Urban Homesteader

"How do you do all that?!"

03:39, 2006-Feb-17 .. 3 comments .. Link

I have been recently asked this question from several people. Once someone starts talking to me for any length of time, and figure out that I do a lot of things differently (i.e. from scratch), they wonder just what would make a person give up the convenience of our "modern culture", and HOW does a person add so much more to an already busy life? It's a valid question. I remember the first time I read Karey Swan's "Hearth and Home", I was overwhelmed. It comforted me greatly when I read that she started over 20 year ago in a townhouse with just a pot of tomatoes on the patio! Her "lifestyle" that we were seeing in that book was a culmination of 20 years of baby steps and slow learning. That's part of it. As a generation of women, we really are untrained in the way REAL women lived their lives years ago. What was considered normal, common-sense hard work to provide for your family has become a lost art, traded in for technology and "others" doing the work for us. (i.e. food processing companies providing ready-made food to be purchased and brought home, rather than food grown and put up yourself.) However, there's another thing going on here. What others perceive as "adding more work" to an already busy lifestyle is really a myth. You see, the more that I move counter-culture, the simpler, more peaceful, and more fulfilling life becomes. To begin with, homeschooling eliminates a large burden of stress that many of my friends have who send their children to school. I don't run the rat-race, nor do we have any fights over homework. My kids don't have to "de-stress" from school every afternoon, and the calender and schedule is for our family alone to dictate. In addition, doing things like milling wheat and baking all your bread products, and canning and freezing the harvest in the summer actually SAVES time! I basically go to the store for dairy, meat and fresh produce, and a few pantry items. Cooking from scratch nearly avoids all the "center aisles" and I am in and out of the store in far less time. I also go to the store far less frequently, because I'm well stocked at home. If I had to choose, I'd much rather make a loaf of bread in the comfort of my kichen, making my house smell delicious and inviting, even with my children helping... than to pack everyone up in their winter gear, haul out to the store, fight the traffic and crowds, get overstimulated by the grocery store designed to lure me into "buy buy buy!" etc! Hanging clothes on a line in the summer gives me time to soak up the sunshine, breath the fresh air, and a few moments to just "think" in peace. Tending a garden, even if it's just a pot of tomatoes on the deck gives me an opportunity to connect with how the Lord really provides for our nourishment, to marvel in His design. The more changes I make, the "slower" life seems to get. I also feel less of a "need" for the "latest and greatest" gadget. It's a purposeful substitution of one lifestyle for another. It's not an "adding on", it's "living this way instead".
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Hey, Shauna!

12:11, 2006-Feb-18 .. Posted by Paula
I think it's awesome that you're blogging now and I loved reading this one!

I, too, long for the lifestyle you're moving over to, although I'm moving at a slower pace than you are to get there!

Keep it up! I don't have the time or where-with-all to blog myself right now, so I'll enjoy it through yours!

Love to you, my friend,

Paula

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06:37, 2006-Apr-13 .. Posted by Pink Sun Drops http://www.pinksundrops.weblogs.us
I noticed when I had a garden and a home things did slow down. I long for that life again. For the moment I am the one with the container of tomatoes on her verandah : ) .

Love your Blog!

06:56, 2006-May-30 .. Posted by BuzyMumof3sons
I just wanted to write and let you know that I love your blog! I too am an Urban Homesteader and lots of people look at me like I'm nuts because we're going to plant our first garden this year! (We're blessed with a double lot in the middle of the city)
God Bless you and i'm looking forward to your updates!
Dee

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"How do you do all that?!"

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