About Daniel & Melissa’s Journey to Homesteading

Hi, we’re Daniel and Melissa, the founders of this homesteading journey that started in the most unexpected way. Our story begins in 2005, when Daniel was rushed to the ER on Easter morning and later diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a degenerative disease that has no cure. This diagnosis changed everything for our family. We found ourselves spending countless hours in hospitals, navigating surgeries, and managing medications.

In 2011, life took another turn when our home was taken by a flood, and we lost nearly everything. But through it all, our strong Christian faith kept us grounded. Then in 2013, two major blows hit our family within a month: our 16-year-old daughter was diagnosed with the same disease as her father, and I lost my job. As the only breadwinner, I was devastated. However, what I didn’t realize then was that God was answering a prayer. Losing my job pushed me to pursue my dream of blogging full-time, which has grown into a fulfilling career in both blogging and brand consulting.

In 2023, our son Ryan moved back home due to multiple illnesses, and through our family’s medical journey, we learned a vital lesson: we needed to become our own health advocates. We began reading labels, removing toxic chemicals from our home, and exploring home remedies. We believe in the power of both modern medicine and holistic approaches.

Along the way, we also realized that life can change in an instant, and it’s essential to be self-sufficient. We started our own organic garden, made our own laundry detergent, and learned to preserve our food. That’s how the concept of “Backyard Homesteading” was born. We discovered that you don’t need a large plot of land or to live in the country to live more sustainably; it’s all about mindset. We wanted to teach others that they could do it too. What started as a small Facebook group for fun has grown into a community of over 1.2 million people, and in 2023, we decided to build this blog to share our knowledge and experience.

We’re passionate about helping others live more naturally, embrace self-sufficiency, and find joy in the simple things. Whether you’re just getting started or looking for more ways to expand your homestead, we hope our story and resources will encourage and inspire you on your journey.