Homesteading

 Many of us hear this word homesteading, but are we truly aware of what that means and the lifestyle that comes along with it? Homesteading is a way of life that involves a person/persons living a life that is as self- sufficient as possible. A lifestyle that involves needing to know how to live off nature and your own skills as much as possible.  The word homesteading on Dictionary.com means " any dwelling with land and buildings where a family makes a home", but today's standards are more of a self-sufficient lifestyle. 

What should you know before deciding to homestead? Number one, it is not an easy lifestyle. It takes work and hard work at that. Many people dream of homesteading but fail because they are unaware and unprepared to do the work that is involved. Some homesteaders want to live off grid, but that is not a necessity. Second, you need to know that there are many ideas as to what is involved in homesteading and decide what you can and can't or are and aren't willing to do. Many people are so accustomed to the ease of food coming from the grocery store, DoorDash, etc. that they are not aware of where food truly comes from. 

Nature provides us so many items that are necessary for our survival, Nature provides our oxygen, but also can provide food, medicine, home needs, spices, dyes, etc. We just have to know how to find and use the items that nature provides. Holistic medicine many times involves using plants and nature to heal many illnesses that we encounter, and many homesteaders find that they can make and use these same types of medicines. Knowing how to can, dehydrate, styles of cooking, knitting, crocheting, sewing, hunting, and living off the land are becoming more and more popular in young people as they realize just how important it is to get away from all the additives and fillers in our foods and taking back time that is wasted these days. 

Skills like raising animals, hunting, processing livestock, foraging, gardening, preserving foods, cooking from scratch and other similar skills are ways of life that are important to homesteading. Having a piece of land that allows you to do this is important as well, but some of these skills can be used even if you live in an apartment of home in the city. Raising tomatoes and other vegetables can be done in flowerpots on a patio, if need be. Chickens are becoming more and more accepted in city limits than in the past, especially as we have seen the price of eggs continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Having other livestock would not be acceptable in town, but chickens might be- just be sure to check your local laws. 

Recycling is another necessary part of being a homesteader. Knowing how to reuse items and make them into something else useful can be a very handy skill to have. Knowing textile skills, wood crafting, pottery, and other similar skills can be an added asset to homestead life as well. Weaving is becoming more popular and using a loom is an added benefit. Not knowing these won't prevent you from living this lifestyle but will add to the joy and self-sufficiency that you are looking for. 

Once you decide that this might be the lifestyle you are wanting to live, I highly recommend reading and learning all you can and then diving in. The joys that come with it will outweigh the work, if you can manage the learn the skills and allow yourself to connect with nature again.