I read a blog post that talked about homesteading.  In it the author states that people in the city can say they are gardeners, can say they are homemakers, but cannot say that they are homesteaders.  I beg to differ.  I have homesteaded in the country, a small town, and in the city.  Our plan is to get back on land, but that does not change our lifestyle.  In fact, I believe we are actually more sustainable in the city.  We are just missing a well and a couple of goats.

The word homesteading isn’t really a relevant word anymore because the government is not giving us parcels of land to try to live on for five years before we get to keep it.  So, we need to go by the new definition of homesteading and leave it open to everyone.  You can homestead anywhere.  Homesteading starts and ends with high self sufficiency, appreciation for the natural world, sustainability, community, health, and pride in hard work that we do ourselves.

Homesteading can be done on any level, but as you grow your own food, chop your own wood, eat from your own root cellar, create your own medicines, it does get addictive.  This is a great lifestyle and one that anyone can incorporate into their lives.  The more aspects of it that you pick up, the more money you save, the healthier physiologically and psychologically you become, and things that are really important come to the forefront of life.  Family, food, security, counting blessings, and the good life.

I have come up with a list of 27 ways to start homesteading.  27 aspects of homesteading that keep a heart humming, the fam fed, and the home fires burning.  Join me over the next month as I cover each one to inspire, teach, and swap ideas with you.  We will talk about searching for land, preserving, growing, animals, home arts, and more!

27 Ways to Homestead

1. Organic gardening
2. Canning
3. Fermenting
4. Dehydrating food
5. Smoking food
6. Freezing food
7. Raising chickens
8. Fishing/Hunting
9. Supporting local farmers
10. Bread baking
11. Cooking three meals a day
12. Preparing simple, unprocessed food
13. Sewing/Mending
14. Crocheting
15. Purchasing second hand
16. Cheese making
17. Generating your own electricity
18. Generating your own heat
19. Making your own medicine
20. Making your own cleaning products
21. Making your own body products
22. Making homemade gifts and cards
23. Free entertainment
24. Learning to make everything from scratch
25. Budgeting
26. Using original homesteading items that last
27. Learning from other homesteaders

Go get yourself a cute apron and let’s get to work!  We are embarking on the good life.