Welcome to my Survival Diary, a collection of personal journal entries documenting daily life on the homestead. Here, I share the highs and lows of homesteading, from everyday chores and animal care to moments of reflection and learning. These entries offer a behind-the-scenes look at the realities of homestead life, the challenges, the triumphs, and the simple joys of living sustainably. This category is for those who want an authentic, real-life view of what it means to live on a homestead, from one homesteader to another.
Welcome to Survival Diary The Story, where I share the raw truth about homesteading, resilience, and the struggles that shaped me. This isn’t just about farm life—it’s about survival, pushing through hardships, and finding strength in the face of adversity.
Life on a homestead isn’t always picture-perfect. In this Survival Diary for October 9, I share the raw truth—challenges, victories, and the resilience it takes to keep going. If you've ever wondered what homesteading is really like, this is where the story unfolds.
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care. Welcome the survival diary for June 15, here is what is happening today on our homestead. Some days are easier than others. Some days, life feels manageable, almost peaceful. …
Disclaimer: Some of the products mentioned in this post I received for free - or at a discounted price - in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please …
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care. Welcome the survival diary for June 9, here is what is happening today on our homestead. I haven't written a survival diary in a while. Sometimes, sharing personal things …
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care. It's been a crazy year so far, so today's survival diary June 3, is going to take a look at what has been going on the last few …
Survival Diary May 31: Homesteading is a journey of patience and adaptation. From waiting for the soil to dry, to watching my chicks experience their first taste of the outdoors, to opening windows for the first time in years—today was about the little things. Fresh air, simple joys, and small victories reminded me why I chose this life. Homesteading isn’t just about the big accomplishments; it’s about finding gratitude in the everyday moments that make it all worthwhile.
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care. Welcome to the survival diary May 30. Today has been an emotional rollercoaster, to say the least. Some days on the homestead feel like a battle, a test …
Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to read. Please proceed with care. Welcome to the survival diary May 29. As some of you know, in late 2013 my life was turned upside down by the very unexpected death of my …
Disclaimer: I did receive the VIVOSUN grow tent as well as one of the AeroGarden's mentioned in this post for free in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Content Warning: This post includes personal experiences, including loss, food insecurity, and struggles with homesteading challenges. Some descriptions may be difficult to …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome to the behind the scenes survival diary October 23 …
Today's survival diary is about how Covid-19 has put a damper on our lifestyle, caused shortages at the grocery store and ultimately affected our mental health. This is my personal take on what has happened and what to do now.
Content Warning: Some parts of this survival diary post contains graphic descriptions related to my past struggles and personal experiences. Please read with caution if you feel these topics may be triggering or uncomfortable. This weekend has been a whirlwind of homesteading tasks, and I felt it was the perfect time to write another survival …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. It has been many years since I have added anything …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome the survival diary for July 25, here is what is …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome the survival diary for August 23, here is what is …
The Start of Something Bigger Than Me When we moved to our acre-and-a-half and named it Exotic Gardening Farm & Wildlife Habitat, it wasn’t just about land. It was about survival—about starting over with the kind of life I had always dreamed about but never had growing up. I didn’t come from peace. I didn’t …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. I just filled most of my feeders today and used …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome to today's Survival Diary May 9. Ever have one …
Remodeling and Reality: When Dreams Become Chaos What started out as a hopeful project quickly spiraled into one of the most emotionally difficult times of my life. The remodel was supposed to be about making things better—for me, for Jerry, and for my stepfather Larry, who had moved in. Jerry thought adding a craft room …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome to today's Survival Diary May 29. Homesteading isn’t just …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised.📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome to today's Survival Diary April 24. Some days on the …
⚠️ Content Warning: This post discusses trauma, abuse, grief, and loss. Reader discretion is advised. 📸 Image Disclaimer: You’ll see a mix of real photos and AI-generated images. Real photos capture my homestead, while AI images represent emotions and memories that can’t easily be photographed. Welcome to today's Survival Diary April 14. Homesteading isn’t just …
Homesteading is a lonely lifestyle. Not everyone gets it — and honestly, not everyone’s meant to. But if it speaks to your soul, if it makes you feel alive and purposeful, then it’s your lifestyle. And you should live it, fully and unapologetically. Life is always shifting, just like the seasons. People come and go. …