Homesteading is both a lifestyle and an attitude. It revolves around the idea of self-sufficiency and producing things yourself rather than purchasing them from stores and providers who mass produce or mass sourced products and consumer goods.
When you homestead, you look at something and figure out how you can create it yourself. Rather than buying a loaf of bread, you will bake it yourself. Rather than purchasing eggs, you’ll have your own chickens and collect up the eggs that they naturally produce.
This is all brilliant. But it’s important to understand that homesteading isn’t the easiest option out there. You will have to put time, effort, and work into leading this lifestyle.
A good thing to bear in mind, however, is that there are options that can help you to make life a little easier for yourself and maintain this admirable lifestyle simultaneously. Here are a few options that you have available to you!
Ease Yourself Into Homesteading
The first piece of advice that we can give is to ease yourself into homesteading. If you have grown used to leading a life where you can purchase anything you need on demand without having to put time, thought, or consideration into how it came into being in the first place, the switch to homesteading is going to be huge.
You’re going to have to get used to whole different way of living and pick up a whole host of skills in order to be able to conduct a self-sufficient lifestyle. So, it’s best not to throw yourself into the deep end. Reduce pressure on yourself by becoming self-sufficient in one area at a time. Nobody is going to be able to become self-sufficient over night.
Instead, try baking your own bread rather than buying a loaf from the store. Then you might want to move onto growing your own herbs to season your cooking. You can eventually ease yourself into growing vegetables. If you’re interested in creating your own clothes, don’t dive straight into trying to create an entire wardrobe. Try sewing a few tea towels. Then you might want to try making a tote bag.
Ease yourself into making basic tops. Before you know it you could be making dresses and more elaborate items. Practice makes perfect and patience is a virtue. It may be a few years before you are fully self sufficient in a given area, but it’s best to take baby steps to begin with – you will be running soon enough!
Remember that It’s Okay to Ask for a Helping Hand!
A second point to remember when homesteading is that it is okay to ask for a helping hand every once in a while. Sure, homesteading may revolve around the concept of self-sufficiency. But nobody can do absolutely everything alone.
The focus of homesteading should be on stepping away from unsustainable practices in mass production. Not on bearing the weight of the world on your shoulders. So, if you have plenty of land to tend to and find that you are falling behind on the gardening duties in your recreational outdoor space, don’t feel ashamed to reach out to Lawn Care specialists and landscape gardeners who will be able to mow your lawns, pull weeds, and ensure that your personal space is looking presentable and in good condition rather than unkempt and overgrown.
If you find that you’re using a lot of your time to sow, package, and store ingredients that you are going to be using for your consumption and you find that you are falling behind on your household cleaning routine, don’t feel ashamed to call in cleaners or maids who can wipe down surfaces, run the vacuum around, and dust away the cobwebs. It’s okay to bring in a little help!
Become Part of a Community
Homesteading can easily feel overwhelming. You may begin to question whether this is the right lifestyle for you and whether it’s worth all of the effort. By becoming part of a community of homesteaders, you can find yourself a support group who can also provide you with a whole lot of information, such as tips and tricks that can help you along the way in your journey. If you are ever in doubt, these people will be able to prop you up and guide you in the right direction! With access to the internet, it’s easier to connect with homesteaders near and far than ever before!
Sure, homesteading isn’t the easiest lifestyle to choose. But it’s so rewarding! Hopefully, the above information will help you to make the most of it and simplify things a little for yourself!
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