I finally “feel” like a homesteader!

[madness]

I’ve been a homesteader in spirit only for over a year now. Planning, learning, dreaming. I did what I could in the short-term rent house I lived in – container vegetable gardening, learning to can, buying only in-season veggies at the farmer’s market, etc. But I finally purchased some property at the end of last year. It’s still in the city. I didn’t want to make “the big move” to some place out in the country only to find that I wasn’t cut out for homesteading, so I’m taking little steps. I have 1.3 acres and that’s plenty for a single newbie like me. Most of the people that knew about my plans thought I was “weird” or “crazy” or “never going to actually do it”. It was pretty discouraging in the early stages of my planning, but I got over it by realizing it’s my dream and it doesn’t matter what “they” thought about it!
Well, last weekend, my brother had his birthday party at my “homestead-in-the-city”. I’m barely on my way to fulfilling my plans for the place, but I have bees and chickens and a big garden. I made all the food from scratch using only home-grown or local farmer’s market food. Even the beer was local. Everyone was really impressed! The same people that told me I was weird a year ago were asking when they could come over to see me inspect the hives, or help in the garden or play with the chickens! These folks were just so out of touch with the benefits of producing your own food and the other joys of homesteading, that they couldn’t see why I wanted to do it. But now they do! It made me feel validated in some way. I realized that even though I’ve taken such small steps towards my goal, they are steps in the opposite direction of the beaten path and people really notice – and are interested. I used to hate the fact that you could hear the highway in the distance at my place. Now I love it for what it represents – it IS possible to be more self-sufficient right in the city…and more people should do it!

I also went on my first foraging expedition! There’s a big undeveloped park near my house that is FULL of wild dewberry patches. I called the neighborhood group (that owns the land) and they said I could have as many of them as I wanted! Early this morning, I went out and gathered 2 pints. When I first saw them yesterday, I hadn’t realized how many there were and I wished I had brought a bigger container! For some reason, that simple act made me feel more like I was providing for myself than anything else I’ve done so far. I guess it’s just the fact that I saw the opportunity and had the desire to make the most of it – something that a person who would rather save themselves the scratches and buy from the grocery store wouldn’t necessarily do.

Anyway, thanks to this board for all the information that I have already used in my adventure and all the information that I am sure to use in the future!

Marissa

[Dente deLion]

Wow! Hooray for you!! Keep posting on your progress!

[Wildwood Flower]

Sounds to me like you are very happy...and I think it's a wise move to do a 1-acre deal. Heck, you can feed an army on an acre! Plus, it doesn't get to be so much work that you hate it.

Good for you!

[turtlehead]

You're doing *great*!

My family still thinks I'm weird and crazy but they know I'm happy and they're good with that. I'm glad your party guests also were happy for you.

It seems like a silly step, calling and asking if you can collect the dewberries - but it's representative of a much larger change. You noticed, you took action, you benefitted. How many times do we not see the dewberries at all, or if we do, just halfway think "oh, those look good" and never find out who to contact and never go get them? You stepped out of that comfort zone and reaped the rewards. That's a big deal.

[grannygardner]

Congratulations!

[hunter63]

You did the right thing by Homesteading where ever you are to start with, then expand. Thats the way you learn.
Congrats

[CountryHaven]

That's fantastic. You're DOING it. Key word=doing.

[madness]

Thanks for the encouragement everyone!

I just wanted to add something about the dewberries. When I saw them yesterday, I ate a few while walking by. Another person on the trail (the only other one I’ve EVER seen since I’ve been walking there for almost two months) stopped and asked if it was “ok” to pick them. I honestly hadn’t thought about it! If it was on someone else’s property, that’s one thing, but this park (I think) is public land. Anyway, I figured I should call someone just so I can say to the next person, “yes, it’s ‘ok’ to pick them!”

When I was a kid, we used to pick them on the roadside, but now (not all that many years later – I’m 27), I never see anyone doing that and I now wonder if it’s because people think it might be illegal. Too many laws and not enough common sense, I guess!