Homesteading - What does that even mean?

Homesteading –I mean seriously - what does that even mean? I browse websites, read blogs, scroll Pinterest with more and more interest pondering this theme of “homesteading”. This is something I have considered for a while. Is it just merely  the nostalgia of a time no more?  Is it the newest “thing” for city folks converted to country folks on their acre and a half of land? What does it mean? 

During the blah of Winter, we have been binge watching seasons of Little House, so to me Homesteading seems like a way of life that no longer exists. A simple life in some aspects, but oh so much more physical work and preparation involved. I’ll be honest, there are days I’d love to be Caroline Ingalls – working alongside my husband, storing food in my soddy for winter, listening to Charles play his fiddle in the evening because there is no TV to get wrapped up in or Facebook to draw me in, and just enjoying life. Ok – so reality is, they are actors depicting a story slightly different than real life, and times have changed….a LOT. So does that mean we can’t have a homestead? We live on acreage but don’t own it, we have chickens and bees….does that classify us as farmers? I want to say yes because really there is no hard definition of when you can classify yourself as a farmer – and because I’ve always been a farm girl. I spent a LOT of time in a milk barn growing up, driving tractor, feeding calves, you name it. SO if having chickens means I can call myself a farmer still, then I’m happy.

But back to homesteading. The more I read the more I can’t find a concise answer to who can be a homesteader. Per Wikipedia….we know its reliable right – “Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and it may or may not also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale.”

So here is my overview of what my interpretation of homesteading is. Homesteading is doing your part to live off the land, preserving foods, and being as sustainable as possible. Now, this could be your land, your foods, or food you bought from famers directly or even at farmers markets. Preservation is huge. Who doesn’t love cracking open a jar of homemade salsa when the snow is blowing outside?  Or a delicious jar of homemade jam? Potatoes slightly wrinkled from the basement, but no one cares because you grew them! 

Do you need a huge lot of land to homestead – nope, at least not in my opinion. A garden spot, maybe a small area for a few chickens – they are cheap, not a lot of maintenance, and oh the most delicious, healthful eggs!

To me homesteading includes things like composting instead of throwing scraps in the trash. Having a clothesline to reduce your electric bill. Having the ability to make your own laundry soap – I say ability, because I totally understand the time factor and pre-made is easier – but knowing how. Being able to make a loaf of bread and different types – you can save a LOT of money this way. I often find myself staring at a loaf of French bread in the store that is $1.99 thinking, I can whip up two loaves tomorrow for pennies – so I walk on. (Do I always have time NO! so then I buy)

But do you get what I’m saying here? Anyone can have the mindset of a homesteader. How much you do is up to you! I have many good friends of mine that probably wouldn’t consider themselves homesteaders, but I surely do.  To me - what if something took out the electrical grid across the US and you had months to survive without electricity, cell phones, credit cards, stores, etc. To me homesteaders would survive. They’ve taken the time to learn how to make things themselves, they either have a garden full of produce or a cellar full of preserved food, and they are not so reliant on the world way of convenience. Its your mindset - could you revert back to a "simpler" way of life if needed? I hope that we aren't forced into it, however, I also think that should it occur, we'd be up to the challenge and there are days that I really do envy Carolyn, I mean she was amazing right!?

Are you a homesteader? Do wish you were? If you wish you were - you can be! Consider some of the things I mentioned above. I have yet to find a list that says to be a homesteader you must do x, y and z. Maybe this year you plant a small garden, maybe you have an abundance of tomatoes so you can some. Maybe a neighbor gives you a bucket of cucs - make pickles. Start small - you are your own limit!