Homesteading 2011

Homesteading - What does it mean to you? Is it the "gentlemen farmer" with the new Kubota and a a small flock of sheep? Yes, it might be. Will he use more than he produces? Yes, probably. But he is surely farming in a way.

Is it the family of 5 with a dozen laying hens and maybe a pig pen in the backyard? Yes, I would say that they are homesteading as well. They are producing some of their food, helping to supplement their family's grocery store food needs.

Maybe you can plant just a few tomatoes where the tulips were last year, yes, that's homesteading. Give it a try.

As the 2011 growing season comes near I suggest that we expand our horizons, try something that we've never tried before. Plant some potatoes, maybe some more corn, certainly some green beans. Can, freeze of preserve our harvest. This will benefit our family, not only financially but we'll know what we are eating as well. Raise some laying hens, let them rule the backyard. Try a hog if you're ready.

Let's send a message to the national grocery store chains that we don't need their wasteful packaging, their chemically altered "food" and their rising prices. Let's know what we are eating, Let's eat local, Let's feed our families what we produce.