HOMESTEADING- What is it and why does anyone care?
https://www.treehugger.com/definition-of-homesteading-3016761
Homesteading is a spectrum. Ultimately, the broadest definition is that it is a lifestyle with a commitment to self-sufficiency. This can encompass growing and preserving food; providing your own electricity with solar, wind or water; and even making your own fabric and clothing. Some homesteaders aspire never to use money; they want to make or barter for everything they need. Others may take a more measured approach, and although they aspire to provide as much as they can for themselves, they may be okay with using some money and working for pay—either as an end goal or during the transition to homesteading.
Urban and suburban homesteading is a subset of homesteading; people who live in the city or suburbs may still consider themselves homesteaders, and try to provide for their own needs within the confines of a small suburban house and yard or even a tiny city lot.
In the United Kingdom, "smallholding" is a similar term that means the same thing as homesteading—a goal of self-sufficiency, running a small, diversified farm that feeds the people who live on it."
I found the article that I shared a portion of above, and decided that hearing from an expert might clear things up. But like ANY undertaking, Homesteading and Homesteaders are unique...and they do NOT need to follow a cookie-cutter mold in order to wear the name.
I have friends who raise goats on several acres of land. They are Homesteaders.
I have friends who keep chickens for eggs. They are homesteaders.
I have friends who grow tomatoes. They too, are homesteaders.
Whatever kind or type of Homesteader you are, or wish to be, there is a model out there somewhere for you.
HOMESTEADING BEGINS IN YOUR THOUGHTS
The first thing that you will need in order to start your journey in Homesteading, is a vision of what it means to you to have a Homestead. My vision began many years ago. I would often think back to my childhood, growing up on a farm and getting much of our food from local farms that had what we did not have. For example, we grew vegetables, herbs and berries and fruits. But down the road a short way, another farm had hens. We got our eggs there. My dad kept chickens, but the slaughtering of animals was a hot topic around me and so we usually just got the meat at other farms. Living in Foster RI, there were local places to get chicken, turkey or beef. My mother often hunted or fished, as did my grandfather. We ate Rabbit, Pheasant, Trout and more. This was how I was RAISED. I don't know if I ever stepped foot into a grocery store before age 10.
As a teenager, I never realized that other people didn't really live this way. I was quite isolated from that other lifestyle of suburban living. But when I was 17 years old, we moved to Warwick Rhode Island. The change was catastrophic to me in a myriad of ways...helping set in deeply to my subconscious mind, that the life I remembered way back when...was a better life. The truth is, after healing from those wounds that caused me to unknowingly think that way, I soon identified that inside of me was a piece that actually DID feel that way. The REAL ME, loved the country...loved that life...wanted it back.
For 5 years in college, I lived on a rural campus at University of Rhode Island. I enjoyed my trips through the farm lands there, the Dahlia Farm nearby and the many wooded hiking trails. I felt happy on the campus. After college however, I became disillusioned by city life, living in Providence until I was 28 years old. I definitely used that time to learn new things...but in seeking the "old ways", the country ways...I often walked in Roger Williams Park. It was a solace for me to bring me closer to the things I truly loved. I enjoyed the trees, the smells, the Botanicals. They also have a lovely zoo, where I would go to just feel that connection to animals.
At age 28 years old, we moved back to Warwick RI...but this time near the ocean. I had what is known as "terciary" waterfront property. We were right on the water. We had a private beach too. It was a nice community. There I learned to set down roots and explore my inner self. But it would not be until I bought my own home in 2019, that I would really bloom as a true Homesteader.
My personal definition of Homesteading is the use of one's own home to produce desired food, self-sufficiency and satisfaction without needing to look outside of the home, or beyond what one can make for themselves. Homesteading can be as simple or complex as a person desires, but everyone in the home must participate.
Our homesteading journey really began when Covid 19 hit the States in mid-March 2020.
I had been working as a Property Manager in Connecticut and commuting the kids to school in the next town over each day. I knew something needed to change. The schedule was grueling. I was only doing it to "pay the bills", "keep the status quo", and "gain the admiration of my higher-ups for promotion". But I was unhappy. One day we were told to take our computers home and then we worked remotely until May 2020. By May, I was acutely aware of being in the wrong workplace for me...managing a community 100 miles away remotely. I took a Leasing job closer to home. Unfortunately, by September 2020,we had a new problem. Due to Covid 19, the schools did not reopen.
By mid-October I was unemployed (Able to collect from the government, a reasonable weekly amount)...but the time on my hands became the greatest blessing ever.
HOW THE HOMESTEADING GOT STARTED HERE AT THE LILAC BROOM Homestead
It all started with this special lady...Mrs. Krebapple (our Crabapple Tree). We purchased her from the clearance rack at Lowes in October 2019 before we bought the house. In March 2020, we dug a massive hole and created a Kidney-Shaped Garden where she is now planted in our front yard. Mrs. Krebapple is the Cornerstone for me of my Homestead. Her garden is my most precious of all. We painted rocks in tribute to our lost Grandmother, Gramma Karla. It's called, "Gramma Karla's Garden" now.
FROM ONE TREE TO MANY THINGS...ONE PLANTING SEASON'S STORY.
From the moment that we got Mrs. Kerbapple in the ground, we were on a string of yard and lawn improvements that included the following in just one year!
1. Aerating and seeding the front and back lawns
2. Purchase of a small tractor lawnmower plus a trailer for hauling
3. planting two front gardens, a Side Garden and a backyard berry patch.
4. Growing and harvesting herbs and vegetables the first year.
5. Discovery of a Hidden Front Walkway and the Rehabilitation and rebuilding of the front walk.
among other things...
and here are some beautiful moments I captured while this was all happening. These are my beautiful family enjoying becoming the Homesteaders I knew they could be!
My camera-shy husband is noticeably missing from these photos...I will try chasing him around this spring and getting more pictures of him mowing, cultivating and working in the yard.
Another way that my Husband helps on the Homesteading idea is that he maintains our mechanical items such as our vehicles, bicycles, tractor, snowblower, generators and all of the indoor equipment as well. Without his skills for these, we would be in a world of hurt!
GARDENS THAT PRODUCED FRUIT AND HAPPINESS 2020
The Berry Patch
The Berry patch was planted in April 2020 along the back fence-line of our land. I chose that spot because growing up in the country, and my mother agreed with this...we found that berry bushes thrive even in partial sunshine. My husband cultivated the soil with a hand tiller and then we added a LOT of good soil and blended it. We planted 3 different varieties of Blueberries, 2 varieties of Raspberries and then also a strawberry plant. So what happened?
What happened was that the plants had TONS of berries...and as they ripened, the local bunnies ate them all. Soon the plants looked terrible and my husband was discouraged. But of course, the plants WILL produce again...and we need to protect them this time around.
Here are some photos of our Berry Patch when I first assembled it:
I want the berry patch to be like my own personal garden for peace and tranquility. In order for it to feel that way, I wanted the first year that the berries moved in to be a joyful one. I created a Fire Pit and Gathering area for us to spend more time with them. We had many lovely days and night out there in 2020:
The Rose Garden
In honor of my Mother, I wanted to celebrate her love for gardening and honor our early life of outdoor-living. I decided that one of the best ways to do that was to finally stop being afraid to just do it! So one of the garden-favorites that I NEVER BELIEVED I could grow...became the central focus of Mom's(Nona's) Garden: ROSES.
Nona's garden is currently home to 2 varieties of Roses. We want to see how they do for a few years before we introduce any others. I want to add a trellis for a LITTLE coverage from the sun...but the simplicity of this garden is just amazing.
The Vegetable Garden
We had great success with a tiny row of garden space that gets excellent sun coverage all day. The success of this spot has given birth to the idea of expanding it into two long row gardens. My husband made a simple wood border, giving us a 6 inch wall. We planted some herbs, tomatoes in two varieties and one very curious cucumber! Here is what happened:
We started the garden with 6 inch plants from Lowe's. There were herbs and veggies mixed.
The Herb Garden
We grew a LOT of flowers...so I will not post about all of them. But we planted Sunflowers, pansies, Strawberry Zinnias, Columbine, Roses, Peonies, Hydrangeas, Tiger Lillies, Tulips and Lilacs as well as some lovely potted Gerbera Daisies and Dahlias. But I was so thrilled by being able to grow this gorgeous Peony. Peonies were our Wedding Flower. Look at her go!
The Fairy Garden
In the back corner of my property ( have no photos yet for you but they will come this year), I have begun the process of creating a Fairy Garden. This is a "Magical" space in the yard where bunnies have come and where I have sprinkled many odd seed to see what might grow. So far it is mostly ragweed but it's a start! I am trying to cultivate cat grass and catnip as well as some wild herbs. I want nature to basically decided what wants to be there. Last year, my husband was out mowing the lawn and a few months prior I had asked him to stop mowing that area because I sensed the magic in it and wanted to see what the earth was going to create. So on this day...I heard the mower stop. My husband came in and told us to come outside, he had made an odd discovery in the patch of land that I called the "Fairy Garden", where he doesn't mow. He had noticed some movement there...so he went to investigate.
Four newborn (a day or less old) bunnies! The bunny I often saw visiting the odd little corner spot had come and delivered her babies there. It was a sign! Magic will come there this year...and maybe more bunnies too! This spot is right near the berry patch so we will need to put a proper fence around the berries to keep bunnies and birds out.
WHAT IS IN THE FUTURE FOR THIS HOMESTEAD?
Well: As Spring 2021 looms closer, I have begun to plan what I will plant. Since I am home a lot now, I decided to start my plants from seed this year.
The packets you see in these photos, and there are a LOT here...are all going to be grown this year between Spring, Summer and Autumn 2021. I plant to restructure, build-up and improve the Herb Garden in my front yard. I am going to grow Pole Beans the way we grew Cucumbers- needing a climbing trellis. We will grow tomatoes again and peppers but also a few other green veggies like two types of lettuce, Brussels and also Green beans.
The herbs will be important for the fact that I want to make my own Sage and Rosemary Bundles for Smudging. I do a lot of cooking and want to have a BIG stash for winter of dried Oregano, Parsley and Basil. Flowers that grow wild, or tall are not just beautiful to look at but they draw essential inspects and especially bees to the yard. As much as that scares me due to my bee sting allergy, it is important.
I have purchased a Loganberry plant and I plant to grow plenty of Strawberries this summer. I am also allergic to Strawberries but they are a good and easy and colorful delight to the berry patch! If nothing else grows well in that patch, I KNOW the strawberries will! I will take a stab at drying some flowers for my candle creations which I will be making in the Summer too. We had a few close calls with electrical outages this winter and it had me scrambling for candles. I asked myself, wouldn't it be easier to make them? Why yes! Yes it would.
My husband will probably help me by creating another long (12 foot x 2 foot) Vegetable bed on the side of our house where we get excellent sun. In between the two beds will be a narrow path that will allow us to cross from our driveway into the front yard. Jamie and I were married under a Wooden Arbor that he made for us. Currently, we are weather-proofing the Arbor so that it can be installed as a lovely entry-point for this small vegetable garden. I am eager to complete that project simply to enjoy how beautiful it will be!
Have you ever given any thought to what type of Homestead you might want? In researching it, I discovered many types. Here are some photos to inspire you!
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