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Beautiful article! We are among those families. We have 3 small children, only 1 income, and we’ve just bought 5 acres of raw land. ? For those who say this life is cost prohibitive, can you think outside the box? For example, we are building a very small cinder block house ourselves. We will live in that until we can afford to build a bigger home for cash.
Starting a Homestead with small children definitely adds a whole other layer of things to think about, but it is totally doable! And we need to build up a culture of Catholic families encouraging each other and sharing wisdom learned along the way. (That’s why my husband and I are sharing the process on YouTube) We all need to stick together. ?
Oh, feel free to contact me at bertski@yahoo.com.
As herbs and things were an interest to me, healing and things. As well as yoga, which Christ meditated, specifically on Gods’ laws. But correct body alignment and strengthening of the body is important to good health.
I don’t know much about anything, but I might be able to help with references to those who do.
Just like products, soybeans to tofu and other meat substitutes, if you developed a sausage or Weimar or party that rivals or is better than meat, providing it’s affordable or a market for, just another thing that with promotion could cut you a path.
Companion planting can be beneficial.
Generating your own methane is possible and done in other countries.
There used to be volunteers in technical assistance, V.I.T.A.. Brick making, alcohol making, livestock, etc.
Oh and don’t forget mushrooms. As a monastery went to producing oyster mushrooms, which I understand to be a gourmet mushroom.
Again, I’m Eastern Orthodox, which is Catholic, the biggest differences are at the upper levels. There’s other differences. But like as I understand it, I or any orthodox that can’t attend liturgy because of valid reasons as expenses as in travel, or legitimate reasons can take communion at Latin Rite churches.
Again, look at Mother Angelica and E.W.T.N., very successful.
Oh growing your own food. Consider black beauty eggplants. Very common in stores, where a chef will cut out the big gooey center and the taste is only o.k. But European varieties like Italian are more meaty and less bitter. Not to mention Chinese eggplant, long purple and meaty. Where you can raise heirloom varieties and not the adulterated hybrid varieties.
Then I’ve read where fresh ground wheat is better testing than what’s used in commercial breads and probably better for you and me both. Just like other products I’ve used, they’re probably right.
Too many think I’m fixated thought. There’s a much bigger world outside the box others think within.
Also, think about horses that are available at shelters and such. Don’t you get tired of loud machines? Where average is needed to let them graze. But anglo/European people generally like horseback riding. Any number of horses would like a good home as well as a friend and can operate a sawmill, discs etc.
Just food fer thought.
Where with awareness, there could be a while new approach that is profitable.
Oh another benefit, I think that’s a driving force behind back to the land movement, you can generally choose your neighbors. Which of you strive to attract other Catholics including eastern orthodox, you can separate yourself from the world. You wouldn’t have to hear loud, noisy neighbors, drink neighbors, loud sound systems, put up with violence or fools acting out charades. Unless the government were to plant their kind around you to get you to react, where you might even be out on a terrorist list for not desiring to live around infidels the government endorses.
Then being more rural, it’s easier to know who’s who as well as know who’s friend or foe.
Again in rural areas it’s easier to protect yourself.
Then you generally won’t have anyone complain about you, where if they do, it’d be quite apparent that they put themselves in a position to complain, which invalidates them.
As myself, I desired to initiate an Anglo/European Christian community. Eastern Orthodox at that. Where most of Europe is Eastern Ortodox Catholic or Roman Catholic. Then Mennonites, Amish are also usually of European decent, some have Slavic backgrounds.
Where sharing similiar cultures is good and conducive to positive interactions.
Again I mention things I’ve thought over in time, with life experience confirming things, but it’s also mentioned in books.
Like most Anglo European people, we enjoy the outdoors, fishing, camping, ghost stories, and other activities.
I’d have to put some distance between me and snake handlers though, where it’s said thou shall not tempt the Lord Thu God.
Also, location is important. As farming, cooler temps are generally desired provides there’s a growing season.
Just food for thought.
I’ll also state the other side of the coin.
Industry promotes psychopaths and pieces of deal above those who have christian or Godly values and ethics. But with society, there’s not much to choose from.
Which if you find a market, whether farm raised fish, crawfish, bamboo/bamboo products like high quality fly rods, medicinal herbs, quail eggs, goose eggs which are used in high and food preparation or whatever, you won’t be someone elses servant. You have to have a marketable product and need good relations. Look at Promises Land Dairy, some of the best milk I’ve had. So don’t give up. It might be good to think about developing a community, but that is a task in itself.
Where there used to be a magazine called AgVentures, which fell out somewheres, but some of their old issues might be found. I recall black walnut was to be a coming market. But that was long ago. I think bamboo was and probably is a market now.
Don’t forget politicians and government agencies control markets.
Then many Americans have so much food, they take it for granted and don’t even thank God for what’s so readily available. So you have to have something wanted or needed.
You may want to look into second line products. Mayhaw is delicious, where others have jumped on this bandwagon too, but produce a quality jelly or syrup, you have something if saboteurs don’t come after you.
You know typed words can easily be mistakened. Then word editor can rewrite what’s written.
Otherwise it’s easy to come across wrong. Or in the wrong way.
It’s like relying on each other, I don’t recall typing that. As I know that’s kind of an erroneous ideology. You rely on yourself, but willing to help another. That is if anything is left of yourself.
Which it should be pointed out to young people, it’s fine when you’re young, but if you live, you’re going to get old. Which as you get older ailments set in.
So farming is o.k., but it’s a hard, demanding life. Unless you find something profitable and grow. Medicinal herbs have a market, but land has to be conducive to the elements of that herb. As well as the demand for that particular plant. Gaia herbs did well. But, I’d question that era of driving into that market. There’s others already well established in that market. There’s a time when it’s worth jumping into an area and a time when it’s already established. Like Ostriches, there was a breeders’ market that was good, but then went to a butchers’ market, where the price fell. Fell a lot.
As producing quality good for yourself is good, but don’t look to have a market that’s highly profitable or even moderately. Unless “maybe” you’re near an affluent market that’s health conscious.
Like the .com bubble, it was here for awhile. I think it’s faded out now.
Which there are things younger people haven’t been exposed to, like market timing.
Like one list of sayings went, a young man doesn’t need money to live, an old man can’t live without it.
Like one mentioning theft in rural areas, it prompts memories of older people in a generation before my parents who talked about leaving doors open and not having to use locks. That was a real long time ago. Even then there were still those who would steal. Back then I heard more about ears of corn and mainly watermelons.
I mention this not to discourage, but just good for thought.
Fish farming may have a market. I say may have. I’m not up on that. Yet if fishing regulation manuals are truthful about wild fish having toxins sufficient to suggest limiting consumption, I would guess, note guess that it could be a growing market.
Just food for thought.
But, break a leg, come down with a bad flu, what do you do then?
Yet, serenity, peace of mind, avoiding the craziness of things, it might help someone keep sanity.
That is an excellent thing to do! Society has exerted to push lewd, immoral, amoral proselytyzing on me ever since I’ve been in the faith. They talk about christian preaching, I think.it’s a case of their ownselves from.my experience. Let me tell you this too, powerful people who resent christians and the christian faith do have the means and resources for a re-education program that is every bit brainbwashing/thougt reform as stated by “Lifton”, also on Rick Ross website of thought reform. Where if others hadn’t interfered years ago subjecting me to these things, I would have pursued homesteading. Had all my bills paid off, money saved up, had beekeeping started and I was well on my way of getting out of SC low country and ready to head for the hills. Yet someone elses’ selfishness and desire to play barbie dolls with my.life messed up everything, from.my mind, body deep into my soul. Where to this day, I’d wished I got out sooner.
Where anyone of faith, I would highly recommend doing what I dis, buy only what you need, pay it.off soon, then save or better, invest your money so it grows. If you like where you’re at, fine. You can invest your way up to buying a house with the capital to.pay for it or finance with land. Simply keep cost of living to the minimal. As the Bible says,.Owe no one anything butbto live them. If you disregard this, there’s the verse the debtor is always servant to the lender. Where most have a sense of obligation, so being financially bound in essence is a means of keeping someone in.bondage. Again it feels better to make payments to an investment as stocks or mutual funds where you realize the return of interest paid to you and even better than you paying extra money for finsnce to someone else! Or if you have a sideline thing, like mine was beekeepjng, but again, know it all old timers interfered, butted in.uninvited and dictate how I spend money, ignorant of profits in beekeeping as well as other needs like the physical activith, social interaction and then the financual returns. Then be concerned about hypocrisy where the same or similiar want you to buy a new vehicle or a new house, where such trashes all of ones efforts and hopes.
Which if you know you want to homestead and if it requires financing, if you.knowvuou can get positive returns, jump in feet first.
Which I’d also suggest soliciting others who’re likeminded where you support each other and can even get better prices of bulk land, that’s much cheaper than parcels. Sharing some common traits at the least, the faith being one, which if you’re busy, there won’t be much time to think about arguing about trivial matters, yet if one needs help, the other is there.
Where I missed my opportunity because of others trying to play God, wanting to play barbie dolls with my.life andcact oh so wise. Stay away if.you can from such people as yhey’re like the plague, all they’ll do is make you sick.
But.more power to those sick.of society and desire to be a sacrifice to God!
“This isn’t really realistic for the average American, much less the average Catholic American.”
Indeed, at the present time there are many areas of North America where getting into agriculture is truly cost prohibitive. One of the truly ironic things about modern life is that, at this point in time, there are many more who would wish to be in agriculture than can afford to be, in contrast with earlier eras when many were in agriculture because they had to be and couldn’t afford to do anything else.
Though I am not necessarily called to homestead–it does not fit in my wheelhouse per se–I would think it as a dream to be able to live in a community of Catholic men and families who farm and provide their small communities with fresh, local food which will nourish the whole of the family. I picture idyllic little farms in an idyllic Midwestern countryside where everything is owned by families and individuals within the community itself and everyone works for the betterment of their community, not their pocketbooks. Under the watchful protection of St. Isodore, I pray that all family farm operations will be bountiful and profitable and will serve their neighbors well.
I don’t think you mean what you think you mean. Husband doesn’t mean “house bound” in the sense that he is bound to a house, but that a house is bound to him. It means one who is in possession of a household.
There is a downside that I have seen to the agrarian life. Though it can be humbling, it can also be a source of incredible pride, especially in the areas of individualism and self-sufficiency. A rejection of city life is oft confused, sometimes deliberately, with the rejection of the civilized life. Fortunately, the Church is a wonderful place for farmers.
This isn’t really realistic for the average American, much less the average Catholic American. Is there something wrong with living in cities?
Paulette – doesn’t the writer make the point that farming isn’t for everyone?
Thanks so much for this beautiful article. I (a woman) am extremely drawn to moving out of suburbia and to the homesteading life. What is your advice for me who is a widow with two small sons aged 6 and 8? Your article is understandably geared towards men and fatherhood – what if that is missing?
Thanks for this.Down here in Australia farming can be very precarious due to the fact that we are the driest continent on earth. We have come through a ten year drought and are currently in another dry spell ,and many farmers are walking off the land or face bank foreclosure,which is bringing a lot of anger. However that does not stop people from making a tree change to rural areas. Not far from me is a place called Maryknoll- semi rural- where the National Catholic rural Movement set up a community in the 1950s. It is now part of a large SSPX church and school community,but nevetheless it started as a result of a priest reading Chesterton and taking his writings to heart and putting them into action
Warming your house with wood is all well and good in north carolina, but it comes across as rather quaint to someone who has to heat their house using wood because they can’t afford to use the furnace. Try going through a week or two of -30° weather (Celsius that is) using wood and I won’t call you out for just play acting. This whole movement stems from a radical environmental mindset, God gave men great minds to discover the natural gas in the earth and to harness it for the betterment of all, let’s respect that.
If you want to reject natural gas I hope the next time you take your chainsaw out to cut down a tree you don’t have any petrol in there either.
Thanks Mitchell. Good point. I’m not sure if you got to know me a bit more you would think I had a radical environmental mindset, though I’d be interested to hear more about what exactly that is. And what ever it is, this “whole movement” almost certainly does not stem from it. Also, I can see how it would seem I was rejecting pertrol altogether, which I’m not. I was trying to point out the opportunity for a contemplative attitude, not an attitude of contempt for all-things-modern. I drive a care and love my chainsaw. I don’t want to unthinkingly reject technology, but I also don’t want to unthinkingly accept ever convenience that comes available, and refuse to examine how it effects culture and family. So, in other words, I’m not rejecting natural gas, but I’m also not accepting that it is “for the betterment of all” – I’m pretty sure we could find some examples where petrol has been bad for folks – do you think that might be true at all?
I’m just pointing out that what you use for contemplation is what some people do for survival, it comes across as if you’re slumming it, to connect with a way of life your affluence doesn’t naturaly allow for. Perhaps my comment came across as unessarily confrontational, my point was just to express how silly your choice sounds to someone who uses wood as a necessity.
I also wasn’t trying to imply you have a radical environmetalist mindset, however this homesteading movement is to me very remincent of the small house movement of environmentalists who don’t acknowledge that the only reason they can live in a such a way is because of the advances society has made through industrialisation. Just as you can choose to use wood to heat your house to create some feeling of simplicity, but you won’t give up your car or chainsaw because then you’d really be going back to “live as men have lived since the dawn of time” and you’d have no time to spend with your family, or blog for that matter…and no one really wants to do that.
Again, just to be clear I only wanted to point out that your opportunity for contemplation is only an opportunity to you because of the affluence of your life, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that, I just wasn’t sure if you even knew that some people live like that out of necessity.
I really like this response. So much of this “homesteading” movement is only possible because of the technology strides we have had in recent years. Real homesteading was a lot different back in the day than it is today. Back in the day, if the farm failed, they either had to sell the farm or die. Today, if the crop fails or cow dies, you just go to the store. That is why I would call “homesteading” a hobby farm. It is something you can do to help learn about the nature. I will have a hobby farm, not a homestead, and I plan on having 40 acres or more. Something to do with my family, but by no means in any sense of the word homesteading. If I get income from elsewhere for my life other than the farm, it is not homesteading.
The comment on how natural gas comes from deep in the earth like it is a gross thing is kinda condescending to God’s creation of natural gas. And what do you think it was 10,000 years ago? Natural life that was capturing the sun’s energy, the exact same thing the tree is doing.
Also, the article also goes the whole way through saying the farm is the most fulfilling way of life, and then only in the last paragraph says its not for everybody. Sending different messages in the article. Its the best way, but not for everybody. And a big movement to men to back to the land? I have not seen that. I live in rural USA and people are moving away to the cities. Either way, both our views are subjective and anecdotal.
One more word of caution. I think this article gets pretty close to worshiping nature. I know it doesn’t, but hints of it are through out the article. Someone who does not know the Catholic teachings might get that from this article, that we can find God in nature and that is where I need to be because that is where I am closest to God. (Not Church/Eucharist.) Just a warning.
Mitchell, this movement stems from wanting to be good stewards of the earth God created and gave us dominion over. Some people wrongly prioritize animals and the environment over people, but the Catholic Church does not do that.
Homesteading or farming does not preclude making use of fossil fuels. In fact, pound for pound the chainsaw is one of the best tools and uses of petroleum: it very quickly and without much effort can cut wood, a renewable resource, into usable pieces. It is not either-or, “all-in or your’re a hypocrite” type of purist mindset. Make wise use of the resources you have.
Perfect description of this beautiful way of life, Jason! Thank you for your poignant words!
Devin, Thank you for the link to your book. I will check it out.
Great article. Homesteading is wonderful and aligns with our Catholic Faith beautifully. We tried it once and failed but hope to try again when our children are a bit older: http://www.amazon.com/Farm-Flop-Dwellers-Guide-Failing-ebook/dp/B00O080FIU
It disappointed me to learn you failed.
As noted in my post below, I’m simply skeptical that with the modern agricultural economy that “homesteading” in this context is viable. I’d be curious as to your comments.
My wife and I have both been moved toward this. Though we ae no longer young, the desire deepens daily. Please God in 2 years we can take concrete steps toward this.
Great stuff! People often mistakenly point to later dates like the 1920s or 1960s as the roots of the destruction of the family. But it started and became inevitable much, much earlier. With the industrial revolution in the 19th Century, for the first time in history, families were ripped apart and fathers were pulled out of their families for the majority of the waking hours of their family’s day. Before then, EVERY dad worked at home, whether on a farm or in a craft or in a profession. We take it for granted now that dad (or mom or both parents) “go to work” every day, as in they physically leave their families in order to work. This never happened before about 150 years ago. In my opinion, the moral bankruptcy that started to show in the 20s and 60s was the inevitable result of that first and fundamental breakdown of the family.
As Providence would have it, I read this very concept just last night in ‘The North & the South and Secession: an Examination of Cause and Right’, by Adam S. Miller.
It had never crossed my mind yet now seems embarrassingly obvious.