Homesteading is a lifestyle that anyone in any walk of life can enjoy. There are many aspects of homesteading and not every homesteading journey will look the same. The ideology of homesteading centers on self-reliance, simplicity, and living intentionally with the land. It’s less a strict belief system and more a set of values people adapt to their own lives. It’s not necessarily off-grid, it’s not anti-technology, it’s not political by default and it’s not only rural (urban & suburban homesteading exist). At its heart, homesteading is about reclaiming skills, a slower rhythm of life, and having the ability, confidence, and freedom to make meaningful choices about your own life and acting on them; whether that’s on 100 acres or in a backyard with raised beds and chickens. Feel free to introduce yourself and share what homesteading looks like for you and if you haven’t started your journey yet.. that’s okay! Share what you’re hoping to accomplish as you make the transition into the lifestyle. I’ll go first! My name is Jordon. I live in Central Alberta, Canada. For us homesteading is on 15 acres, raising our own meat including chickens, turkeys, pigs and a yearly steer. We have a large garden space and a large greenhouse to be built in the spring. We have started an orchard of fruit trees and fruit bearing bushes. We preserve through canning , freeze drying and 4 fully stocked meat freezers. We have a dairy cow for raw milk, cream, butter, cheese and yogurt! We raise chickens and ducks for eggs. We even generate income through a few streams including breeding purebred birds of all kinds, potbelly pigs, miniature donkeys and goats. We have a self serve farmstand that’s open all year long where we sell our farm fresh eggs, produce, baking and all natural products and we teach in-person homesteading classes to name a few! The work that comes with aiming to be more sustainable and self sufficient can be incredibly hard, it is definitely more convenient to shop at the big box stores. But knowing where your food comes from and putting in the effort is the most rewarding experience.. and a tasty one!