Self-Sufficiency vs. Homesteading

[Ldychef2k]

Leah, that was an awesome post. What you describe can be found in Christianity. But very seldom did I find it in church. I have been a Christian for 42 years, and it wasn't until 1995 (when I stopped going to church) that I found that same kind of serene connectedness that you spoke of, with my God.

And I want to also tell you that today has been a particularly hard day for me spiritually, and your post has begun my process of re centering. I see that I have not been working on my relationship with Him, for whatever reason, and it feels awful. I think I will find a quiet place, even if it is just lying in bed tonight, and look for the Lord.

Thanks so much.

Kris

 

[bibliophile birds]

kris, i'm glad i could help lighten your spiritual load a little bit. when i'm having a tough day, i take a book and go sit with the chickens. there is something so peaceful about reading a book outside with a lap full of fluffy chickens to make your heart soar.

 

[Farmfresh]

Just for the record ... There ARE churches out there where that connection can be felt. I know I go to one. The support found in one of those churches is wonderful. Unfortunately churches like mine seem to be getting fewer and harder to find. All human beings are prone to be sinners (yes even me!). It is unfortunate that so many of them seem to bring their sinning ways into the house of God.

Enough religious conversion.

I am a homesteader!! I too feel the most connected to Creator and creation in the garden.

 

[me&thegals]

It's easy to get caught up in definitions or semantics. I wasn't so much curious about what the official definition or etymology is of the term 'homesteading,' but more the differences between the people who consider themselves homesteaders vs. the people who simply identify with the concepts of self-sufficiency or self-reliance.

The people in this forum just seem happier, more content and not nearly as preoccupied as the typical homesteader with the notion that the world is teetering over an abyss, ready to slide in. Many homesteaders with whom I've communicated in the past seem to have a bit of a fatalist mentality that extends well beyond being prepared for an emergency and instead has them building a doomsday shelter filled with 5,000 cans of kidney beans and enough guns and ammo to protect a small country. How can this not end up leaving you feeling as if you're living life under a bit of a gray cloud?


http://www.meticulum.com/bombshelter.jpg


I just think that when it gets to the point where someone's kids go without basic essentials because the parents are convinced they need to buy more ammo for the bomb shelter that it's gotten a bit out of hand. Yes indeed, there are many people who identify as homesteaders for whom this doesn't apply; I'm simply sharing my general overall impression.

Just my 2.

That's hilarious!! I remember that one from a long time ago

Homesteading versus self sufficiency: Hmmm... I'm definitely not a homesteader but getting closer all the time. For now (and hopefully always), our family has 2 vehicles, electricity, internet connection, back-up LP for heat, water heater, etc.

However, we now make our own soap, grow/hunt most of our own meat, raised and forage a LOT of our fruits and veggies, etc.

I haven't thought too much about it, but in my mind a homesteader looks to the land for ALL of their needs. I look to the land for a LOT of my needs, but not even close to all of them.

 

[FarmerChick]

You know what comes to mind for me when saying "homesteading"


You are the first person to ever work the land, to ever live on it permanently, to ever set up life, to travel in a covered wagon or walk from point A to B to conquer that land and set up home, to tame the wild to survive, to be the first one to settle (homestead) your acerage.

To me homesteads are from long ago..........while I know a first established homestead can be handed down thru generations, makes sense obviously-----------but to go out and buy a home and land and call it your "homestead" doesn't have the same meaning to me.

LOL

yup, again, how you see the meaning of the word and there are a million interrpretations to it.
LOL

weird how that word effects me when describing how others live and such

I don't know..HAHA

 

[Ldychef2k]

Something just came to my mind. When I bought my house 22 years ago, I filed a declaration of homestead in order to protect my rights in case something catastrophic happened (financially). So, I guess I am legally a homesteader, if nothing else !!!

 

[Farmfresh]

OOOH Ldycheif! I had the information on that filing a long while back and now I can not find the information anywhere. Do you still have the document names or information about filing for that? My D1 bought my dad's home with acreage and wanted to file for "homestead" for exactly the same reason that you mentioned, but now I have lost the info and the government isn't exactly excited about coughing up that info on any website I have found.

 

[FarmerChick]

Something just came to my mind. When I bought my house 22 years ago, I filed a declaration of homestead in order to protect my rights in case something catastrophic happened (financially). So, I guess I am legally a homesteader, if nothing else !!!

AAhhh,...now that is interesting.

legal rights to a homesteader vs. a regular property owner?

Hmm...

 

[Ldychef2k]

Here in California, you just go to your county courthouse and file a paper. When I did it 22 years ago, there was no fee. No doubt that has changed !

In the unlikely event that a creditor of the tax man try to take your house, here in California there is an automatic homestead, which means that you are going to be able to get something from the deal. A certain dollar amount will be yours, and they can't touch it.

Here's a quote I found that describes the benefits of declaring a homestead:

The main benefit is that if you voluntarily decide to sell your house, the equity upon sale is protected up to the dollar amount equal to your applicable homestead exemption, for up to six months, for reinvestment in another homestead. For example, if your homestead exemption allows you an exemption up to $50,000, then when you sell your house, your equity from the sale will be protected from judgments in the amount of $50,000 for up to six months. To better understand this benefit, consider the following change to the above example:



Example: You still have a judgment against you. You have NOT recorded a declared homestead. However, instead of the judgment creditor forcing the sale of your house as in the above example, you decided to voluntarily sell your house. First the home loan would get paid just like above. However, next to get paid would be the judgment creditor - in the amount of $100,000 - you would not get anything! You have lost all your equity. However, if you had recorded a declared homestead, then you would get $50,000 from the voluntary sale of your house. Your $50,000 would be safe for up to six months.


During the six months, you can reinvest your protected proceeds from the sale in another house and file a new declared homestead for that new house. Your protection would run from the date of your original declared homestead. This process does not prevent the judgment lien from attaching to the new house if the judgment lien is also recorded in the county in which the new house is located.

If you owned another property and declared that other property as your homestead during the six month period, the proceeds are no longer protected. Also, if you do reinvest the proceeds in another homestead within the six months, the proceeds will no longer be protected.

A similar benefit of the declared homestead exists in the case your house is sold at foreclosure sale. If you can't make your monthly mortgage payments, the bank will forecloses on your house. Unless you have declared your homestead, the homestead exemption does not operate to protect some equity from judgment creditors in the event of a foreclosure sale. Thus if there is a judgment lien against your house, at a foreclosure sale, the judgment lien will get paid before you. However, if you record a homestead declaration before the judgment lien is created, then your equity will be protected through the foreclosure sale up to the applicable exemption amount for up to six months.

PLEASE REMEMBER, RECORDING A HOMESTEAD DECLARATION DOES NOT AFFECT A CREDITORS RIGHT TO TRY AND FORCE THE SALE OF YOUR HOUSE. IT IS NOT AN ABSOLUTE PROTECTION FOR YOUR HOMESTEAD, BUT IT WILL PROTECT SOME OF YOUR HOME EQUITY.

 

[Farmfresh]

I do know that it is greatly dependent on what state you live in. Some states give you as much as $100,000 while others around $5,000.