This is both refreshing and encouraging.
On my recent trip down to @shalomacres with @mericanhomestead, I was welcomed into the home of some people that I barely new, the family @shalomacres. Not only did they welcome this "stranger" in, they made me feel right at home, and allowed me to spend the night sleeping on their couch.
One of the interesting things is that their hospitality and welcoming me in was only part of what made me feel "at home." The rest was observing the similarities that were present throughout their house because they are like-minded individuals living a similar lifestyle. Please allow me too explain.
THIS LOOKS SO FAMILIAR
The first thing that struck me was this sight. A small basket of fresh eggs on the counter. Honestly, this could have just as easily been at where we are staying. Our laying hens actually lay eggs that look exactly like this too. The @little-peppers are often the ones to collect them and bring them home, and until we are ready to use them, often they stay in this unwashed state.
To see the chickens running around outside was another familiar part of the homestead that obviously explains the eggs. Much like us, @shalomacres has a somewhat mixed flock of more than one breed of chicken. I think that the red ones are the same exact kind that we have. With these animals comes the chores, and that is where the lifestyles overlap even more.
While they keep St. Croix sheep and ours are Shetland/Finn, it can sound very similar outside since we both keep sheep. We really enjoy ours and appreciate being able to interact with them. Not only are they cool to watch, but they are nice to pet and feed too.
Here @mericanhomestead is hugging one of the little "bottle babies." He too has a few sheep at his homestead, and, interestingly enough, his actually came from this flock. Much like @mericanhomestead, I too cannot wait to have our own lambs born on our homestead.
Since we showed up at the end of the day, I did not get to check out the whole homestead the night before. However, when I saw a large bag of milk replacer sitting inside, this too brought back memories of home. We too keep some bags of this stuff around, and have already bottle fed some goats and piglets on our homestead.
When it came time to feed the lambs their bottles, their oldest son @randomstuff was given the responsibility, since they rotate that job. Not only does @shalomacres have five children just like @mama-pepper and I, they too allow their children to experience a healthy level of responsibility and expectation. Personally, I think that chores like bottle feeding small animal is an amazing chore. Sure, it can be tedious and redundant, but it builds a rewarding relationship with the young animals, which is an incredible byproduct of doing animal husbandry chores.
Did I mention the fruit trees, grapevines, and other food bearing plants growing all over the place outside? Honestly I wish that more people around the world had their own food growing in their yard. If they have a yard, it is going to be there anyway, so why not at least have it feed you?
BACK INSIDE
Back inside the snack was chips and salsa! Can anyone think of a better way to make @papa-pepper feel at home than chips and salsa. They even had a homemade salsa verde. Now it may not have had any ghost peppers in it, but just because it wasn't incredibly hot doesn't mean that it still wasn't tasty.
Also inside were the familiar sights like these. Shelves full of empty egg cartons and various supplies for canning, dehydrating, and other common tasks.
They even had their own "fire cider" made with garlic, peppers, ginger and other ingredients. "Fire Cider" is common in many homes that I know, and is a welcome concoction to have on hand when winter illnesses set in. The jar that @shalomacres has is bigger than any we ever made, but it still reminds me of home.
If you saw my random collection of dried plants in jars, you'd know why this was an incredibly welcome thing to see. From dried Ginko Biloba leaves to Sassafras roots to Lavender flowers, a lot of the same plants are ready for use at @shalomacres and our house too. We had some good conversation and discussion sorting through these jars and sharing. @Haphazard-hstead would have been right at home too!
The bounty from the last garden was also tucked away in this room. A variety of potatoes and sweet potatoes were stored here. I love this feeling, because not only do they keep a really long time, the ones that begin to sprout before they get used can head back to the garden in the spring and produce the next generation of food.
I could go on and on, but for now I'll leave you with this. There is obviously a lot of overlap in the lifestyles of a lot of homesteaders, and @papa-pepper and @shalomacres can testify to that. Moreover, I must point out that without steemit, I would not have met @shalomacres or several other homesteaders in my area. As I've said before, a lot of the real life friends that I've met lately were ones that I first met on steemit.
Of course, I really do enjoy meeting others online and in real life even when our lives look nothing like one another. I've been blessed to hang out with several "non-homesteading" steemians too in my time. I just wanted to share about exactly how much someone can feel "at home" in a situation like this, and I think that after reading my post, you should now understand. Thanks!
Until next time…
Don’t waste your time online, invest it with steemit.com
Just imagine the beauty of Steemit.
Think of yourself lost somewhere in Pakistan, and you by chance saw me, and after I realize that it's @papa-pepper, you are my guest then.
See !
You want to say, that the Steemit community is gradually becoming a possible hospitable neighbors in the near future. Hmm, it sounds so wonderful and soulful.
Yeah, now we know people all over the world!
My wife and I have been wanting to move back towards the south for many reasons. One is the hospitality you spoke of here in this article. In the north, it seems the colder and harsher the weather so go the people. Southern hospitality is real, and I grew up with it and miss it. The Ozarks is the area I have considered for several years, if the opportunity presents itself. Great post.
Interesting. We had our reasons for moving south from Wisconsin.
Omg...do you have a recipe for fire cider!? I want to make this. I have lots of garlic!!!
I don't have one on hand, I'll ask @mama-pepper when she gets back, or you could ask @shalomacres.
Equal parts of the following by weight: pepper, onion, garlic, horseradish root, and ginger root. Cover all with a good apple cider vinegar and let it sit for at least 1 month. Good luck!
I've been thinking about setting up a homestead for quite awhile now. But, how much does it cost to a homestead up where you can actually live off grid? Care to share your experiences?
That can vary a very large amount. What area/country were you considering?
I'm currently living in France but I'm looking at doing a homestead in the US. Personally, I've lived in Wisconsin previously and I don't mind doing a homestead there. I wonder if you could do a post on the finances to run a homestead. I mean I have this idea lingering in the back of my head and living off-grid really really appeals to me. Still looking to pay all my debts before embarking on a new project.
We are still getting set up, so others may be better qualified to answer that question. Also, I was born in Wisconsin and lived there for most of my life. What part did you live in?
Madison. I was going to school there previously and had an awesome time. Visited a couple of friends in Wasau and I thought it's a pretty neat city.
This is really a great piece of writing, I love it. Thank you for sharing and regards @meurahpasee
This is what I look forward to doing. Good job. Here is my garden. Spring 2017.
Wow, life goal right here. I'm, working on digging out a root cellar of sorts in the crawl space. This is 100% motivation.
When you have so much in common it’s easy to feel comfortable. And them being great people helps also. Great post
It really was easy to feel comfortable, thanks!
A very cute sheep with soft white fur. I really like the sheep
Yeah, they are almost as furry as Zac from @mericanhomestead!
Simply amazing and well written,
Thank you.
steady @papa-pepper all the animals are there with you, my friend's success
Nice to be surrounded by animals!
Greetings from Venezuela, I love your work!
Greetings!
Great Post & Pictures as always!
It’s cool to find like minded peeps and amazing how fast you can click. Steem on my friend :)
It is very cool! Thanks @jcsteem!
Sounds like you may have found your home away from home!
I have been reading all the guys' posts from that weekend event. You all had a productive, yet relaxing (considering why you all met up) and enjoyable time!
It was a great time indeed, and a lot of great posts have come out of it too!
sir i dont know how to explain the feeling i get after reading this..i am a crazy book lover and since i was a child i keep on reading..there was a translation i read in my school days..the story was written by Enid Blyton (a famous British writer) the story is about a family spending a vacation at a farm house..since then i had a dream popping inside me to spend a vacation in a farm house..but yet i could not make it come true..after reading this i badly want it to happen soon..i can feel the fun of living a kind of self sufficient life..the simple life style living with the nature and the animals..for a person who has not felt it for real,it is kind of a magic :)
Perhaps you will soon get that opportunity!
Maybe it will become a permanent vacation ;)
i wish that it would come true very soon :) i am waiting eagerly for that day
who knows ;) everything is possible in this life
postign is nice and interesting i will restem your postign, and @ papa-pepper do not forget visit my block.
Great post, kind of reminds me my childhood.
I love the way your friend are stocking all their food. This should be an example for everyone of us.
Me and my family are stocking some food as well, not as organic as your friends but at least it’s something.
this is good work my friend @papa-pepper.
I really like posting like this, because this is also as my daily activities in the village.
There's no doubt you really did feel at home. Judging from all that you've said. The eggs look very attractive and the house is quite very organized from what I see.
When I finally get to build my own house, I'll do a whole lot of homesteading stuff too.
Yeah, they are definitely more organized than I am! LOL!
I think most homesteaders lives overlap a great deal, after all, we are like-minded folk. We all have the common goal to feed our families good wholesome food. We want to live our lives the way we want to. Steemit has been a launching pad for getting touch with people who will become our friends.
I've translated an old post of yours into Chinese : ) thank you so much https://steemit.com/cn/@mgsun/steemicide-steemit-a-chinese-translation-of-how-to-commit-steemicide-suicide-on-steemit-and-how-not-to-if-you-prefer-to-avoid-it
Very, very good idea to share that and translate it!
It is such a useful post. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for letting me translate it! I will be translating a lot more articles of yours into Chinese : )
how awesome that house is! I love all the mason jars and the things inside it! This is what my husband and I wish to do as well!
PS. that photo with him hugging the lamb is really cute and touching!
Common life goals, it creates a bond that words can't meet.
Agreed!
kind family hopefully given blessing yes
YES!
Wonderful to be able to provide for yourselves living in clean air areas.
Yes it certainly is. It's a lot of work, but life is anyways! Thanks!
Wow ! Amazing cute babies <3 ..
How i wish be there too .. fresh fruits, foods and omg vegetables :( its heaven!
Papa-pepper I think no need for the camera can you send that here in UAE ?:)
I'll send the camera to whoever wins!
Yes! send the camera to whoever wins but can you send fresh fruits and veggies here hahaha :) i need that all :D
It must be so nice to have some sort of garden in the house where you can get food or something to fill your tummy. Nice post @papa-pepper. You always make me want to live in my hometown again.
It is very nice to have food growing right at home, and then stored right at home too.
Home-grown veggies & fruits and home-laid eggs. The level of organic is too damn high! That's awesome, fresh food = healthy health!
Seems like a lot goes on there - with the cattle and plants.
Great tour of your friend's place, @papa-pepper! :)
It was a blessing to be able to check it out! Thanks for enjoying the post!
Better safe then sorry. If the grocery store closes The pantry's always open.
Amen to that!
a long and exhausting journey but you are still smiling and excited :))
I love the country lifestyle, it defines us as humble, simple and magical.
The country is definitely nice.
wow! so happy for the thrilling welcome you got in another place that felt like home. This is the kind of happiness you get when you are on the right plartform(steemit). This is awesome @papa-pepper!
The right platform indeed! STEEM ON!
Wow. A lot of work must go into this. This is truly a home stead. So impressed. Living in the country side can be fun too. Not all the madness of the city.
There are many who are "returning to the wild" and leaving the cities these days...
Nicely written it.Very interesting and heart touching
-cheers-
Thank you @nishaopt!
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Interesting...
upvoted you.always like your post man.
Thank you! Glad to hear it!
Sounds like you had a lot of fun. Pretty cool to realize how you live can pretty much exist at someone's else home too. Great minds think alike. ;)
I did not know that and learned something new today. Will definitely look into this and see what remedies it can really do for winter. East Coast USA has been hit with a lot of freezing temperatures lately. Been sick myself for weeks and a lot of people around be are too.
Yeah, look into it. It is some amazing stuff with a lot of wholesome good ingredients to help you beat out whatever is ailing you.
Its great having a community of like-minded people!
That it is! That is it! Online and OFF!
Aaawwww those bottle babies are so cute! I would love to cuddle with them :)
It's great that you felt right at home and that you felt so welcome!
It was great, and the bottle babies were an added bonus.
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The lambs, the lambs! I love those lambs :)
I know! They are so cute and so much fun! Thank you!
They are prepared. Resteeming this as this is how one will survive the coming ice age and the food shortages that will accompany it.
Good post.
Now that's a warm home :)
Reminds me of my time in Australia....
Though they had... a certain peculiarity too ;)
This was back in 2013.... my god how time flies. (My time in Australia forged much of my personality. I would never be the person I am today without it)
And yes... they're ALL wearing diapers, even the 'roo XD
Wow! How cool is that? Amazing stuff!
The very first picture made me homesick and nostalgic. My Mom and Dad also kept food in the pantry: veggies and fruit jam in mason jars. I still remember receiving care packages in Taiwan that included delicious rhubarb jam, for example.
Shelves full of food are the marks of a lifestyle that consciously prepares for an uncertain future. Thank you for these photos!
So far I love Steemit I can't think of a better way to connect with other homesteaders and gain knowledge. Thanks for your post and I am now following you.
thanks, happy today
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hello.hola today I read your publication is very healthy to live on the farm you can eat very natural and breathe a less polluted air you also learn how to breed and live with domestic animals.in order are wonderful days.grant recognize the good work you do a person. this case applies to you I congratulate you.
Regards
you do not forget to follow me.
I invite you to read my post.
please comment and vote.
takecare
Its so good to travel and meet like minded folks. When money isnt a goal,hospitality and care become the standards by which we favour others.