Chasing the Simple Life: Trading City Lights for Starry Nights and a Mini Hobby Farm

Chasing the Simple Life: Trading City Lights for Starry Nights and a Mini Hobby Farm
       If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be trading in my grocery delivery app for a barn full of feed and waking up to roosters instead of an alarm clock, I’d have laughed and asked if you’d been watching too many homesteading shows. But here we are—out in the middle of nowhere, miles from the nearest coffee shop, and knee-deep in mud most days, all in the name of the simple life.
      Yep, we’ve embarked on the adventure of building our own little mini hobby farm, chasing after the dream of fresh air, self-sufficiency, and a childhood for our kids filled with dirt roads, animal antics, and memories you just can’t find in the city.
      People move to the middle of nowhere for all kinds of reasons—some crave privacy, others want peace, and some just can’t stand traffic anymore. For us, it was a mix of wanting to give our kids a truly hands-on childhood and craving a bit of calm in a world that’s always in a rush. We wanted to give them more than screens and sidewalks; we wanted them to know what it’s like to get their hands dirty, to learn patience by waiting for veggies to grow, and to understand responsibility by taking care of the animals who depend on us.
      Moving here wasn’t about running away from modern life (well, maybe just a little); it was about embracing a life with more connection—to each other, to nature, and to a rhythm that isn’t dictated by endless notifications and scrolling.
     The kids have learned quickly that farm life is equal parts fun and responsibility. They’re out there helping to feed the animals, learning how to gather eggs without cracking them, and figuring out that caring for a herd of anything means being up before the sun some days. There’s something magical about watching them learn the ropes, even if it means they come inside covered head to toe in mud more often than not.
         The kids have learned quickly that farm life is equal parts fun and responsibility. They’re out there helping to feed the animals, learning how to gather eggs without cracking them, and figuring out that caring for a herd of anything means being up before the sun some days. There’s something magical about watching them learn the ropes, even if it means they come inside covered head to toe in mud more often than not.
      Our goal was simple: give our kids the best childhood possible. And for us, that means less about giving them the latest gadgets and more about giving them experiences. There’s nothing like watching your kids bond with an animal they helped raise or seeing their faces light up when the garden they planted actually produces something. These are the moments that, to me, are priceless.
      Instead of running to the nearest store, our kids are learning that things take time. They’re learning that animals need care no matter the weather, that plants don’t grow overnight, and that you don’t always get what you want right away. I can’t imagine a better way to teach patience, resilience, and appreciation.
      One of the things that really surprised me about this lifestyle is how satisfying the little things become. There’s a special kind of joy in picking a carrot out of the ground and realizing you grew that, or collecting eggs from the coop and knowing breakfast came from right outside the back door. And then there’s the fresh air, the quiet nights under the stars, and the kind of silence that you just can’t find in town.
       But there are also surprises we didn’t quite plan for, like the fact that animals don’t follow a schedule (or that goats have no respect for fencing). And, of course, there’s the question everyone asks: “Do you actually enjoy being out in the middle of nowhere?” The answer is yes… with a side of, “Most days, anyway.” Because while it’s challenging, there’s a sense of fulfillment that’s hard to describe.
      At the end of the day, our search for a simple life is about finding our own version of happiness. It’s about slowing down, learning to appreciate the process instead of the product, and teaching our kids that there’s beauty in hard work and nature. It’s not a flawless, Instagram-perfect version of homesteading by any means—more like a constant adventure in mud, hay, and a little bit of chaos.
      But we wouldn’t have it any other way. Life here may not be as “simple” as it sounds, but it’s ours, and we’re making memories every step of the way. So here’s to waking up with the sun, to laughing at our own mistakes, and to building the kind of life that’s full of meaning, if not always glamour.
      Because in the end, that’s what the simple life is all about: living each day with purpose, joy, and just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting.