Homesteading can be deceiving.
When you first get into it, it can seem so quaint, innocent, and simple. After all, what can be more romantic and simplistic than building a compost pile, canning your own food, and frolicking with your goat herd out in the pasture?
When we bought our property in 2008, no sooner did we sink the first fence post in the pasture did we realize: homesteading is expensive, y’all.
We started off like many of you– one income, yet dozens of BIG dreams. Improving our land, remodeling the house, building more outbuildings, growing larger animal herds… We had both wanted to own property since childhood, and now that we were actually land-owners, we could hardly sleep from the excitement of the possibilities.
And then reality set in. At first, we figured we would just DIY-everything and be set. After all, Prairie Husband is extremely handy, and we’re not afraid of serious sweat equity. And while all those factors definitely reduced the amount of money we needed to grow our homestead dreams, there were a few a LOT of things requiring cold, hard cash. It was a constant stretch and stress on our one income.
(One quick note before we go on, because I know I’m going to get emails over this… Yes, you can absolutely employ various homestead hacks to decrease the cost of homesteading, and we do that a lot. But we’ve also learned it doesn’t pay to build things from cheap materials and many times when we’ve tried to cut corners, we regret it later. And honestly, with the time and energy it takes to scrimp, I’d rather spend that same time and energy building an abundant lifestyle.)
There were fence posts, new wire, a old tractor (because hand-digging post holes for 67-acres worth of fence is sheer insanity), outbuildings desperately in need of EVERYTHING, equipment rental, a leach field that quit working about a year us moving in, animal feed, seeds for the garden, and the list went on and on.
Fence Posts and Bullets…
I remember mapping out our projects based on what we could afford at the time. We could buy X number of fence posts that month, so we’d plan on fixing that one stretch of fence. Or in our haste to complete a project, we’d often cut corners and use cheaper materials. I’ve regretted that every single time. The cheap fence posts cracked, the cheap deck boards shrunk, curled, and ripped their screws out, and the cheap barbed wire had to be repaired a ridiculous amount of times because it snapped so easily.
It felt like one step forward, and two steps backwards ALL THE TIME.
It was at this point in our journey, we took a long, hard look at what we were doing… Was it worth it? Did it align with our vision long term? Was this really where we wanted to be? As you might have guessed, the answer was a resounding, “heck yes!” so we set out to figure out how to increase our income to make this crazy homesteading thing work. For a while we even had a small bullet-making business. This was before the kids came along, so we’d spend all our weeknights and weekends in the cold shop casting lead bullets. It was tedious and monotonous, and I didn’t love it. But we were committed to our homestead goals, so we did it anyway. Moving to town just wasn’t an option.
Not too long after that, I started exploring blogging, and started this blog with very few expectations or intentions. Many of you already know the story, but needless to say, blogging has set me on a path I could never have expected in a million years, and it’s easily just as much of a passion for me as homesteading.
But did you know that this blog isn’t really what supports our homestead?
There’s another piece of the story that took us on an even bigger transformation and has forever changed our story.
The Dream Started with doTERRA…
In 2012, a local friend shared a small vial of an essential oil with me. The skeptic in me was hesitant, but intrigued, and after a while, I used it and loved the result. I invested in a starter kit from there, and after having so many cool experience with the oils I had purchased, I started sharing my experiences with others.
Within a year, I was making more from our essential oil business than our bullet business had ever brought in. Within two years, my income had surpassed what Prairie Husband was making as an oilfield electrician. Within three years, Prairie Husband quit his job so he could come home to build our remodel and work on OUR dreams full-time.
Did it come easily? Does anything in homesteading come easily? Homesteading is work. Running a business is work. Having a family is work. But I love the work I do and it’s been unequivocally worth it. (And 1000 times better than making bullets!)
And this is where YOU come in. I am here today to tell you that you don’t have to stay in place where reality isn’t matching up with your dreams. You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.” If you have dreams and burning desires like we did, and you’re not where you want to be, it’s time to make a change, my friend.
This may look different for each one of you, but for us, that change was doTERRA.
doTERRA has fueled our homestead dreams, and so, so much more. It’s brought some of the most amazing people into our life, and there are days I literally have to pinch myself.
It’s Time for a Change
For the last 4+ years, I’ve talked about essential oils, recipes, and how to use them on the homestead. That’s been awesome, but I feel like I’m leaving out the best part. Now I know some of you have zero interest in hearing about essential oils as a business, and if that’s the case, this post is not for you. (Here are some cute baby chicken pictures for you instead.) But I also know some of you reading this post right now have been searching…
- You’ve been searching for financial freedom and ways to pay down debts
- You’ve been searching for a meaningful and fulfilling business
- Or maybe you’ve always been fascinated by the thought of entrepreneurship and how it could fuel your homestead.
If that sounds like you, I’m inviting you to follow the path we took into becoming entrepreneurs. I’m so thankful someone shared this information with me 5 years ago, and I am so excited I get to do the same for some of you.
If you’re a action-oriented person who is ready to make a shift and isn’t afraid to push out of your comfort zone, then it’s possible that doTERRA could potentially fit into your life and homestead goals.
Here’s what I know: You never know what can change your life unless you go look. Even if this business isn’t right for you, I hope this will get you thinking of the possibilities. Because y’all, the possibilities are limitless if you are willing to think outside of the box. And maybe, just maybe, this will be the one thing that shifts everything for you, just like it did for us. I can’t wait!
Such an inspiring story! I have read your blog since the beginning and admired what you have accomplished. After talking to you yesterday about DoTerra I feel excited to move forward. I loved so much what you said about being tired of building other people’s dreams and wanting to build our family’s dreams instead. That rang so true for us, I told my husband that should be our new motto. Our dreams are always put on hold due to the demands of working to make others dreams come true, it’s backwards!! Thanks so much for the encouragement.
I am so excited to work with you Season!!
I’ve only ever heard of one other person named Season. You wouldn’t be close to Woodbury Tennessee would you?!
Nope I’m up north. I also only ever met one other person with my name and she was from the east coast.
67 acres is just too large for you. That is a homestead that needs employees! Maybe you should have started small and grow bigger as your experience increases
No… 67 acres isn’t big enough, actually. We are actively looking for more land.
I loved this article, Jill! My story differs a bit. We bought our land 5 years ago, and had big homesteading dreams! Unlike you, however, we found that once we really got into it…we didn’t enjoy it as much as we thought we would. We do still work from home though, and essential oils do interest me. I have a few bottles, but don’t really know how to use them. I signed up for your webinar…it sounds really interesting!
I hope you enjoy the Webinar, Jennifer! I’m happy to answer any questions you have after you watch it, too. 🙂
I really enjoyed the webinar this morning. It gave me A LOT to think about. Is this something that I could start doing anytime…say, in 6 months…or is it only open to join right now?
Loved reading your story… This is just kind of a side question? Do you use the oils with your chickens? I see Perdue is putting oregano in the water… Do you do anything like that? We just got chickens, and are feeding them organic feed. Wondering about. Oil in the water?
Thanks
Tina
I have heard about that, but haven’t tried it personally as I haven’t had a need. I think it’d be pretty tough to get the oil to disperse in the water, too. You’d probably have to add something else to it.
What if you feel like your local area is already saturated with the essential oils market? I can think of four people in my circle already selling it. And at least two selling Young Living oils. Only one family makes an actual living off of the oils and she got into them years ago and was able to recruit others through her other yoga and prenatal class business. The others just get a bit of money on the side.
I’d love other suggestions! Something like that really appeals to me.
There are ALOT of other companies that’s give amazing oportunities. I personally LOVE doTERRA, but it was hard to get others in my circle intrerested. Then I found Perfectly Posh… (naturally based pampering products). Ever since I have been a rep for Perfectly Posh! I love how other reps in my team cone together to help, and give support. I like how many different ways you can run your business, so that you make it your own. I have also found many other “sharing” companies along the way that could work depending on what you’re passionate about. Many companies that will stand behind you and give yiu the tools to create a sucessful business.
Learning what I have from Perfectly Posh, gave me a drive to work my DoTERRA Business differently than how I started, so that I am now able to make it just as successful.
Crystal, I hope you can find something that sparks a light in your eye!
Jill…..I LOVE this post of yours! I am a new follower, and I look forwards to reading old posts as well as new ones. I am interested in different aspects of homesteading, and am incorporating it into my life a little at a time as financials keep changing fir the better.
Good luck in your doTERRA business and good job for putting it out there that there ARE options to increasing your financial freedom with working from home.
Thanks Justine! Love your positivity!! 🙂
Hey Crystal!
Believe it or not, I get this question quite a bit. Honestly though, saturation is a myth. ? For example, Utah has probably the highest population of doTERRA members in the country (I’m talking multiple HIGH-ranking members in ONE neighborhood!) and yet every time I go there, I find people who don’t even know what doTERRA is.
I promise, no matter how many other doTERRA or YL folks might be in an area, there are always, always people who are still searching for the options the oils provide– you just might have to get creative and reach out into other circles.
THere’s a small town with a population of about 3600, 30 miles north of us where one of my leaders lives. She’s a Platinum on my team (a high rank) and has signed up a ton of people in that area– we have 2 Silver leaders there as well. AND, there are a bunch of YL distributors in that town as well. And we STILL have new people from that area joining us every month. So it’s very possible. ?
Hey Jill, I am almost ready to join!! I am apprehensive though, only because I’ve tried every other company out there and the first step was always to “have a party”. That may have worked 20 years ago, but it just doesn’t work in my circle. No one ever shows up. Can you share what some of the first steps of your road map are? Thank you!!!
Hey Jen!
Get-togethers (aka classes or workshops) are definitely one of the quickest ways to make contacts and grow your business, as it allows you to reach/teach to multiple people at once. Sometimes if you’re having trouble getting people to show up, it’s just a missing link in your inviting/follow up process. (We train on that, btw!)
But there are definitely other ways to share– you can give out samples, place diffusers in businesses (with their permission, of course), meet folks one-on-one at coffee shops, have girls nights out, do trade shows/booths, etc. Lots of ideas if you’re willing to think outside the box!
As far as first steps, they are:
1. Set your wholesale account up and start with a kit so you can start using the oils and get to know them
2. Attend our introductory training that helps you identify which path within doTERRA fits you the best (fast or slow)
3. Work through our Launch Your Biz training (this gives you all the tools you need to share confidently)
4. Participate with group mentor calls either with me or one of my experienced leaders.
How does that sound?
I’m in. Talked to my husband last night and he’s in too! I pondered the get togethers last night and got a new idea! Using oils on the homestead get togethers! That’s who all my friends are here, and who their friends are and so on. They’ve all been through the young living essential oil class so I wanted to do something different. What do you think?
Send me the sign up link!
I
Am
Ready!!!!
Hey Jill, my question for your we webinar, is I simply can’t stand the business model of “getting others to sign up” as a way of income. Is there a different way that isn’t so MLM-ish?
Thanks so much!
Hi Lea,
Great question! First, I have a question for you– what is it about helping others get their own accounts that feels icky to you? (please know I’m asking honestly– not snarky at all!)
Here’s my thought process and why I get so excited when people have their own accounts:
First off, it starts with me sharing an oil with someone who has a need. Sometimes they reach out to me, sometimes I offer it to them. (And if someone tells me no, then I move on– no hounding allowed).
More times than not, they love the sample I gave them and want more. The easiest and most cost-effective way for them to get oils is for them to sign up with their own account. To me, that’s pretty common in our day and age. (I know if I had to wait for someone else to order my Amazon stuff for me and then personally deliver it, it’d definitely annoy me).
I don’t keep many oils in stock, and I honestly don’t have time to drive around town delivering oils or go to the PO every day to mail out people’s orders. That’s why I teach people how to get their own account. It’s easier for everyone. Not to mention, if I only order stuff through my account, then the other folks miss out on all the free stuff you get with orders.
So truly, it’s a win-win for everyone. 🙂
Jill, this post brought tears to my eyes! It’s as if you were writing about the struggles of my own life. I had previously signed up with the oils… but sadly, I didn’t follow through… After reading this post, I signed up for your webinar, and today, I checked with doTerra to see what I need to do… I’m looking forward to getting started… again! And this time, I plan on sticking with it! — ‘It’s time for a change!’
Hugs to you, Sheri! I’m thrilled to hear you are reactivating your account. Building the business takes work, (like anything in life!) but it’s so, so worth it. 🙂
Hi Jill,
“Cheapin’ out” is what we call using poor quality stuff here in west central Saskatchewan and you’re right, it Never works out.
I’d be more interested in growing the plants for essential oils than selling. . .
We have been finding this out the hard way, as well. We finally got a place where we can do some homesteading of our own and it is expensive! Thanks for your admonition not to cut corners, though, it really is a temptation for us!
Jill,
We are homesteaders in Texas. Bought 33 acres, built a barndominium from the ground up, and ready to embark on the next phases while my husband looks for a job in our new area. I work from home at Dell. After reading your blog a bit today, it’s as if I was reading about our life! Ha! Question for you — we live a pretty isolated life. No kids, work from home in a new area, etc. Have you had success with building your essential oil business via social media? Or do you recommend living in a more established area with an “in-person” network to be successful?
I love doterra! I have every bottle except a limited few! Love hearing you story about Doterra and how well your living your dream! I have learned so much from you. Keep up the great work!
I just love this so much <3
This is truly my dream, our dream as a family. I hope to retire my Cowboy from his corporate job, so that we can go back to ranching – something he grew up doing, and something I've always dreamt of doing. I am so glad to have an avenue like doTERRA that will make it possible!! For now, we do what we can here in the city to live as simple and rural as we can!
Hi Jill, I love your blog and all the education you bestow upon us newbie homesteaders! I’m already a consultant for another company (Norwex) but I’m sure you have a lot of great information to share regardless of the company. Would you be willing to share/talk about what works for you as it relates to the MLM business in general? I’m struggling to find the time to really get mine going between animal chores, gardening and a regular full-time job off the farm. Thanks!
Living in such an rural area, how did you sell enough doterra to earn a big income? I’m a stay at home mom of 3. Me and my husband dream of a homestead. I would love to have an income of my own. We live in a rural area, as well. Which is why I was wondering how you did it. I also worry that people would think it was to expensive for the small bottles. Is that a problem you’ve found to have? TIA
If Doterra is not something you can/want to do. I love a home based business that I have been in for 11 years–a very stable company with growth potential. nancy.lifevantage.com Products in the health and wellness industry. The products have lots of peer reviewed medical studies,, and so they have quality materials that help you sell them . I made enough money to keep a roof over our head, food on the table and pay tuition for my daughter, until I went back to school to earn my MBA degree.
Natural ingredients. No stocking of products and you can develop your own team to make residual income like Doterra. I do not know if you have people selling these products in the area. My website has lots of info about our products and the business structure. If you are interested you can drop me a line through my website.
There is also a new company that I am working with called Healy. A small wearable medical device that helps to relieve immediate, long term and arthritic pain–approved by the FDA with certificate on file.
For a good home business makes sure the company is registered with the prestigious Direct Sales Association (DSA). Unfortunately there are many fly by night home based businesses that are very difficult to make money or even the cost to join with the company.