Urban Homesteader

Musings after a long absense....

03:37, 2006-Jul-8 .. 2 comments .. Link

Well, it's been months since I've updated my blog. So much has happened in that period of time. Mainly, my husband lost his job for the second time in 1 year, leaving us reeling with wonderings about God's plan for us! However, God has catapulted us into self-employment, which is a dream come true for my husband. While we are still walking a life of faith, the business is coming together very well, and we can hardly believe that the Lord has brought us to this point! As far as what has been happening in our home, I have begun the summer preserving season. I took up "square foot gardening" this year, and have 2 boxes going. It has been an adventure keeping out the rabbits, but we have enjoyed what they didn't devour. We're already trouble-shooting for next year's garden. I have lettuces, spinach, chard, beets, pickeling cucumbers, yellow squash, green beans, shelling peas, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers and anaheim peppers planted. I also have some herbs in containers on the deck. I can tell already that I need more boxes for next year! As far as preserving goes, strawberries are already done. I put up 16 pints of jam, and I can already tell that will NOT be enough. :) I figured on 1 pint per month, factoring in that I will also be doing peach jam, apricot jam, blueberry jam, and raspberry jam. Perhaps once I get some more fruits in season and picked, the strawberry jam won't be eaten so quickly. I also hope to do a year's worth of tomatoes (stewed, sauce), a variety of relishes and pickles, as well as a year's worth of peaches, pears, and applesauce. I likely will do a variety of pie fillings as well, which work wonderfully for an instant dessert. I prefer to use them in crisps, because it's so quick compared to making pie crusts. I have also been expanding my bread baking now that I have a nutrimill. I have been so pleased with the way my breads are turning out. I no longer have to buy any bread products at the store. I want to quickly comment on something I read recently. In Lisa Vitello's newsletter, she says that the actual meaning of the word "homestead" is "to be steadfast at home". That communicates a lot to me! Along with that, is implied, that it doesn't matter "where" your home is, or "what" the circumstances of your home is, it is possible to devote yourself fully to that home, being "steadfast". In our situation, it is unlikely that we will ever move out to "the country". We seem to be planted right here, in the suburbs, near a good-sized city. Yet, my heart is steadfast towards my home. I have to really evaluate what I can do. I can still choose to hang clothes on a line (although it's got to meet my neighborhood codes...), I can have my productive little square foot gardens to eat out of... relying on the farmer's markets to purchase the volumes foods to preserve and can that I can't grow. My children and I can pick berries and fruits at the local orchards and put up all of our jams, jellies, pie fillings, and fruits. I can choose to mend and/or sew clothes instead of buying new (especially things like pajamas!). I can choose to be resourceful with what I have available rather than going to my nearby Target or Walmart. I can cook from scratch, and in our case, find a local organic farm where all the animals are grass-fed and pastured. No, I don't have chickens, and probably won't ever, but we eat chicken butchered from "our farm", fresh eggs from pastured hens, drink fresh milk from "our cow", and eat beef and pork from pastured livestock. Beyone what I "do", what strikes me the most about the definition that Lisa Vitello offers, is that it speaks to a mindset, and a heart-attitude that is centered around home. So often, I need to remind myself that homesteading is about pushing my child on their swing, curling up with good books, playing cards together with my kids on a hot afternoon with a cold glass of lemonade. It's a way of life that is rooted in, and revolves around HOME. I don't need acres and chickens to accomplish that. :)
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so true

04:59, 2006-Jul-8 .. Posted by lynjc
You are so right! Sometimes I struggle with being content where I am and I do not need to. I can do the best with what I have to make my home a great place for my family! (we are a city family too!)

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05:44, 2006-Jul-8 .. Posted by Carol
What a wonderful post. You are so right, it's a mind set. I love how Lisa put it "to be steadfast at home". However very true. It sounds to me like you have the heart of a true homesteader.
~carol

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Musings after a long absense....

so true

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