If you’re someone who loves to spend time in the great outdoors, then you’ve likely dreamed of owning a homestead. And if you’re lucky enough to have one, Saturdays on the homestead can be the highlight of your week. From tending to the garden and animals to enjoying the peaceful surroundings, there’s a certain charm to a day spent on the homestead. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what a Saturday on the homestead is really like, giving you a taste of the tranquility that comes with living off the land.

What a Saturday on the Homestead is Like

Introduction

Living on a homestead can keep you busy throughout the week with different projects, from tending to animals to growing crops. However, Saturdays are often a little bit different, and for the Flanagan family, it is no exception. Here is what a typical Saturday on their homestead looks like.

Tending to Animals

Rob Flanagan awakes at dawn and heads straight to the barn. Here, he feeds his horses with fresh hay and water, then checks on his sheep and goats. Rob is vigilant about his goats since they can be problematic for gardens if they are left to roam free without secure fencing. He checks to make sure the fences around the goats are secure and repositions them if needed.

Then, Rob moves to the fish pond, where he feeds his fish and checks if the water is clean. The fish pond is part of their larger permaculture system. The system is designed to maximize yields of different crops and animals, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem.

Building Stairs, Hobbit House, and Splitting Firewood

After tending to the animals, Rob heads to his next project. He is in the process of building stairs leading up to their main living quarters on the homestead. He has already set the base for the stairs using treated lumber, and today he is going to install the treads.

But wait, that’s not all that Rob will be doing today. In addition to building stairs, he is also working on building a Hobbit House for their kids, a little secret hideaway. To keep their homestead sustainable, Rob uses recycled material, and it is taking some time to gather enough material for the Hobbit House.

Furthermore, Rob starts splitting firewood, too, in preparation for the cold winter months, which will be here before we know it!

Tending to His Garden

Rob loves spending time in his garden. He has planted tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, beans, zucchinis, and more. But he also has to deal with pests, like worms and beetles, which can damage his crops. Today he is deworming his sheep and goats to avoid any further infestations. He also inspects his plant beds to check for any infestations and addresses them immediately to avoid losing the crops.

Greasing the Excavator

Rob’s excavator plays an essential role in his homestead projects. It helps him dig holes, build ponds, level sites, and more. However, it requires proper maintenance to run smoothly. And while Rob doesn’t enjoy working on his excavator, he knows its value and makes sure to keep it greased appropriately.

Exchange of Contact Information with the Neighbor

Rob’s neighbor is building a house adjacent to his homestead, and they have met each other while working on their respective projects. Rob welcomes the opportunity to collaborate and share resources. They discuss future projects, and Rob notes his neighbor’s phone number for exchanging information for future collaborations.

Conclusion

Living on a homestead can be a rewarding experience and Saturdays are for working on longer-term projects. On every Saturday, Rob spends hours tending to his animals, building and maintaining infrastructure, and working in his garden. He also takes time to exchange information with his neighbor for future collaborations.

FAQs

1. What is a homestead?
   A homestead is a piece of land where one has the right to live and cultivate the land for personal use.

2. What is permaculture?
   Permaculture is a sustainable land design system that mimics nature’s ecosystems. It maximizes yields of different crops and animals, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem.

3. Why is it essential to keep goats secure in their pens?
   Goats can be problematic for gardens if they are left to roam free without secure fencing. They can eat up crops and damage plants.

4. What are the benefits of deworming sheep and goats?
   Deworming sheep and goats removes internal parasites that can weaken them and lead to severe illnesses.

5. What is an excavator, and why is it essential?
   Excavators are heavy machinery used in construction projects. In a homestead, they help dig holes, build ponds, level sites, and more.