What homesteading means to me...
I’ve been thinking a lot about what homesteading actually means to me, because it’s probably not what people picture when they hear the word! It isn’t acres of land or loads of animals or some perfectly curated, off-grid life (as cool as that would be). It’s much smaller than that. Quieter. More internal. For me, homesteading is a mindset — a way of moving through life a little more mindfully.
Like most people, I have a normal job and a full life. This isn’t about opting out or doing everything from scratch. Absolutely not! It’s about what I choose to do with the time I do have. Choosing, sometimes, to put my phone down; to not automatically reach for Netflix or Prime. To step outside for ten minutes, or cook something slowly, or just make something with my hands because it feels good to do so!
I think people underestimate how little space you actually need. A windowsill with herbs. A few pots. A raised bed if you’re lucky enough to have one. Using what you already have, rather than waiting for some future version of life where everything is “perfect.” Don’t lose that vision though because once you start you may get the bug and want to do more and more!
There’s something grounding about growing even the smallest thing and watching it change day by day. I'm currently watching my cauliflower seedlings break through the compost and loving it!
Cooking from scratch feels tied into all of this for me. Not in a strict or virtuous way — just in a gentle, everyday way. Ditching some of the processed food. Enjoying the rhythm of chopping and stirring. Letting myself enjoy the instant gratification of creating something real, then sitting down and sharing it. It feels nourishing in more ways than one.
I suppose, in the end, homesteading for me is about choosing presence where I can and when I can. Small, imperfect moments that add up to a life that feels calmer and more connected. Nothing dramatic. Nothing all-or-nothing. Just little choices, made when I can, that make me feel more like myself. 🌱 Hales x