“What exactly is homesteading?”
This is one of the most common questions I get asked. Well, homesteading is many things to many people. We like to say that homesteading is like Margaritaville, it’s more of a state of mind than an actual place. That being said, I have come up with 5 laws that I think apply to most homesteaders.
1. Make your own.
No matter where you live, if you have the desire to make something for yourself whenever you get the chance, you probably possess the homesteading spirit! Be it clothes, food, or laundry detergent, you have made yourself just a tad more self-reliant.
2. Do what is financially best.
Every homesteader isn’t a strict Dave Ramsey fan, but one thing I often find is homesteaders making decisions based on the bottom line. They ask hard questions like, “is this a financially responsible action?” These are people who often have to make hard decisions, such as letting a chicken go instead of rushing a $10 animal to the vet for a $90 operation. These are people driving a 50 year old tractor, because a paid for tractor is sexier than one with payments!
3. Animals must serve a purpose.
Animals that come here need to serve a purpose, be it food production, grass and brush management, rodent control or guardian, everything has a job. Peacocks are great, but unless I hatch a plan to make money selling them, I don’t see much purpose in having them here. (Besides, they scare me a little.) OK, I’ll concede that occasionally “bringing great joy” is a valid purpose.
4. Be a good neighbor.
You know that neighbor who shows up with vegetables or the one comes over to help you catch your ornery pigs? Yeah, be that neighbor. I’m not saying you need to neglect your own to-do list, but homesteaders are that good neighbor who will always make time to help you when you need it.
5. Share the knowledge.
No matter where you are on your homestead journey, you are ahead of someone else. Don’t leave them in the dark! When homesteaders share their knowledge and resources, we all benefit, so share the love!
Help me out. What other homestead laws would you add?
P.S. These are just for fun, don’t get your boxers in a bundle if you disagree.
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Homesteading Law #6-
IF you HAVE to be gone for the whole day, your animals will chose THAT day to give birth, get sick, or break through the fence. The breaking through the fence will directly correlate to the ripeness of your garden, fruit bushes, and fruit trees. For some reason animals do not break fences when the garden is not producing. The only exception to this is if there is a cold rain. Then they LOVE to break fences. 🙂
How about you won’t be gone for a whole day because you just NEVER KNOW.
Kids=Homeschool=Flexibility=We can’t do table work today because (fill in the blank)
Homesteading Law#7-
Be kind to yourself and learn to spread the load with like minded friends.One friend might be good at making soap and you might be good at growing carrots- do some swaps to ease the work load.
Yes! I love that! In fact, I do buy my soap from another homesteader! 🙂
Plants and trees MUST serve a purpose (for the most part…even I like pretty flowers, but I also sprinkle rows throughout the garden to attract bees). Annuals create work that I don’t need.
I agree completely!
Recycle everything from Gray water to sheet metal.