Do you think of homesteading as a dreary, work filled life, or does homesteading appeal to you? Do you think its all work and no play as a homesteader? Tell us your thoughts?

I think it is a great way to really enjoy life and learn at the same time. I'll bet it would make life seem simpler and more fulfilling than the typical 9-5 work week and schlepping around town running errands all the time.

I've always dreamed of a big house on some land with a big garden, chickens, hanging laundry, and beat rugs with a broom! LOL

I am very interested in Homesteading, homestead mamma! Have been watching your posts and reading up on it.
I am going to get started on it some when we get moved to PA. Hopefully we can find a place in the country so I can really get into it.

Some aspects of homesteading appeal to me like having a garden, raising animals, hanging out laundry, cooking from scratch, organic gardening and organic animal raising, not keeping up with the Jones, being debt free if possible, fixing up and maintaining older cars and an older house, food preservation and alternative energy.

Things that don't appeal to me(but I could do if I had to) are doing without electricity or convenience appliances, having an outhouse, butchering my own animals, living without air conditioning or having to use only a woodstove. I have butchered chickens but didn't enjoy it, we also used a woodstove extensively for 7 years and I am very happy we have central heat now but we do still use the woodstove occasionally and when the power goes off. I've also used an outhouse some when I was a kid, but definitely did NOT enjoy that, lol. And we've only had central air conditioning for 2 years and I must say that I REALLY like it better than fans. We have 4.3 acres, drive only older cars, have 2 goats, had chickens but something killed them all, and so far a pear tree and a container garden. We have plans to plant more fruit trees and berry vines, have a much bigger container garden next year, possibly get more goats or some donkeys and maybe some more chickens. I would probably do more with gardening and animals but I find it difficult to do too much because of arthritis.

So, I guess I find homesteading very interesting and I guess we are partial or "weekend" homesteaders.

Like doodlebug, some aspects of homesteading appeal greatly to me.

Growing up in the city my entire life, I would lovea garden. To be able to actually grow my own fruits and veggies, then perhaps even can them as well, would be a dream come true :D

I have always liked the idea of homesteading. We do have a small garden here, and do a few homesteading things, though we don't go all the way out. We both work so much outside the home there is no way that we could devote to it. But, if I ever get to be a sahm I may do a lot more. :)

I, too, like some aspects of homesteading. We only own one acre of land, but we do have a garden, we can and freeze from the garden and from other sources (pick berries at farms, buy at the farmers market, apples from the apple orchard, etc.), cook and bake mostly from scratch, hang laundry on the line, we have a pellet stove we use in the winter, and we drive older cars. But, I, too, would not like to have to use an outhouse, do without electricity, etc. We can certainly get buy if we lose power for a couple of days due to a storm, etc., but I think I would find it hard to live without electricity. I really wish I didn't think it would be that hard, but if I am honest with myself, I think it would be pretty tough. We do not have animals, and I honestly do not know how well I would do raising animals. So, I guess I like lots of aspects of homesteading, but not all aspects.

Great question. I look forward to other peoples answers.

yolo

I think if you live in the right area, homesteading is more practical. I grew up in a homesteading family. It's all we knew. I was a teenager before we had a lot of the "necessities" that others had. Life was hard on the farm but oh so much fun and so relaxing. If we wanted fun, we rode horses, went for walks in the woods, read books, made up games and played with our animals.

We had a tractor for clearing the roads to the highway when it snowed. We lived a short distance from a natural spring so we could always get fresh water even if it snowed. We either milked our own cows or bought fresh milk from the neighbors. We raised steers and pigs to butcher. We had chickens for eggs and for butchering. We kept a 2 acre garden for canning and freezing. We were pretty much self sufficient.

Now I live in the desert. I haven't learned the skill of growing a garden here yet. It can be done. I just haven't figured it out yet.

I think I would like more to be more self sufficient here but I would have to go with more of the survival methods than homesteading.:eek:

bump for Michelle!!

I really like the idea of homesteading. Next year we are moving to a little farm and I will really be able to get into homesteading then, I am really excited about it.

I too like some aspects of homesteading, but wouldn't really like to do others. I would love to live out a ways in the country. ( not so far that we couldn't get to medical care if we need it) Growing our own food and having animals I can handle, but not the butchering. I get to attached to animals. I am a softy. :( I think I could do without electricity, but would rather have it! We are visiting the inlaws and they don't have central heat/air. While we are not "suffering" by any means, I do miss our central heating and cooling system! :) I am spoiled I know.