[CottonBall]

For me, the doom and gloom that seems to surround the prepper groups is depressing and kind of panic-inducing, where as the lifestyle of homesteading is a gratifying peaceful kind of thing. Just a gradual change in the way we live, a slow removal from what was a "supposed to" life, to a "want to" life. :)

And hey, CottonBall, I should have put you on my ping!

Thx for the ping! Your website is great - looking at it makes me want to jump into homesteading myself. Aw well, it will be a few years (we are waiting to have enough cash on hand to survive until SS). We aren't as adventurous as you, darn it ;(

Yes, the prepper mode is a bit different than homesteading. I call myself a prepper for now, while I am in the city and not as prepared as I'd like to be (with a self-sufficient farm). When I get there, I will be a prepared homesteader.

We could use some more granny-type threads, IMO, with less emphasis on guns and storing food, although those are important issues, and more ideas on being self-sufficient.

[teenyelliott]

We could use some more granny-type threads, IMO, with less emphasis on guns and storing food, although those are important issues, and more ideas on being self-sufficient.

I agree. Some of those kids of threads really are stressful! Of course food storage and self defense are a natural part of homesteading, but I prefer to focus on the lifestyle change of it all, rather than MRE's and bullets, gold and razor wire. :)

And really, you can do it even if you haven't crossed that bridge to reach to SS. I wanted to establish our place sooner rather than later, because it relieves so much stress about having to pay attention to all the bad news, wondering if we would be safe, or prepared enough, if the masses went wild. I think we definitely have less disposable income now, but man how are lives have changed for the better. Change is always scary, but I figured if I failed, I could always go back. Now, I know I never will.

We aren't wealthy, we aren't in our twenties, and we had no farming experience. Of course we have made mistakes (buying a property that did not have fencing was the biggest one that I would do differently!), but I really started the website to show people that it really can be done, by anyone who simply wants to do it. Steep learning curve, and sometimes money is super tight until the beasts start reproducing so that we have a little income from them, but it is worth it. I really wanted to get started while I was still relatively young enough to enjoy it. I think we as Americans are so entrenched in the idea that we can't do anything enjoyable until we retire, or until we have enough money, or whatever the idea is that we dealt with and finally discarded. Do what you want to do, it is possible!