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04/13/09, 08:00 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: KS
Posts: 60
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What exactly is a homesteader, Im confused?
Is sustainable living or self sufficiency considered the same thing?
Does one have to have a farm or acreage to be a homesteader?
What is the definition of Urban homesteading or is that just a made up thing?
I am just a wannabe so I was hoping somehow I could wiggle my way into the definition of being a homesteader.
I dont have acreage but do have a very large lot on the edge of a rural town of 2000.I am still considered in town.I do have a garden and rabbits and chickens.I am trying to be more self sufficient but maybe thats not enough.
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04/13/09, 08:08 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: East TN
Posts: 6,977
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There is no fixed definition. If you read this board that will become very clear to you. It is what you want it to be.
__________________
"Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self confidence"
Robert Frost
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04/13/09, 08:09 AM
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Living Simply
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Swamp Land
Posts: 823
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To Me-
Homesteading is what's in your heart, not where you are at. I lived for years in a one bedroom condo. Grew tomatoes, peppers, etc on my balcony. Then I moved to the 'burbs. Grew a little garden. Now I live in the middle of a swamp, with a big garden. Am building a chicken coop and hog pen. Have a pond where I am doing aquaculture.
I think I was a "Homesteader" in all those places, because in my heart, I was trying to be as self sufficient as I could, given my circumstances.
alan
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Formerly Known As Galump!
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04/13/09, 08:15 AM
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Murphy was an optimist ;)
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 21,526
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cece6
Is sustainable living or self sufficiency considered the same thing?
Does one have to have a farm or acreage to be a homesteader?
What is the definition of Urban homesteading or is that just a made up thing?
I am just a wannabe so I was hoping somehow I could wiggle my way into the definition of being a homesteader.
I dont have acreage but do have a very large lot on the edge of a rural town of 2000.I am still considered in town.I do have a garden and rabbits and chickens.I am trying to be more self sufficient but maybe thats not enough.
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Homesteading in the twenty first century is a lot different than it was at the beginning of the twentieth century when it was a very good way to obtain farmland on a limited budget. By todays more common definition, you qualify! It pretty much amounts to most any practice that makes you a bit more self reliant. There are really no official rules that have to be met. My grandparents homesteaded in the thirties, and acquired a deed to 120 acres of land using the laws provided in the homestead act. To get clear title to the land they were require to put up a "livable" structure, clear the land, and have at least 80 percent of it in agricultural production within 4 years. Grampa got it done in two! Today I am considered a "homesteader" simply by living on purchased land, raising a few cows, tending a garden and doing what I can to achieve more self sufficiency than my city dwelling cousins.
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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain
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04/13/09, 10:32 AM
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God Smacked Jesus Freak
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Turtle Island/Yelm, WA "Land of the Dancing Spirits"--Salish
Posts: 7,456
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ah grasshopper, let go of being confused, it's wasted energy.
it's all about the land--not how much you own, but how much you love, learn about, understand, and fight for.
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THE BEGINNING IS NEAR
5-star double-rated astronavagatrix earth girl
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04/13/09, 10:32 AM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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With the back to the land movement of decades ago the term became more corrupted until today it can mean about anything to anyone.
As other have stated, it is about what you make of it.
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04/13/09, 11:01 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Anson Co, NC
Posts: 577
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The word "exactly" in your question
causes some problems with definition!
All previous answers are correct.
Nothing so exact about it, really, just
what it is and what it means to you.
More of an attitude than an actuallity
to most of us.
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04/13/09, 11:26 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Florida Pan Handle
Posts: 2,130
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Take this oath.
I, Cece6, am a homesteader. I vow to let all confusion slip away - if I were not a homesteader I would have never found this board. (does not require any swearing or bowing or even a curtsy) Voila, you are now a homesteader! Relax - now go homestead in peace.
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04/13/09, 12:22 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bartow County, GA
Posts: 6,778
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This question is asked and debated regularly.
I've come to the conclusion it's whatever you want the definition to be. There are people on here that live in apartments, there are some who live on large ranches. Some live frugally, some don't. Some have platial homes, some tiny. Some have gardens, some don't. Some have farm animals, some don't. Doesn't matter. Homesteading is a label, a sorta' shorthand for discussion.
It's where your heart and mind is/desires to be and how you live your life.
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Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible
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04/13/09, 12:46 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,204
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Raise your right hand, repeat your full name, and say to yourself: " I hereby declare myself to be a homesteader." Welcome.......
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04/13/09, 12:46 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Missouri Ozarks
Posts: 29
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Small Farmers Journal had an article a few years ago about farming where you are,wether it was on an apartment balcony or on too big of a farm to handle.If you wait for your dream farm to start,you may neaver exsperience it.One of the best gardens I ever had was when we lived on a 50'x100' lot in town.We also had fruit trees and chickens(my next door neibor gave them to me,as she was of the same mind set.).Now that I have lots of land I tend to plant more then I can take care of properly by myself.It sounds to me that you are doing a darn good job homesteading,where your at.
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04/13/09, 01:18 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: KS
Posts: 60
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Wow, thanks all.I am officially a homesteader then.Now if I can only learn how to properly garden without killing everything Ill be happy.
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04/13/09, 06:10 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Anson Co, NC
Posts: 577
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My dad had plenty of land.
Whenever someone gave mom a
plant he laughed and said the poor
plant had just been condemned to
death! He was right. Mama couldn't
keep a cactus alive!
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04/13/09, 06:22 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: N. E. TX
Posts: 29,596
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Sounds to me like you are one! More so than me-we have acreage but don't yet live there, still in the 'burbs.
Patty
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04/13/09, 07:03 PM
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Animal Addict
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Maryland
Posts: 12,211
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cece6
Wow, thanks all.I am officially a homesteader then.Now if I can only learn how to properly garden without killing everything Ill be happy.
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Ahhh, I have "black thumb" as well, lol.
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Becky
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04/13/09, 07:49 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western WA
Posts: 4,729
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I heard it was simply a state of mind.
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04/13/09, 08:07 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,995
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wyld thang
ah grasshopper, let go of being confused, it's wasted energy.
it's all about the land--not how much you own, but how much you love, learn about, understand, and fight for.
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What he said.
And welcome.
P.S. DW has the black thumb, didn't realize it till I found her stash of dead, white, dirted plant pots, in the basement. One died, in the window, she would replace it, I didn't notice for a long time
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04/13/09, 08:08 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,813
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My freshman year of college in the dorms, I was growing radishes in little cans in the window. That's probably how my life will end in a rest home.
If homesteading requires a minimum amount of property, there will continue to be fewer of us as population grows and the land gets split up or developed. It will be interesting in a hundred years to see how things look.
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04/14/09, 08:45 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Alabama
Posts: 7,085
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DJ an uncle of mine (3d marriage for my aunt, met him in the NH) had a garden on the grounds of his Nursing Home where he and my aunt shared a larger room. He organized it but several other residents worked in it as well. So even in the NH aim for a yard or two of the yard.
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04/14/09, 01:09 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 1,120
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cece6
Wow, thanks all.I am officially a homesteader then.Now if I can only learn how to properly garden without killing everything Ill be happy.
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hehe; when you figure that out can you let me know? 
welcome to HT.
dean
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Hope is something you give yourself in your darkest moments, this is the true meaning of selfreliance.
greetings from the far east of the western world
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