When we bought our house, we had big dreams. Six acres felt like endless possibilities. I could see gardens overflowing with fruits and vegetables, a barnyard filled with animals, and the beginnings of a full-fledged homestead.

So, naturally, I did what any ambitious dreamer would do: I bought way too many starter plants and seeds. My husband built a goat pen for the two goats we got as a housewarming gift, plus a chicken coop and run for baby chicks. We were officially on our way.

Or so I thought.

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When Dreams Meet Reality

There was just one problem: I do not have a green thumb. At all.

Add in homeschooling, volunteering, and driving 40 minutes into town multiple times a week for activities and field trips, and you can probably guess what happened next. The gardens grew weeds. The elderberry and blueberry plants didn’t survive. And when the dust settled, only a lone blackberry bush, an apple tree, and our goats and chickens remained.

The next spring, we tried again. But 2021 brought its own chaos — long drives to my uncle’s house during his final months — and once again, the garden plans wilted. Somewhere along the way, we lost the goats, and something wiped out our entire flock of chickens while destroying the pen.

At that point, I had to admit it: maybe I wasn’t cut out for the homesteading life.

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Starting Over, Again

Fast forward to today, and our gardens are currently mowed down, waiting for another chance. I have plans to lay down garden fabric and try again in the spring. We did bring back chickens this year, this time in a fortress-style coop and run that even the craftiest predators shouldn’t be able to break into.

Will we get the gardens up and running? Maybe. Will it happen next spring? Possibly. If it doesn’t, I’ll still enjoy the quiet, the space, and the slower pace that six acres gives me — even if it’s from the front porch instead of the garden rows.

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Lessons in Seeds and Seasons

I heard once that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. And honestly? I believe it.

We bought this land dreaming of a self-sufficient homestead. Instead, it’s teaching us different lessons — about patience, about letting go, about slowing down. And maybe about realizing that sometimes the seeds we plant aren’t the ones in the garden.

Dreams shift. Life changes. What started as a homestead dream has become something else: a desire for freedom, for simplicity, and for memories made as a family.

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Planting What Matters Most

As we look ahead to retirement and new seasons of life, I realize it’s okay if the gardens stay empty a little longer. Right now, we’re busy making memories. We’re busy learning to live with less. We’re busy figuring out what we really want our future to look like.

Come spring, maybe I’ll plant tomatoes and peppers. Or maybe I’ll be planting something less tangible — patience, peace, and gratitude for where we are right now.

One thing I know: whatever seeds are planted today — in the soil, in our family, in our faith — they will grow in their own time. And that’s enough.

3 Lessons the Garden Taught Me

Not everything grows.
Sometimes, no matter how much effort you put in, things don’t turn out. And that’s okay — it’s part of the process.

Seasons matter.
There’s a time for planting, a time for waiting, and a time for rest. Life works the same way.

Seeds come in many forms.
Some are in the soil, but others are in the memories, faith, and lessons we nurture along the way.