Everything I know about something I know very little about
Homesteading.
There, I said it! My life took a great adventurous turn last summer when we said goodbye to our little suburban duplex on Vancouver Island, and moved to a three acre plot in the Annapolis Valley. We are quickly approaching the one year mark in our new home, and still reeling from the changes (not going to lie, this winter was a doozy).
Well, I thought I was pretty handy with my garden (see previous blog: my cozy life) and a half decent maker, so now that I have a bit more space, I've decided to give homesteading a go.
I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into.
However, with no further Ado, here is the abridged extent of my homesteading knowledge.
1) What is a homestead?
It's a home that does work. We'll, there's a bit more, but we'll save the for another day.
2) Who can homestead?
A homesteader is whoever works the homestead. (You might be noticing that there aren't really any specific fancy requirements. This is really something anyone can do.)
3) What do you need for a homestead?
A home and some dirt.
4) Why bother?
For fun, to save money, for healthier living, to teach our children where their things come from, to steward our little piece of the world, to help the environment, self sufficiency and I imagine about a hundred other reasons. Pick the one that speaks to you.
5) How do you start a homestead?
This question can really have a lot to it, an I plan on doing just that, but not today. So in short, start considering what you want to do. Homesteading is about self sufficiency, so do you want to grow some herbs, or raise pigs? Do you want to make your own butter, or start making all your clothes? Are you looking to just dabble, or are you going off the grid? Is this for fun or do you want to make an income? There is no project too small to count, and you can take it as far as you want.
Step one is a plan. What do you want now, where is your end goal? You don't have to make a blood pact, these are flexible targets, they just give you an idea where your heading.
*Disclaimer* You don't have to own a home to start homesteading. If you can wrangle up a pot of soil, or a sewing machine or even a mixing bowl and spoon, you can start honing your skills. A homestead is not about the land, it's about the person who works it.
There's my thoughts laid out, hopefully I can help make more sense of them as we go.
All the best!
There, I said it! My life took a great adventurous turn last summer when we said goodbye to our little suburban duplex on Vancouver Island, and moved to a three acre plot in the Annapolis Valley. We are quickly approaching the one year mark in our new home, and still reeling from the changes (not going to lie, this winter was a doozy).
Well, I thought I was pretty handy with my garden (see previous blog: my cozy life) and a half decent maker, so now that I have a bit more space, I've decided to give homesteading a go.
I'm not sure what I'm getting myself into.
However, with no further Ado, here is the abridged extent of my homesteading knowledge.
1) What is a homestead?
It's a home that does work. We'll, there's a bit more, but we'll save the for another day.
2) Who can homestead?
A homesteader is whoever works the homestead. (You might be noticing that there aren't really any specific fancy requirements. This is really something anyone can do.)
3) What do you need for a homestead?
A home and some dirt.
4) Why bother?
For fun, to save money, for healthier living, to teach our children where their things come from, to steward our little piece of the world, to help the environment, self sufficiency and I imagine about a hundred other reasons. Pick the one that speaks to you.
5) How do you start a homestead?
This question can really have a lot to it, an I plan on doing just that, but not today. So in short, start considering what you want to do. Homesteading is about self sufficiency, so do you want to grow some herbs, or raise pigs? Do you want to make your own butter, or start making all your clothes? Are you looking to just dabble, or are you going off the grid? Is this for fun or do you want to make an income? There is no project too small to count, and you can take it as far as you want.
Step one is a plan. What do you want now, where is your end goal? You don't have to make a blood pact, these are flexible targets, they just give you an idea where your heading.
*Disclaimer* You don't have to own a home to start homesteading. If you can wrangle up a pot of soil, or a sewing machine or even a mixing bowl and spoon, you can start honing your skills. A homestead is not about the land, it's about the person who works it.
There's my thoughts laid out, hopefully I can help make more sense of them as we go.
All the best!
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