Is this even possible?

[BabyMae09]

Does anyone un/homeschool, run a business and own livestock?

We have two goats and some chickens. I also have a small garden. I am in the first few months of starting my business (which I mostly run from home) and now DH and I are talking about having DS at home again (DD is only 2.5 so she's home anyway).

I think it could be awesome - DS would see me running a women-centric business and would be able to be with our animals more, which he loves. DS and I came up with a really cool homeschool plan that I love, and that will keep us busy. But part of me longs to move even further out of town, off grid and be a hermit. I like a peaceful harmonious life, and although I have spare time, I'm not sure if I want to spend it unschooling. I'm also not sure if my business is going to keep going for much longer though, so if it doesn't I'd love to have DS at home. 

I feel like I'm choosing between stress and peace, not a job and unschooling. Not to mention getting more animals like I want to....

Any advice?

[lifeguard]

We are contemplating a similar thing. We board horses, will be getting chickens this year & maybe cows or sheep. Ds is supposed to start kindergarten in the fall but I'm verrrry unsure of that. I am also just starting a small home business. Not sure how or if it  will work but looking forward to replies.

[moominmamma]

My friends do and have done. They're not able to pipe up here because they're too busy to participate in any kind of on-line or real-life homeschooling support network. 

They have pigs, goats, sheep, a horse, chickens, ducks, turkeys and rabbits. The goats are nubians, and they're requiring milking right now. They had a dairy cow for a couple of years but gave her up because the milking was just too onerous. 

They also ran a business for several years. Right now the men are doing handyman type stuff, and the mom is substitute teaching in the school system, but in the past they have a café/gift shop which they ran full-time. 

They have five kids. One is grown up and moved away. Two are now in high school full-time. Two (7 and 10) are homeschooling still. School is a recent thing. Most of the time they've had five homeschooling. 

I think they're crazy. Endearingly crazy, but crazy nonetheless. Because of homeschooling and homesteading they don't have enough time to devote to their income-generating work, so they're very poor. We're at least in Canada where health care is covered for them, which is fortunate since the dad had a cardiac arrest 3 years ago and required some very expensive care. They have a live-in bachelor-"uncle" kind of guy who is a huge help and without whom the family couldn't have run all these years. They also host WOOFers regularly in the growing season and that helps a lot. But they're so busy. And so tired. They spend a lot of time working together, but there's so much time pressure and financial pressure on them all, I'm not sure that they're really able to enjoy each other's company much.

I also think that the kids are a little socially isolated as a result of the family's choices. They're so busy on the farm, and because they're on a rural property they aren't within walking distance or quick driving distance of other kids. The older kids chose to go to school to break the isolation. The 10-year-old (almost 11) is starting to develop the social needs that drew his older siblings to school. I'm not sure how much longer he'll be happy at home. He spends a lot of his emotional energy being in snits about not getting enough time to connect with friends. Generally I think they kids are very well-educated. They're pretty much out-and-out unschoolers, and the kids are bright, knowledgeable and capable. But while they seemed happy when they were young when their were older siblings around and their parents were doing things they were excited to be a part of, as they've got older and developed different interests it's worked less well. 

I do feel thankful that our family has made different choices. We have chickens and that's all and they're easy to look after, which is great since it all falls to me now -- the kids have lost interest. We live just 2 miles from town on a single hectare, close enough to the village for them to bike or walk. And my dh has a secure income, meaning that I need only work very occasionally, so as my kids' interests have evolved and diverged from what I'm busy with, I've been able to support them as they've wanted to go in their own directions.

So I guess my advice would be to look down the road and consider how the livestock responsibilities and home-based business and rural life apart from school will feel for your ds in two years or five years or whatever. It might all look like it will fit together in a wonderful learning-based synergy right now, but the likelihood is that it won't continue to do so as your children get older. 

Miranda

[wendybird]

We have goats, chickens,bees, a llama, a donkey, and usually 3 hogs through the summer. I am homeschooling 6 of my children at present.  We are on ten acres, not really working toward complete self sufficiency but being a lot closer to it. As a previous poster said...not a lot of time for online or out of the home homeschool support, but we are very active in our church and all my kids have friends and activities. My husband works in the city, so we still have a solid income that is unrelated to our hostile land! Lol!

  We usually do animal chores/breakfast/see Dad time in the am,lunch, school until 4 or 5(both together and independant work,depending on ages/ability), then chores and dinner, followed by evenings of free time.At times it seems like a lot of work, at times it is so routine it almost seems easy.(Winter is easiest, spring is hectic). Anyhow, it is definately do-able, and for us it is totally worth it as we see our children grow great work ethic and love of the land as we cultivate and shape our "farm".

[moominmamma]

Originally Posted by wendybird 

 Anyhow, it is definately do-able, and for us it is totally worth it as we see our children grow great work ethic and love of the land as we cultivate and shape our "farm".

Sounds lovely! Just a clarifying question, though. Are you running a home-based business as well, as the OP is considering? Or is it just the farm?

Miranda

[wendybird]

Sorry, I forgot to address that part. I run a not for profit brick and mortar store in town. We are not open normal business hours, Brian and I have to coordinate well, but it works out. I thrive on being busy, having a project or goal looming over my head drives me. I used to be a fly by the seat of my pants person...now I am scheduled and structured while still being laid back.

   It sounds trite or cliche, but if the desire and drive is there it can be done.

[katbomumof3]

I think it's possible, it all just comes down to time management!

We live on 1.7 acres, so not a large property, and my dh works outside the home.  I stay home with my four children, ages, 2,4,8 and 11, and we have two ponies, and chickens and ducks.  My eleven year old will be getting sheep this spring, and I will be getting milk goats if my son can tolerate goat milk (he currently drinks almond, I'm hoping goat will be a go)  We will also be hatching many more chickens and expanding our egg business for the upcoming fall.  We could have many more customers if we had more birds.

The ponies may or may not become a bit of a business, depending on insurance vs income. 

I also have just opened my home as a daycare, but only have one 2.5 yr old client at this time.  I would like one or two more clients.

Oh, and I start/maintain dreadlocks for people, not that there is a ton of demand for that around here, it keeps me busy for an evening or a day once in a blue moon, and gets me some extra $  :)

My children and I are all happy with the amount of social time we get, and how much we get out.  We also love our wee homestead, and plan to expand on our garden and plant fruit trees and bushes this spring (we only moved here this past may).

we also hope for a green house in the future, as finances allow for all of our plans to materialize.

we find we are much busier in the warm months, due to the garden and such, and the winter is the time for books!