What is homesteading and why would anyone do it?
I see homesteading as producing a percentage of your own food. There could be different levels of self sufficiency and resourcefulness. You could be growing everything that your family eats, or raising all of the meat that you eat. You could have a garden, an orchard, or potted herbs on your patio. It depends. People, often, erroneously assume that you need large plots of land in order to grow your food. That’s not true. People assume that you have to keep a herd of cattle in order to produce your own animal protein. That’s not true. Homesteading is as engaging as it needs to be. It can be a way to engage with wildlife and plug into nature, or it can be the way that you do life. Either way, it’s definitely, without a doubt hard work; but it can be even more rewarding.
So why would anyone do it? I’ve found a number of reasons that provoke people to change their lives like this
Subsistence homesteading
For some, homesteading is a non negotiable. Whether it’s due to a lack of financial resources or a lack of access to fresh food; growing their own is the only feasible way for some to have access to healthy food.
Homesteading for health reasons
Speaking of health, some start growing food because the foods that they are eating are making them sick. Disease reversal through dietary changes is attractive to a lot of people as a more natural and holistic approach to wellness. Dr. Terry Wahls turning the clock on her progressive multiple sclerosis comes to mind.
Connectedness
Speaking of nature, another reason to grow your own food, is to be more connected to nature and the natural processes of the planet that we live on. I think that sometimes we forget that we are just as much a part of creation as hawks, lillies, beavers, and sea turtles.
Lifestyle
Some homestead because it’s genuinely a good way of life. It’s a good way to raise a family and grow old. A good way to slow down, open your eyes, and be present. A good way to work with your hands and enjoy the fruits of your own labor. It’s a really good way to live.
As you have probably guessed, my reasons are a combination of all of these. I don’t regret making the change for me and my family. Personally, I love it, it brings out the good parts of me. I feel very fortunate to have found a good place to put my efforts and brought my family into. How many people, that you know, can say that they’ve found their “thing” in life?