If I'm not homesteading then what I doing? Definitions matter to me.

   

  Definitions are important to me.   Part of that reason is because I have a degree in education and biology and a love of philosophy.  Although I never really used either degree to a certain extent, but biology has it's own precise language for clarity.  So does philosophy.

   I worked for engineering firms for several years where you had to be precise, you accidentally transpose a number and the building could fall down.   Or at least cause delays that could cost thousands of dollars, if not more.

   I ended up working for banks and Insurance companies where medical terms are used to describe a exact problem, which in turn may lead to that person paying a higher premium, or not getting insurance at all.

    It's not always fair but it is important.  It's important that I have an exact definition or at least a clue about what I'm doing.  So for me at least the term "homesteading" doesn't really apply.

  Turn the TV on today and you will find some show about homesteading and/or homesteaders.   Generally these are people that live off the grid, growing their own food and raising some sort of traditional farm animald like chickens, sheep or even a cow or two.   Often they get all their power through solar panels or windmills, sometimes both.   Often they make their own cloths or quilts or other farm products to sell to someone else.

    Sometimes they live on several acres and sometimes you can find a homestead on a suburban block. 

   

I admit that I admire this "can do" attitude.  I admire the Amish, who live in my area, that have given up much of "modern" life or have figured out a way to use it in moderation that works to their advantage.   For example, the Amish will not own or use a car but understand that it is a way and means to get somewhere quickly...and as thus will gladly let you drive them somewhere as long as they can pay you a small but fair amount.  As a side note, being a humble people the Amish don't like to be photographed directly - so please don't. 

    Often homesteaders are hunters who will kill or process their own game for food.   As a pacifist, I refuse to even have a gun in my home (which will be a future entry).   I will however gladly take venison, quail or rabbit meat if your offering it to me.

    It is this commitment to another form of life that attracts me.    I don't think I have that commitment to make "homesteading" a full time lifestyle.

   

    I am however, sharing some of the definitions of Homesteading, for example;  I'm looking into going solar eventually, to cut the electric costs for our home but I think it's unlikely that I would go solar as my only source of power.   I can see it being used to power up generators (again something to touch upon in a future entry) or our hot water heater.  The wonderful folks at the Institute for Energy at St Francis University have been wonderful in helping me in that regard (see my links page for additional info).

    I do think however that Sue and I have the commitment to make this a "hobby."  To reduce our dependence on certain things.  Chickens, for eggs and helping to keep the bug population down, could be in our future.   So could a goat we could milk.  We've spoken about a garden and Sue already knows how to can and preserve the food so we have that covered.  My next project may be a mulch pile.

    Growing our own food is just one of the reasons we bought the land that we did, and we have just over 2.1 acres of partially wooded land.   However we have more than enough room for a decent garden and maybe a few chickens and a goat.    Maybe.    

    One day we may sell part of that land or perhaps even build a tiny home that we may eventually rent out to one of the college kids in the area.  If worse comes to worst, we have one or two bedrooms we can rent out.

    I don't think we will ever get beyond the stage of being "hobby farmers.".  Things take time, money and effort.  Plus, as we age, we need to take our health into consideration.  We don't have many steps between the upstairs bedrooms and the living room, but we are both taking them slow in the morning.   

    It's becoming very apparent to me that we have to do this hobby farm thing right. We have to define what we want, so we can plan to get there.

   

For me...it's about reducing my carbon footprint.  Getting back in touch with nature a little bit and actually leaving this world a little better than what it is now.   Yes, I understand that many people are jumping on the "homesteading" bandwagon because of the pandemic.   People are scared and when they get scared they want to go back to basics.   To growing their own food and learning to preserve it...because you just don't know what tomorrow brings.

    I won't lie, that's part of it for me too.  However my desire to be a "farm hobbyist" is a little deeper than that. I just don't know how to put it into words yet.  I don't have that definition yet.  That my friends, is what this blog is all about.