Are you curious about homesteading? If you value self-reliance and crave a simpler, more natural lifestyle, then homesteading may be for you.
My son checking out a chicken
Truthfully, I never thought about the term homesteading before diving into the sustainable agriculture program. However, the word “homesteading” has come up frequently throughout my education in sustainable agriculture. It turns out that many of the values associated with homesteading are intertwined within the topics addressed in the Sustainable Agriculture courses, internship, and webinars I’ve taken. Indeed, the coursework targets those who desire to farm (of any acreage), homestead, or garden. Curious, I had decided to look it up to find out exactly what homesteading meant. I’ve learned that to those that pursue the homesteading life, it’s a personal and individual journey. One size does not fit all, and there appears to be many different paths that can be taken in this pursuit. I’ve learned that it’s a lifestyle. It’s a way of living that’s not necessarily an easy one, but one that those who pursue this path find fulfilling.
As someone who is drawn to the outdoors and who has been told repeatedly that I’m independent, I’m enticed by this self-sufficient, back to the land way of life. As I mentioned, it’s a very personal journey with many possible levels of immersion – one can incorporate only a few of the components into your current lifestyle or go all in and strive to live off-grid, for example. As I outline what I’ve uncovered about homesteading through my research, you can decide which, if any, of the values and components of homesteading apply to you and your journey.
How Is Homesteading Defined?
The concept of homesteading has evolved over time. In the United States, it began with the Homesteading Act of 1862. The purpose of the Homesteading act was to settle the American west and encourage economic growth within the region. According to the National Archives article on the homesteading act, through this piece of legislation, 270 million acres of federal public land was distributed to private citizens in 30 states. Under this act, anyone over the age of 21 years of age or the head of a household could stake a claim for 160 acres of the available land. To take advantage of this opportunity, there was a filing fee and the homesteader had to build a home and reside on the land for 5 years while they farmed and made improvements to the land. However, there were two stipulations: 1. They had to be a US citizen or have legally declared intentions to become one; 2. They could not have taken up arms against the United States. However, the Homesteading Act of 1862 was repealed in the lower contiguous states in 1976 and 1986 in Alaska.
The term homestead then became associated with the home that was built on the land claimed through the homesteading act, and Merriam-Webster defines a homestead as “the home and adjoining land occupied by a family.” (noun) or “to acquire or occupy (land) as a homestead (verb). Homesteading is defined as the “act or practice of living frugally or self-sufficiently (as on a homestead) especially by growing and preserving food.” The values of living frugally and self-sufficiently have remained a permanent thread throughout the evolving definition of homesteading.
The next phase in the evolution of homesteading was the “Back to the Land Movement” of 1970’s (Mother Earth News, 2008). A movement where partakers were turning away from urban and suburban living in favor of “their ancestral rural roots.”
From there, the modern definition of homesteading began to broaden to incorporate self-sufficient living in more inclusive settings outside of just rural areas. Additionally, the modern values associated with homesteading took form. Homesteading entails living consciously. It’s a journey that embraces continuous learning and applying of time-honored skills, of finding ways to intermingle the ‘old’ ways with the new for efficiency and working towards living sustainably. Homesteaders are often characterized by a desire to be independent, self-sufficient, and self-reliant, yet the importance of networking with other like-minded folks is stressed. Ultimately, most homesteaders focus on simple, natural lifestyles that require living closer to nature.
Interested in exploring the homesteading lifestyle?
Throughout my research I’ve noticed 6 reoccurring principles of the homesteading lifestyle, which I’ve listed below. Beneath each principle, I’ve listed ways you could potentially incorporate that aspect into your lifestyle. Note: some points could fall under several of the principals. Also, keep in mind when reading through the lists that the modern take on homesteading is flexible and can be adjusted to fit any person’s needs or current situation.
So, here we go!
1. Homesteading can be thought of as a lifestyle that brings you back to the land. Homesteaders often choose to live off the land, or at least live more in tune with nature. If interested, you could:
o Grow your own produce, medicinal herbs, plan a kitchen garden, etc.
o Add edible plants to your home landscaping. Make the most of your space by incorporating edible plantings into your yard.
o Raise animals. That could look like a few chickens in an urban/suburban setting or a barnyard full of animals.
o Hunting and Trapping. I have relatives who supplement their food source through hunting of deer and wild turkey, for example.
o Responsibly foraging wild foods. Foraging is also referred to as Wildcrafting.
o Tanning of animal hides and clothes making.
o Be a steward of the land. I feel like anyone who lives close to the land and depends upon their land for their livelihood or wellbeing likely has a love and appreciation for the land.
o Be environmental. Respecting the environment and your local ecosystems, living more “green,” and having less dependence on chemicals for growing food are some examples.
o Keep beehives.
o Learn Earth Skills such as: ropemaking (cordage), basket weaving, plant ID, clay harvesting, plant-based dying, flint knapping, etc.
2. Homesteading is often family centered.
o It is often viewed as a way to pass down time-honored skills and knowledge to future generations.
o It typically means finding ways to provide for oneself and your family, usually off the land and utilizing your own property.
o Incorporating your property into your homesteading lifestyle. In a sense, your property can become an extension of your home and family.
o Many homesteaders are looking for a family centered, wholesome, simpler lifestyle as a way to attain a work-life balance. They may choose to reduce expenses and forego many modern luxuries in favor of providing for their family’s needs through self-sufficient activities such as growing their own foods. They nurture their family through these activities.
3. Homesteaders strive to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. This might mean learning a lot of new skills. If interested, you could:
o Learn carpentry skills
o Learn small engine maintenance
o Learn to cook and bake, how to can foods, how to dehydrate foods, etc.
o Learn how to make your own candles and soaps
o Learn to sew
o Learn about medicinal plants and how to prepare herbal medicines
o A self-sufficient lifestyle can be practiced on various levels. For some, this can mean living totally off-grid. For others, it could mean adding some sustainable, self-sufficient practices to your life like growing some of your own food and reducing your energy use.
Homemade Rolls
4. The amount of land needed to practice homesteading can vary with the individual’s or family’s comfort levels, economic situation, and needs.
o You don’t need to have many acres of land. In fact, you can start where you are at right now. From a balcony garden to a 100-acre farm, you can apply these principles to just about any situation.
o If you have a small space such as an apartment, you can experiment with container gardening or vertical gardening, research ways to compost in an apartment setting (there are many online articles on this subject) and learn some of the skills to lead a more self-sufficient lifestyle mentioned throughout this section of the blog.
o If you live in a small lot in an urban or suburban area, you can try raised bed gardening, incorporating edible landscaping into your yard, installing a rain barrel, and raising chicken or bees, if applicable.
o If you live on a small lot with a modest acreage, plot out the placement of your garden beds, tool sheds, compost piles, and rain barrels to make the most efficient use of the space.
5. Homesteaders often embrace frugality. This can look like:
o Canning and preserving extra produce and foods to use later
Raised bed and a rain barrel
o Making homemade items to provide for the needs of one’s family
o Learning how to mend and repair things. Fix things instead of throwing them out and be less wasteful.
o Reusing and upcycling to repurpose on your property
o Being free from debt
o Collecting rainwater
o Using renewable energy. Explore alternative energy use.
o Composting
o Using a clothesline to dry your clothes instead of a dryer in warmer months
o Eating seasonally
o Seed saving
o Making your own cleaning supplies. Search online for recipes that use things such as white vinegar, salt, lemon, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide.
o Shopping at secondhand stores
o Buying less stuff
6. Homesteading is often rooted in the desire for a simpler, healthier life over which one has more control. Homesteaders are often seeking out:
o A cleaner, healthier food
o Less of the modern busy lifestyle
o Less plastics and other manufactured products and packaging
o Fewer chemicals in their foods, homes, environment, etc.
o Attaining their definition of work-life balance (this was mentioned above in the family centered value).
o Having more control over one’s time
o Reduced clutter
Initially, I chose this journey because I have a heart for nurturing plants and a passion for the outdoors. I find this work to be rewarding, and the time spent outdoors is peaceful and enriching. Don’t get me wrong, it’s labor-intensive work. There are moments of frustration, too – say, when your tomato plants are invested with white flies, and you’re set against using pesticides to solve the problem. Still, the pros outweigh the cons for me.
If you’re interested in diving more in-depth into the principles I’ve mentioned above, the links in resources below can provide a good starting point.
Resources
Sanders, K. Homesteading: What is it and Why is it Trending? HGTV (Home and Garden Television). https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/what-is-homesteading . Accessed April 3, 2024.
2. National Archives. (2021, June 2). The Homestead Act of 1862. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/homestead-act#page-header. Accessed April 4, 2024.
3. National Archives. (2022, June 7). Homestead Act (1862). https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act. Accessed April 4, 2024.
5. Moody, C. (2023). Forget Uber Eats. Modern-day homesteaders prefer to live off the land. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/05/10/homesteaders-live-off-land/. Accessed April 6, 2024.
6. Gazeley, V. (2013). What is “Modern Homesteading,” Anyway? Mother Earth New; The Original Guide to Living Wisely. https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/what-is-modern-homesteading/. Accessed April 6, 2024.
7. Lovely, L. (2022). 12 Modern Homesteading Ideas for a More Self-Sufficient Life. Bob Vila. https://www.bobvila.com/articles/modern-homesteading-ideas/. Accessed April 6, 2024.
8. Long, R. (2022). Small-Scale Homesteading: How much do you really need? Homesteading.org. https://www.homestead.org/frugality-finance/small-scale-homesteading/ Accessed April 18, 2024
9. Farmer’s Almanac. (2024). Learn How to Forage: A Beginner’s Guide. https://www.farmersalmanac.com/wildcrafting Accessed April 19, 2024.
10. Center for Crop Diversification. (n.d.). Wildcrafting. University of Kentucky, Center for Crop Diversification. https://www.uky.edu/ccd/production/system-resources/other/wildcrafting Accessed April 19, 2024.
11. Smith, B. (2022). The Power of Earth Skills and the Communities that Teach Them. Resilience. https://www.resilience.org/stories/2022-12-06/the-power-of-earth-skills-and-the-communities-that-teach-them/Accessed April 19, 2024.
12. History.com Editors. (2022). Homesteading Act. History Chanel. https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/homestead-act Accessed May 3, 2024
13. Hunt, H. (2008). What Exactly Does the Term “Homesteading” Mean?https://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/what-does-homesteading-mean/ Accessed May 4, 2024.
14. Tracy. (n.d.). 30 Self-Sufficient Living Tips. Our simple Homestead.https://oursimplehomestead.com/self-sufficient-living/Accessed on May 6, 2024.
