What is Homesteading?

The meaning of words may change as the world evolves; take the word, homesteading, for example. Your first association with this historical term may bring to mind your great-great grandfather walking behind a horse drawn plow in the mid 1800s. Homesteading in present life, however, does not mean that you have to be isolated to a plot of ground in the country but instead, represents a simpler, more self-sufficient way of life.

What is homesteading as it applies to its original meaning? Homesteading first originated with the Federal Government creating the Homesteading Act of 1862. A qualifying citizen could claim a plot of 160 acres of ground for a small registration fee. If they lived on this land for at least five years, a deed was issued to them, free and clear. Over 783,000 people were able to get a head start as pioneers in this manner before the Act was reversed in 1935 under President Franklin Roosevelt.

There are still similarities in the meaning of the word homesteading as it applies to life today because it still applies that becoming self-sufficient in our lives can aid us in saving money, learning to recycle, growing and making our own food and supplies instead of purchasing from a store. Living in an urban or suburban environment does not have to restrict you from being a homesteader.

If you visit a “U-Pick” farm for your fruits and vegetables, you not only get a better price but will be assured of the freshness and vitamins contained in what you are receiving. Canning and freezing this food will ensure the same freshness all year round instead of buying products that have tons of preservatives. Make your own pasta sauce, juices, yogurts, cheeses, pickles, and even wine. Your family will benefit from more nutrients, keeping them healthier.

Start a container garden if you do not have ground. Get a group of neighbors together for a co-op where everyone grows separate vegetables and exchange when the crops come in. Stop throwing away glass, metal and other containers that can be useful in your gardening needs. It is also very easy to learn how to make your own soap for bathing, washing clothes and cleaning.

Getting creative with everything that surrounds us today is a good way to learn how to become self-sufficient. Energy is another area where homesteading is becoming popular. Windmills were once the source of power to run pumps that brought water to the surface and they are making a comeback. Solar power that uses the sun can drive power into your home instead of using electricity.

What is homesteading? Homesteading is a way of life that’s so old it’s new again, and that many are choosing in order to be sustainable. Ask yourself what would happen if there was no electricity, no way to get to the store or no gas for your vehicle. Ponder these thoughts and you will surprise yourself with your own plan of action in using homesteading.