So we’re finally back to writing and sharing our rural living journey.
It’s been a LOOOOOOONG time – the last time I posted anything new was over two years ago (July 1, 2014, to be exact). Yikes. We’ve been active on Facebook, but as for the blog, it’s been terribly neglected.
I’ve sat down to write more times than I can count, but if I’m to be totally honest – I sort of lost my mojo. Didn’t think I had much to say. And writing takes time – a precious commodity when you’ve got children, animals, acres, and a heritage house to maintain, as well as a business and clients to serve. Not to mention some sort of social life… which becomes pretty much non-existent amongst all the other stuff that needs doing.
So writing fell to the bottom of my list, and just never made it’s way up. But here’s the thing – I get messages from folks who say our modest little journey has inspired them to keep going with their own rural living dreams. That partially due to our positive posts they’ve purchased their first property and are so excited to be embarking on a brand new life. That our brutally honest (and sometimes embarrassing) updates make them smile. And that got me to thinking.
So we’re back.
I thought I’d start by reposting this article from 2013, as it really helps to let folks know what we’re all about. I think it speaks for itself. So with that, we’ll be reinventing ourselves a bit, and excited about returning to this platform.
Enjoy!
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What is ‘Modern Homesteading’, Anyway?
(Originally posted January 15, 2013)
A few weeks ago a particularly ornery guy called me a ‘poser’ on my Facebook page. And then he went on and on an on in post after post about how I wasn’t really ‘homesteading’ and I should call my page something else.
Sure Mr. Grumpy Pants. OK.
Thankfully, a bunch of awesome people came out of the woodwork and told him a thing or two about what it is we do there. Which is simply share our experiences with various aspects of living in the country. Thanks, guys!
Thing is, I’ve never put myself out there as an expert at this gig. I’m pretty ‘green’ around the collar myself (though I have researched the topic for years), which is why I started a page and blog for other rural living fans with even less experience than me. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have a whole lot of VERY experienced folk join us as well, which is an absolute honor. They jump in and answer questions, share their insights with those of us who have yet to dispatch a chicken or attend the birth of a calf, and in general enrich our lives every single day. Oh, and they defend l’il ol’ me when the odd grumpy pants goes on the attack. Thankfully, that’s been a rare occurrence.
But back to the question – what exactly is ‘modern homesteading’ anyway?
I asked the question on our Facebook page and here are some of the responses – I think you’ll find them illuminating:
- “It means “home”.
- “Each family is in a different place in their journey and has different homesteading goals. I don’t think there’s a one-size-fits-all definition. Each family has to decide for themselves what’s right for them. We should be encouraging each other, not judging each other.”
- “Living a simple life and treading as lightly as I can on mother earth.”
- “It’s just a lifestyle – we all have our different path, but it does not mean we are lost. I use the tech end of it to spread the word and show folks what I’m interested in and maybe, just maybe they are interested too! Do what is important for you and your family to be sustainable and to pass that knowledge down to future generations!”
- “It is a journey, a process, not an event or a place. Homesteading to me indicates action. Trying and learning all the time… expanding what one knows how to do on your own. We are all headed the same direction. Some take different roads but we are all going the same direction.”
- “Homesteading to me means taking steps to be self sufficient. Doing as much (or as little) as you are willing or able to do. Grow your own food or buy it from farmers markets, go solar or just reduce your power usage… whatever your comfort level!”
- “Well, to me it means using the property around the home to produce items for the sustenance of the family. So having a garden and livestock for that end. It also can encompass anything that can be ‘homemade’ to provide for the needs of the family. Along with acquiring and using any and all skills necessary to reach that goal. Kinda technical but that about sums it up. Of course this can be done on many levels depending on circumstances.”
- “I think “modern homesteading” is using modern conveniences to augment your homesteading style – like using tractors, incubators, augers, et cetera to make everything work. Most people aren’t going to get to total self-sufficiency, and a lot of those don’t plan to. Using technology to help will hopefully encourage other people to try to be more conscious of their impact on their surroundings.”
- “All of life in any point in history is about balance. For me that balance is best described in the realm of hunting northeastern whitetail deer. I have pursued many craft, and have gone down the purist road in many of those. The question is how far will you go. In hunting, I will never be truly purist unless I take that game with a spear that I forged myself or a deadfall, or just ran it down like the Indians used to do. Or will I use the closest thing to ‘pure’ to take the game efficiently without waste. Likewise with how you homestead. Why would you not use the technology available to live self sufficiently as efficently as possible. There is value in doing things the old way so you know how, though it should be left up to the individual.”
- “Simplicity, being green, eating more healthy, and trying to get rid of some of the chemicals…”
- “Homesteading to me simply begins with living within your means, respecting the land, animals and people you come in contact with and learning how to do things as naturally as possible (like companion planting instead of chemical pesticides).”
- “Trying to learn (and remember) the ‘old’ ways that served our elders so well, so that we can perhaps taste a little more simplicity in our own lives. Living in the city, so love to support our local markets, etc…”
- “We live in a small town and I am striving for self sufficiency. I don’t really consider myself a homesteader, I just want a different kind of life. One that is still in contact with nature and the seasons, a way of providing some things for ourselves, finding some of the ‘lost and forgotten’ knowledge of our grandparents and great grandparents. I wanted more wind in the trees and less sirens and smaller class sizes for my kiddo. I’d like to live a little bit further out of town but it’s a good compromise with a young child seeking friends.”
- “I’ve thought about that a lot too. Do I have to be ‘pure’ to be a homesteader. Then it occurred to me…home…steader. Like the word ‘home-making’, it’s basic. Home-steading is making a home out of a stead (a piece of property). So homesteading is whatever you need it to be – if it means you make your bread from scratch, with the ground up wheat (that you of course hand processed) you grew yourself…or, if you went to town to buy your bread, and even some eggs, because you only have a rural house, a small garden in the backyard, and some herbs in the kitchen. Homesteading is turning your property into a home, using whatever means you deem necessary.”
- “For me a big part of our self reliant journey is learning skills that have been forgotten. Sometimes putting a modern technology twist on ancient practices.”
- “For me, living in a suburb, homesteading is anything that allows me to a) Provide for myself with my own efforts rather than running to the store. That can include sewing, cooking, carpentry, growing my food and herbs, etc. b) Teach my children a skill that will allow them to someday do those things for themselves as well.”
Interesting, isn’t it – the variety and breadth of definitions? That’s what makes it such an amazing topic to write about. And that’s why I love the people on our Facebook page so much. They’re simply (and I don’t use this word often, but it applies here) awesome.
For me and our specific situation, the definition of ‘modern homesteading’ is this:
“Modern homesteading is living consciously, using as few natural resources as is comfortably possible. It’s learning and using the ‘old ways’ of living that were almost lost from the days when everyone grew and preserved their own food because they had to – keeping chickens, dairy animals and other small farm livestock, growing produce, canning, fermenting, dehydrating – because these are things we should all know how to do. It’s being set up to be comfortable without electricity if you have to, even if you never need to. It’s learning the skills most of our ancestors took for granted, like fixing things instead of throwing them out, buying quality ‘pre-owned’ items instead of new where it makes sense, knitting and mending, fence building and repair, and basic construction. It’s being pro-active about your and your family’s health and knowing how to prevent and take care of minor illnesses and injuries without a doctor. It’s knowing you have enough food put away to last you at least 6 months, which is what all of our ancestors did or they’d have starved. It’s building community and asking for help when you need it. It’s being as free from debt as possible. And it’s about doing it all using the modern tools we have available today in ways that allow us to reach our own personal ‘self-reliance’ goals as efficiently as possible.”
Here’s what it’s NOT about, at least in my books:
- Modern homesteading is not about being self-reliant out of fear, but out of love, respect and responsibility to our families and communities.
- It’s not about living 100% like we did in the 1800s (though I’m in awe of those who have chosen that life!), but rather taking small steps towards being more independent of ‘the system’, whatever that looks like for your family.
- It’s not about ‘me first’ and hoarding supplies, neighbours be damned, but rather sharing and planning for caring for others.
I know this might be a controversial post, and that’s OK. I don’t mean to belittle anyone’s choices. The beauty of ‘modern homesteading’, as you read in the definitions above, is the wide variety possible ways to live it. What I can’t entertain here or on our Facebook page is judgement, fear porn, or disrespect in any form. I spent many years of my career designing community education programs for ‘living with less impact’ initiatives. I know from personal experience that the way to inspire long-term change is by making the process enjoyable, and dare I say ‘fun’. It’s not by scaring the crap out of people and belittling them. That might work for awhile, and for some, but it’s not the type of community or business I want to build.
We can live our rural living dreams with love and respect. We can provide for our families’ futures with wisdom and reverence. And we can prepare and be responsible for our families without denigrating anyone else’s choices. I invite you to join us on our Facebook page if you haven’t already and meet the amazing group of people who’ve assembled there. I learn something every single day. And for that I am grateful every single day.
What’s your definition of ‘modern homesteading’. Share it in the comments below!
- 11 Lessons Learned from 11 Years of Rural Living - March 23, 2020
- What is ‘Modern Homesteading’, Anyway? - July 17, 2016
- Summer Rural Living Celebration! - July 1, 2014
Victoria, this really does say it all. I don’t see why this post would “inflame” anyone, for every word I read rings true. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks, Sandi – I receive that! 🙂
When I first stumbled across your blog, I yelled to my husband, ‘Look! I found someone who has done what we want to do!!’ The reason I follow your blog is because you are/were ‘green around the collar’ and you are doing what we dream about doing and are slowly working towards. I don’t want to only read from the ‘experts’, although not sure what qualifies someone to be an expert. Maybe you should ask that guy where to get your official qualification. 🙂 If you ask me, someone who has done it and is still doing it, is pretty qualified to share their experiences.
I want to read about the experiences of someone who has had to learn a lot and how they learnt it – the successes and failures – so when we finally make our dream come true, I’ve already learned something from someone who has done it. Reading about choosing the right chook enclosure, embracing fear and resistance, and your many other posts have all given me a little something that will help our eventual transition that little bit easier. Thank you so much.
Carol – THANK YOU!! Your post made my day. I’m so glad you resonate with my ‘voice’. You’re exactly the person I wanted to provide value for, so I’m so happy to hear that the work is making its way to the right people. Lots more to come… 🙂 Thank you again for taking the time to leave a note here – I can’t tell you how much that means to me. Have a super day!
This is a really excellent post. I think of homesteading as a journey. To me it means being as self-reliant as reasonably possible, grounded in an ethic of natural and social responsibility. I really like the distinctions you draw between homesteading that way and fear-based survivalism. (I’ve never heard the term “fear porn” before, but it makes sense). Keep spreading the message!
Thanks so much for your comment, Bill – ‘fear porn’ is something I’ve made a determined effort to avoid, while still being practical and providing information people can use should they ever need to. Sometimes it’s a fine line, but I’ve had to unsubscribe to many of the ‘survival’ newsletters I used to get – they were just too based on scaring the cr*p out of people and building fear instead of community. I just couldn’t take it any more! 😉
Very thrilling! A very great work you are doing. Living your own choice of living and making things on your own endeavor out of your own green country life. I am very much fascinated by you and included your blogs in my reading list on my web site.
well written and well put-homesteading is the choice to create a home in a place where you can be as free as possible, to be as off the grid and as ecoconscious as possible-to live with mindfulness on Mother Earth-as a green living disciple with plans to go off grid somewhere in the near future I salute you!
It also changes with age, other responsibilities and know how. I first homestead had the chickens, berries, ducks, geese big garden and had no idea what I was doing. Children and a move to the city and myself going back to college so not much homesteading for a while except for gardening (mostly herbs). Now kids are gone and i’m back to canning, baking, sewing and gardening and love it. Also I have internet and know a bunch more than I knew before. I’ll always be a homesteader no matter what…
Thank you for this blog! I’ve been soaking in all the information on the internet about sustainable living as I can. I love your 3 simple steps too. We are starting to look for a small piece of land and get out of subdivision living, so EVERY bit of your blog is useful to me. I am so thankful that someone else has gone ahead! I do have a tiny garden and buy from local orchards or u-picks, plus I can in the summer. My husband and kids are hunters so I usually have a full freezer, but I have BIGGER plans lol. Chickens, bees, and raising rabbits for meat possibly.
Bless your endeavors!
How exciting for you – you’ll love it. It’s definitely a huge change, and not without challenges, but I wouldn’t want it any other way. Let us know how everything goes!
I like your Blog/Facebook. My Wife and I are starting and I mean starting out rookie green. We are at the research phase trying to grow a pair to just do it. We realize we may have to take unusually small baby steps as we have $30k of debt on credit cards. We recognize this is our doing and has to be our undoing but until then how do you start when all your spare income should wipe out the debt? So thank you for your honesty and openness. We hope to keep following you for inspiration.
Thank you!! And great question… I’m sure your situation is similar to a lot of folks (myself included – I was just lucky we had purchased the property ages ago and have family support for repairs, etc.). If you’re doing it all on your own, it’s definitely more challenging. But where there’s a will, there’s a way!! I’m going to be exploring other options in future articles, hopefully sharing experiences of those in similar situations to yourself who have successful made the move. Now I just need to get on it… 🙂
Thanks for keeping up the good fight and having to deal with the doubting Thomas’ from time to time. I am starting, already in, the first stages of my own “Modern Homesteading” adventure. To answer the question, “What is modern Homesteading”, it is living on land, providing much of your own food and needs, but using some modern methods and resources, like power. It might be solar or not, but using some modern items like a freezer. You are most self sufficient, but maybe not totally.
Thanks again for this post.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I concur on what ‘modern’ homesteading is. For us, it’s being prepared for the worst, but living with the conveniences in a respectful, efficient way. It’s a lot of work, but very much worth it.
Thanks so much for your kind words about the article and I’m so glad it was helpful!