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There is no reality the lifestyle magazines. We sort of know it but our eyes can easily deceive our brain. And your point about the new reality having to be far simpler and far tougher is spot on.

The real homestead magazine is a great idea…. Doesn’t sound commercially successful of course but maybe there are organisations that would like to see some real people make real changes that can act as a lead to the rest of the community (as well as inspiring those already trying). Could be local councils, philanthropic trust and perhaps people will actually pay for the magazine.

I appreciate that you are up to your ears in your own space but it is certainly an idea worth pursuing.

And thank you again for your ceaseless thinking, writing and action.

I realize kids and cash are 2 huge reasons for not being able to keep up with the less critical things on a working stead, and everyone prioritizes differently. We don’t have kids, which frees up lots of time for maintenance, and we both work full time, which helps pay for things. We sold larger holdings to pick a size of home & lot that would feed us and still be manageable in terms of upkeep.

I do love finding bargains and reusing materials etc. But boy oh boy do I love the way our new outbuildings look when we build them with the best materials we can afford and paint them to match the house. Our tiny tiny house was built in 1920 as an original homestead cabin. Even with additions it’s under 900 sq ft. But it’s tough and cute and I can feel its ‘attitude’ change with every finished project or chore. We’re in the middle of repainting it now. Yes, the garden needs weeding (I still make time for canning & critter care) but part of ‘steading for me is putting as much love into my place as I can. I can almost see what was a neglected rental for the past 20 years stand ever prouder as we put it back into functional and pretty working order.

Since starting on our ‘steading journey, I’ve really had to learn some tough lessons about not overstretching our time & money & labor. We scaled back some things I really loved and wanted to do, but I feel it’s more important to have a solid footing under our efforts, and know everything we currently do is “well-capitalized”, than to have so many critters that care is onerous or so many plantings that other things are neglected. The harder we work to streamline and focus what we already have, the easier it is to add more later. But I had to go kicking & screaming down that path before I figured it out. As much as I love having a milk cow, the time & care for her takes away from the garden or building projects. And by buying milk from the family dairy 3 miles away, I support local sustainability. So I sold the cow. As much as I miss the experience, I sleep much better at night without that bit of infrastructure to manage.

I really liked the Shaker philosophies posted earlier. I still have so far to go in getting our ‘stead clean & lean, and those are good principles for me to keep in mind.

I do think some kind of pictorial article showing real ‘steads would be wonderful. The magazines are so far from reality or balance it’s silly. I’d love to see inspirational pictures, demonstrating that homesteading doesn’t require a trust fund OR a rathole.

-Joanna

If a person owns land without debt, or has any other thing such as a skill in a trade that will be useful in the world of the future, then that person can be considered wealthy.