Self-Sufficiency vs. Homesteading

[freemotion]

Just kidding!

 

[Wolf-Kim]

I think this goes back to that 'balance' each and every one of us seek in our journey through life.

Some just wish to learn to do a few things themselves, grow a garden or raise rabbits, while still others wish to be as completely independant from the world around them and still others are preparing for the end of the world as we know it. We all seek common goals and learn from each other, whether we want homemade jams or to be completely ready for the zombie apocolypse.

One of the most absolutely informative threads I have ever run across was on a prepper/survivalist forum, the amount of information this individual had stockpiled was mind bloggling! If I find it, I will share it.

As for me, it's hard to describe. I call myself a homesteader, because I love the meaning and history behind it. Homesteading is where most of my interest is, will I every live strictly in the old ways? Most likely not, I found myself oogling over the pretty stainless steel gas stovetops today and the newest line of refridgerators and microwaves.

I have a love for the old ways, to raise my own food and to grow my garden and to learn to make soaps and logcabins. It gets me excited, the long list of projects I want to learn to do and to play with. And I dabble in various sections of homesteading/self sufficiency/survivalist. Am I stockpiling 55gallon barrels of necessities in my closet? No, at least not yet. Have we stockpiled ammo? Not within any proximaty of extreme and we did it, not because of a zombie apocolypse, but because we anticipated rising prices and were practicing frugality.

Both my husband and I just have this strange love for the old ways, to know how to do things yourself, to be your own man and not rely on those who live the 'normal modern' way around you. To be able to take a young pig, raise it to a large hog and then take it all the way to the freezer. We love it. To not have to buy ammo from the store, but rather reuse the casings and learn to reuse what you can.

I don't do it to 'save the Earth'(sorry for all those green folks out there) but most of what I want to do tends to be greener than the 'modern' way anyway.

The composting toilet for example, some people use it because it saves water and is more 'green' than a conventional toilet and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. My interest lies in the fact that, I don't have to call someone to come pump the septic tank and I can use the by products in the garden or pastures.

So, while some may find distinction between them, there is definately a ton of similarity between all forms. Whether you're making jams for Christmas presents or living completely 'independant' or preparing for the day the goverment falls and all hell breaks loose. You are carrying forth the old knowledge in one way or another, how you use that knowledge is where the distinction shows.

 

[Wifezilla]

Speak for yourself. If he posts a recipe with powdered milk or margarine as ingredients all bets are off.

I got your back freemotion

 

[dacjohns]

edited to take out the irrelevant part of the post.


I'm about 5 pages behind. I go away for a few hours and you guys start getting chatty on me.

 

[Farmfresh]

ya know most people who homestead do not like dabblers. homesteaders that I chatted with don't dabble...they kinda go all the way off grid and live in their own little worlds. not all, but alot. They expect you to do the same. To be in that "niche".

Now watch it Farmer Chick! I'll have to take my broadsword to you!

I may not live away up in them there hills off grid and the like, but I AIN'T no dabbler! I have been living this way for around 25 years. I am a homesteader dag nab it!

edited to say:
AND I never cook with margarine OR powdered milk!!

 

[FarmerChick]

I give up you homestead varmint



you win---what, ya gonna shoot me?
you best not unless you have plans to eat me


HA HA HA

 

[Farmfresh]

Na ... not right yet anyways.

I gotta save SOME rations for when TSHTF.

 

[Beekissed]

Both my husband and I just have this strange love for the old ways

Me too! This lifestyle is quite a passion for me and I yearn for it like other people yearn for whatever makes them tick~art, literature, hobbies, professions, etc.

Although I am a Christian also, I don't know how much of my faith in God plays a part in this. I do know I feel drawn to a simpler life, as it makes me feel closer to my Creator. It sort of lets me see what is important and what is not in the broad scheme of things.

But...I don't stockpile ammunition or survivalist items. It might amuse you all to know that I have a total of 4 shells that belong to my .410! I really need to get some ammo, don't I?

 

[bibliophile birds]

I do know I feel drawn to a simpler life, as it makes me feel closer to my Creator. It sort of lets me see what is important and what is not in the broad scheme of things.

i'm agnostic (i consider myself an ecumenical pluralist, but that's a discussion for another day), but i agree with you on that 100%.

my mother has been hounding me to go to church for about 8 years. she knows that i'm not fully on board with Christianity, but she tries anyway (it's a Mother's prerogative, i guess). i just keep telling her: the something that's out there that i can't fully understand, which might be God or god or something altogether different, i can commune with it better out in the fields than i can in a church. church, to me, is like when a parent gets home at the end of a long day and gets mobbed by the kids, all of whom are trying to tell about their day, but no one is really getting heard over the hubbub. but when i'm out with the livestock or doing some project at home, i can take that time to have a little private chat. usually something totally random, but sometimes something specific like hopes that a friend who's having a rough time will get a break.

that kind of serene connectedness with whatever it is you believe is out there is nearly impossible in a grocery store or a mall. i've never walked through the produce section and thought "thank you for a bountiful harvest," but you can't help thinking that way when the groceries are growing in your backyard.

 

[freemotion]

Speak for yourself. If he posts a recipe with powdered milk or margarine as ingredients all bets are off.

I got your back freemotion http://www.forumsextreme.com/images/sFun_bat.gif

Thanks, WZ! I suspected as much!

AND I never cook with margarine OR powdered milk!!