Feature Homestead Mompreneurs
challenge and has learned to say no.“ I’ ve learned to set time limits on when I respond to emails, calls, etc., and do not do so after a certain time of day. Sundays have been specifically set aside for family time.”
It can be hard to realistically separate family and business on the homestead, and Guidroz also finds time management a struggle.“ You’ re available to your work 24 / 7, whether you want to be or not … I personally strive to try to fit it all in and make one not so obtrusive to the other. Sometimes, though, you have to roll with the punches.”
Q: Have there been moments when you questioned whether you could manage it all?
No one has ever said that homesteading and running a business are easy, but when the moments get hard, everyone needs something to help them push through.
Salisbury says she has questioned it every day.“ When we first moved to our property, we spent all of our waking moments transforming it into that dream we had … Seven months in, Hurricane Ida came through our area and completely devastated everyone and everything … I’ m able to manage through the rough days by sheer will most of the time, but having someone in your corner really helps.”
“ The best advice I ever got was,‘ we don ' t quit on hard days, we quit when the sun is shining, and things are going fine,’” added Guidroz.“ I ' ve been through the absolute lowest valley of my life while homesteading, and the farm and my children are what kept me grounded.” For Svacina, she usually gives herself time to think about the challenge at hand.“ Time usually helps me get to the best solution.”
Photo courtesy of Kristina Guidroz
Q: How do you hope your homestead and business will evolve?
The world doesn’ t stand still, and many women and homesteaders want to leave something behind for both their families and their legacies.
“ I am continuing to grow our herd of meat goats and meat business, slow and steady,” Svacina noted.“ I’ m interested to see how my kids will continue to evolve in their role with the farm, beyond just daily chores.”
Salisbury hopes her business will continue to thrive and that her children may want to take the reins.“ To be able to foster a love for the lifestyle is more important for me than making millions at farming.”
Guidroz shares similar hopes for her quail business.“ We want to continue educating people on the positives of homesteading … In the future, we’ d love to employ any of our children who want to join the family business. Even if none of those things happen, our legacy is carried on through our children and the skills they can pass on to their own children.”
Q: What advice would you give to other rural mothers who have a passion they’ re considering turning into income?
Svacina urges women to“ go after it, so you don’ t have regrets, but give yourself a lot of grace and patience along the way.”
Photo courtesy of Kristina Guidroz
18 AcreageLife May 2026 AcreageLife. com