Many years ago, homesteading was a land program offered by the government that gave 160 acres of land to the citizen who lived on the land and planted something on it for five years. After five years the land was deeded to the homesteader. Today homesteading is a term used to describe what someone or a group of people are doing when they choose to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. It is all about growing your own whole foods, less energy use, community involvement, and improving the overall quality of your life and the life of your family. You might add a wind turbine to generate electricity. Splitting your own firewood and hanging your laundry out are other examples of self-sufficient living. Happy Valley Ranch is an example of a company that offers the types of products that today’s homesteaders are looking for.
Food and Power
Other homesteaders are raising farm animals to supplement their diets. Pigs, cows, sheep, buffalo, turkeys, goats, ostriches, emus, and chickens are common farm animals to see. Some have ponds and are raising fish for their food. You might find a tiller for the garden that is gas powered, man powered or horse powered. If the homesteader’s land has a stream on it they may have a water wheel that produces electricity or a small grinder for their grains or both. Solar power is something modern homesteaders are using especially when their land is off the electric grid. The initial investment may seem expensive, but once the solar system is up and running, the results are great.
Equipment and Tools
You will find grain grinders, juicers, canning equipment, cider presses, bread pans, cheese-making equipment, yogurt making equipment, looms, spinning wheels, knitting and crochet needles, sewing machines that are either electric or treadle, herb-drying racks, cast-iron pans, skillets and pots, and, most likely, lots of books with instructions about how to use all of these things. There are so many blogs, books, and websites with guidance for the homesteader, that before you set out on your new adventure in self-sufficiency, you should have all the knowledge you need to get started and everything you need to be successful. Happy Valley Ranch offers some of the things you may be looking for to get you started off on the right foot.
We have part of one of those old homesteads, which is 160 acres and called a quarter-parcel because the original homestead was 640 acres. Thanks for the review on this company because over the remaining years of our lives we're going to be working toward sustainability and bringing the old quarter-parcel back to life :)
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