What Is Homesteading?
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If you look up the meaning of homesteading. you’ll see that it’s just a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. A homestead is a house and associated buildings all on a parcel of land. Back in the day, the government wanted people to move out west so they offered people land if they would go out and start living off the land. If they stayed there over five years, the settlers could keep the land and everything on it.
Today homesteading means a person lives off the land and grows their own food, often with some livestock. Most people living in rural areas do just that, but they may not think of themselves as homesteaders. Most of those people are farmers that grow crops on their land to sell, and they might have some cows or pigs. They grow enough for themselves and then sell the rest.
Today, there are fewer and fewer farmers. Young people don’t want that kind of life anymore. But interestingly, the homesteading movement is growing. Many more people want to learn how to live off the land again and be more self-sufficient.
Did you know that back in the day, you had to have a chicken coop on your property and a gun with bullets? If you didn’t, you were fined.
Oh, how times have changed!
There are many benefits of owning a homestead. Here’s a list of just a few:
- Growing your own garden
- Having fresh nutritious food for your family to eat
- Chicken eggs and meat for the table
- Simple lifestyle, less stress
- Work from home to be there more with your family
- Fresh air, no pollution
- Livestock to sell and for food
- A pond full of fish for afternoon fishing fun
- Kids growing up in the outdoors, learning to be more self-sufficient
- Being self-sufficient and knowing what’s in the food you eat
- Friendly neighbors and community
- Living on a farm with little or no crime
- Kids in 4-H
Does this interest you? For more information on getting started on your own homestead adventure, check out this binder:
Check this blog out for more tips and info on homesteading, survival, and gardening and more!
Sustain and Survive,
Dominique
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