Homesteading Part 2

As I read back over my most recent post of homesteading, I began to have more thoughts come to my mind and wanted to share.

First thought was of the word self-sufficient. The words has, through the years, transformed in meaning.  In looking at the Webster's 1828 dictionary it defines as "having full confidence in one's own strength, abilities or endowments."   Webster's 1941 defines as "needing no help from other people, independent.'

In the 70's, when a 'move' of 'back to the land' began, the terms homesteading and self-sufficient, and living off the land, were among the most used. Today, they are still used in degree, but now off grid living seems to be the most popular term.

Back to self-sufficient; if one takes a moment to ponder this term and its definition, no one is or ever will be self- sufficient. When people ask us if we are, we reply, "no." Webster's 1828 and 1941 definition we are in complete agreement with. Learning so much of this homesteading way of life these last 26 years has shown us we do not have, nor should have full confidence in our own strength, abilities, etc. Yes, God has given us insight, wisdom, health and many other attributes to daily strive to live this life, but it all comes from Him. We do our part as we see and know how, trusting Him with all the rest. 

This lifestyle of homesteading, it is on a daily basis that we make effort to become less dependent on outside sources, making or providing for ourselves.  It has not happened over night and the list of ways of becoming so always gets added too. We have researched you tube videos of documentaries and just regular people who are also looking to the past for the forgotten skills that our forefathers, not just 200 years back, but as some may say as way back to 'prehistoric' skills,  had and used in their everyday lives. I believe I have mentioned some before in past postings, but they bear repeating.  BBC documentaries: The Victorian Farm,  Tales From the Green Valley, Wartime Garden, Secrets of the Castle, Tudor Monestary.  Just recently we found a young man in Australia, his you tube is Primitive Technology.  Other you tubers  Paul Gaustchie, Fouch-o-matic, of which the young woman in this is Esther Emery, daughter of author Carla Emery, whom I mentioned in my last post that wrote The Encyclopedia of Country Living. A good blogger is The Deliberate Agrarian, he has lots of very helpful information. There is so much information on the internet now days, it does become very overwhelming. Keep it simple, because if you view those, as I mentioned before who think you need to start out big as they have, you will become very discouraged.

I hope to discuss more in several, different upcoming postings, as off gird, keeping a balance on what the relationship of livestock on the homestead should be with the homesteader and where we are in our journey at present. I would like to also share of herbs, tincture making, and some of the products we make ourselves for home, health and creativeness.

I do pray whomever comes upon these postings will be encouraged in however and whatever place on the path you find yourself in the journey of homesteading.

In Joy