J.D. asked this question in a previous post and I thought it was an interesting thought. He also said some thought provoking things, so I wondered if anyone would like to share their feelings on the subject.

-- Ardie from WI (a6203@hotmail.com), February 21, 2001

Answers

It does fit , in any century. The answer may seem complicated, but really isn,t. Throughout history, self sufficient individuals have relied on their skills, intelligence and available resources that are overlooked by most of society. Same rules apply now as did then, just a little more technology is available. I know some utter the word "homesteader" with almost mystical awe,somewhat connected to the days of the western land grabs and govt grants, now that free land is not available, it really only means , "very smart folk using what is at hand to achieve a simpler, more self sufficient lifestyle. A good example is the way you and I are communicating via computers. 25 years ago we might have been talking on the porch of the local farmers co-op, IF we lived in the same town. Technology has closed that distance gap for us. Also , you will see more biointensive small farming happen because of the direction that natural conditions are progressing (drought, population, pollution, etc) . Smaller is more managable and also a key aspect of most "homesteaders". As conditions, ecological, economic and social, erode more, the "homesteader" philosophy will carry more strenth and potential because of its self sufficency and family value aspects.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 21, 2001.

Well for one thing prices keep going up...and up and up. I couldn't afford not to be a homesteader. Will homesteading become a major trend? Not hardly! Our country has forgotten what a work ethic is. As it gets more expensive just for the necessities, I believe homesteaders will fare better....have more security. Homesteaders may end up being the only sane people around here pretty soon(I know hard to believe..most of us are a bit nutty anyhow). Life is becoming so fast paced and stressful. I see lots of 'hobby farms' everywhere. Folks that have pastures full of horses that they mostly just feed and rarely ride. No garden or orchard in sight either..no matter how much acreage they have. Not everyone out in the country knows about farming. Some of em would never consider drinking fresh milk....the milk from the store tastes better they say! I just have to shake my head....milk comes from the same place....some of it is just less processed, medicated and requires less filtering. When I tell folks about the different things I do on my homestead they are always impressed but almost always say something like 'oh I could never do that'. If this country ever has a major crisses(Y2K,power shortages, oil shortages,natural disaster, etc) there is going to be a lot of chaos. We have in just a generation or two lost basic necessary skills. Things that our grandparents knew and so did everybody else...since everyone knew it, rarely was it ever written down. I think we have lost a lot of the common sense our grandparents had too. Odd how quickly something like common sense can disappear! Does homesteading fit in the 21st century? I think it is vital!

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 21, 2001.

Amanda, I certainly hope not everyone embraces the simpler life. If they did, we wouldn't have the dissipative wastes of society for our use. They fuel the society that we choose to live on the fringe of. Our simpler lifestyles really coexist beside and dependent(consider the internet) in some facets on the society of the rat race.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 21, 2001.

Very well, thank you.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), February 21, 2001.

There is a lot to be said for the modern conveniences and technologies we are able to participate with today. I for one enjoy them and use them whenever possible although I attempt not to be a slave to them. We try our best to be self sufficient while still living within a modern society. There is also a lot to be said for the "old ways". The skills and abilities to live in a simpler society or under hardships is something I think would benefit us all to cultivate in our own lives. CSM has always been a champion in keeping the "old ways" alive and taught to many. The old beyond the sidewalks series was a classic as far as many of us were concerned and I for one miss that kind of writing. If there were a severe change in the living conditions in this country many would be hardpressed to know what to do at all ( it could still happen even though y2k was a non event ), and CSM along with Jds (and his families) knowledge and ability to write and share that with others could be a lifesaver. I hope they continue to do that as they integrate the old that many of us enjoy so much with the new ideas and technologies. Our responsibility as readers is to let CSM know what we want to learn more about.

-- Marv (Pebes@mstar2.net), February 21, 2001.

So far, so good.

-- Doreen (animalwaitress@excite.com), February 22, 2001.

Jay you make us sound like leaches! I for one don't look at it that way. I really don't live off of our society at all. Other than the occasional salvage find I benefit very little from society. If anything it is a huge hindrance to the way I want to live. I agree in as much as I don't want eveyone to move to the country. I'm glad we have cities....I sure wouldn't want a lot of those folks for neighbors :o).

-- Amanda in Mo (aseley@townsqr.com), February 22, 2001.

Amanda, Not "leeches". Far from it, "technological forager" would be a better analogy. Check out the submission I made to the Jan/Feb 2001 issue. That submission is an example of the forager concept being used on the dissipative nature of society. Foraging is not a bad scenario, actually a very good and effective one. Rat race society is now beginning to see that there are many of us foraging their cast offs and some larger companies are attempting to scrap and destroy outdated PCs and peripherals, which on the major media releases, was cited as landfill managment. However, I saw another article that also said the "waste management" "would serve to hamper sectors of society that use older technolgy as it is cast off by others and ensure idustry a larger potential market for new sales".

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), February 22, 2001.