The Importance of Cultivating Homesteading Community
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Homesteading is living a life of self-reliance and self-sufficiency. Even though it puts emphasis on the word SELF, it does not imply a life of solitude. Community is just as important in homesteading, it plays an important role in establishing that self-sufficiency. The saying "No man is an island" can also be applied to homesteading. No homestead is able to stand alone. No homestead is 100% self-sufficient, not requiring anything from anyone else or the outside world ever. We are only humans, our resources are but finite. We don’t run on rechargeable batteries and unlimited energy. There are times we get sick, have emergencies, and unforeseen circumstances happen. During these times we won’t be able to tend to our garden, our animals, and our homestead. During these times we rely on others. To help us during the pause until we are able to get back on our feet.
We Rely on Communities in Times of Need
The current pandemic situation also magnifies the importance of having communities that we can depend on in times of need. Food shortages, panic and tension, implementation of quarantine, fear, and loss of loved ones happening in every part of the globe. We rely on the medical community to be our first line of defense, on local farmers and small agricultural communities to provide as grocery shelves are emptied, and on technology and online communities to help us get through our everyday needs. With a lot of people relying on technology, we see a lot of people asking and sharing how best to transact and go through our daily activities safely and efficiently. How to do online groceries, online banking, and pay bills. It just goes to show that community is important in everyone’s life whether you are homesteading or not.
Cultivating a community is promoting the growth and development of your local district. To support the small businesses and local growers, thereby stimulating progression and improvement of the local community. Community also allows us to bring back the barter and trade system, as well as collaborate with others to establish strong and resilient interdependent homesteads that can survive trials and challenges.
A homesteading community is one that is built with like-minded people who share the love of gardening and raising animals, of living in tune with land and nature. It is creating connections with local farms, local producers, and other homesteads. To be interdependent in some ways and trying not to depend on outside resources. To help each other from learning new skills, to consulting about homesteading matters, to supplying some of the food your family eats. It is a community working together on a common goal which is to bring prosperity and abundance to the local community through each other.
A homesteading community can bring so many benefits. Some of them are stated below.
Food Network
Local farmers, growers and gardeners usually focus on specific products. Growing specific vegetables or herbs, raising chicken for chicken meat or eggs, goats for milk, or beekeeping for honey. A community of homesteaders producing different kinds of commodities will benefit local residents by offering a wide range of products to choose from.
As a homesteader yourself, this will allow you to focus and perfect that particular produce. Though this does not mean that you are not allowed to produce the same kind of products the other homesteaders are doing. Multiple sources of similar produce can benefit the community when the need becomes large for one producer to handle.
Service Network
Most homesteaders are the do-it-yourself kind of people. This implies they have acquired homesteading skills that would help them achieve self sufficiency. From crafting to woodworks, to sewing, to baking or cooking, to repairing furniture, to food preservation and more. A community of homesteaders can greatly benefit from this.
Other homesteaders can help you learn skills that you want to take up on, or consult with on homesteading projects that you are just starting. If you also have these valuable skills, you can also offer them to the community and make it a source of additional income for your family. You can offer such services and or teach classes.
Tools and Equipment
Each homestead usually maintains a well-stocked tool shed. These are quite necessary as tools are used every day. But not all homesteaders can afford the big and expensive tools and machinery that could help make work lighter and more efficient. Having a community of homesteaders that can offer such support to others can be of big help. Sharing can be paid by contributing to the equipment’s maintenance and gas or you can trade in other produce that you have.
There are even some homestead families who are in a joint cost-share of certain equipment. Such equipment that is usually used just a few times a year can be shared as an investment by 2 or more families needing that equipment. You can make formal agreements and make sure terms and sharing of maintenance costs are clearly stated to avoid conflicts and disagreements in the future.
Mentorship
All homesteaders start from somewhere. Starting a homestead if you are used to a big city busy lifestyle is not easy. It is a total 360-degree change and it can be overwhelming and frustrating. Having a community to rely on where you can easily seek help and ask for guidance as you start on your journey is a very big help. In this modern age, online communities are fortunately within easy reach. A connection to people with similar passions who love to learn new skills and be willing to extend a hand and help guide you or answer most of your farm-related questions is comforting and can help you get through the challenges you face. There are even online mentorship programs being offered for beginners or anyone who wants to learn and start their homesteading journey.
Growth and Improvement of Local Community
As homesteaders, it is important to recognize the value of local investment. It will allow you to rely on people in your community when your homestead is unable to offer you everything that you need. Having connections with other local farmers, producers and homesteads allow for opportunities for barter and trade systems, or give-and-take at times of need.
A community of support where you can turn to if you need assistance and in turn can offer a helping hand of any kind in exchange. A nurturing network and growth mindset will allow each homestead household and local producers of your community to grow together. Improving the local economy and community towards a more sustainable and healthy development.
Community Fun
Sometimes homesteading can feel like work, work, work every single day. But creating opportunities for fun is also an essential part of building community. It allows families to strengthen connections and relationships in a casual and relaxing way.
It also gives the children opportunities to make friends, play, and spend quality time with other children of similar lifestyles. Developed friendships are like extended families. They are those that you can lean on and depend on when things go rough or when challenges abound.
It Takes Time, Work, and Effort to Build a Community
Building a community composed of individuals from different walks of life with varied personalities is not easy. There will be clashes of opinions, disagreements about how things should be done, contradicting principles, practices, and beliefs. There will be people who have been doing things for years. There will be some who are more modernized and will incorporate modern principles into their practices. However, if all work for a common goal, respect each other’s differences, and find a compromise that would benefit everybody or the local community, then a community will become a very valuable asset.
It takes work to build a community. It takes time and effort to find like-minded individuals and to build relationships. It takes trust, open communication, and clear boundaries. You need to have an open mind and a humble spirit and should learn how to work with other people. It won’t always be smooth sailing no matter what. There will be conflicts and miscommunications, ups and downs. The important thing is to know how to work it out and rise above it by focusing on the common goal. Having people who are willing to have your back is something of great value. Learn how to give when you are in abundance and know when to receive when you are in need. Building a community and human connection is truly important. A valuable homesteading community is a dynamic group of people striving for self-sufficiency through interconnectedness and interdependence. A group of people moving towards achieving “community-sufficiency”, working together for something that is bigger than themselves.
*This is the fifty second in an ongoing series that teaches homesteading in Texas. This is not a sponsored post although it may contain affiliate links to recommended products and/or services
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