The Knox family moved from a cramped basement apartment to a 5.6-acre plot of land. The land may not be large, but Ohio’s Codi and Michelle Knox have proven that self-sufficiency is achievable without vast acreage by growing their own healthy organic food for themselves and their four children.
Codi initially worked in a woodworking shop in North Carolina, not paying much attention to a healthy lifestyle until his health deteriorated rapidly. Michelle, who grew up on a small farm and spent her adolescence “bumbling around,” also became interested in self-sufficiency in farming after their marriage.
Michelle recalls the days when Codi worked as a woodworker, telling Epoch Times, “He was often exhausted, spent thousands of dollars on dental bills.”
After Codi, 34, read Ramiel Nagel’s “Cure Tooth Decay,” promising to change their lives for the better, they delved into the world of raw milk, grass-fed meats, and organic produce, despite not yet being farm owners.
Both of their health conditions improved significantly with this new diet, but it was expensive. Knowing this was unsustainable for their young and cash-strapped family, stuck in their small apartment, longing for a better life for their children, they felt trapped.
Their chance came when a generous member of the community provided them with a personal loan, offering them the opportunity they needed. In 2014, when they found a rundown property with land, they immediately bid to buy it.
Transitioning from apartment dwellers to homesteaders proved to be a steep learning curve. Michelle shared her top advice for those looking to do the same, saying, “Start small. Give yourself space and time to learn a skill well before moving on to the next one. In my view, overwhelm and burnout are the biggest threats beginner homesteaders face.”
The Knox couple, recognizing the financial strain of purchasing their rundown property, found themselves spending far beyond what they could afford. Living with two children in a camper, Codi built a small house for them. They raised chickens, a cow, and started selling eggs.
“Codi worked full-time, ran a farm, and built a house on the side,” Michelle said. “Looking back now, it seems easy and fun, but it was really stressful at that time.”
Soon, caring for the farm and their children, Michelle experienced adrenal fatigue from prolonged stress. “After my third child was born,” she said, “my health completely deteriorated, and we were forced to reevaluate our goals.”
Despite facing challenges such as hand-milking and processing “massive” amounts of milk (their cow produced 35 gallons per week), tending to 150 chickens, and cleaning and packaging hundreds of eggs weekly, they never gave up on their dream – Codi resigning from his job to work on the farm. They learned to take on responsibilities beyond their capabilities from the tough road and began to change their circumstances.
Their marriage suffered as they had no time for each other. They made tough decisions—selling their egg business, stopping selling surplus produce at the local farmers’ market, and planting food only for their family. Codi focused on his work, and they underwent marriage counseling.
“In a few years, our family became healthier and happier,” said Michelle, who now harvests berries and vegetables from a flourishing organic garden. Smaller, more manageable flocks of pastured hens provide eggs, pastured meat chickens reared each spring, grass-fed beef, and roasts fill their fridge.
Their decade-long milk cow contentedly grazes on green grass – “All our animals get green grass, sunshine, and non-GMO feed,” Michelle said. They expressed a desire to switch to drinking goat’s milk.
To cope with the stresses of farm life—having homeschooled their children all along—they now focus on working smarter, not harder.
The couple does all gardening work in the spring and summer, planting more root vegetables that can be pickled and stored, saving Michelle endless preservation time. Other produce like peas, broccoli, sweet corn, tomatoes, and zucchini are blanched and frozen. Herbs are dried for seasoning and medicinal purposes.
Initially, soil quality was a major issue due to traditional farming practices on the land over the years. Now, they practice rotational grazing to maintain a healthy pasture. Cultivating good soil in the garden ensures fewer pests, planting fewer plants but with higher yields.
All automatable devices have been automated. The chicken coop door and lights operate on their own, simplifying work and reducing stress.
Their four children, aged 3 to 11, help with household chores like gathering eggs, feeding animals, watering plants, and assisting in the garden—tasks that have imparted valuable life skills to them in a win-win situation.
They have not yet fully produced all their goods. They still purchase grain and fruits as their apple, pear, and cherry trees are still young.
However, the rewards are immense.
When asked what she loves most about the farm, Michelle didn’t hesitate to answer, “I have the opportunity to partner with God and nature to bring nourishing food to my family,” she said. “After tending to my soil and plants for weeks and then having them give back to me, the feeling is addictive.”
After many trials and seven challenging years, the Knox couple recorded their first YouTube video in 2021, aiming to teach others how to make a living off the land while avoiding the pitfalls they encountered.
“We are very passionate about telling people, past and present, how to build a home as light as possible and as far from burnout as possible,” she said, adding that their mission is to show that living off the land is possible without it consuming every moment of your time. It doesn’t have to exhaust you completely.
It all comes down to simplicity, efficiency, and simplicity.
“We’ve reached a milestone in our farm journey where we can take adventures with the kids,” she said. “Camping, kayaking, picnicking, and social gatherings. You can eat all the healthy food directly from your land, but it’s still possible to be very unhealthy because a stressful lifestyle can kill you from the inside out.”
Michelle stated that one of the biggest mistakes is thinking you need a large plot of land to grow food.
“Some may think 5.6 acres is a huge plot, but in the farming community, it’s considered quite small,” she said. “No matter where you are, whether in the city or the countryside, there are things you can do to deepen your connection with your food, whether it’s growing potted herbs on your windowsill or purchasing food from local farmers. You can do a lot with the space you have.”
She advised not to dive in headfirst. Cultivate some skills first. Practice and master them. Small successes will motivate you to take on more. Doing a few things well is better than doing many things poorly.
Codi and Michelle Knox are the creators of the YouTube channel “More Than Farmers.”
The original article “Family of 6 Move to Tiny Homestead to Grow Own Organic Food to Live—Share Pitfalls and Lessons” was published on the English Epoch Times website.