Hoardsteading

They’re are several keys to successful homesteading- today I’d like to talk about the ugly reality behind frugal farm adventures.

The truth is we are level one hoarders. According to aftermath.com “Hoarding Level One: Clutter is not excessive, all doors and stairways are accessible, there are no odors, and the home is considered safe and sanitary.”

Thankfully, I have adapted and become a master organizer, but more on that in a different post.

In this post I’m going to outline exactly what I call “Hoardsteading” – a term I’ve only seen used in one other blog. Shout out to them!

To me- hoardsteading is the act of holding onto a lot of stuff that has potential for DiY solutions on an active homestead/farm.

Let’s all be honest- I don’t know anyone who’s handy that doesn’t have at least a small hoard of handy stuff.

So here’s what we do.

1. When we find quality free stuff- we take it. –

We have gotten a

• few dozen windows,,
• a wood stove,
• a good stainless steel two bay sink,
• vinyl siding,
• an old sewing machine,
• a rooster.
• A pull behind thresher,
• dozens and dozens of ball jars…including OLD ones with glass lids.
• Plant pots
• A dozen alpacas

2. We put out notices when we’re looking for specific things and it works! We’ve gotten both recipes and jars this way & have also bartered for different things this way. This works on Facebook, the local community newspaper & posting notices in the fuel office.

3. We love to go to yard sales- garage sales clean out sales you name it. We don’t go to junk shops or antique places because they’re overpriced- but if you’ve got a senior class yard sale where everything’s been donated, you go. I found a Corning ware glass frying pan for a $1. I sold it on Etsy for $18.

4. This is kind of a funny one, but we get a lot of free pig feed because of the local food donations. A lot of people will go get the free food and then bring what they don’t want to us, to feed to the pigs. We don’t turn any of it away, and if we deem it unable to go to the pigs, we rehome it in our bellies. It’s a win win.

5. In the past, we’ve cleaned out garages and old houses for finders keepers. I got a first edition copy of a very popular books series in this situation. Not only was I paid to the take it, I found out it’s worth $70 or more!

6. A basic sense of organization is important. Like, all those free windows? Stacked neatly by the side of the shed out of the way. Extra siding? Stored in boxes under the house. It’s great to have this stuff, but only if you can friggen find it at the time of need.

7. Don’t get too attached to the possible that you lose sight of the probable- I think everyone can relate to that.

Anything to add?

Until next time, have a wicked good day!