Don't start homestead on a piece of land - start it in your head
How should I build a homestead? We don't have a house or a garden.
The disappointment in the young family's eyes was heartbreaking. I felt sorry for them. And after a whole weekend we spent together, I liked them.
I had to help them. It was the right thing to do.
What are we talking about here?
Homesteading is one of the buzzwords of our time. And not just since the pandemic. Many people dream about it. Even more, laugh about this way of life.
But we often forget that 150 years ago, EVERYONE lived on a homestead!
So it wasn't as long ago as some would have us believe...
To make sure we all mean the same thing, here's an attempt at a definition:
Homesteading is a state of mind:
An awareness that we are part of nature.
A mental attitude of not being dependent on others or the state.
The realization that we have to bear the consequences of our behavior.
An ability that allows us to take care of ourselves (this doesn't have to be 100%, but more on that later)
The mindset you need to cultivate
There are many ways to throw money down the drain in life - homesteading is one of them!
Without the clearing patterns of gratitude, you won't be able to enjoy this new lifestyle for long.
Problems will pop up out of nowhere and you'll throw in the towel.
But what thought patterns will help you?
These are neither "new" nor radical thoughts. But simply "longer-term" ones.
In today's world, we are trained to be rewarded quickly for all our actions.
Preferably immediately.
Be it the game on your phone.
Or the bonus card from your favorite supermarket.
Or the free miles on your credit card.
Constant gratification is everywhere.
Not so with Homesteading!
Patience is the name of nature's game.
Some people are born with stoic patience. Nothing can rattle them.
And then there are those for whom things can never move fast enough.
Immediately, now, is the motto.
Regardless of losses!
I belonged to the second group.
I had to learn patience - it wasn't something I was born with.
Maintaining a connection with nature.
It is a fascinating adventure to realize how much we are still part of nature today.
The weather and climate are good examples of this.
You can't hide from them.
And they determine a large part of our activities.
Simply being "outside" will not be enough to motivate you in the long term.
The thought of being part of something bigger and more important helps much more.
Self-sufficiency and sustainability.
How simple our lives have become, haven't they?
The fridge is empty? Food can be ordered and delivered to your home.
Sick in bed? You can buy medicines on every corner and they promise an instant cure.
But is it all sustainable? Or at least healthy?
The answers to these two questions alone have filled entire books...
So it's all about the principle of cause and effect.
Healthy eating has little immediate benefit.
Especially not if constant sugar and preservatives have dulled already your taste buds.
In the long term, however, the benefits are impressive.
Less or no health costs. Longer life expectancy. More fun in life.
Instant gratification? No way!
Prioritize simplicity over consumerism.
How many times have you bought something that wasn't worth the price?
You throw it in the bin and life goes on.
An endless cycle with an effect.
The mountains of waste are growing as fast as our savings are shrinking. Is that right?
Homesteading has a lot to do with shopping more consciously.
Paying attention to longevity.
Having things repaired instead of throwing them away.
Not everything has to be full of electronics.
Especially not if you can't repair electronics. Like me, for example!
Simplicity and durability are no longer selling points. Rather the opposite is the case. People laugh at such products.
But in the long run, they don't only save money. They also have consequences for nature.
Community and relationships.
When was the last time you struck up a conversation with a stranger while shopping?
It's probably been a while, hasn't it?
Even if self-proclaimed gurus want to prepare us for a fusion of man and machine - we are still herd animals!
We need contact with other people like robots need electricity.
Everything else is dystopian nonsense.
Nothing lifts our spirits like a nice chat with a neighbor, the farmer at the farmers' market.
Or the bike dealer who kindly explains for the third time how to put the chain back on.
Our relationships and connection to our community make us flourish.
Practical steps on the road to self-sufficiency.
All is well and good.
You've figured it out long ago, haven't you?
But where do you start? I mean practically.
Here are a few tips to help you get started with self-sufficiency.
Educate and get skills in gardening, animal husbandry, and simple DIY tasks.
One of the most important steps I recommend in my workshops is skill building. They are on the road to homesteading. Learn to fix simple things.
Or build and maintain simple tools yourself.
Never in history has it been so easy to learn a skill.
YouTube and online libraries are accessible to everyone today.
You just have to use them.
Do you have a balcony? Or a terrace?
Or an elderly neighbor who no longer wants to or can no longer cultivate their garden?
Creativity can be learned. The ability to look for opportunities can be trained.
And doors will open where there were none before.
You can gradually learn to grow, plant, and care for seedlings in the smallest of spaces and with little effort.
And this can develop into passions that you didn't know you had.
I earned my first money with lettuce seedlings.
My grandmother was my best customer.
But that's a story for another time...
Would you like to keep animals too? Then let's get started!
There's lots to read about it. And videos too.
And why don't you help out at an animal shelter? Or on a farm?
Horses, sheep, cows, and even dogs don't keep themselves.
If you know enough about them and even have experience, it's not only easier to buy them later.
It also reduces the inevitable disappointments.
Your future homestead will probably not be in a city center.
A cottage somewhere in the middle of nowhere is more realistic.
How easy do you think it is to get a plumber or mechanic there?
Exactly!
An audience with the Pope is probably easier to get...
So it can't hurt to carry out repairs yourself from now on.
Learning by doing, so to speak.
But please always keep an eye on the safety of your neighbors and roommates...
Assess personal values and goals for self-sufficiency.
What do you want to achieve with homesteading?
To save money? In the long run, yes.
Live a healthier life? Apart from all the accident risks you run, yes.
Do something for nature? You can do that much more easily by donating to the WWF.
Leave a better future for your children? Yes, if enough people have the same goal!
As you can see, there are many reasons to want a homestead.
Find your reasons. They will be the motivation you need when things go wrong. And they will!
Start by looking at your current situation. Where and how can you make a difference today? Food? Repairs? Animals? Garden?
The more you know and have already experienced, the easier it will be to step into your first homestead.
If you think I can help you with this, get in touch.
For most modern Homo sapiens economicus, the idea of living on the land as a self-sufficient farmer is about as comfortable as a colonoscopy at the doctor's office.
There is uncertainty, fear, and a lot of prejudice.
Does it matter what others think of you?
Modern self-sufficiency has nothing in common with a secluded life as a monk in the mountains.
You don't have to be unshaven, long-haired, and "wild" to build your happiness.
No one would notice that I haven't bought a tomato or an apple from the supermarket for 15 years!
And the fact that I butcher my pig amazes most people who meet me.
Lack of experience is something that everyone who embarks on the homestead adventure has.
As a professional gardener, I thought for a long time that I knew enough about plants to successfully manage a garden.
Until one day the greenhouse was blown away by the wind...
It helps immensely to see a lack of knowledge as a challenge.
If you think you already know everything, you will find it difficult to deal with nature's creativity for new problems.
The joy of do-it-yourself.
What drives people to go to incredible lengths for their food?
Everyone has their reasons. Mine were very simple.
I was tired of eating the industrial filth that was served to us everywhere. I could still remember the taste of real tomatoes and chicken that I got from my grandmother as a child.
And besides, I never wanted to have anything to do with the pharmaceutical industry again. After all, they had already tried to kill me three times.
Well, not immediately, but slowly and surely!
People underestimate the incredible feeling of freedom that comes with being self-sufficient.
You fall into bed in the evening dead tired. You know that you're not dependent on anyone. And, you've eaten a healthy meal. It's very liberating.
Farming your piece of land in harmony with nature is satisfying.
It gives hope for a future worth living for everyone.
And now what?
Living closer to nature has never harmed anyone. We must leave a viable planet for future generations.
It fills me with pride to see the transformation of our little piece of earth.
It went from almost dead farmland to an unstoppable fruit forest. This happened in such a short time and it also became a habitat for animals.
What a miracle!
Modern homesteading has nothing to do with life 200 years ago. You don't have to want to live like an Amish.
Do you want to offer yourself and your children a drama-free life with nature?
There's no way around that except homesteading.