simply weighing you down?
What followed was a whirlwind of tasks, some of which I’ll skip over for now, except for a couple of crucial lessons we learned from buying what appeared to be a charming, flipped farmhouse that came with hidden surprises.
Lesson #2: Bring in the Experts
Before you buy, find trusted contractors or friends skilled in various trades to inspect the house. Don’t rely solely on a home inspector. Many are known for only checking surface-level issues and can miss major red flags.
Lesson #3: Consider Future Expansion
If your goal is to expand your homestead down the road, make sure the property meets these key criteria:
Proper zoning
Adequate drainage systems (such as a perimeter drain)
A septic system sized for future growth
Sufficient land elevation to avoid costly landfills
Our realtor sold us a vision: move in now, then easily expand using equity from our previous home. It turned out to be a false promise. The house had poor workmanship from the flip, an outdated, undocumented septic system, and lacked a perimeter drain. Instead of investing our equity in expansion, we had to pour it into unexpected repairs. To this day, we haven’t expanded our home but have focused on enhancing its functionality.
The Silver Lining
Despite the setbacks, we’ve learned invaluable lessons and developed skills to handle DIY repairs and improvements. I’ll be sharing those insights and experiences in future posts on this blog. I’ve stumbled and failed more times than I can count, but that’s why I’m inviting you along for the journey—to learn from my experiences and avoid making the same mistakes.
