I want to take a moment to explore briefly what homesteading means to me, and in more depth to connect with the reasons why we choose a lifestyle of homesteading.

Homesteading involves raising food, much like farming.  But unlike farming, the primary purpose of homesteading is to feed oneself and one's family.  Often the raising of food includes a side business for profit, but this is an outgrowth of providing for oneself.  On the other hand, farming is raising food for a profit.  Sometimes a farmer raises a crop or product exclusively for sale, and may not even eat the farm product(s) produced.  Homesteading typically involves more diversified farm enterprises, and often extends into other means of self-sufficiency, such as living off-grid, catching rainwater, making soap, or homeschooling.  Homesteading is more of a lifestyle than a business, and a way of life that is growing in popularity, but is certainly not mainstream yet and not a preferred way of life for most.

Many people are either drawn to the allures of homesteading or pushed in this direction from a need for more control in times of uncertainty.  For Johnny and I, both are true.

• Are you concerned over rising food costs?
• Has your income been reduced?
• Is your job stability in question?
• Do you want to increase your readiness for a short-term food shortage?
• Do you find satisfaction in raising plants and/or animals?
• Are you looking to slow the pace of your life and take a step back from the rat-race?
• Are you searching for a more peaceful place?
• Do you find satisfaction in the tangible work of providing for yourself?

There is no one "right" reason to homestead, just as there is no one right way to homestead.

If I had to list one reason why I homestead, it is that I find a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment in raising food and bringing the food alive on our family table.  For years, I equated joy with excitement and bombast.  Contentment and joy were vague concepts to me, and sometimes elusive ones.  Over the years, I grew to realize that I had become content.  I had no vague sense of longing and the grass wasn't greener over there.  Self-awareness is sluggish in me, so the realization took too long, but at least it occurred.

If I can speak for Johnny, I know he is most content simply being outside, or as he says, in the real world.  He knows his place in the natural world and his curiosity for all living and even non-living things in nature never rests.  He just cannot get enough of being outside and connecting with nature.

When taking this next step from homesteading to living entirely off the land for a year, a few things were on my mind.

First, I wanted to connect more deeply to this place - our farm, and also our neighbors.  I want to wake up each day fully aware of my surroundings.  I want to wake up when my body is rested and go to bed when I am tired, and to find comfort knowing all the animals - domestic and wild, are doing the same.  I want the time and mental space to be here now.  And I want to take this year to find others who are also raising food for themselves and connect with those around me.

Second, I want to increase my gratitude.  Since eating is something I will continue to do every day for the rest of my life, deepening my connection and knowledge of how all foods are made, I will have the opportunity to forever be grateful for the food that nourishes my body - knowing fully what it took for the food to make it to my plate.  And the gratitude ties into connection, as I am aware of the farmers who produced the seed and feed, the rain water, the sunshine, and of my ability to take this year to be present on our farm.  I couldn't do any of this without my partner, husband, and best friend - Johnny.  I'm not displaced by war or famine.  I don't have to work outside of our farm more than I do.  And yet I know this may change, and our year may not go as planned.  But I've already had five full weeks, and that alone has taught me more than I imagined.

Third, I want to practice lovingkindness - to others and myself.  I want to learn to be productive and busy without berating myself for not accomplishing more.  This is my baggage, and no more needs to be said on this.

Last, I want to be part of a long tradition of homesteading, and to share what we know.  I'm not an expert.  But if the past 5 weeks are any indication, we are going to be able to feed ourselves from our homestead every meal, every day, without buying anything more than salt and baking powder.  And we're eating well, if I may say so myself.  We have this to share.  There may come a time when we need to provide more for ourselves and work together in small communities.  If we can keep this knowledge alive and pass it on - in a book, online, or in person, then I feel we have made a worthy contribution to the land and our fellow humans.  This too brings me satisfaction.