Homesteading … Made Simple

Photo by: Jason M

We first started feeling the notion to homestead in 2006.  Up until that time, we were living life largely – always eating out, buying pre-packaged foods, not caring about what we ate (as in where it came from or how it was processed), being wasteful with money and relying on others for our needs.

But, we started to feel this stirring within us that there had to be a better way.  It was around this time that my hubby’s grandmother, Ma-Ma, passed away.  In helping clean her home, we found a stockpile and treasure-trove of old Countryside magazines.  Reading those magazines was like stepping back in time to a simpler way of life – growing your own vegetables, raising your own meat, cutting back on needless items, learning to re-use items or re-purpose them.  It was an eye-opener for us and we embraced it wholeheartedly.  It felt like a calling from God to change our lifestyle.

Granted, it’s taken us 4 years to get where we are and we still have a long way to go.  But, we started small.  For example, we started our first official garden (and it did so well that we’re still eating the pickles I made in 2007).  I learned how to can and preserve our garden crops.  I made my first batch of strawberry and peach jams.  We scavenged wild mustang grapes & made jelly, grape juice and wine.  We started processing our own deer meat (when we had always had it processed for us), making wonderful sausages, venison tips, backstrap, etc.  We knew where the meat was coming from and how it was processed.  We paid more attention to where our money was going and got on the Dave Ramsey plan.  In other words, we took control of what we were doing and started doing things for ourselves.

Yes, it takes a lot of work and dedication but the reward is delightful.  We got rid of the satellite service and spent more time outside.  Our children help pull weeds, plow the dirt, dig up rocks, plant the seeds, water the garden and harvest the bounty when it’s ready.  They get their hands dirty, fill their minds with God’s  beauty and learn how to do for themselves.  They have learned to say prayers over the garden – praying for a bountiful crop.

Even if you live in an apartment downtown, there are still things you can do to homestead:

• Try container gardening on your patio or balcony
• Learn to cut your husband’s & children’s hair (that was a real experience in our home!)
• Try canning pickles or jams/jellies (these are the easiest and you don’t need a pressure canner)
• Buy local if you can’t have your own garden & support your local economy
• Re-use items around your home (like turn old shirts into rags)
• Try www.freecycle.com in your local area (you can post things you want to give away and ask for things that you need – all for free!)
• Bake and cook from scratch
• Avoid pre-packaged items
• Search the internet for “how to” recipes on basic pantry staples (i.e. how to make ketchup, spice blends, cream of “whatever” soups, granola, etc.) – helps keep your grocery bill low
• Make your own laundry soap (great recipes can be found online)

These are just some basic ways to start gaining your independence from the grocery store, pre-packaged foods and creating your own self-sufficient lifestyle.  As the saying goes, every journey begins with a single step.