This mini series I’ve shared has focused on becoming less dependent on our government and big box grocery stores to meet our needs. With rising prices and impending food shortages, so many of us are starting to reconsider where and how we get our food. 

Many are turning to homesteading, which by definition is a “life of self-sufficiency.” But can I offer a different perspective on homesteading?? 

David and I were deep on this path of self-sufficiency several years ago. We wanted to have all of our basic needs met on our own land. You know our story… that massive vision, along with still trying to do everything else in life, led him to stress-induced amnesia.

Read our story here and check out this podcast where I share more of our roller coaster history with homesteading.

We realized very quickly we were doing too much. There’s an opportunity cost involved for anything we chose, right? We reconsidered our priorities and decided we needed to downsize our entire life. 

We sold the homestead and moved to a neighborhood with a tiny yard. The total opposite of where we were… 

Yet we still have within us this desire to get closer to the source of our food, decrease our dependence on government and big box grocery stores and even homestead. 

So here’s what I’ve recently learned… Homesteading is not true SELF-sufficiency. You see, we weren’t ever intended to be able to meet all of our own needs. Instead… homesteading means community. 

It’s about getting closer to the source of your food by knowing your farmer, getting your meat from local friends or butchers, buying eggs from the family at church, getting raw milk from a local dairy farmer, trading your sourdough bread with someone who has honey, partnering with a friend on a garden project, trading canned goods, visiting your local farmer’s market for fresh produce… 

I love the fact that as my big box grocery bill decreases, I’m supporting small businesses and local families. I’m building community as part of my food journey. 

So if you live in an area where you can’t “do it all”, please don’t be discouraged! You get the added benefit of developing a rich community in your quest to become more self-sufficient. 

How else can we encourage community in our food journey?