A lot on my mind since having a conversation with a dear homestead friend the other day. Seems many of the homestead families that she knows are turning away and going the city way, including her children since they started going to a youth group. These families are not doing as much do-it-yourself stuff and their way of dressing is different.

This is heartbreaking to me. I'm more committed than my husband, but he works out in the world and his music ministry takes equipment.

I can be very puristic about things and even go overboard. A few times I have asked God if this isn't what I should be doing, to please take the desire away from me. The only changes were, the urgency and I bought less books(I know). It seems now the urgency is stronger and when I prayed the same prayer the urgency lessened, but not as much as in the past.

Also, are modern homesteaders the same as other homesteaders? Does having electricity and computers and such keep us from achieving the real goal? God has used me more than once as a witness, which is especially exciting for me, since I can't go to church often because of the chemical poisoning. I'm not necessarily asking a question here as much as I am sorting out a few things.

I hope this is making sense, are you experiencing lack of committment in other homesteaders? Is this just the way of the world? What is your ultimate homestead goal? God Bless

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), April 13, 2001

Answers

Cindy-

Man... That IS depressing news. I truly know and understand what you mean about the 'urgency!!' I have been feeling that for some time, and it is really hard to sit in this trailer... Not hard.... Frustrating as all get out!!!!

I don't have contact with other homesteaders outside of the four or so forums I am on, so I don't see the lack of commitment there. I DO see some terrifying things in the 'outside' world, though... Like kids not knowing where their food comes from, or even if they do, they can't see how they could ever even raise a tomato by themselves.

I don't think having electric and a computer makes one less of a homesteader. I don't think that earning a living off of the farm makes one any less a homesteader either. If it does, well, then Rich and I aren't any closer to our goals than some jerk in a penthouse!!

A little secret: My husband and I... though not Christian... are convinced that we will see the 'Tribulation' in our lifetimes. This tends to make one very very committed to the idea of being self-sufficient. I am so glad for what you said in your post about being a witness... This world needs more of you!!!

There's been a lot of talk here about being paranoid, etc etc... If so, then I might just be the queen of it. But, I'd rather be paranoid and prepared than ignorant and totally at the mercy of a world I do not understand - a species that I feel has gone stark raving mad.

I don't think that a level-headed person - which you seem to be - would be feeling the way you do if it wasn't in some way 'meant to be.' Follow your heart and your knowledge...

Honestly - I think that 'homesteaders' are caught up in all the same stuff that's going on with others in this world. By that, I mean the confusion, frustration and, to a certain extent, the fear that I think MOST people are feeling these days.

The world is becoming a very scarey place; our positions within it are changing, our habits are changing, our futures are not secure and even the weather isn't behaving in a 'normal' way. Though none of this may be pointing to anything at all... most people (perhaps secretly) are beginning to really FEAR the future.

Trust in your faith -

BTW: I was reading something the other day that made a lot of sense. Not sure how long you have been doing the homesteading thing, but I know I have gone through several bouts of this myself...

It said that even if people WANT change, everything about them tends to resist it... They become depressed, and even convince themselves that they made a wrong choice. They feel anxious and skittish. Maybe this is just one of those times......

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 13, 2001.

Well, I think this internet thing is actually a fine line between clever and stupid in all sincerity. It's a way of getting everyone dependent upon something, used to storing things of both practical and sensitive natures on it and easy to yank out from under folks. if the net went down, people would have just as bad a time as if the toob went down.

I think people leaving the "lifestyle" of homesteading is just a reaction to the harder aspects of it. Why do it yourself,, when you can buy it for less if you trade off the wage versus time quotient? lots of people got into this over y2k and they will exit quickly because it didn't pan out. They might try to stay but it may not be what they are called to be doing and therefore it was most likely a human reaction based in fear that got them going in that direction.

Let me tell you from my experience...there are days when I just want to call a plumber rather than dig in slime and fix it myself. Yes, I can do it, but....ick, I don't WANT to!

So I do think it's just the way of the world to have people do things for a time and then move on....My friends think I am whacked outta my gourd because I KNEW what I wanted, and I set a course and am doing it even though it isn't easy, glamorous nor financially rewarding...Fact is, it's downright hard, completely without glamour and it takes a lot of money and time to get to the point where you have the time to not need money! Funny, huh? But whose yardstick is used to measure success????

My ultimate homestead goal is to be more remote than I am, and get a place together that is completely symbiotic. To have my homestead be a representation to visitors of the dynamics and beauty of the system as God created it with everything enhancing the lives of everything else, having very little impact on the earth and very little need of the wiles of the world. Lofty, yes.... But I think it is doable, given time, thought, effort and focus. Besides, you did ask for "ultimate"! God bless and have a great Easter!

-- Doreen (bisquit@here.com), April 15, 2001.