To me homesteading is a natural part of living,,nothing I have to "think" and ponder on. It is "me". Just being, and enjoying living in the country, using common sense and being frugal. Planning ahead for winter and what I want to do come spring. Sharing with friends and neighbors..helping each other and being "a friend in need" when the time calls for it. Having a free spirit(not being molded by society) and a feeling of contentment with life. A realization that each critter (including some pesty bugs) on this planet has it's place in God's plan and I am grateful to be here to share the earth with them. Even if we don't agree on their idea of "where to build a nice bee nest or put a undesirable spider web right where it shouldn't be,,(smile) And them darn mosquitos......

I would love to know what homesteading means to you...

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), May 26, 2001

Answers

To me ,homesteading is home, be it in the country or an attic in New York City. It,s a place to live and be ones self. A place to eat, relax, rest and persue ones own interests and or hobbies. A shelter ,a place to feel comfortable and safe. WE all are homesteading. Homesteading in todays world doesn't require 40 acres and a mule. Simply providing a home {shelter} for our family and food for us to eat and money to pay taxes makes us a homesteader. Life is not always as we wish it to be. IT is as it is. What ever the meaning of is,is. To be countrysider is another good question..

-- Nathan Harris Sr. (barnyard_mini@yahoo.com), May 27, 2001.

Homesteading to me means, That a family should be able to provide at least 75% of their daily needs from off their property/buildings, be it owned or rented.

-- TomK (tjk@cac.net), May 27, 2001.

TomK,

I agree with you totally!

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 27, 2001.

homesteading is something i am always striving for but never seem to be able to achieve. independence from society, fulfilling my needs by my own work, doing for my self.

-- Mary R. (cntryfolk@ime.net), May 27, 2001.

My idea of homesteading is what I call the old-fashioned family farm. Not the big-business specialized farm we mostly see today. It's the kind of life we used to see on the old Waltons TV show where the family had a cow, some chickens, the small family-run business, lemonade on the porch, and most important, the family (including grandparents) working together as a team and loving and caring for each other.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), May 28, 2001.

As a new recruit, I have enjoyed the noise free neighborhood, The sudden drops of temperature on a road, because of lack of heat emitting concrete. I have seen a couple of Peking Ducks, the male, being a mean animal. Date Rape, comes to mind. Plus, I put a small Gossling, tiny fellow, and yet that male duck is so mean to a stranger. Gets all mean acting and drives the Gossling from drink of water. Wonder, he didn't think too much of it, while trying to mate with female chicken. She didn't like him much. Actually, his soul mate, doesn't like him too much either I once thought Nature was more harmonic with each other, I have seen, once moving to the boonies, they ain't perfect either. Though I fall back in wonderment, on how they can drink from a putried body of water, and still live. You have to be here.

-- My Story (andI@sticking.com), May 28, 2001.

I'm with Cathy! Homesteading to me is making do with what you have and attempting to provide what you can on your own means with the whole family working together. It means doing what you have to do..just because it is the right thing to do...even meaning taking care of the old folks if necessary. Everyone working together on God's land and not forgetting the old ways of doing things before everything go so high tech. Homesteading is being set free to live your life as you see fit!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), May 29, 2001.

You've all said it for me... I will add that homesteading (by whatever name) is security, and almost a form of sanctuary. At least that's what it meant growing up. Now, when I get my little piece o land, I hope I can get those feelings back!!

Its also an 'honest' living (in a rather Victorian fashion), and, for all its inherant problems, my idea of heaven on earth. I can't think of another 'job' I have had that has given so much satisfaction and fulfillment to me personally.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), May 30, 2001.