Dear Neighbor,
The famous character from Gone With The Wind, Scarlett O’Hara, was a fiercely independent woman. She didn’t start out that way. She was soft, pampered and depended on everyone else to put food in her mouth. She learned the hard way, that she had to take matters into her own hands.
Her famous quote, “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again,” is this sites inspiration. Regardless of what happens in our country, economy, or personal financial situation, I want to be able to eat and maintain my life as I know it, as much as possible.
Preparedness is the name of the game. What would you do if you lost your job, the economy crashed or for just any reason you did not have a way to purchase food? How long could your family eat? Can you agree it all comes down to food? A roof can be found or built, most of us have enough clothes to live for years but food is consumable and a total necessity.
Homesteading used to be about getting a free plot of land and making it legally yours by working and living on it. Now, it is a lifestyle that creates independence and self-sufficiency. It’s about living a country lifestyle regardless of how how small a space you have.
My motivation and interest in homesteading does not revolve around a mentality of lack or fear, but of the pioneer spirit that says, “I can do anything” and enjoy doing so. It is a “do it yourself” attitude that perhaps I inherited, since my ancestors pioneered this fine country.
In growing, gathering and preparing your own food, you can know where your food comes from and provide healthier choices than you can buy from a store. Combine the discipline of preparedness and a homesteading mindset and you have a healthier and more secure life.
My homesteading journey began in 1995. We went from a large yard to a full working homestead: a milk cow, grew our own pork, beef, poultry, and gardens which provided fresh and canned vegetables. I baked our bread, made our cheese and other dairy products and we didn’t have to buy all too much from the store. I was a real Martha Stewart, minus the money and hired help.
There was always so much to do. Having little money was our biggest issue. We never seemed to be able to build pens or fences the way we wished and our homestead never looked Martha Stewart’s Turkey Hill, but, we ate well!
As the kids grew up and out and organic foods became more available, we decided to take a little break from homesteading, keeping only our chickens. I turned my natural living passion in an inevitable direction: natural health and household products. I became an educator, teaching people how to not only feel and look great but how to earn money from home. This journey took me all over the country; to radio and even television. Along my journey, many people were so intrigued with my experiences in the homesteading field that I decided to share them with you.
So, that is how Scarlett’s Homestead Letters came about. These are my letters written to you, my neighbors, sharing my experiences and advice to help you get started in your country living, backyard homesteading experience and other do-it-yourself activities. You will find recipes, natural health issues and many other things independent minded people enjoy. I refuse to limit what we talk about!
Scarlett O’Homestead is not my real name, (it is fun, though, isn’t it?) but my tales are all very real. I write about things I have done, am doing or want to do. My core beliefs are in freedom, capitalism, integrity, independence, self-sufficiency, preparedness and civic responsibility. These are the values taught by our Creator and influence my business practices and my life.
There are many different levels and motives for preparedness and homesteading. When it comes to preparedness, I am not anticipating an apocalypse. I refuse to add that negative energy to the world. I am planning, “just in case.” In case what? You fill in your “in case” blank. I want to be sure I have food, so “as God is my witness, I will never be hungry again!”
Most of us have jobs and have very little extra time. Knowing this, we must use our time, money and land efficiently. We can buy many things (no, you don’t have to grow everything to homestead!) but grow as much as we can, to supply as much fresh and storable food as we can.
The message of this neighborhood is: some is better than nothing. Don’t get bogged down with the romantic notions of what you think a homesteader looks like. They look like you and me! Don’t get discouraged if you can’t do a task or homestead venture. Remember, regardless of how big your yard is, you can grow some and perhaps the majority of your fruits and vegetables. If you wish, you can even raise meat. Regardless of how big your home is, you can store enough food to be prepared in an emergency. You can do many things for yourself and be more self-reliant. I invite you to be my virtual neighbor and get ready with me
Happy Homesteading, Scarlett
Contact me at homesteadletters@gmail.com