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Homesteading By homesteading, I mean adopting a skill or set of skills that allow you to be a better steward of the Earth, have a better quality of life, and have an "ace in the hole" to provide for your family in the event of an interruption in the delivery of goods and services from outside your community. Homesteading, for all of us (except for a few isolated Alaskan trappers) also means living as a responsible member of a community. In a large city, a community is harder to achieve than elsewhere, but is still an essential choice for a good life. Most homesteaders gravitate toward areas with enough open space "beyond the sidewalks" to achieve some measure of self-sufficiency for their food and energy needs. Wendell Berry is an author and poet who farms in northern Kentucky. He is one of the most articulate advocates for responsible community living. He also very ably preaches the virtues of rural life. Jerome Belanger as the editor of Countryside and Small Stock Journal has been a true visionary of the homestead movement. Countryside is written by those readers who care to submit articles. Most of the articles focus on the details of some aspect of animal care or self-sufficient living, but Mr. Belanger's editorials take on the issues behind the homesteader articles. Jeff Owens, a homesteader, wrote an excellent article comparing what he calls "classical homesteading" with "alternative homesteading". If you are considering starting a homestead, this is essential reading.
I am in the early phases of the suburbanite to homesteader transition. I have experience caring for a small flock of chickens and guineas. When I used to have more space I planted a medium sized vegetable garden. I have a food dehydrator to preserve some of my summer produce. I recycle my vegetable scraps into a compost heap. This are my first steps toward life on a small subsistence farm. I intend to keep a job in a computer-related field, but in time, I may generate some income from my land. Because I am not an expert, merely a "seeker", I offer links to information from people who have hands-on experience with all aspects of homestead life. From this page, follow the links to pages on: |
