I don't really consider myself a homesteader, and may never make it that far. I enjoy gardening, the food tastes SO much better, and it's something I've always done, my mom always did, my grandma always did, etc.. I'm just getting into canning, mostly pickles, salsa, and jam (this year's addition). I think green beans will be next, but that pressure canner makes me nervous! I do freeze other vegetables, squash, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, etc..

I grew up around chickens, so when we bought this acreage and the chickens we inherited with it died, it was only natural to me to get some more. Besides, I wanted the boys to experience gathering eggs and taking care of chickens also. No butchering here, though, I remember that from when I was little - stinky wet feathers! (gagged me! - don't like the smell of wet dogs, either!)

We have always butchered beef (have it processed, not at home), same as the vegetables - it is just so much better. A friend of mine recently discovered that the hamburger she bought at the store had additives in it to enhance the flavor, and water added also. She stopped buying at that store! The powers of corporate america will do about anything to make an extra penny sometimes!!

I don't like spending money on cleaning products when I can make my own, though I don't do my own soap - I've been toying with the idea, but haven't found a recipe I am ready to tackle yet - I think I need to do some reading on the subject.

I don't pay retail for clothing. The prices they want for a pair of slacks are outrageous! I do, however, ususally buy new - I just buy off-season, clearance sales, discount houses, etc. I love garage sales, though, and if I find a bargain on anything that is in good shape, I hesitate not!

Does this qualify me as a homesteader? I don't feel like it does, because there are so many other things that we DON'T do. Do you consider yourself a homesteader? Why? What characteristics do you think are essential to the homesteader philosophy?

Just looking for some insight, and maybe working on a list of things that I could work on myself, adding one characteristic at a time that might help reduce trash output, increase self-sufficiency, or cut down on wasteful spending. Maybe we could help each other out in this area if there's something special we want to work on!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), February 15, 2002

Answers

chicken feathe soup gags me also,,thats why I skin everything now,, IM not making pillows,, so I dont need the feathers

-- Stan (sopal@net-port.com), February 15, 2002.

I don't think of myself as a homesteader, either, though I have lots of homestead interests. I also grew up around "country" things. My dad worked in town, but kept chickens and usually had a beef animal, sometimes dairy cows, and my parents kept a really big garden, and put up everything.

Like you, I was turned off by the process of chicken plucking as a girl. I thought I needed to learn, but just couldn't stand to be in the room with the smell. But, Dad thought it was funny to bring a chicken in still flapping!! My hubby does the butchering, and bleeds them well before they come into the house. I have plucked and skinned, but like Stan, prefer to skin. It's so much faster and easier, not so messy(or smelly).

I've just been learning to can the last couple of years or so. Was also quite afraid of the canner at first, but have sort of made friends with it. Read your instruction book carefully each time; you'll get the hang of it. I used to freeze the vegetables, too, but I'm finding some things are nicer to have in jars.

I've always loved chickens, from a young girl. I love broody hens, so I usually always have more than I need. After seeing a Dateline a few years back about store-bought eggs, I have trouble eating one that's not fresh.

Same feelings about the additives, etc., in mass produced animals, especially concerned about the hormones they are giving dairy cattle now, and so I appreciate the goats for the nice fresh milk they give us(not to mention their antics!)

I hate to say it, but times'll have to be a lot worse before I think about making soap!

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), February 15, 2002.

Hey Christine! First, Mary, making soap can be a really fun and rewarding experience. The simple crisco and lye/water is a great soap, and you can add things to it to make it interesting. Anyway, I do consider us to be homesteaders, and by the last paragraph of our post, you sure sound like one to me! For me it is becoming more and more self-sufficient, not just in actually creating the ingredients needed for any particular thing (like, eggs, or lye for soap, or every herb you'd need) but in knowing how to make the final product. For instance, today I finally mixed together the dry ingredients to make my own Italian salad dressing. It called for dry pectin, which I bought of course. But most all else in it I could grow myself, except the oil. It is a philosphy that encompasses so many people, and many beliefs, but to me, it is the becoming more self sufficient that makes it homesteading.

-- Katie (homesteader@accessnevada.com), February 15, 2002.

Hello Christine,

Developing self-determinism!

Despite the rocky soil and constant erosion you are determined to produce a better garden every year.

Despite living in your new house while you finish building it, knowing you will get it done!

Chickens die or get killed, you raise new ones.

Truck or small machinery conks out you take them apart, find the trouble and put them back together, sometimes fixing them, sometimes not, but only to take them apart again and try fixing them again.

Not having the right materials for a repair on your fence or barn and making something work instead of running to the hardware store and buying the right item. Using the resources you have around you to make it work.

Eating what you grow and raise off your land because your chosen lifestyle also includes living in a remote area void of easily found jobs to help pay the bills.

Foraging in the woods for wild foods and game not for sport but, out of necessity.

Worrying about whether your truck will make it up the hill after a snowstorm or sitting for weeks on your homestead waiting for the snow to melt so you can drive up the hill.

Watching the rain forecast to determine your plans for the next day.

Bringing new life by helping your livestock get through the birthing process. Crying along with them if it fails.

Drinking your water straight from the creek.

Hearing your dogs, howling along with the coyotes during the late hours of the night. Going outside to howl along with them and seeing the most spectacular array of constellations that you could imagine.

Not having to lock your doors or even take keys out of your vehicles, because you know that no one will harm you or steal your possessions.

Drinking coffee on your front porch before the sun comes up and watching the first rays of light pierce through the haziness of the fog that lifts over the creek and the bogs on your land.

Seeing a sunset so spectacular that it looks like your neighbor's house who is a mile away to the west is on fire.

Not caring if you leave your homestead or not. Knowing that everything will be okay because you made it that way.

Never seeing a fire truck, policeman, sheriff, or government offical because you are remote and those persons don't travel this far out into the wilderness.

Target shooting with your kids and not worrying that they will grow up to be murderers.

Drinking ice tea, or lemonade, homemade of course under the shade of the canopy that the 200 year old oaks make around your homestead.

Swimming in the creek that is always 68 degrees in the summer time.

Cutting your own firewood off your own land, knowing that there is a kind of ZEN to it. Stacking it up all summer knowing that when winter comes, you will be ready for the worst.

Dancing with your wife in the moonlight, naked and not having any neighbors close enough to see!

Living and loving with your family with the satisfaction that everything in your world is just fine.

That is what I call homesteading!

Sincerely,

Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.

We're homesteaders, why? because God gave us the desire and we were willing to go with it and were blessed for it. Why? well you know how God is. He has His reasons and I'm glad. Homesteading is an attitude and a journey. One filled with pleasure of doing something for ourselves/of not depending on someone else to do for us. There's a desire to see how it's done-the root, the nitty gritty. To learn and teach. To find the natural way of life. And a longing and acceptance of quiet, tranquility, a peacefulness that a lot of other folk couldn't handle.

-- Cindy (SE. IN) (atilrthehony@hotmail.com), February 15, 2002.