What is homesteading?
Homesteading is a way of life. It is an attempt to create and maintain an economy of the home, to live with some degree of self-sufficiency, to have some control over the resouces and processes that sustain our lives. This often includes taking an active part in producing one's own food, in building and/or maintaining one's home, and in supplying some of one's own energy and other vital resources.
Homesteading is not an all-or-nothing proposition. Depending on one's circumstances, location and interest, one may choose to plant a vegetable garden but not to install a solar hot water heater. Or to make compost and raise chickens but not to preserve food harvested in the fall. Modern homesteading does not mean a return to the 19th century on the frontier. For some voluntary simplicity does mean choosing to live without electricity, heating exclusively with wood, etc. But for most homesteaders, appropriate technology is embraced.
The human economy rests upon natural foundations: soil, air and water. The practices learned over the course of several hundred generations of human endeavor have been largely abandoned in the past century in the industrialized world. The wisdom of the past can be combined with appropriate technologies of today to create harmonious, sustainable and fulfilling livelihoods for us today.
Voluntary Simplicity
Voluntary simplicity is about striking a balance in life that allows for harmony within ourselves, our families and our communities as well as with the earth and its resources. For many voluntary simplicity is about frugality and living a less consumptive life. It is also both a philosophy and a practice that centers around "living lightly on the land": living well while seeking to reduce the size of one's ecological footprint. This can mean following in the footsteps of Thoreau...or choosing to use a clothesline instead of a 4000 watt clothes dryer
Survivalism
Survivalism is different things to different people, but a strain of survivalism is present in many people who choose to homestead, and some people have come to homestead primarily in order to practice survivalism. Survivalism is about being prepared for true emergencies by acquiring the skills and goods needed to be self-reliant. This can include everything from long-term food and water storage to self-defense and first aid.
Homesteaders should be interested in survival,and Survivalists should be interested in homesteading.
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© Sojourner
©Jason Strauss
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