Picture this: you're perusing the grocery store for just the basics. Bread, milk, eggs, maybe some vegetables and proteins here and there. Maybe you even splash out for some fruit and chocolate, you high-flier, you! The point is, you've taken the necessary actions to keep your costs low while also keeping your needs met and giving yourself some treats as well - until you reach the cashier. As soon as the cashier puts the first item past the scanner, the anxiety hits. Why is the price so high already? They've not even weighed the grapes yet! You let out a nearly audible groan as the price continues to climb until... beep beep beep. You blink. What the heck just happened? You blink again. Out of the corner of your eye you can see the cashier is looking at you expectantly. Your hand shakes as you lift your debit card to the card reader.
It doesn't make sense, does it? You stayed towards the outside of the store. You shopped in the cheapest store you could find. You even wrote down a list and budgeted, too. If this scenario has ever happened to you, then chances are you, like millions of consumers like you around the world, are plain fed-up.
Fed up of over inflated prices. Fed up of "shrinkflation". Fed up with how far your money (doesn't) seem to go in this day and age. Just plain fed up with all of it.
Well let me tell you, fellow earth-dweller, me flippin' too. Food is too darn expensive, and when you get it, the quality just seems to be falling exponentially. Tomatoes don't taste like they used to. Strawberries taste weird. Onions rot days after you purchase them. A great many things are wrong with the current food system on this planet, and if you're anything like me, you're ready to do something about it.
But where do you start?
Well, for me, when the pandemic hit, I started Googling how to do everything and how to make everything. I'm born and raised in the United States, but I currently live in the United Kingdom, and seeing all the shelves barren while shopping at a Tesco supermarket put a fear in me I'd never known before: scarcity.
I'd never known what it felt like to go to the store and not find any food. Surely in the 21st century, food scarcity in "first-world" countries shouldn't be a thing, but how utterly and completely wrong I was! Yes, I'd heard about "food deserts" and the like, but I was on the outskirts of a pretty decent-sized town and shopping at one of the "big" Tescos. Why were the shelves empty? Where had all the milk gone? Why are those two Old Age Pensioners (OAPs) fighting over the last carton of eggs?
The world had entered a new age and if I wanted to feel any sense of comfort and safety, I knew I'd have to crack on and start learning about all the things my generation, and the generations just before me, had completely forgotten about: self sufficiency.
If you've found yourself intrigued by the idea of being self-sufficient and partaking in homesteading, let me be the first to welcome you on this incredible journey. There's just something undeniably appealing about reconnecting with the land (no matter how big or small), living off it, and fostering a deeper sense of harmony with nature.
So, what exactly is homesteading, and why should you consider diving into this lifestyle? Well, buckle up because we're about to embark on a comprehensive exploration!
Homesteading, in essence, is a lifestyle centered around self-reliance, simple living, and a profound respect for the environment. It involves creating a sustainable home and livelihood by growing your own food, raising animals (if that's your thing), and harnessing renewable resources. But it's not just about the practical skills; it's a mindset—a commitment to living intentionally, minimizing waste, and prioritizing quality over quantity.
Now, why is homesteading important? Let me break it down for you:
Self-Sufficiency: In today's world, we've become increasingly dependent on external systems for our basic needs—food, water, energy. Homesteading empowers you to reclaim control over these essentials. By cultivating your own food, harnessing solar power, and collecting rainwater, you become less reliant on external sources, enhancing your self-sufficiency and resilience, especially in times of crisis.
Sustainability: Our planet is facing unprecedented environmental challenges—from climate change to dwindling natural resources. Homesteading offers a sustainable alternative by promoting eco-friendly practices such as organic gardening, composting, and permaculture. By living lightly on the land and minimizing your ecological footprint, you can contribute to a healthier planet for future generations.
Quality of Life: In the pursuit of material wealth and status, many of us have sacrificed our well-being and connection to the natural world. Homesteading offers a return to a simpler and often more fulfilling way of life. Imagine waking up to the sound of birds chirping, harvesting fresh vegetables from your garden, and enjoying the satisfaction of knowing exactly where your food comes from. It's not just about surviving; it's about thriving and finding joy in the little things.
Community Building: Contrary to popular belief, homesteading doesn't mean living in isolation. On the contrary, it fosters strong bonds within communities built on shared values of sustainability and self-reliance. Whether it's exchanging surplus produce with neighbors, participating in local farmers' markets, or sharing knowledge and resources, homesteading creates opportunities for meaningful connections and mutual support.
Resilience: In an unpredictable world marked by economic uncertainty and natural disasters, homesteading provides a sense of security and resilience. By diversifying your skills and resources, you're better equipped to weather life's storms, both literal and metaphorical. From preserving food through canning and fermentation to learning traditional crafts like woodworking and sewing, homesteading equips you with invaluable skills that transcends generations.
At the end of the day, homesteading is not just a fad lifestyle or a modern TikTok craze, it's a journey of self-discovery and empowerment as well as a "going back to one's roots" sort of thing. It's about being mindful of all things. From the moment the seed is planted until the second it lands on your dinner table, from cotton to cloth, from sheep to wool to wardrobe, homesteading and being self-sufficient is an all-encompassing understanding of where the things we need to survive come from, how they're made or grown, and how we care for the final products of our labor. To learn more about what that means, follow along on this labor of love journey and see just what it means to truly live with the land!
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