Can you start a homestead with nothing?

Can you start a homestead with nothing?
Starting a homestead from scratch is not only possible, it's a journey that can begin with surprisingly humble beginnings. At its core, homesteading is about embracing a lifestyle of self-sufficiency, incorporating elements such as gardening, food preservation, and raising livestock. This lifestyle allows individuals to live in closer harmony with the land, regardless of whether they own it, highlighting the adaptability and resourcefulness that define the homesteading spirit.

The path to homesteading involves a thoughtful assessment of one's current resources and an alignment of priorities. Key considerations include the availability of land (owned or otherwise), space optimization, and identifying which aspects of self-sufficiency are most vital to start with, like food preservation or gardening. Future homesteaders are encouraged to cultivate a mindset of resourcefulness, leveraging community connections, repurposing materials, and remaining adaptable to overcome challenges and setbacks.

Embarking on a homesteading lifestyle is a step-by-step process that begins with an evaluation of personal goals and available resources, followed by a deliberate plan to develop the requisite skills and connections. Despite its challenges, homesteading offers a rewarding way to achieve a self-sufficient life. With patience and perseverance, anyone can make the transition towards becoming a successful homesteader, embodying resilience and a deeper connection to the environment.
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How To Get Started Homesteading...even if you don't own any land

How To Get Started Homesteading...even if you don't own any land
I was recently talking to moms at our homeschool co-op.  A topic that kept coming up was homesteading.  The thing that kept coming up was "I keep wanting to get into homesteading, but I don't know where to start"...then when they realize that my family is homesteading without owning our own land, the questions really start to flood in.

So, just how do you get started homesteading?  Well, for my family it has been anything but "normal".  Just like everyone else, we imagined we would first own our own land. But instead, we started with 12 possibly pregnant meat goats and 2 great pyrenees dogs.  How?  Well, there are actually a few ways to make this work.  
1) if you know someone with a lot of unused land, they may let you use it to get started on.
2) look around your area and keep an eye out for large areas of land that need to be maintained.  Find out who owns the land and see if they would be willing to let you lease it for your livestock.  (you might be surprised at how well this can work!)
3) quickly purchase some land!
We are currently doing #1 but also looking into option #2 so that we can expand faster.  Yes, we still want our own land.  But with the economy like it is right now, it just isn't a good time to be buying land.  And we certainly don't want to keep waiting to see our dreams come true.

Even if you aren't ready to jump into livestock.  There are still some ways you can get started homesteading.  Here's a short list of things you can do to help work your way into being a homesteading family.  And you don't have to own your own land for these!
  • backyard chickens (I'm setting these aside from livestock b/c they can be done right in town with minimal space)
  • start a compost
  • grow your own food (indoor and outdoors!)
  • preserve your harvest (canning, dehydrating, freezing)
  • save your seeds!
  • bake bread 
  • have a sourdough starter
  • make your own bone broth
  • make granola for cereal or as a topping (I love this recipe!)
  • make/use reusable paper towels (aka unpaper towels)
  • make your own cleaners
  • get into herbalism (even better if you grow your own herbs!)
  • make your food from scratch
  • make your own spice mixes, sauces, etc
  • make your own fermented drinks (like Kombucha!)
  • make your own dairy products (like yogurt!)
  • buy meat, eggs, and milk from a local rancher
Learn from others (youtube, social media, books, etc).  There are So many great homesteaders who started from the ground up.  And chances are, they didn't all start out the same way.  You are bound to find one you can relate to who you can learn from and follow.  
Here are a few that I like to follow:

In addition to this I'd like to add that downsizing your home is a huge plus in homesteading.  Let's face it, homesteading is a full-time, 24/7 "job".  It will keep you super busy!  So the less you have to do around the home (cleaning, organizing, digging for things you can't find), the better!

If you'd like some help in downsizing, I can certainly help you in the kitchen!  Only keep what you need and organize it to best suit your needs...I can help you with that!
If you need help coming up with a plan on how you can get started homesteading now (regardless of your skills or amount of land), I can help with that too!!
Just contact me and we'll develop a plan for you that works!
But if you are looking to downsize your entire home, honestly, I'm still working on that. But I do have a great recommendation for someone who can help you!  

Check out this group  to join like-minded moms to offer support on your homesteading journey.

Why Is Homemade Chicken Soup So Good For You?

Why Is Homemade Chicken Soup So Good For You?
If you are anything like my family, fall weather and the sniffles often brings on some good homemade chicken noodle soup "just like Grandma's".  But, have you ever stopped to wonder why that is?  Is it because she had the BEST recipe and it just hits the spot?  Or is there more to it than that?

One thing's for sure, you can't beat a nice warm, homemade soup on a chilly day.  But I've learned over the years that there's actually a LOT more to it than that.  So, let's take a look at some of the main ingredients you'll find in "Grandma's Chicken Soup".

Onionhigh in flavonoids (including quercetin and kaempferol), polyphenols, and allicin. They are antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, immune-enhancing, and anti-inflammatory.  Onions can also enhance the action of vitamin C.

Garlichas allicin and alliin, 2 compounds that are responsible for its antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal and antifungal properties. 

Celery - (seed) is an antioxidant and anti inflammatory. It also contains magnesium (benefitial use for the nervous system and muscular system), vitamin K, folate, potassium, fiber, and small amounts of vitamin C, vitamin A, and some B vitamins.

Carrots - has vitamins A, K, and C.  They are high in fiber, beta-carotene (an antioxidant),  alpha-carotene (anti-inflammatory), lutein (helps maintain healthy eyes), and zeaxanthin (protects eyes from harmful UV rays & blue light exposure)

Bone Broth - this one can very depending on where your broth comes from.  But a good bone broth will contain all of these: 
Magnesium, Phosphorus, Gelatin, Collagen, Glycine, Glutamine, Protein, Iron, Potassium, Calcium, Glucosamine, Chondroitin sulfate, Calcium.  
It can help improve digestion, protect your joins, clear your skin, improve your sleep, and help support a healthy immune system.

Add-Ins:
LemonThe juice and flesh have many health benefits.  But did you know that the peel also has many health benefits? The white pith of the peel is considered a bitter and can help with digestion and liver function. Lemons are also high in vitamin C, vitamin A, beta carotene, calcium, folate, magnesium, and potassium.

Ginger - (fresh) helps stimulate the immune system, allowing it to fight bacterial and viral infections.  It stimulates circulation of the blood (which helps to remove pathogens from the bloodstream).  It also thins mucous and supports expectoration, and warms the body.  
There's nothing like that extra cozy feeling when you are feeling a bit under the weather.

Herbs - You can find a list of herbs for the cold season here.

So, as you can see, there very well may have been a LOT more behind Grandma's chicken soup.  
Here's one of my favorite ways to make a good chicken noodle soup. 

Resources (with recipes!): 
Check out this group  to join like-minded moms to offer support on your homesteading journey.

From Homemaker to Homesteading

From Homemaker to Homesteading
I have been a homemaker for over 20 years now.  I haven't worked outside the home since I was pregnant with my oldest, who will turn 21 this year.  The idea of doing so now is a scary thought for me.  

Every child has a dream of what they want to be when they grow up.  For me it was a wife and a mother...mission accomplished!  And I have no desire of changing that dream now, even though my kids are quickly all becoming young adults.  But that doesn't mean that I won't be working at all...far from it!

With the times we are in, it seems even more important to be a diligent homemaker and saving money where we can as a family.  As my sons have gotten older, they have both expressed a desire to live off the land, grow our own food, and care for livestock.  My daughter is happy to be the recipient, lol.  And my husband is thrilled with the idea of being able to work the land with our sons.

We have slowly worked towards this goal over the years.  I do my best to preserve our harvest from our small garden each year.  I support local friends and purchase meats and produce from them as often as I can.  Our dream is to own acres of land and be able to grow our own food for our family (and if we are blessed enough, to share our bounty with others too).

My youngest has wanted goats for a few years now, both meat and milk.  He worked with goats as a young teen and the desire never left him.  Fastforward a couple of years...and we find ourselves with 12 soon-to-be momma goats, meat goats!

Having goats also means that we need a good livestock guardian dog (LGD) or two.  Luckily we have a friend who was needing to rehome a couple of Great Pyrenees pups.  My boys and I spent some time over the past week getting to know them so that they will trust us and have an easier transition when we move them to start caring for the goats.  We have made some great progress, so moving day for the pups is coming soon!

However, we do not currently own our home or any land.  So, just how are we going to manage becoming a homestead when we own nothing?

Follow us on our journey and you'll see!  If you find yourself in a similar situation where you long to provide for your family but, like us, do not own your home or land, you will find some great tips in following our journey.

I will be sharing updates on my blog, in my Facebook Group and, eventually hope to add a YouTube channel.  If you would like to receive updates, please click here to be added to the list.

Check out this group  to join like-minded moms to offer support on your homesteading journey.

A 10-Year Quest: Exploring Natural Health from Oils to Herbs

A 10-Year Quest: Exploring Natural Health from Oils to Herbs
Do you ever find yourself on a path that you totally geek out on?  If you have followed me for long, you know that I love continual education.  I have spent the past 5 years or so growing my knowledge and certifications.  It truly brings me joy.  But when I first started down the path of certifications, I had NO idea it would lead me here.

Then I take a moment, step back in time, and realize that I actually started on this path over 10 years ago!  I really don't know what year it was.  I know my youngest was a baby (who is now 15 yrs old 😳) and we lived in a different area, which was over 11 yrs ago.  Wow!  How time flies!!

Now that I took that little jog down memory lane, I realize that my path to natural health and wellness began way back then.  It all started with trying to treat headaches.  I discovered essential oils and dug into experimenting and learning.  I'll admit, I wasn't using PURE essential oils as I should have been and therefore didn't get the desired results (but that's a topic for another time).  My point is, that was the start of the path I'm currently on...and thankfully I have now found some PURE essential oils that I LOVE and use daily!

Add to that the need I had to cater to my daughter's strict dietary needs (another story for another time) and I had to do a TON of research and learn all I could about how to supply her needs...naturally.

Now, fast-forward to August of 2023.  I was scrolling FB and an ad caught my attention.  I usually ignore them but there was something about this one. It was about herbalism.  I jumped on it and purchased a short course because it was super cheap.  And that was it...I was all in.  I quickly got on my computer and searched up Herbalism Courses and Certifications.  After a little research I landed on one that seemed reputable and full of all the things I wanted to learn.

Thankfully my husband supports me in all of these endeavors...in more ways than one!  He was all for me continuing my education, knowing that it will benefit our whole family.  And my goal is to not stop there!  My goal is to take my knowledge far enough that I can help other moms with natural remedies.

I am thoroughly enjoying this course and geek out more and more every day as I grow my knowledge and my herb collection.

I can't wait to share little tid-bits with you along the way.  This is also part of what I will be offering my my HomeMaker's Haven Membership.  It's a great place for me to share the knowledge I'm gaining and help as many moms as possible!

Now, please excuse me while I go geek out a bit more about all that God has given us in nature!
Check out this group  to join like-minded moms to offer support on your homesteading journey.

 
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