Reality Check: Time Commitments

Above is a nice photo of Umbra investigating my sleeve, rather thoroughly, with his teeth. There are a lot of truths about life, but one that is inescapable is that you can only do so much in a day. There are a couple of different levels to that, but all of them matter to homesteading. Especially if you also have, as the Lady of the House and I both do, a job. The thing is, unlike a hobby, you can't not do your homesteading chores.

I'm going to get back to the time thing in a couple paragraphs. I just want to tell you what this next series is. The first two photos starting with the one on the Left is how we like weight checks to go. Left is a baby coming in on its own. Below Left is a baby calmly sitting in the classic Dawn bunny loaf. 

The two photos Below reflect more what happens. Both of the photos Below are after finishing doing weight check, but usually I have to hold one hand in front and one hand behind the baby to keep them calm enough they aren't going to come flying out of the Tupperware before I get a good weight read on them. This again comes back to the benefits of temperament. Also of constant socialization. While by the strictest standards daily weight checks on babies aren't needed, they are helpful and a big part of what we are trying to do here.

 So back to time. Our daily required work for homesteading probably comes out to 20 - 30 minutes each right now. Doesn't seem like much, and it isn't. But let's be honest with ourselves for a moment. How often have you not done your stretches, gone for a run, replied to an e-mail, done your homework that takes less time? Running late, too tired, sick, don't feel like it, upset, bad mood, sore? None of those matter for homesteading. If something needs to be done it must be done now. This is obvious with animals. As a farmer friend said to us, the thing with livestock is, if you don't take care of it, soon it is dead stock. Less obvious with other things, but you can't not cover your plants before a freeze if you want to get more time out of them.You can't not water them if you want good growth. You certainly can't put off picking off mites or other critters that eat your plants.

Why do I mention this right now? Well, the Lady of the House works part time at a "normal" job, and then spends probably 30 - 40 hours a week on her art business between commissions, creating works for sale, prints, and education. All told with her commute it comes out to about  60 - 70 hours a week since we share a car most days. My normal week with commute is about 70 hours between my two jobs and my commute. Due to it being the holiday season it's been 80 - 90 hours a week. We are managing to keep the rabbits taken care of, but if you have a more than 40 hour a week job, homesteading is going to be difficult for you.

Just a reality check.