Homesteading Carnival

I was unsure about participating in the Homestead Carnival, because I don't know that I fit in quite right, although I do bake my own bread and we live a simple life, I always questioned myself, so as I mentioned in the introductory post a week ago, I decided to look up just WHAT a homestead what. And my favorite definition was "A place one calls home".

So, anyone, anywhere can have a homestead. Please plan to participate as I tell you more about the original homesteaders.

The Homestead Act declared that any citizen or intended citizen could claim 160 acres - one quarter square mile - of surveyed government land. Claimants must "improve" the plot with a dwelling and grow crops. After five years, if the original filer was still on the land, it was his property, free and clear.

Unfortunately for many the Homesteading Act didn't work the way it was intended and people found themselves feeling like they were living in the Dark Ages and perhaps even searching out their own Dark Ages name, much like Sisterlisa did.

Dark ages aside one of the things that most impresses me is the fortitude of those original homesteaders. They built their houses. Their barns. Started a life and when they felt there was a better opportunity they would get up and leave their possessions behind to start anew. WOW. It must have felt as foreign as someone leaving their home in the United States and flying to Africa, much like Elysa is planning with her daughters this month.

One part of the homesteading life that interests me a great deal is gardening. I know so many people who do garden, but it's something I have not attempted yet, although we have a friend who is an avid gardener and has offered to help us out and till our yard for us (Too bad he broke his arm. I don't see it happening now) I am sure with the help of
Laura though I just may get some of the aid I need with her gardening tips!

The Homesteaders days were probably not much like our days. But
I am sure their lives were lovely in their simplicity. Perhaps on snowy days they sat watching the snowbirds enjoy the snow. The winter nights must have been long and lonely. The original homesteaders learned to entertain themselves through reading books, telling stories and singing songs. Perhaps some read books and took trips through their imagination to such places as Japan (as Heather did this week). Maybe their lives have since been reflected out in books, such as Stepping Heavenward recently reviewed by Jen or even in Unit Studies such as the one Candace has planned this month.

They spent many cold nights quilting and knitting, making items to fill their hopechests for the future and to keep their ears warm in the now.

Homesteaders had to budget their lives carefully from time to food to money, I imagine everything was in short supply. Lynn has a great hands on lesson in budgeting in her "Year of the Dollhouse" series. They certainly didn't remodel their homes at the rate we do, but they did do things to liven their homes up. Paper dolls in the windows. Quilts over chairs. Maybe even reorganizing a room to make it fit for a family to really live in. Whether the room was reorganized or not they required some upkeep. While many homesteaders had dirt floors others were lucky enough to have wood floors (Something I would kill for now!). The Front Porch has great and simple ideas for keeping those floors clean. Whatever floors the homesteaders had they had to teach those kids young much in the same manner as Mommy Homemaker.

One of my most hated chores (After scrubbing the kids bathroom and cleaning drains) is laundry. Not that doing laundry itself is so bad, but putting it away. UGH. And then I remember the way they did laundry in the 1800's and I hush myself. Their hands must have been so raw and so sore. Maybe they made a homemade fabric softener like Momma of Many, maybe they did without. Either way, I have it much easier, apparently even easier than Robin and her Laundry Daze. YIKES!

I am sure the Homesteaders had many complaints. I am equally sure
that many of them chose to count their blessings through difficult times, just as Karen did at TAG. Amy is also counting her blessings at the little breath of Spring she was graced with this week.

They had to work hard to stay healthy, I wonder if they knew the importance of Vitamin D, as Tan has shared.

One part of staying healthy is, of course eating healthy! Check out this great recipe for Chicken Breasts with Lemon and Rosemary that Amy Jo has shared. For more great cooking tips be sure to check out Grandma Rosie, who discusses the merits of honey on her blog. It's apparently NOT just for Peanut Butter and honey sandwiches.

Don't forget to load up your wagon and join Amy over at ECloud Homeschool for next weeks Carnival. Looking forward to seeing you there! If you'd like to host yourself please check out the Homesteading Carnival main site.