In early 2024, Sophie Hilaire Goldie and Rocky Goldie made a radical move by closing on their own 37.5-acre homestead. This decision was as lifechanging as they hoped. The couple had about $390,000 sunk into the property. It comes with two log cabins dating to the 1840s, now wonderfully joined together into a roomy and inviting 2,200 square feet of living space with four bedrooms and one bath. The homestead includes a 200 square foot guest cabin and two historic barns. This arrangement leaves much space for their self-sustainability ambitions.
The Goldies took out a 30-year mortgage on their new homestead, guaranteeing the family at least $1,790.18 per month. They have plans as ambitious as their namesakes to pay off the mortgage in under five years. Since moving in, Amanda and Anthony have immersed themselves in renovations, spending about $13,000 on tools and work on the interior. This year, they’ve showed up to practice with determination and a willingness to learn and grow. They are committed to living a more self-reliant lifestyle.
Sophie Hilaire Goldie divides her first year on the homestead into two categories: the substantial physical work and the evolution of their mindset. The couple have spent thousands of hours cutting through brush and invasive species. They’ve unapologetically taken out brown recluse spider infestations, as well as invasive trees and bushes in the process. Now, about a year into their trip, Sophie remembers how it all started. “The first half of the year was focused on clearing,” she remembers. This spot was literally covered in garbage. It was a mess and overcrowded with all the animals, and I knew it was my doing, but I just didn’t want to give it up.
After an honorable stint in the Marines, Rocky Goldie transitioned to a thriving maintenance profession. After over 20 years in the field, Rocky is really proud about how far we’ve come. He relishes the chance to learn and grow right along with Sophie. “I like every time I open a book, I learn something,” he said. “Get to the point where I could do a day on, day off of reading– learned something and be able to practically apply it the next day.”
While they’re still working on renovations, Sophie has made some strides towards self-sufficiency by learning canning techniques from a neighbor. “We’ve got our own eggs. We’ve got fruit. This will be the first year that we will be canning,” she shared. The canning kitchen that’s going to be in one of their new home’s rooms excites both of them. We hope this change will enable them to store food months in advance.
Their dedication to practical work has not only updated their land, but it’s greatly altered their outlook on life. Sophie notes, “Now we see the rapid abundance of all the work we put into it. It makes you think so much more about the impact that we have on the planet, especially in stewarding this one piece of land.” A sister project to Goldenroot, this understanding of their impact has made Dan and Kate’s stewardship approach more responsive as they raise their new homestead.
Beyond overcoming physical obstacles, both Sophie and Rocky take pride in their individual growth. Sophie expresses her desire for continuous learning: “I always want to keep learning and eventually spend half of my day just sitting here doing a hobby.” She sees a day when the large renovations are in the past, and everyone can enjoy more free time.
“I sit and think about what my goal is but it’s more of a feeling and I kind of already have that feeling where I can sit back and just feel at peace and there’s nowhere else in the world I would rather be,” he stated.
The couple’s journey has since come to include some ups and downs. Rocky admits that making the leap from conventional wage work hasn’t been easy but has been worth it. “It’s ingrained into you in this culture that people identify themselves with their jobs,” he said. “The job becomes your identity… it was still scary to let go of that lifeline.”
Rocky is clear that meeting Sophie turned his life around. “If it wasn’t for meeting her, I probably would have ended up in a little shack,” he confessed.
For Sophie and Rocky Goldie, living off the grid is a big change. They’re ready to embrace their new lifestyle and all the challenges it brings! They set their sights on greater independence while safeguarding the tranquility of their homestead.