1. Abandon the homestead: Many homesteaders found that the prairie was too difficult to live on and eventually gave up and moved back East. This was especially common during the early years of settlement, when homesteaders were less experienced and the prairie was less developed.
2. Seek help from neighbors or the government: Homesteaders who were struggling could often rely on help from their neighbors or the government. Neighbors might lend food or supplies, or help with chores. The government also provided some assistance to homesteaders, such as loans and land grants.
3. Diversify their income: In order to make ends meet, many homesteaders diversified their income by doing things like raising livestock, growing cash crops, or working for wages off the homestead. This helped them to reduce their reliance on the land and to weather the difficult times.
4. Move to a different location: If homesteaders found that the prairie was too difficult to live on, they could also try moving to a different location. This might mean moving to a different part of the prairie, or it might mean moving to a different state or even a different country.