Homestead content: how do you manage filming amidst daily chores?

The Juggle: Homesteading and Content Creation

For homesteaders, life is a continuous cycle of tending to animals, cultivating gardens, preserving food, and maintaining property. It’s a deeply fulfilling but undeniably demanding lifestyle. Add to this the ambition of documenting it all for an audience, and you’ve got a unique challenge: how do you capture compelling content without letting the camera interfere with the very chores that define your life?

Many aspiring homestead content creators find themselves overwhelmed. The spontaneity of farm life often clashes with the meticulous planning required for good video production. However, with a blend of strategic thinking, practical gear, and a flexible mindset, it is entirely possible to weave filming into the fabric of your daily chores.

Strategic Planning: Your Blueprint for Efficiency

One of the biggest time-savers is thoughtful pre-planning. While homesteading inherently involves unforeseen circumstances, many daily tasks are routine and predictable. Leverage this predictability to plan your content.

Batching Tasks & Content Ideas

Think about your chores in themes. Are you spending a morning in the garden? This is an excellent opportunity to film multiple pieces of content: a ‘what’s growing’ update, a ‘how-to’ for weeding, or a time-lapse of planting. Combine similar tasks and group your filming around these activities. Instead of just doing a chore, think about the story it tells and how you can capture it efficiently.

Shot Lists & Storyboarding

Before you even step outside, have a rough idea of the shots you want. This doesn’t need to be a Hollywood-level storyboard; a simple mental checklist or bullet points on your phone will suffice. “Morning animal feeding: wide shot of the barn, close-up of chicken coop, pouring feed.” This minimizes wasted time fiddling with the camera during critical moments.

Hands-On Filming Techniques for Busy Days

The right equipment and filming approach can make all the difference in a time-strapped environment.

Embrace Automation & Hands-Free Gear

Your hands are often occupied with actual work. This is where tripods, gimbals, and even wearable cameras become invaluable. Set up a static camera on a tripod to capture a wide shot of you working. Use a small gimbal for smoother, more dynamic close-ups as you move around. GoPros or similar action cameras can be mounted to your body, a wheelbarrow, or even an animal harness (if safe) to get unique perspectives without needing to hold the camera.

Capturing Authentic Moments

Sometimes the best content isn’t planned. Keep your camera ready to roll for those spontaneous moments – a goat’s antics, a child’s discovery, or an unexpected farm visitor. Quick-draw techniques, where you grab and shoot with minimal setup, are crucial. Don’t strive for cinematic perfection in every shot; authenticity often trumps polished production value, especially in homestead content.

Optimizing Your Workflow Beyond Filming

The journey doesn’t end when the camera stops rolling. Efficient post-production and team involvement are equally important.

Involve the Family (or Friends)

If you have family members or friends who are willing, enlist their help as a camera operator. Even a quick tutorial on framing and basic camera functions can turn a helper into an asset, freeing you up to focus on the work itself. This also allows for different angles and interactions that are difficult to achieve solo.

Smart Editing for Efficiency

Filming everything might feel like a good idea, but it leads to mountains of footage. Develop a lean editing process. Use jump cuts, speed ramps, and B-roll to tell your story concisely. Focus on the most engaging parts of a chore, rather than showing every single monotonous second. Good editing can make even simple shots feel dynamic and engaging.

Mindset Matters: Imperfection is Key

Finally, adopt a realistic mindset. Your homestead is a working environment, not a film set. There will be dust, mud, unexpected interruptions, and less-than-perfect lighting. Embrace these elements. The raw, unvarnished reality of homesteading is often what viewers connect with most deeply. Don’t let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from creating at all.

Managing filming amidst daily chores is a continuous learning process. It requires flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to experiment. By integrating strategic planning, smart gear choices, and an authentic approach, you can successfully share the beautiful, challenging, and rewarding journey of your homestead with the world, without sacrificing your day-to-day responsibilities.