For many people who have become disillusioned with modern living, homesteading is a path to a more measured and meaningful life.
If you are thinking about homesteading, we would encourage you to give some thought to this question before you start: What is your Why? What is driving your interest in this lifestyle?
Is it because homesteading is trendy and you think it would be fun to experience some “throw back” activities? If so, great! Go for it!
For many people, however, the homestead life is more of a yearning, a “coming home.”
If that’s you, if you’re looking for a wholesale lifestyle change, take some time to first consider what is most important to you.
You are likely driven by one or more of these core motivations:
- Living Intentionally
- Living Authentically
- Living Simply
As you read on, you will see that our perspective is much broader and encompassing than the traditional definition of homesteading. To us, this is about living well, and while traditional homesteading practices are a very large part of that equation, they are just one part.
Living Intentionally
Living intentionally means doing things on purpose. It means not blindly accepting common practice. It means killing the assumption “if everyone else is doing it, then it must be okay.” In regard to our health, it means giving deliberate thought to the food we put in our body: reading labels, understanding ingredients, learning how commercially-produced food is actually produced.
Pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified ingredients and antibiotics are just some of the unpleasant additives you might find clinging to grocery store produce. The inner aisles can be even worse, as processed food tends to be filled with bad fats, sugars, unrefined carbs, and preservatives.
In contrast, growing some of your own food lets you regain a bit of control over what goes into your body. By keeping toxic amendments out of your garden, you keep them out of you.
Living intentionally also encompasses drinking enough water, getting adequate exercise and being our own health care advocate. (Do you ask your doctor questions and ask for treatment options?)
We can also consider how our routines impact the environment: Do I recycle? Can I reduce the use of chemicals in my home? Could I burn less gasoline by combining errands? Could I use public transportation, ride my bike or walk in some cases?
Living Authentically
It’s a sad reality that many of us tend to know few (if any) of our neighbors, know very little about most of the people we work with and even go long stretches without seeing our own extended family.
This is not intended as an indictment — let’s not beat ourselves up over the state of our relationships — it’s just an observation of how things go in today’s digital age.
A big part of the problem is that we rarely disconnect from our devices. We take our work with us on our laptop computer or tablet. We’re connected to our jobs at some level simply by carrying a phone. And, the mere fact that we can be available assumes we are available.
As a result, deep, rich, face-to-face conversations all too rare.
Our done-for-you world has taught us that once-treasured life skills are no longer essential. We don’t grow things or sew things, we don’t tend or mend, we don’t build, repair, can or even cook.
We’re missing connection. Connection to people and connection to the earth.
To us, authentic living is dirt between our toes and a sun-furrowed brow. It’s long talks with our neighbors. It’s learning new skills simply because we have a desire to master them. It’s making clothing not because you have to but because you want to. It’s building a shed not because you need to but because you can.
That’s authentic living.
Living Simply
Not only are we disconnected in a disconnected world, our lives are often woefully over-scheduled. We’re traveling more, buying more and working more to pay for all of it. What little free time we have is spent with our faces glued to our devices or the TV.
Is it any wonder we’re exhausted, physically and mentally?
What if we did less, consumed less and owned less? Might we worry less?
What if we read more, journaled more, relaxed more and connected to each other more? Might we live more?
The homesteading lifestyle is a soothing balm against work commitments, internet addiction, and even loneliness. Consider paring down your life to what matters most to you, while still enjoying hobbies and quality time with family.
To live more simply is to live more fully.
