The saying, “The older you get, the faster the years go by” was especially true for 2014! Normally I would be asking where it went and what did I get accomplished but this year, thanks to the blog, I know exactly where the year went and all of the amazing things that happened to put me where I am now (which is a pretty great place to be!). Here is a recap of the first year journey Homestead Dreamer, and the awesome fans, have taken me on.
The blog was registered in February. Before that, all I had was a little Facebook page. The irony is the Facebook page started out June of 2013 as a ‘picture journal’ so I could remember what the heck I had done from year to year in the garden I was starting. Before I knew it, I had 1,000 people following the page! The posts and pictures became more frequent with the encouragement I was getting from people I didn’t even know. Tips and tricks, suggestions, and good humor began pouring in and I was up to 2,000 likes in short order. My mind was blown away by the feedback and it got to the point where I was no longer happy with the limited information I felt I could give on a Facebook post. I had played with the idea of a blog several times in my life but never knew what I would write about or focus on.
When Mister Dreamer and I decided we were going to work toward getting out of debt (less than $20k to go!), save money for land/house (a little over $2k saved in the last 6 months!), and learn the skills to be more self-sufficient (like growing a lot of our own food), I had no idea that it would lead me down the path of blogging, writing a book, doing interviews, and generally building a brand and business (so to speak). Likely if I had known, I would have chickened out. While I like to get recognition for cool things I do, I don’t always like having my face in the spotlight. That being said, fear of the unknown keeps too many people from doing amazing things. I prefer to not let the fear and worry win. And thank goodness for that! I would have missed out on:
- Getting to know so many people with the same interests and problems I run into and being part of a group I can turn to for support.
- Writing a BOOK! I always wanted to but as so many people do, you just never get around to it. Because of TinHatRanch.com starting the Saturday Survival Serial, I found my niche and went with it. Because of the FANS (and Tin Hat’s awesomeness), I am bringing the Saturday Survival Serial to Homestead Dreamer for a SECOND book that is a sequel to the first one, Aftermath. (If you don’t know what I am talking about, you are missing out! Catch up by checking out this short article).
- Avoided making many costly mistakes due to conversations, feedback, and tips from the fans.
- Being interviewed for podcasts and other blogs.
- Learning all sorts of new skills such as pickling, canning, making jerky, building cold frames and greenhouses.
- Cut my grocery bill down considerably by learning some of the skills mentioned above. I make the stuff myself now and skip the grocery store. Not only do I save money, I make a superior product that I have control over. Take that FDA!!
- Be invited to the Professional Prepared Bloggers Network where I have learned an incredible amount about blogging and running a successful website from some top name people in the ‘industry’ of survivalism, homesteading, and prepping (it amazes me how much the lines are blurred between those three things).
There is more to it all, but I don’t think anyone wants to read a 5,000 word article about the last year haha! Looking forward to 2015, I see new lessons being learned and another book being published. I see us getting closer to being out of debt and hopefully saving more bucks toward the homestead dream. And, of course, being thankful for all the wonderful memories the first year has brought us.
For a girl from an island in Southeast Alaska (island population about 14,000), the whole journey so far has been mind blowing. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be sitting here, writing this article that details all of the blessings and awesome events over the last year when I started the blog in March. It was a work of love and I figured that even if people didn’t like it, it wouldn’t matter because in the end I just wanted to remember what worked and what didn’t in the garden. The seeds sown for the blog have been watered and fertilized by the readers, fans, and my fellow bloggers. It has blossomed into a gorgeous plant that is bearing fruit for us all to harvest. THANK YOU. To the person (that is you, right now) reading these words, THANK YOU so much. My life is enriched and enhanced by my contact and conversations with people like you. Your likes, shares, and comments are always noticed and appreciated. I wish I could convey to you better how much I sincerely mean the words you just read. I am really looking forward to what 2015 will bring and am glad you will be there with me!