Taking Steps Towards Her Dream: Valerie's Story

“Homesteading to me means creating a warm and peaceful haven for me and my family, trying to live off the land and become as self sufficient as possible.” – Valerie

Homesteader Profile: Valerie is a wife and a mother to many. She is the owner of Country Bumpkins Trading Post and Campgrounds and the author of Cottage Making Mommy. Valerie lives on ten acres in Oklahoma.

Valerie’s Homesteading Story

Valerie and her husband have a whole slew of kids including former foster kids, nieces, nephews and friends’ kids; as well as dogs, cats, and everything else that stay with them. She and her husband are working on their first biological child this year. They live on 10 acres in Oklahoma and recently purchased a rural store and campground six miles down the road from from them, which is an additional 13 acres. They are remodeling and naming their new property Country Bumpkins Trading Post & Campgrounds. Valerie is currently organizing the first Farmers Market her town has ever had. The Farmers Market will be outside of her store and offer fresh produce from her gardens. They will also have a nursery on site and a pumpkin patch for families to visit in the fall.

Between her farm and her campgrounds, Valerie has 4300 square feet of gardening space as well as seven fruit trees and one black walnut tree. If that isn’t enough, she’s planning on adding eight more fruit trees and nine more nut trees. Currently clearing out the land for her, Valerie has four fabulous pygmy goats. She intended to get two dairy goats, but fell in love with the pygmies. Hopefully soon she will get the dairy goats she had planned on.

Valerie and her family live in such a rural area that they try to do everything they can to support themselves without having to leave their little town. Valerie’s mom passed away at a young age last year due to Rheumatoid Arthritis, so getting healthy is very important to them. The only time her mother had any relief was when she ate a vegetarian diet and juiced carrots. They are working toward being vegetarians but they aren’t finding it easy.

In addition to all of the things that Valerie has on her plate, she finds time to volunteer at their local Senior Center. She is trying to help the Center organize a community garden to continue feeding not only their town’s seniors but lower income families as well.

Follow Valerie’s story as she remodels her campground, runs her store, tends her farm and gives back to her community. You can find her at Cottage Making Mommy.