I recently attended the Homesteaders Of America conference of 2021 in Front Royal Virginia and I must say I left inspired! If you have an opportunity to attend, I assure you, you will leave eager to expand your homesteading endeavors! I met people from all over the country, from all walks of life, with various homesteading scenarios. Some were suburban gardeners, some had hundreds of acres and some were just starting their journey. Multiple times while chatting with people, I was asked “do you homestead?” On one hand I thought, well, I suppose so! I mean, after all, this blog and my Instagram profile IS called Butterfly Homesteader but I also couldn’t help but feel like doubling down. Compared to some of these people, I’m just a backyard gardener with a few chickens and big dreams.

As the conference went on, I met more and more people and listened to more and more speakers all tell very different stories about their homesteading journeys. Though they were all varied, there were some common themes. They all wanted to feel connected to their food source. They wanted a natural and healthy lifestyle. They wanted food security and safety. They wanted to be self sufficient and sustainable. They wanted to be stewards of the land and give more than they take. They wanted to be able to provide for their family without so much reliance on the stores. They wanted their children to know that food doesn’t have to come wrapped in plastic at the supermarket. They wanted skills to take care of themselves and raise their children to have those same skills. They wanted an escape from the hustle and bustle of the world and live a more simple life where Family is the center. On a political note, many of them worried about the future regardless of their Left or Right leaning opinions. They wanted to live a lifestyle they hope will prepare them and their family for uncertain times ahead. While each of them and their stories were all similar AND different, at the end, we all just came together with the same common goals. 

So what is homesteading? Well, to put it simply, it’s a way of life. A self sufficient lifestyle where we are constantly planning what needs to be done to be prepared for the future. Homesteading is a “start right where you are” kind of thing. You can start right on your balcony in pots, raised beds in your yard, or bigger if you can. Don’t sell yourself short assuming you must have it all and do it all. You are enough. What you can do right now is still valid and important. Every step you take to assure safety and security for your family is essential to a homesteading lifestyle. If you are constantly on the move learning all you can about being self reliant and sustainable with what you have.. then, my friend… you might be a homesteader. Homesteading is also about community. You don’t have to do it all on your own. Find your village. Create your village.
Homesteading doesn’t always look like Pinterest perfect lives or hilarious IG reels/tiktok videos and stunning IG posts. It’s not beautifully edited YouTube channels and you don’t even need to be an authority on any particular subject. In fact, we are always learning and growing and figuring out new ways to pivot and adapt to the ever changing weather and ways of the world. Homesteading isn’t an all or nothing label where you must grow all your own food and build your own house by hand and raise all the different livestock animals to get in the club. Can I tell you a secret? I’ve never made sourdough bread before! Gasp! I know! I’ll lose my “homesteading membership” for that one I’m sure! There’s tons skills homesteaders seek to acquire and I encourage you to ask yourself what skills you have, what skills you seek and what skills you can teach others. At the end of the day, your family, your food security, and your health, is YOUR responsibility! Happy Homesteading!