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The Modern Homesteader
Homesteading. The word means different things to different people. Originally it was a government program where you made claim to property given away by the government to build a house and start farming, or raising livestock. The purpose was to expand the country and provide a means for commerce across the country.
More recently it has been a term used for a tax credit. You go to your local tax appraiser and applied for a homestead exemption and get a break on your taxes. This also helped in some states to prevent eviction due to foreclosure. The property does not have to comply with any codes about farming or livestock; it just could not be commercial property.
The most recent use of the word is by people who are trying to become more self sufficient. They generally are concerned about the environment, the economy, and healthier living.
The average homesteader grows garden using traditional methods, absent of chemical fertilizers. They compost everything possible. Most try to make the best use of their garden space, small or large, by rotating crops, mulching to preserve water, using natural fertilizers, and using techniques that extend the growing season.
One family in Pasadena has been able to raise 6000 pounds of food on 1/10 acre! (See link at bottom for "Path to Freedom") The intense gardening done there is probably more than the average homesteader would do but it shows what can be done.
Another way the homesteader works toward self reliance is through alternative energy. This may be in the form of solar panels, wind chargers, making "home brewed" bio-diesel, solar water heaters, or just using a wood burning fireplace. Many of these folks us a combination of these, lowering their utility bills, while others are completely "off the grid". No power from an electric company at all.
The folks who are in a more rural area, or out in the country completely, also raise livestock. Chickens are the most prevalent, along with cattle, pigs, goats, rabbits, duck, and whatever else suits their lifestyle.
Food storage is also a concern for the homesteader. Freezing, canning, dehydrating, and the storage or root crops like potatoes and carrots all are handled at home.
Some folks make their own soap, cheese, butter, jelly, and jerky to name a few. There is also a growing demand for home grown vegetables and home made soaps.
As the economy worsens more people will turn to the roadside truck full of vegetables, or the farmers markets to save a few dollars on their grocery bill. The food is healthier and tastes better. This is the niche market for the homesteader. Plant it, raise it, harvest it, and sell the extra. Everybody wins.
The work building a homestead can be hard. It is also one of the most rewarding things you can do. Imagine sitting at the dinner table and knowing everything you are about to eat was grown or raised by you, cooked from scratch, the lights over the table are being powered by your wind charger, and it will be one of the healthiest and most flavorful meals you have ever eaten.
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Path To Freedom
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Added by chopper on April 15, 2:41 PM.
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