Homesteading: What Is It, Why Do It, and What Are the Advantages?

Recently, I've been admiring so many of my cyber friends and even local close friends that have been homesteading, which most of you know what that is I'm certain, but I also know of so many others that don't. So I thought it would be a good idea to get into the conversation. And though I wish I could homestead here in my own home, its a doable but difficult do to space. I'm very much looking forward to the day that I can do away with all the homesteading!

Homesteading which a lot of folks refer to or know it as #farming has become a rather popular term over the past couple of years maybe more, but it has a hundred different meanings depending on who you ask and it’s not very well explained. The benefits aren’t very clear either, in this post, we’re going to go into details regarding homesteading, what it is, why you should consider it and what the advantages are.

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What is homesteading?

Let’s start with a simple question; what exactly is homesteading?

Homesteading is the art of leaving behind consumerism and trying a life of self-sufficiency. This often isn’t possible unless you have a plot of land somewhere where you can grow your own food, raise your own animals (if you want) and get water from your own well. When it comes to being self-reliant, homesteading takes it to the next level and truly puts you off the grid.

Why should I consider homesteading?

Cutting yourself off with the rest of the world sounds like a silly idea in this modern day and age. With computers and technology connecting the entire world, it seems rebellious to remove yourself from the grid and live a life free of those advancements. 

However, there are a couple of reasons why you’d want to consider homesteading, even if just temporarily.

Connect with your food and learn where it comes from - Food is a big part of our lives and with more and more people accepting the gradual influx of synthetic chemicals and mass-grown food in our system, it’s made us forget where our food comes from, how it’s grown and what affects the flavors and textures. Homesteading gives us a deeper connection with our food and provides us with the ability to control every variable of our diet.

Becoming independent and self-sufficient - Some people are fine relying on what they’re given. They’re fine knowing that if they walk to the store, they’ll be able to purchase the food they love. However, others prefer to have independence and to not rely on large corporations that get to dictate everything that goes into the products we use.

To live a frugal lifestyle - Another good reason to switch to homesteading is to live a more frugal lifestyle that doesn’t involve expensive food, products or technology.

Let your children appreciate what they have - Homesteading is something that many people switch to in order to provide their children with a different type of lifestyle that draws them away from material possessions and a lack of appreciation for life. Homesteading has the potential to give your children unique childhood memories that aren’t based on technology.

But is homesteading for everyone?

We’re going to be honest and say no, homesteading is not for everyone. It’s a huge change of pace and it’s not something that everyone can stomach, especially if you are heavily reliant on technology. If you can’t imagine a holiday without your smartphone, then you probably won’t be able to live without the internet.

There are many concerns with homesteading as well, such as the knowledge required to grow your own crops, to raise animals with the intention of eating them or even how to purify your water with a well water water softener. All of the comforts you’ve come to know will be thrown out the window and it’s extremely difficult to cope with the changes. It’s certainly not an easy task to switch to homesteading, so do keep the challenges in mind so that you’re not throwing yourself into the deep end.

How to ease yourself into homesteading

• Homesteading is difficult to cope with at first, so here are a couple of tips to help you ease into it more easily.

• You’ll want to make friends that also homestead so you can share tips and ask for advice to get you started.

• Pick up gardening. It’s a vital skill that every homesteader should have in order to grow food to eat.

• Don’t be afraid of growing extra. Food you don’t immediately need should be preserved or could even be sold.

• Sewing is another skill that could help you in the long run for fixing clothes and making your own garments.

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Accessing the internet for help or having some extra food laying around for emergencies is fine for beginners. You decide how far you want to push it.

So whether it’s because you want to experience the health benefits of homegrown food or just can’t fall asleep because of a noisy city environment, homesteading could be the solution that you’ve been looking for. It’s a different way of life, but one that can help you appreciate what you have. Personally I cannot wait to get out of the city and into a quieter environment but I'm very much appreciating the city for what it is for now.

XO, 

Sandra