Almost the end to another calendar year. May I say, God has and is always very good to us, whether we be in trials of testings or great blessings, I honestly say I thank God for each day and year. He alone holds the future for all.
In a past post I shared about Christians celebrating Christmas. Husband and I are so thankful we are free, yes, free indeed of not only Christmas, but holidays throughout the calendar. What liberty, so grand, and to have wasted so many years being in bondage to them.
Homesteading videos on You Tube, there are so many. I am at a point to stop watching. Everyone has their own way to be sure, but I wonder, what do most people think homesteading really is? Is it a way of living as our ancestors did, maybe 150 years ago. Some say there is no right way or wrong way to homestead, but I do not agree. There has to be. I am not saying all will homestead exactly the same way, but there are principals involved that don't change. Lots of the You Tube videos show how people can get started to homestead. What I have found that is troubling to me, is some of these people trying to 'educate' ones of how to get started, they themselves, have/had lots of money to start with, or they both are working jobs, good paying jobs, that afford them to buy a very large amount of land with a very large house and with all the barns, buildings already exsisting.
Some have 'dreams' of what they want their homestead to look or be like as they begin looking to buy. In reality, it is not reality.
Technology has gotten a hold of most, for they bring lots of it with them on their homesteading adventure. Homesteading the modern way, maybe a good term to place on these ones. I do not say there is anything wrong with many modern ways, such as tractors, 4 wheelers and other forms of technology that is useful on the farm.
People wanting to begin homesteading need to be encouraged by starting small. What an overwhelming disappointment when what is presented by most in the videos of the opposite, one feels defeated before they begin. I have found one video of such Appalachia Homestead with Patara. The lady is eager, full of spirit, but she and her family, of which I have never seen them in a video only her, have not been homesteading long, and they have lots! of, well, get up and go. But as for bringing practicality and down to earth homesteading principals and practices to the viewer, no. She speaks of the 'old timers' around her area and how much one can learn from them, I wonder what they think of her style of homesteading, when she puts on 'hen saddles' on her hens because the rooster is too extreme in his treatment of the hen. Did these 'old timers' use to have those back in their hay day of homesteading? I certainly agree tremendously, the 'old timers' have so much they can teach ones of homesteading and it will be practical, productive and useful with out so much technology, gadgets and other 'things' that ones bring into the realm of homesteading for today.
In the next post I will share more to encourage ones to start small, it is possible to homestead today with what you have or where you are at the moment.
In Joy
