Every human in any modern and civilized country should have the skills to live a reliable and sustainable life without dependence on anyone but themselves. Whether having self-preserving skills for a way of life, or having the knowledge for emergency situations, it is vital to anyone’s life to know how to live without consumerism. Too many people in modern-day society have become so accustomed to the idea of working long hours at an office to purchase things that their ancestors were easily able to create on their own. Also known as consumerism, many people are unable to rely on their own skills and knowledge, and are dependent on a factory made, store bought item to live what they have been taught of as an acceptable way of life.
Many people are ignorant to what homesteading is. It can simply be described as self-sustainability with primitive skills. Some associate “self-sustainability” with other modern terms like “going green” or “off grid.” Homesteading is that and more. It can be an entire lifestyle. One may completely change her life to the homesteading culture and live day-to-day that way. Others may educate themselves in the principles of homesteading so that they can support themselves in an emergency situation. For example, if there is a destructive hurricane that comes through an area and shuts down utilities for over a week, one would be able to live in a comfortable environment until systems are back up and running. An argument against this is that a generator will do just fine. However, what if there is no access to a gas station or the supplies simply run out? A generator will be of no use.
Another emergency situation is a massive disaster. An example of an apocalyptic scenario would be a meteor destroying half the population on earth. This would not be a matter of temporary comfort. This would be a matter of enduring and surviving at all costs. One would need to know more than just how to make a fire.
Homesteading combats consumerism. Many people base their entire lives around consumerism without even the knowledge of what they are doing. According to the Merriam- Webster online dictionary, consumerism is the idea or preconceived notion of purchasing things that are economically desirable (Consumerism). In simplified terms, consumerism is the act of buying “stuff” that is not needed but just wanted. This is completely unnecessary. Buying items just “to have” creates clutter, and is only beneficial for the economy by creating revenue. Consumerism leads to compulsive behavior. Anyone that has been to a supermarket has experienced such behavior. All of the items on the grocery list are in the cart, and nothing else is needed. However, after walking by the register, brightly colored candy wrappers grab the attention of the customer, and the candy is purchased without second thought. This also happens on a larger scale, with purchasing home decorations that serve no purpose but to collect dust.
After knowing what homesteading is, the average American is likely to ask “But why?” Homesteading is a beautiful thing. As stated above, it is a way of “going green.” It is a form of conservation, but helps people do more than just recycle old water bottles or cardboard boxes. Living a homesteading lifestyle, one has more appreciation for life, and hence has greater self-esteem because they are helping the environment. More than that, homesteading helps to preserve the earth for future generations. Many individuals are concerned about their ecological (or sometimes called “carbon”) footprint. Homesteading drastically reduces the footprint of an individual.
Homesteading in any form saves money. The average homesteader makes something from scratch, whether it is homegrown tomatoes or shoes. Making something is cheaper than buying something already prepared. Making laundry detergent is a fraction of the price of a store bought detergent. It would also be free of harsh chemicals, dyes, and fragrances that have the possibility of creating an allergic reaction. Cooking a large meal also creates savings that one might not have thought of. A dinner can be rearranged multiple times in leftovers and not even seem like a repeat. Roast beef and vegetables one day may be beef stew the next.
Technology has made humans lazy. True, technological advances have done wonders for
the world. The creation of new medications and irradiating food has made life easier and less worrisome. Humanity has become more dependent on others because of technology. People
Technology has also forced most of modern civilizations to fall into a lifestyle where
there is no time for the self, so instant dinners and air-polluting vehicles replace healthy meals and exercise. Many people work long hours away from their home and family to earn money. However, because of the great amount of time spent away from the home, there is little time to enjoy being at home with family. An individual also loses time for themselves. This leads to consumerism. Purchasing a two hour movie to watch with the family and eating purchased processed foods replace hours of conversation around the kitchen table while enjoying homemade meals.
When an individual decides to better her life by homesteading, she may become overwhelmed. To one, homesteading is simply growing a single tomato plant by a kitchen window. To another, homesteading reminds her of an Amish lifestyle: no electricity, miles from a paved road, and only being able to eat what they are able to grow or raise. Multiple forms of homesteading exist, but with two basic forms of on the grid and off the grid.
Continuing to be on the grid means that the individual is still a productive member of society, and is less likely to be a hermit. An apartment dweller or inner-city resident can still homestead. Gardening in a small apartment, for example, is rather easy. A container garden is compact, requires little work, and is extremely mobile. To start an indoor garden, one can use any and all possible containers for pots. Used egg cartons are an exceptional way to start seeds, and a used milk gallon that is cut in half can be used as a secondary pot. Old paint buckets can be used for larger plants like tomatoes or peppers. Using old containers is also a creative way to recycle and save money (Wolcott 1).
If someone has a small yard, they could convert a flower bed that butts up against the house for a small vegetable garden. Or, they could take a used handled bucket, cut a small hole out of the bottom, and place a vegetable in the bucket upside down through the hole. They can then fill the bucket with potting soil and water the plant daily. This is a simple solution for those with limited space, and is less expensive than purchasing an upside-down growing kit.
Raising livestock on a small scale is possible even in cities and suburbs. One would have to check with town ordinances to make sure that laws are not being broken, but raising small animals is more than just a dream for many people. Rabbits are an excellent small animal to raise. They are low maintenance and low cost, and return a great deal of meat and pelts. If one does not have the stomach or heart to kill a rabbit, they could simply purchase an angora rabbit to keep as a pet. If an angora rabbit is combed every day, its fur can be spun and used as thread. This is a splendid idea for knitters and weavers. It is also a way to possibly bring in a few extra dollars on the side. The waste from the rabbit is can be used in the garden as a fertilizer.
Much can be said about raising ducks. Two pekin ducks can be raised as pets, and they offer more than just eggs. Every spring and fall, ducks molt. Their feathers can be used for down pillows. Just like the rabbits, the feces from the duck is perfect fertilizer. When the duck can no longer lay eggs, it can easily be slaughtered and become a dinner for four to six people. Just like geese, ducks are known for being territorial and quacking when someone approaches, thus being an advantageous guardian.
Many forms of alternative energy use can be combined or replace current forms of energy. Choices are abundant more now than they ever have been. Energy friendly appliances are on the rise, to the point where the United States government offers tax break incentives for purchasing energy efficient appliances (Energy Star). Washers with automatic sensors conserve water. Computers can be programmed to automatically go into low power hibernation mode if not used for a predetermined period of time. Programs are now available where entire apartment complexes can be converted to alternative forms of energy. Solar panels can be installed on top of an entire building or on a small windowsill. Water can be used to power homes, and wind turbines of all sizes can power however much or little is needed.
Storm harvesting is most commonly used by a rain barrel. Water is collected from a downspout into a container. It is a decent way to save money for watering the garden. If the water collected is intended to use for cooking or cleaning, a disinfectant system will be needed prior to the use of the water (Black 128-129).
Most people are comfortable with living on the grid. Making small changes to their lives is usually more desired than drastic changes. This is true even when one wants to save money and live a simpler, healthier life. However, there are always the extremists that will go as far as they possibly can. These are the “hardcore” homesteaders that prefer and desire to live off of the grid. Living off of the grid basically takes all of the values from being a small-scale homesteader on the grid and multiplies them until all ideas are exhausted. It is a more involved form of homesteading, and requires time and patience.
Most homesteaders are foragers. Many people associate the word “foraging” with ideas of searching through dumpsters and eating bits of leather from an old boot to stay alive. This is not what foraging is at all. Anyone who has walked through the woods and eaten a wild fox grape has practiced foraging. It is simply using the natural resources in the nearby area to help supplement one’s diet. Small dandelion leaves are tender and are popularly used in salads. Searching for edible berries, nuts and vegetables to help compliment what the homesteader is unable to recreate on her own. Basic identification manuals, as well as decent tools are a necessity. A pocket knife, reusable bags made from old shirts, and a pair of shears are all that is necessary for a successful foraging trip (Cywin 1).
Passionate homesteaders tend to live by an unwritten rule that if something cannot be made by themselves, then they are to live without it. Some may think that this makes life more difficult to live without something that could possibly make life simpler. However, if one is not able to fashion a dryer, a simple clothesline will work just as well, and save money by not using any sort of electricity. Some items, like tools or appliances, may be excusable. A bath tub may be difficult to make, but humans both past and present bathed in rivers and lakes without fail.
Homesteaders that are dedicated to living a simple life without relying on technology tend to be rather creative at making money doing what they love. Simply making a profit off of their creations is a very common characteristic to a homesteader. A homesteader can easily be found at a farmers market selling excess jam or jellies, or possibly selling gloves lined with rabbit fur. Some homesteaders are able to make a decent living off of small and medium-scale farming, to the point where they are able to pay for their land taxes and other bills.
The organics industry has grown about twenty percent each year since 2002. (Langlois 102) This is a perfect opportunity for homesteaders to do something that they love and make a profit. Growing natural or organic plants and raising free range livestock are guaranteed to create revenue. Having food certified may seem like a daunting task, but if someone is living this sort of lifestyle to begin with, it would not be a worry.
Livestock provides more than just meat from the flesh. A cow’s skin can be used to fashion belts or boots, their hooves can become dog treats, and their bones and teeth can be used for tools around the home and garden. This ensures that nothing from the animal will be wasted, and what is not sold will still be useful to the owner.
As lovely as an idea of homesteading is, it is not for everyone. Many government officials would probably baulk thinking that their citizens are thinking about not spending their money to stimulating the economy. A passionate homesteader tends to not have large revenue. The goal is to have a simple life, and money is not a concern. Luxury items such as new cars and large plasma televisions are either overlooked or not considered because of the price. Some homesteaders become so independent and proud of this characteristic that they patronize anyone who purchases premade items.
The lifestyle of a homesteader is not for the social butterfly. Much time is required at home. Whether it is to water the gardens or feed and take care of the animals, one would be unable to leave for long periods of time because of her obligations. Having a reliable and competent person to take care of the farm is rare. If someone is found and willing to help, they will not always be available, or they will quickly grow weary and ask for monetary compensation.
A homesteader will not gain social status in the public. If social status is gained, it is by a small group of other farmers and like-minded people. The homesteader will not be able to afford a new hybrid car to impress her peers. Nor will they have the time or money to drive around a new car to public events. If one is attending a farm animal auction, a large truck to haul the livestock is more practical than a small vehicle. Also quite possibly, a homesteader does not have time to go to fancy restaurants and frequent the movie theatres.
The simple life may at times be a much harder life. Severe weather is more difficult out
farm, but has plenty of firewood for heat. An apartment dweller is forced to live without heat until the power company turns the electric back on. (Cooke 3)
If the season brings a poor harvest, there is no one to help. Foraging and hunting would become mandatory in severe situations. If something breaks, one would have to have the knowledge and supplies to repair the item, or be able to live without it until it is fixed.
If people spend less money on unnecessary products, the money saved could be used for other things that are more meaningful. It also reduces pollution, wastes, and over production (Baskin 1). The idea of staying up to par with the neighbors on fast and flashy items is destructive, and living the life of a homesteader lessens the negative competition. The quality of one’s life is better because of less materialistic thinking. If one does not constantly think of getting something just to possess it, her mind is then free to relax and do something more constructive.
Many primitive skills are practical and useful information that are within the capabilities of the average person, and ensure that the historical traditions of our ancestors are kept alive (Mack 7). Homesteading is a reliable and sustainable way of life. It helps combat the faulty idea of consumerism. It allows an individual to create her own belongings and so creates a higher feeling of self-worth. It can be a less hectic and a more simple way of life.
More knowledge is gained living this sort of lifestyle. By growing the plants, one would know exactly what is in and on the food. Meat would be free of saline solutions and preservatives, which take away from the true taste of the cut. After being independent for so long, one would have a vast knowledge of how things work or are made and consequently making the process of creating something more efficient and enjoyable.
Work Cited
Baskin, Kimberly. “Combating Consumerism (One Shopper at a Time)”. 07 Feb 2008.
ActNow.com
Black, Dave. Living Off the Grid. New York: Sky Horse Publishing, 2008
"Consumerism." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008. Merriam-Webster Online.
11 April 2010
Cooke, Jan R. “Homesteader FAQs”. (N.D.) Homestead.Org. 15 March 2010.
Cywin, Larry. “You Can Become a Hardcore Forager.” 1998. Backwoods Home Magazine.
15 March 2010.
Energy Star. “Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency.” 15 Feb 2010. 11 April 2010.
Langlois, Cherie. “Raising Ducks Naturally.” Popular Farming Series: Ducks. 2009: Volume 9
Mack, Norman. Back to Basics. Pleasantville, New York: Reader’s Digest, 1981
Wolcott, Nancy. “Start a Self-Sufficiency Garden Even in a Cramped Apartment.” 1998: 1
Backwoods Home Magazine. 15 March 2010.
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