Today I welcome my friend Erin Kelly to share her thoughts on why local homesteading friends are so important! Welcome, Erin!
Many of us have moved to a homestead lifestyle because we were tired of the rat race. Peace, quiet and privacy are all top of the list for many homesteaders. Yet, there are things that are so much more fun or lots easier when you have a few like-minded people to call on. Not to mention, when emergencies happen on a homestead, it’s a comfort to have someone to call. Someone that knows how to milk a cow, keep a garden functioning or why it’s important to put chickens up at night.
That said, it can be REALLY hard to find a local community of like-minded homestead friends. Sure, there are more online homestead forums and Facebook groups than you can shake a fist at but it’s not always easy to determine who is close to where you live.
So why are local homestead friends awesome? Here are 9 of my reasons, and please share yours in the comments!
1. They understand why you make your own deodorant, feed your chickens fermented feed or bake bread from scratch.
2. When you say you want a dairy animal, they not only get excited for you but try to help you find the right animal using their network.
3. Homestead friends understand that you can’t go on weekend vacation anymore. Quick visits, often involving homestead chores, are expected and enjoyed.
4. Canning, processing, picking are all more fun when you have many hands to help out. Creating a crop mob schedule with your local homestead friends is an amazing tool for your collective homesteads.
5. It’s a relief to have someone local to call when an emergency pops up, and know that they will take care of your homestead as if it were their own.
6. Homesteading can be lonely and overwhelming. Having like-minded folks nearby can allow for homeschooling get togethers, jam making sessions, help raising a small livestock barn and more.
7. Wanting to switch to a different animal feed? Not sure where to buy chickens? Ask your local homesteading friends, two/three/four heads are far better than just one.
8. A support system of like-minded people can make a big difference when you get off the phone with a family member, friend or just someone that doesn’t understand WHY you’re homesteading when you “can just buy that at a store”.
9. Sharing tools, collaboration projects and homestead magic is created when you build a strong local network. There is no limit to what a group of motivated, like-minded folks can create when they put their minds to it!
Sounds awesome, but don’t know anyone local?
Here are a few suggestions on how to find some local homesteading friends:
- Keep your eye on the classifieds in your local paper or farm journal – pounce on any listings that intrigue you and call to introduce yourself.
- Check out community-building sites like MeetUp and join or start a homesteading group.
- Call your local Master Gardener organization and ask if there are any events or groups that you may join.
- Volunteering is a great way to meet local homesteading friends! Is there a community garden you might help in? A gleaning organization?
- Tell everyone you know that you’re wanting to connect with more homesteading locals.
Why are your homesteading friends so important?
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Be My Home stead friend,I know you cant Do alone,I am try to do by my self,get help,pay with help back,like,now just info what to do,I give what what I can,thanks.Jeff
I live in a Hud apt,gov,Hud land be grate,seen old time farm life,uncle & Ant,farm,loved,stayed in summer,60,s keep info coming,I will keep checking,my apt cheap,got a garden big tomato,s & chili & bell pepers,old granys talk stuff,I got to get my truck,paint,parts 95 Dodge Dakota 4×4 runs good,had for ever,send info,AK,be good in bush land,cheap but so far away,Thanks.Jeff
Cool! Just pledged. I’d love a site like this for when we return to CO and start homesteading.
Great! I can’t wait for them to launch their full site – it’s going to be so great!
I live in a Hud apt,gov,Hud land be grate,seen old time farm life,uncle & Ant,farm,loved,stayed in summer,60,s keep info coming,I will keep checking,my apt cheap,got a garden big tomato,s & chili & bell pepers,old granys talk stuff,I got to get my truck,paint,parts 95 Dodge Dakota 4×4 runs good,had for ever,send info,AK,be good in bush land,cheap but so far away,Thanks.Jeff
I agree. We all need a group of friends and neighbors to count on.
I really don’t think I could be a homesteader if I didn’t have neighbors to count on. We love to travel, and our good friends make it possible.
send info homesteading,jschwersinske@att.net jeff
Im in a old age apt,low income,get SS $ retired health,want a small place in country,garden hunt back yard,info on cost,want to have place with 4 seasons,WI all my life,live good life.Jeff
What a fantastic idea! How do I contact Erin to see if I could share her post on my blog? I went to her website but didn’t see a contact? Maybe you’d be willing to share this post on the HomeAcre Hop today?
thanks, Nancy
The Home Acre Hop
Just submitted it!! Thank you!
You can try to reach Erin via HH facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/homesteaderhub
Thank you!
want a Homestead,for the price I pay for rent,say $500.00 a month,Im retired health get SS,$ That pay bank,like 5 acres,buddy got 5 acres garden hunts deer back yard,I live city Milwaukee Wi,Bud,centrol Wi,no homesteads in Wi, land cost high,taxes,want to copy bud,but his lady pays 1/2 the bills,Im alone,want to live north,4 seasons,like,shack in woods,me,shack for truck,save both of us,cant do all on my own,help from good people,pay back help them,Im 58 be 59 oct,best place to live clean water air,cost low,Dream.Info Thanks Jeff Schwersinske
Hi Jeff, sounds like it’s tough to own land in that area. I know other areas are much less expensive, like Southern Missouri. But as to how to find a place like what you described, I’m not quite sure what to suggest! When Homesteader Hub is launched it will be a great resource. I bet there are some online forums that might be of use.