Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of foodstuffs, and it may or…
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Inspiring Homesteads
Do you think it's impossible to homestead where you live? These Inspiring Homesteads will show you the way. Each week we feature a new homesteader from across the globe. They will tell you how they do it. Get inspired with these Inspiring Homesteads.
Being a Modern Homesteader is a State of Mind
Every now and then when someone hears me say I’m a homesteader, they’ll ask what that means. Did the…
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My Homestead: Why You Can’t Come Unannouced
This might sound a bit harsh, but my homestead is not a theme park, petting zoo, or quaint local tourist spot. It is my home. Although I encourage people to ask me questions and I’m happy to grant tours on my own terms, wandering around without consent is never okay. It just isn’t.
This wasn’t the first time this has happened. It’s happened quite a few times before. Let’s chat a bit about why this isn’t okay behavior…
My Favorite Homesteading Books
We know that backyard chickens have been talked about all over the news lately (both favorably and negatively). Homesteading and self-sufficiency is on the rise and for so many great reasons. With this rise comes a great supply of reading materials dedicated to we non-traditional farmers that live in non-traditional places.
There are many great books out there, but I have a few that have become staples in my library.
Signs You Might Be a Homesteader
(My husband’s Jeff Foxworthy voice): If you have indoor plumbing, but you make the males in your house pee outside in the compost, you might be a homesteader. If the chicken you’re eating for dinner has a name, you might be a homesteader. If you have a state-of-the-art dryer, but you insist on drying your clothes outside, you might be a homesteader. If you have longer conversations with your poultry than you do with your spouse, you might be a homesteader (he’s so jealous).
Off-Grid in Alaska: Mark’s Story
We live the homestead lifestyle because we prefer to live closer to nature, at a different pace from most of society. We would rather live by the tides, sun, and seasons rather than the time clock and schedule. We are not purists or Luddites, but we try to lessen our impact on the environment, and appreciate older methods of living and working.
We also find satisfaction in working for ourselves rather than others. We appreciate benefiting directly from our efforts when we can rather than working outside the home for pay.
