Practical Homesteading

Tag: self-sufficiency

  • My Mission: Growing Food, Raising Kids, and Building Community — A Path Back to Connection

    My Mission: Growing Food, Raising Kids, and Building Community — A Path Back to Connection

    Daily writing prompt
    What is your mission?
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    “We’re stronger together.”
    — A lesson from the land, the past, and the heart.

    Some days, I find myself wondering why I share so much of my messy, joyful, back-to-the-land life. Then I remember—it’s not just a blog; it’s a declaration of purpose. I’m not just learning to grow food or raise livestock. I’m learning to build a life rooted in connection, resilience, and love—the kind of life that feels increasingly rare in our modern world.

    Growing Food

    My mission comes back to the words that guide everything I do: “Growing food, raising kids, building community.”

    Growing food isn’t just about self-sufficiency; it’s about slowing down and remembering that life takes time. Whether it’s a full garden, a few backyard hens, or a pot of herbs on a sunny windowsill, each act connects us to the earth and to the generations who worked it before us.

    You don’t need acres to begin—just a seed, a container, and a little sunlight.

    Even one small step can be the beginning of a more grounded life. Each seed planted is a reminder that we can create abundance with our own hands.

    Raising Kids

    Just as tending the garden teaches patience, so does parenting. Homesteading is a classroom like no other—muddy, humbling, and full of wonder.

    It teaches our children what no textbook can: that hard work matters, that life is cyclical, and that family is their safe harbor in a sometimes harsh world.

    My hope is that my kids grow up knowing home isn’t merely a place—it’s a legacy we build with care and intention. Whether they keep chickens, plant tomatoes, or simply carry these values forward, I want them to understand where they come from and who they are.

    Building Community

    And then there’s community—the heartbeat of homesteading and, I believe, our survival as humans.

    American society often tells us that strength comes from independence—that we should manage everything ourselves, and outsource what we can’t, because we’re too exhausted to do it all. But that version of “strength” leaves us burned out and disconnected.

    True strength doesn’t grow in isolation—it blossoms in interdependence.

    Sometimes that means swapping seeds or recipes; other times, it’s checking on a neighbor or being brave enough to ask for help. We were never meant to do this alone.

    Lessons from the Past

    When I think about how far we’ve drifted from those roots, I can’t help but look back with respect. Our great-grandparents understood community in ways we’ve forgotten.

    Their lives weren’t easy—many faced relentless hardship. I once read about children in rural Wisconsin in the 1930s who walked miles to town barefoot, carrying their shoes so they wouldn’t wear them out. They’d put them on only once they reached town, because those shoes had to last—and often be passed down to the next child.

    Those stories remind me that while the past wasn’t perfect, it carried wisdom worth keeping. People ate real food, raised resilient children, and looked out for their neighbors. They knew that survival wasn’t just about grit—it was about connection and care.

    Planting Hope

    In the end, that’s what I want my life—and this blog—to reflect. I want to inspire others to live intentionally, grow their own food, raise their families with love, and reconnect with the people around them.

    Because when we nurture the soil, our children, and each other, we’re planting more than gardens—we’re planting hope. And in that hope, we rediscover a simple truth our ancestors never forgot:

    We are always stronger together.

    Now it’s your turn. How do you balance modern life’s demands with a desire to live more simply? Tell me about it in the comments. Let’s start a conversation!

    If this post spoke to you, I’d love for you to help the message spread:

    💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — I truly enjoy hearing your stories.

    💚 Share this post with a friend who believes we’re stronger together.

    🌾 Subscribe to the blog for more reflections on growing food, raising kids, and building community—one season at a time.

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  • My Top 5 Essential Grocery Staples for Homesteading and Scratch Cooking

    My Top 5 Essential Grocery Staples for Homesteading and Scratch Cooking

    List your top 5 grocery store items.

    If you walked down a typical grocery store aisle with me, you might think I’m lost. While most American shoppers reach for convenience, I’m the one squinting at sacks of flour, jars of yeast, and tubs of coconut oil — the same staples my great-grandmother probably chose 75 years ago. I don’t shop for ready-made meals; I shop for possibility.

    At home, those bulk ingredients become whatever we need — bread, tortillas, sauces, or even snacks. If I don’t know how to make something, I learn. A simple search and a quiet evening in the kitchen have taught me more than any cookbook could. This hands-on, old-fashioned approach has saved us thousands over the years, but more importantly, it’s built confidence, patience, and gratitude for every meal we share.

    Now, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy Chinese takeout once in a while! I’ve learned to make my own dumpling and stir-fry recipes — they’re delicious when they turn out, and hilarious when they don’t. (One of my most epic flops was a lemon pepper chicken so salty it could’ve been used as a salt lick.) Mistakes keep me humble, and in a way, they’re the best ingredient for growth.

    Homemade potato chips
    Bloody Mary with mostly homegrown ingredients

    So with gratitude — and a dash of humility — here are my five most essential grocery items and how they shape my kitchen life on the homestead.

    5. Coconut Oil

    Coconut oil is my go-to multipurpose fat. It melts like butter and works wonders in place of lard or shortening. I use it to pop popcorn, bake desserts, and even blend it into homemade flour tortillas.

    Its aroma — faintly sweet and buttery — adds a subtle depth you can’t quite place but always appreciate.

    Tip: For tender baked goods, replace half the butter or shortening in your recipe with coconut oil, then reduce liquid slightly. It gives just enough chew without the greasy feel.

    4. Active Dry Yeast

    Yeast is the quiet hero of my kitchen — small, simple, and full of potential. Watching dough rise never loses its magic, especially when the kitchen smells of warm, sweet yeast and anticipation.

    It symbolizes self-reliance: turning flour, water, and salt into something living, breathing, and nourishing.

    Tip: Always proof yeast with a pinch of sugar in warm water (around 110°F). If it bubbles within 10 minutes, your dough is ready to rise.

    3. Chicken and Beef Bouillon Powder

    I lean on bouillon powders for soups, gravies, and especially rice. Cooking rice in chicken or beef stock instead of water transforms it from plain to crave-worthy.

    I also mix beef bouillon into my homemade onion soup powder — it adds warmth and richness that store mixes can’t match.

    Tip: Swap half the water for stock when cooking noodles, grains, or vegetables. It’s the fastest way to round out flavor without extra sauces or salt.

    2. Plain White Sugar

    Plain old white sugar earns a spot near the top because it does so much more than sweeten desserts. It wakes up yeast, balances tomato acidity, and — lately — fuels our lemonade habit.

    My sister keeps me well-supplied with lemons, so I make fresh lemonade weekly. When the kids come in sun-dusted and thirsty, that chilled pitcher waiting in the fridge makes them light up.

    Tip: Add a teaspoon of sugar to tomato sauces or soups to tame acidity without losing depth of flavor.

    1. Flour

    If coconut oil is the heart of my pantry, flour is its backbone. I buy high-gluten flour for breadmaking, but I’m excited to experiment more with ancient grains soon.

    The feel of dough under my hands, the smell of a fresh loaf cooling on the counter, and the crackle as it’s sliced — it’s the rhythm that grounds my kitchen.

    Flour builds loaves, tortillas, focaccia, and even desserts. It’s humble, forgiving, and powerful — no one in my house has ever once complained about home-baked anything.

    We rarely buy vegetables from the store, relying instead on what we’ve grown and preserved — jars of tomatoes, beans, and pickles lining the pantry. They remind me that what we grow in summer sustains us long after the frost sets in.

    Our winter meals center around potatoes, onions, and frozen vegetables like broccoli and bell peppers. We’ve experimented with extending our garden season using a small greenhouse and straw. There’s something deeply satisfying about pulling greens or a carrot from a garden while snow still glitters outside.

    As for meat, we’re still building toward full independence. We raise our own pork, purchase beef from my sister’s grass-fed herd, and still buy chicken from the store — for now. One day soon, meat birds will join the homestead lineup, and the circle will feel more complete.

    Each grocery item on this list earns its place not for novelty but for versatility. They remind me that eating well doesn’t require endless ingredients — just a few solid building blocks and the creativity to make them shine.

    This slower, more deliberate approach to cooking has taught me creativity, patience, and gratitude — lessons that spill over into every other area of life.

    Homesteading has shown me that ingredients matter less than the care and love you pour into them. Every loaf, jar, and meal built from raw goods feels like an act of heritage — and hope — in a world that moves too fast.

    Homestead maple syrup

    What five grocery staples would make your list? Please share them in the comments. And if this post inspired you, please like, share, or subscribe to follow more homesteading stories, seasonal recipes, and simple living tips.

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