Why Bother With This Homesteading Thing?

By Texas Homesteader ~

People often wonder why I work so hard to provide for myself. Why strive for self sufficiency? What are my reasons?

Are you wondering: “Why bother with this homesteading thing in the first place??!!” Well read on, dear friends.

Homesteading Lifestyle – Time vs. Money?

It’s true, self sufficiency takes your time. But oftentimes requires much less money too.

I love to garden and it brings me joy knowing I’m providing healthier food than can be purchased at any price. Healthy veggies are often fresh out of my garden and on the supper table in an hour or less!

I also like to grow fresh herbs & spices such as rosemary, thyme and oregano.

But from another person’s perspective: why buy the seeds and plant them, water the plant until it grows fighting pests all the way?

And why bother weeding the beds constantly under that Texas summer heat? Why wait several weeks later harvest it, dry it and put it in a jar? You can just BUY a bottle of oregano for a couple of bucks!

I suppose it’s true that it doesn’t take much money to supply my family with oregano from the store. So why do I even bother with this homesteading thing?

But homesteading & self sufficiency encompasses providing many items for yourself, not just food.

Some reasons may be the same things you desire, or you may be interested in self sufficiency for completely different reasons. But here’s why I Homestead:

Homesteading Self-Sufficiency Works For Me!

So why do I bother with this homesteading thing? For me it’s mostly for these reasons:

Financial so that I can live very comfortably with much less money than would otherwise be needed.

Environmental so that I won’t be adding unnecessarily to the world’s current landfill or pollution problem.

Health so that I can provide the healthiest food possible to my family.

Independence so I don’t rely on corporations to provide for me what I can so easily provide for myself.

I’ll expand on each of these reasons below.

Homesteading For Financial Reasons – Saving Money Doing It Yourself

Although it’s never been about the money for me, it’s true that oftentimes providing for yourself takes more of your time but lots LESS of your money.

I’m amazed by the ‘convenience at all costs’ mindset that seems to be popular these days.

Our lives are often so overscheduled that we feel we need to buy convenience at a heavy price so we can hurry along parts of our lives to allow more time for other things we try to cram into our days.

Although I realize it’s all about moderation (and there are certainly times when convenience foods play a part in our home), it really doesn’t take much more time to plan out a simple yet delicious meal.

Or even better, use the “cook-once-eat-twice” cooking method so that a quick, healthy, home-cooked meal is as close as your freezer.

Trust me when I say – I don’t enjoy cooking. It’s not fun for me. But yet I can easily provide healthy, delicious meals every day because I activate many shortcuts to be able to provide Homemade Meals Daily The EASY Way.

Homesteading For Health – Fresher More Nutritious Foods

When I provide home-cooked meals I know what is (and more importantly, what ISN’T) in the food we’re eating.

For instance I know the oregano in my garden is at its peak of freshness when I harvest it. And I know my homemade yogurt is simply milk & yogurt starter, nothing else.

I know how much salt has gone into that delicious bowl of homemade beef stew. And I know that egg is far fresher than anything that can be bought in the store – our chickens laid it just this morning!

Homesteading For Environmental Reasons

For several years now I have been on this quest to tread lighter on our world. Actually it was for environmental reasons that I first started this push to provide for myself as much as possible.

I was very mindful of recycling, but I still had lots of household trash to haul to the curb each week.

(NOTE: I’ve since become very aware of the importance of PRE-Cycling, but that’s another post)

For instance, once I found out how easy it was to make my own yogurt I’ve never looked back! I typically make yogurt about every two weeks – in reusable glass jars.

Actually this one action on my part combines the financial, environmental and health reasons for Homesteading all into one!

Independence – Less Need To Rely On Others

Homesteading allows me to focus on what’s valuable to me personally, not what’s on the agenda of a corporate employer.

I’m not forced to save a snippet of time & just plunk down money for things I need, then being forced to drive to work each day so I can afford to buy all the things I am not producing for myself at home.

I’m able to stay & work right here on my beloved homestead, a place that speaks to my heart. A place that I love & call ‘HOME’.

Although I still need to buy things occasionally, I’m not as reliant on my car to drive me to the store, the gas station to fill the car with gas, nor the company that sells the products I need.

When I’m able to provide for myself – whether food or product – I know the craftsmanship that’s used. I know the ingredients that are added. And I get immense pleasure and pride that I’ve been able to provide for my family.

Is Homesteading The Right Fit For You Too?

I know it’s not for everyone, we’re all different and in different walks of life with different time restraints. But it certainly works beautifully for me.

Homesteading – it speaks to my heart and I absolutely love the life we live here at our NE Texas homestead.

What about you, why would YOU love homesteading?

~TxH~

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25 thoughts on “Why Bother With This Homesteading Thing?”

Darby at

I so enjoy your blog! I’m working at becoming more self sufficient, baby steps. There is nothing like home grown produce!! My goal when I retire is to have chickens, a small orchard(planted 2 years ago!) and keep grocery store trips to a minimum. Merry Christmas!

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  How wonderful Darby, those are some great goals. And you’ve already got the running start with planting your orchard. Fruit trees are a heavy challenge in our ‘Botanical Hole Of Death’ but I’ve managed to get an apple tree and a pear tree to survive (so far, anyway) Hopefully they’ll produce for me some day. Thank you so much for your sweet comment! ~TxH~
  
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Donna Reidland at

It’s not practical for me, at least not at this point in my life (grandmother caring for my mom), but I admire what you do. My mom always grew many of her own vegetables, cooked most of her meals from scratch, canned and froze her produce, etc. It is so much healthier and yummier!

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  It’s true each of us are in different walks of life Donna. A young mother may not have time to do everything for herself, and a parent with teens may have ‘bigger fish to fry’ as well. We all have different desires and requirements and that’s a wonderful thing! I continue to re-evaluate what I do and to determine to what degree it all works for me, changing where it makes sense. Life is fluid and ever-changing. ~TxH~
  
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Texomamorganlady at

Our self sufficient journey started with my desire for humanely raised meats, I just couldn’t continue to fund the cruel practices I had witnessed while growing up, and had gotten far worse since. Then we found out it was healthier too! Then it became trendy, but I won’t complain about this kind of trend, I hope it grows like mad. Plus, it’s great to have our grandkids know where and how their food lives/grows, and to encourage them to respect the life that is given for that food.

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Jayne at

Great post! My hubby (as well as my whole family!) do not get my motivation for homesteading. It is all the things you mentioned, but mainly I love it! I probably wouldn’t do it even for all the reasons you mentioned, if I didn’t just simply love it. I am really enjoying your blog.

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Shirley Wood at

You have all excellent reasons for Homesteading. I admire the energy and devotions it takes to be a Homesteader! Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday. I am inspired!

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Deborah at

You can spend all day at work providing for your family, or you can get up in the morning and take them with you. The second options is definitely funner and makes my life more fulfilled.
We live in a world that is blessed abundantly right now so just like you said–people don’t understand. But it may not always be this way. When times get super tough, homesteaders will be able to teach and inspire others basics skills of surviving. We are a much needed community.
Oh, +Brandon: It always starts with chickens… 🙂
Blessings,

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Shelly at

Love this, it’s so true! Nothing better than life as a homesteader. 🙂

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Suzie@homemaker-mom at

I say way to go! I wish I could but I live in the middle of a city in an apartment but I do what I can , I plan to at least start my own herb garden in pots! Found you today via Thriving Thursday!

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JES at

I enjoyed reading why you do this homestead “thing”! Many of our reasons are similar and there are a few more too… Perhaps security too knowing that if things went south, we have the ability to provide for our family, neighbors and loved ones if necessary.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays!

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Monica at

This is awesome! I just posted last week about why I’m farming. I love seeing the motivations and reasons people live this lifestyle. I farm because I hope to keep our farm generational, for the animals, and for the food. Really, it’s all about love…love for family, health, animals and food.

Monica @ shesafarmer.com

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Tracy Fredrychowski at

Homesteading gets in your blood and its hard to walk away from once it hits you! I love our life in the country with our pigs, chickens, bees and rabbits. We don’t buy any meat or most vegetables from the store and I make everything from scratch. It’s just a good feeling to know we can take care of ourselves. I can’t tell you how many times I get asked “why do you choose to live like that?” All I can ever say is it is what makes us happy, keeps us connected to the land, and keeps us closer to the Lord! Thank you so much for sharing this post with us.

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Karen at

Hi! I also just found your blog on Homesteader Blog Hop. Thanks for being such an inspiration. I also desire to live more simply. Yes, it isn’t always easy but it can be so rewarding. Today after I had finished what I had planned to do outside I was shocked when I looked at the clock how the time had flown by. Didn’t experience that working the nine to five.
I have to ask if the picture at the end of your post is your apple tree. If so, do you know the variety? Being that you live in Texas I would think that it would be compatible with our zone 8b. Very jealous by the way.

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Tanya @ sevenspringshomestead.com at

We are beginning our homestead journey on my husband’s family farm. As I am looking through the many seed catalogs and counting the monetary cost, it is nice to see this reminder. I know it will be a better way of life for my family. Thanks for posting.
Oh by the way, I found your link on the Homesteader Blog Hop.

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  Tanya, although initially perhaps barely more expensive, consider heirloom seeds as you can save your own year after year when you use heirlooms and the plants grow true to the parent seed. In the long run it’s quite a savings. I wish you luck in your homesteading adventure, it can be lots of work but there’s no satisfaction like it!
  
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Terrie at

I couldn’t have said it better. I grew up in the homestead life moved away to make it in the corporate world and now I am back. I enjoy reading everyone ideas, thanks for taking the time to share.

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Abbi at

I agree with all your reasons and would just add that I also do it because it is fun! I love being able to work together with my family natural and worthwhile pursuits.

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  Nice – and I agree with you Abbi! ~TxH~
  
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jody at

All the reasons you mentioned, and also a very strong desire to get back to the way of life I grew up in and OUT of the way of life I lived for too many years in the corporate-ladder-climbing world of ” Look at my big paycheck, too bad I had to step on you to get it”! I feel that homesteading gives me peace in my heart that I am doing something good for my soul, my family, and hopefully other people as well.

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  OMGoodness YES Jody! My heart is warmed seeing there are people out there feeling the same as me about this homesteading thing. Thanks so much for sharing. ~TxH~
  
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2. Brandon at
  
  Amen! I’m in Advertising and I’m exploring, praying, planning on being a homesteader. It’s reasons like both of you have mentioned that inspires me to transform from a cog in the consumer based wheel to a soul that’s connected with the Earth. My friends and family think I’m crazy! But since experiencing the benefits of our backyard chickens, I can’t shake this dream.
  
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  1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
    
    Brandon – I feel your pain! Please don’t try to shake that dream – pursue it with all you’ve got. You don’t have to be a full off-grid churn-your-own butter kinda homesteader to feel that satisfaction of providing for yoruself, you can start today right where you are with something small & build on it. Then go step by step until you get to the place that’s just right for you. ~TxH~
    
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Kay (A Ranch Mom) at

I don’t know if I can be classified as a true homesteader – because we are really ranchers, but by default we are sorta homesteaders! 🙂 I love my garden, chickens, and making stuff from scratch. Saving money is a necessity, (low cowboy wages) and green is a byproduct of our lifestyle. I love cooking from scratch, hanging out my laundry, etc. But I mainly just love living in the country! 🙂

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  Yes, yes, YES! We are ranchers as well, but I think homesteading encompasses many levels of self-sufficiency, not just the off-grid churn-your-own-butter types. And how true – green is a byproduct of the lifestyle. You & I are so VERY on the same page! Thanks so much for sharing. ~TxH~
  
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