Homestead 101

Homestead Improvement and ManagemenT (HIM) for families

Ready to build your family's future on a foundation of faith and hard work? The Family Homesteading School is a pioneering, 12-week course for families who have completed a DTS. As a UofN-approved secondary school, we will explore together God's heart for the earth and learn the practical skills to live a life of intentionality and purpose.

Dates: Jan. 5, 2026 - Mar. 27, 2026

Creation Healed

The Bible tells a story of four alienations from the Fall: from God, from one another, from ourselves, and from the land. If we truly want to live a restored life, we must engage with all four.

This school is uniquely designed to address the final consequence: our alienation from the land. Through practical homesteading skills, you'll learn to partner with God in His mission to heal and restore the garden. It’s a journey of reconciliation for your family, your community, and the earth itself.

Partnering with God to Restore the Garden.

We believe that good stewardship is a powerful witness. At the Family Homesteading School, you'll have the opportunity to live that out. From working with animals to getting your hands dirty in the garden, every task is an act of worship.

You’ll learn practical skills like dairy processing and building with salvaged materials, but more than that, you'll discover how to live a life that honors God in every area. Our goal is to equip you not just with knowledge, but with the confidence to live a self-sufficient life that points others to the goodness of God.

A Glimpse into the off-grid Homestead Life

At the Family Homesteading School, your family won't just learn in a classroom—you'll learn by doing. Our weeks are an immersive experience that blends practical work with a deeper understanding of God's design for the land, all in a real, off-grid setting.

Imagine your family learning the quiet patience of beekeeping, harvesting your own honey, while relying on the sun for power. You'll spend an entire week in the kitchen, not just canning vegetables, but mastering the ancient art of fermented foods and baking your own sourdough bread. From the barn to the pasture, you’ll learn comprehensive livestock management, including the processing of poultry, lamb, and hogs. In the garden, you'll learn to plant, grow, and preserve food, working towards a self-sustaining environment. Every week is a step toward a more self-sufficient and God-honoring life.

Tuition

The tuition for the Family Homesteading School is structured to accommodate the entire family. The cost for each adult is $2995, which covers all course materials, instruction, housing and food. We offer a tiered pricing model to make the school accessible to families of all sizes. The cost for youth aged 13-17 is $595, while children aged 6-12 are $455. The youngest members of the family are included at a reduced rate, with the cost for those 2-5 years old being $350, and $210 for infants 0-1 year old. This pricing ensures that the whole family can participate in this transformative experience together.

We are excited to offer a special discount for our inaugural year. Current or former students and staff of YWAM Rancho Abierto receive a 50% reduction in tuition for the first year of this pioneering school. This is our way of blessing those who have already poured into this ministry.

O teach us to live in the garden

You Who planted it and Who waters and brings growth

Bid us take off the shoes we have made

And walk reconnected to that soil from which we came

And walk reconnected to You, the source of our life

Breathing your breath, and hearing Your voice all around

Let us lead Your creation in giving praise

With every motion, every sound

Moving the very air around us to vibrate with Your glory!

Speak to us in the songs of birds and in the rustling of leaves

Speak to us in all things, and however You desire

Give us ears to hear, and we will listen

We will listen through Your creation, and we will hear You.

Kyle Wayman (Family DTS graduate, 2025)