Definition.
Homesteading (v)- The act of living off of the homestead.
Homestead (n)- House, land, animals and out buildings that operate as one, frequently a small farm.
History:
The term homesteading is traced back to The Homestead Act in the 1800's. It was designed to open up the west. People were given a plot of land to establish and if they stayed at it for 5 years it was theirs!!! Boy, how I wish we could do that still today!
In the sixties and seventies, it became more about getting Back to the Land, when people like my parents realized how important it was to the natural environment, and really the political and economic environment as well.
We are seeing another surge in the homesteading movement in our current day as well. Some of that is from the Y2K Prepper movement but much of it is from our lack of something good in life. The sons and daughters of the hippies are realizing that they can make a difference and be more sustainable. The values that our parents taught us are becoming more important to us as we have children and desire to raise them well. More and more Ivy League Graduates are turning in their suites and offices for overalls and organic farms.
What it actually is.
Homesteaders are people who are doing their best to survive off the land, using what they have available to them. This can be very broad! Some, live in urban areas or apartments and can't grow much, so they sign up for local CSA's to provide their vegetables. They are growing herbs on the windowsill and are committed to purchasing grass-fed local beef. While others have acres of vegetable fields they grow organically and harvest all summer long. In addition to raising their own eggs and meat, they probably build all the fences and outbuildings with as much reclaimed materials as possible. Many of the people I talk to are trying to learn as much as possible for their Future homestead, that is also being a homesteader. Never stop learning! The key is to be as self-sufficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly as you are able.
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What it means to me.
Freedom. Growing most of our food, all our dairy, and raising some of our meat gives us the ability to eat healthy and put our food dollars towards local organic food from fellow farmers. We are free from the constant poison of pesticides and GMO's that are put into our food system. We are free to choose what foods we eat because we can grow most of them.
Family. Many activities we do on the homestead require a group effort! We all do our part no matter how big or small. My 2 and 5 year-olds collect eggs every day and love it! We cook and eat together every day as a family. My older two kids are very capable of creating a wholesome complete meal with little to no directions.
Future. I have big plans for our little rented homestead! We hope to be here long-term if not forever and we are invested in making this our very own fully functioning homestead! We already grow a lot, can, cook and ferment most of our food. Our chickens give us plenty of eggs even in the winter and the occasional chicken soup. We have big gardens and even planted fruit trees for a home orchard. I will be getting bees again in the spring for honey if that works out for us. Our dairy goats provide cheese and soap from the milk. If I do all this just right we should even be able to sell at local farmers markets making us even more self-sustaining.
Homesteading is...?
What is it to you?
How are you fulfilling your homesteading dream?
To learn more about Homesteading check out our YouTube Channel at Wholesome Roots!
Thank you for Reading and Watching!
Please Follow, Upvote, Resteem and Reply down below! Thanks!
Homesteading is life! Early days, 7 days a week, chasing chickens around and skipping the garden gloves!
Great post, happy Saturday ⭐️
Absolutely! :D
exactly!
I grew up living off the land. I believe it was the best time in my life. Enjoy doing your homesteading it has became a lost art to many people. I have to say the food is much better than what you buy in the stores.
It is the best life!
Homesteading to me represents bravery. Being brave and letting go of the norm of today's society working inside 4 walls. Homesteading is getting dirty and hard work. It represents freedom and I dream one day soon that will I too will be brave.
Upvoted and resteemed! 👍
great response!
Very well done Rose! Resteeming!
Thank you!
Hi! I am a robot. I just upvoted you! I found similar content that readers might be interested in:
http://wholesomeroots.org/what-is-homesteading-anyway/
Is it a type of foundation that keeps homes steady? Am I close? : D
lol!
oh wow! You do all that and you rent your place? Is rent to own an option? Very nice article. We can't wait until we finally move out of this place and get land that it actually able to be grown in, lol. But the knowledge we have gained so far on our little plot will be good experience for when we do move. :)
Yes! It is not an option yet be we pray for that option daily!
Very good article. I think some people may have missed something you wrote because it was just in passing. That's your "rented homestead".
Just because you don't own your own land and home doesn't mean you can't homestead. Sure you may be investing in someone else's property but you get the benefits now.
We rent a home in a small town in a subdivision but the landlord has allowed us to turn, at this point, half of the backyard into garden.
You don't have be an owner to reap the benefits of homesteading.
very good point!
Homesteading is being able to pass on a multi generational legacy by stewarding the resources God has given us.
yes it is!
Someone else wrote an article on the yuppies moving to homesteading or as you say "More and more Ivy League Graduates are turning in their suites and offices for overalls and organic farms" and how many of them fail and end up moving back to the cities. They are jacking up land prices. I wish this phase was over so I could go find my forever homestead.
I loved this video the first time watching and still love it now 2nd time around! Best reasons Rose! great video! Hope it makes a lot of people re-think their lives and come back to a simpler more healthy life style :) have a nice Sunday yall
Aside from having live animals, I am right there with you. I have enormous gardens surrounding my home in the suburbs and have been growing my own organic food for over 40 years. I love canning, freezing and dehydrating all that I grow. I even make tons of soap from plants in my yard. I wish the town would allow me hens, but alas not now.