Getting started in Indiana | General Homesteading Discussion | Forums

 After over 5 years of searching, we finally found our place! Well, more like it fell in our laps.  You can follow our story here Der Bauernhof.

In 2011, we sat down and asked ourselves, “What do we want out of life? Where do we see ourselves?” It was like asking what we wanted to be when we grew up!

You see, in 2007 we lost a child, Levi, (he was only 16 mo old) in a car accident. The only one who walked anyway physically unharmed was our daughter, Isabelle who was only 5 at the time. The repercussions from that event still hang on our lives each day.

God is the only reason we pulled through. As a family. Whole. Most families crumble. Their foundations are weak. It was shaky for a while, but we pulled through, our foundation stood on the Rock.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Though, not a day goes by that we don’t miss him. Our hearts will never be healed.

In 2011, we finally got to a place where we could see a true light. And we decided to reevaluate our lives.

What we found out about ourselves in that time was that family was absolutely everything. Our children (we then had Gabriel, as well) were everything. I started homeschooling and concerning myself over what is put into the minds and bodies of my children. I started cooking nearly entirely from scratch.

We wanted a life where our children could always be near, if they choose to. And we wanted a lifestyle that was more peaceful and God-centered. We were willing to put in hard work for it.

We had decided to homestead.

In these last 5 years, our plans have changed a lot. The constant has been our family providing for ourselves as much as we can, side by side, God as our Rock.

Since 2011, we have been scouring for the perfect farm for our family… We understand, God’s timing is always perfect. He always has a plan. Dreams are worth never giving up on!

Often we got our hopes up and many places never worked out. It was hard to be let down, but we kept faith that God had a reason each time.

Our farm came to us through sadness, but there is joy in this land! God wanted us to hold on and wait. When Matt’s Great Uncle Art passed away suddenly in 2015, we never dreamed that part of his farm could be ours. In early October, we told Aunt Edwina on one of our visits that we were planning to bid on a lot in the upcoming auction.

They sheer joy and excitement on her face is something I will treasure the remainder of my days! We told her of the dream we have had and she became excited with the possibilities! Each visit she would say, “I want to talk about the farm!” To which we obliged, telling her the plans we had thought about over the past 5 years. She would say, “This is what Art would want!” and give a little fist shake in the air, she would tell us she’s been praying.

When we closed on the farm in May 2016, we fulfilled a promise to Edwina and to ourselves. One of never giving up. Of persevering through all lifes’ curves and bumps.

This is our place!

We have 49 acres. My husband's dad got another 40 that we border (as well as the original home). We aren't moved in. We have awhile before we will be ready for that. Being an hour and a half away, we try to visit when we can, but getting anything done seems impossible. All the fence needs replaced and the cabin needs sided, along with a doz other important issues and lesser ones, as well. The cabin was built in 1830. It is 4 rooms, 2 fireplaces. It needs some work. No electric, no water. Right now we are hoping to get an outhouse in, though there are facilities at the house, it is less than convenient. 

Currently I am trying to figure out the outhouse. Any great plans out there? I am leaning toward one on Ana White's site, with some modifications to the base. We would actually like one a bit bigger, though, so that we can put in a small sink with gravity fed rain water to wash hands. Anyone do anything like that?