2019 Modern Homesteader’s Christmas Wish List
Despite the fact that most modern homesteaders lust after some version of “the simple life” and like to challenge ourselves to make do with what we’ve got (and be resourceful AF), we also tend to be suckers for good quality kitchen gadgets, garden tools, cookbooks, preserving equipment, natural ingredients and products that either take us back to a simpler time (hello cast iron and wooden spoons!) or make balancing this whole homesteading thing with the demands of life in the 21st century just a little -or a lot- quicker and easier (I’m looking at you, Instant Pot!)
The awesome thing is, as modern homesteading gains traction and more and more people jump on the self-sufficiency train, the more old-fashioned tools and modern-day time savers are becoming available for those of us who are striving for a homegrown, homemade life.
Naturally, many of us already have a list a mile long of practical, useful gifts that would have us swooning on Christmas morning. But if you need a few ideas for the modern homesteader in your life, you’re looking to inconspicuously send a link full of your favourite products to someone who needs a hint *wink wink*, or you just enjoy browsing Christmas gift guides full of your favourite things (yes, seed catalogues absolutely count;), then this list is certain to have everything you’re heart desires and more. (And if it doesn’t, please let me know what’s missing so I can add it!)
I’ll admit, I couldn’t tell you the first thing about what songs are on the Top 40 list right now or what hashtags are trending on social media, but when it comes to what’s hot in the modern homesteading world, I’m your girl.
And so, without further ado, I present to you the first annual Modern Homesteader’s Christmas Wish List!
Because the greatest gift of the season is being close to your loved ones. But the second greatest gift is the one you really want;)
(Please note: I am an affiliate for the products listed below, which means that if you make a purchase through one of these links I may get a small commission for recommending the product. However this doesn’t cost you anything extra and allows me to earn enough to keep this blog (and all of the free content) going strong. Thanks so much for your support!)
Gifts for the Kitchen
Cast Iron Cookware
No homestead kitchen is complete without at least one piece of cast iron cookware. If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit cast iron from you meemaw, here are a few cast iron pieces that will help you build your collection (and maybe even ensure you’ll have some timeless pieces to pass down to the future generations in your family!)
Cast Iron Skillet
Every homestead needs at least one classic cast iron skillet. Not only does cast iron make any modern homesteader feel just a little more like Ma Ingalls from Little House On the Prairie, it’s also a healthier and all around better way to cook food!
Cast iron heats up and cooks food more evenly which helps prevent burning, and it actually adds iron, an essential nutrient, to your food. And there are no harmful chemicals that could end up in your food (which unfortunately can’t be said for non-stick pans). Plus, cast iron lasts forever and can even end up being a family heirloom that can be passed down through generations.
Dutch Oven
A dutch oven is another must on any homestead, whether modern or old-fashioned, on or off the grid. Most modern dutch ovens are made of plain cast iron or cast iron covered with enamel. They can be used to cook food on the stovetop or in the oven, making them incredibly versatile.
There’s also this Spider Dutch Oven with feet that sit above hot ashes in a fire pit or wood burning fireplace and a concave lid that allows coals to sit safely on top, making it possible to bake food over an open flame. This is especially useful for homesteaders living off-grid or to have on hand in case of an emergency.
Cast Iron Pie Pan
If there’s any way to make homemade pie better, it’s with a cast iron pie pan. This cast iron pie pan ensures an evenly baked crust and a classic crimped edge for the perfect homemade pie. Add a rustic touch (and a dose of iron!) to any homemade pie!
Cast Iron Gift Set
This cast iron gift set is the ultimate Christmas gift for anyone with a penchant for old-fashioned living or healthier cooking! The set includes an 8″ skillet, 8″ lid, 8″ crock, handmade wooden trivet, stainless steel cleaning mesh, and organic seasoning paste. Perfect for a gift or as a starter set.
Small Appliances & Kitchen Gadgets
We could all use a little help in the kitchen sometimes. Consider the following gadgets and appliances a helping hand to assist you in getting from-scratch food on the table in record time!
Instant Pot
Ah, the Instant Pot. You’ve most likely heard lots about this handy modern kitchen tool and/or have stumbled upon about a thousand different Instant Pot recipes online. But you may also be wondering if this is just another trendy new kitchen appliance that will end up buried at the back of your cupboard. That’s what I thought before I got my own Instant Pot last Christmas, but OMG, let me tell you… I use it ALL the time.
Like a couple weeks ago when I cooked short ribs for the first time and was trying to get dinner on the table at 6:00 at night when I realized they would take 4 hours to cook in the oven! Into the Instant Pot they went and were done in 45 minutes:)
Of course, I also use it for soups, stews, homemade chicken stock, chilli, pot roast, whole chickens, rice… You name it, the Instant Pot can probably cook it.
Dubbed a “multi-cooker” with a seemingly endless variety of functions, the Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, slow cooker and steamer, and has settings to cook everything from rice and porridge to soup and broth and even yogurt. You can even cook frozen chicken breasts to perfection in 10 minutes! Yes, you read that right. You don’t even need to thaw frozen meats when using the Instant Pot and you can still have dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes.
And if all of the amazing food you can make isn’t enough to make you want the hottest item on everyone’s Christmas list this year, you can also make infused oils, extracts, soap, salves and creams. There’s not much you can’t do with an Instant Pot, and while it won’t cook dinner for you and serve it to you at a candlelit table, it’s pretty much the next best thing.
Stand Mixer
I have to say, as much as I love my Instant Pot, there’s no kitchen appliance I use more often than my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer. I use it to make our yeast bread, baked goods, pizza dough, quick breads, cookie dough, brownies, and the list goes on. Plus there are an endless number of cool and useful attachments for the from-scratch home cook, including a food processor, pasta maker, spiralizer, meat grinder and many more.
Food Processor
I’ve lived without a food processor for years, and it sucks. Grating, julienning and slicing everything by hand is super time-consuming, and any time saved in the kitchen is the greatest gift of all for anyone who strives to make all her meals from scratch. This Breville food processor is a solid product and a workhorse that’s made to last in the kitchen. It’s also a godsend during preserving season when you’ve got 100 pounds of cucumber to slice and turn into pickles, cabbage to shred for sauerkraut and peppers and onions to dice up for homemade salsa:)
Mockmill Stone Grain Mill
Grinding your own flour at home means you get all of the health benefits of fresh, whole grains in your home-baked goods. This Mockmill 100 stone grain mill can grind up to 100 grams of soft wheat per minute with its ceramic grinding stones and industrial motor, making it the cream of the cop when it comes to grinding your own wheat berries and ancient grains the fast and efficient way! A must for the serious home baker.
Preserving Equipment & Tools
Preserving food goes hand-in-hand with homesteading. Luckily for us modern folk, there are a few useful tools and appliances that can help put up the harvest safely and with ease. Here are the preservation tools that every homesteader needs in their kitchen in 2019.
Water Bath Canner
A water bath canner is an essential tool for any homesteader, whether modern or old-fashioned. This is the perfect tool for anyone just getting started (or wanting to get started) canning fruit, sauces, jams, jellies, pickles, salsas, spreads, chutneys, juices and preserves. A must-have in any homestead kitchen!
Pressure Canner
While water bath canners are great for jams, jellies, pickles and preserves, you need a pressure canner for serious canning of vegetables, meats, soups, stews and stocks. The pressure canner at the top of pretty much every homesteader’s wish list is the All-American Pressure Canner. There’s nothing you can’t can with this baby!
It can also be used as a water bath canner, which means it’s possible to can everything from pickles and preserves to meat, seafood, vegetables and combination recipes. You can literally preserve almost the entire harvest with just this one tool!
Dehydrator
I didn’t know how badly I needed a dehydrator in my life until I got an Excalibur dehydrator for Christmas a couple years ago. What a game changer!
Dehydrating opens up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to preserving, making it possible to make your own dried fruits, fruit leathers, dehydrated vegetables, “sun”dried tomatoes, dried herbs, powdered greens, veggie and kale chips, beef jerky, whole dried meals and even yogurt. And all you need to do is set it and forget it! No skill required:)
Food Saver Vacuum Sealer
A Food Saver vacuum sealer is the answer to your prayers when it comes to preserving food in the freezer. The airtight sealing system helps you extend the shelf life and prevent freezer burn for everything from fruits and vegetables to meats and prepared freezer meals. A must-have for any modern homesteader who uses the grid to her advantage;)
Canning Tools
Where would I be without my canning tools? Probably with third degree burns on my arms and a big mess on my counter. Honestly, I don’t know how people can foods without a few handy canning tools like these jar lifters, this canning scoop and this canning funnel.
My own canning tools are some of the most used items in my kitchen. I even use the scoop and funnel for other messy tasks like using the funnel to transfer dry goods into jars and using the scoop to transfer flour from the big bag into my flour canister, sans mess:)
Fermenting Kit
While you can totally ferment food the old-fashioned way (with nothing more than a fermenting crock), this fermenting kit makes it fun and easy to ferment any food with ease. A great gift for any beginner or seasoned fermenter!
Indoor Growing Kits
Grow food indoors all year long with these indoor growing kits for sprouts, microgreens and mushrooms and ensure you always have a supply of fresh, healthy food to add to your home cooked meals!
Culinary Herb Garden Kit
This rustic, barn-wood style planter box and culinary herb growing kit makes growing herbs indoors both easy and attractive. Don’t wait for warm weather! Grow herbs in your kitchen so you’ll always have them fresh when you need them to all your home cooking.
Sprouting Kit
Sprouts are thought to be one of the most nutrient-dense foods known to man since they contain all the nutrition of full grown plants compacted into tiny sprouts that can be consumed en masse. The best part? You can grow them on your counter all year long! Even better? They’re ready to eat in just a few days and you don’t even need soil!
This sprouting kit comes with everything you need to start sprouting seeds at home even if you have no experience. Also comes with a large variety of seeds and includes stackable trays that can be used to sprout many different seeds at once. Also includes wheat berries and can even be used to grow wheatgrass hydroponically!
Microgreens Starter Kit
Take your indoor growing one step further and grow some microgreens! Similar to sprouts, microgreens are simply baby seedlings that are eaten when they’re still small instead of being allowed to grow to their full size. (The difference is that sprouts are merely sprouted seeds whereas microgreens are allowed to grow into seedlings).
This microgreens starter kit has everything you need to get started growing microgreens indoors including growing trays, a selection of seeds and even the soil! Hydroponic microgreens kits are also available. Another great way to grow fresh, nutrient-packed food that’s ready to harvest in just a few days. Perfect for year-round growing indoors in any size space!
Mushroom Growing Kit
Mushrooms are a fantastic food source to start growing indoors since they don’t exactly need a lot of sunlight. I once knew of a woman who lived in a tin high rise apartment in downtown Vancouver and she grew mushrooms in her bedroom closet! And it’s not hard to see why: This oyster mushroom growing kit comes with everything you need to grow right out of the box – just add water, and you’ll be harvesting delicious mushrooms to cook with in stir fries, pasta dishes, pizza or however else you enjoy mushrooms at home!
Odds, Ends & Stocking Stuffers
Here are a few more odds, ends and items that no modern homestead kitchen should be without.
Wooden Cooking Utensils
I use my wooden cooking utensils almost every day in my kitchen. Not only are they rustic and beautiful on display on my counter, they’re also all-natural and great for cooking food without fear of plastic particles or metals leeching into your food. A great stocking stuffer idea!
Silicone Oven Mitts
I LOVE my silicone oven mitts. Not only do they keep my hands safe and insulated from heat, the silicone exterior makes it easier to grip hot pans and casserole dishes without fear of them slipping out of your hands and making a big hot mess all over your kitchen. And the silicone also makes them easy to wipe clean when you get food on them and prevents burn marks. I got mine as a wedding present and have used them almost daily for almost 5 years now and they’re still just as good as new!
Fermentation Weights
These glass fermentation weights make keeping fermenting foods under the brine a breeze, which helps to minimize food loss and ensure a quality finished product. These make for a fantastic stocking stuffer for any modern (or not so modern) homesteader!
Oversized Mason Jar Storage Jar
There’s nothing a homesteader loves more than staring for hours on end at the pretty Mason jars of home-canned food that line her pantry shelves. But dried goods can sometimes be a bit of an eyesore in their packages, boxes and bags. The solution? Put them in this oversized Mason jar!
You can display dried goods like four, sugar, grains, dried fruits, nuts, etc. in this beauty on your countertop or tucked away in your pantry. Or you could store just about anything else in here (Lego pieces come to mind as I glance over at my living room floor… Kids.)
Cookbooks
What homesteader doesn’t love to flip through cookbooks for hours on end? It’s even better when the recipes are all made from scratch and actually easy to make at home! The following cookbooks are a mix of the hottest sellers right now and tried and true classics bound to give you the inspiration (and instructions) you need to make from scratch cooking a breeze!
The Prairie Homestead Cookbook
The Prairie Homestead Cookbook: Simple Recipes For Heritage Cooking In Any Kitchen is the hottest selling homestead-themed cookbook of 2019, hands-down.
Author Jill Winger, creator of The Prairie Homestead blog and host of The Old-Fashioned On Purpose Podcast makes traditional homestead and heritage cooking easy and accessible with simple, fresh farmstead recipes like Maple Sage Breakfast Sausages, Farmer’s BreakfastHash, Homemade French Bread, Honey Whipped Carrots, Tomato Basil Galette and Fudgy Sourdough Brownies, to name but a few. This book is also loaded with lots of other great information on growing and preserving your own food. This is the cookbook that’s topping many a modern homesteader’s wish list this Christmas (including mine!)
Handmade
Part cookbook, part memoir, part practical homesteading and general life advice, author Melissa K. Norris weaves together the story of her family, the wisdom passed onto her through five generations of homesteading experience and the from-scratch recipes that she’s inherited from those who came before her in her book Hand Made: The Modern Guide to Made-From-Scratch Living. Full of easy, straightforward recipes with ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. You’ll find everything in his book from sourdough bread to buttermilk biscuits (the best I’ve ever had!) to homemade soap to homespun Christmas decorations and more!
Homestead Kitchen
If you’re a fan of Alaska: The Last Frontier, then you’ll definitely be a fan of Homestead Kitchen: Stories And Recipes From Our Hearth To Yours. Written by ATLF stars Eivin and Eve Kilcher, this is a true homesteader’s cookbook that covers everything from Essential Cooking Staples and Tools to “Cooking the Homestead Way” to homestead recipes categorized by the origins of their ingredients. There are recipes from the garden, the henhouse, the pantry, the root cellar, the milking shed, the forest and the sea, to name a few. Plus many entertaining stories and tidbits of information about the Kilcher family sprinkled throughout.
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
I can’t say enough good things about The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving. I call it my “canning bible” since it’s my go-to guide for canning everything under the sun. This book contains 400 canning recipes and complete step-by-step instructions for water bath and pressure canning so even a total newbie can’t go wrong. Another must-have kitchen “tool” for every modern homesteader.
Gifts for the Garden (and Barn)
Hori Hori Multipurpose Garden Tool
The Hori Hori garden tool is a multipurpose tool that can be used for everything from digging to trenching, planting, cutting, and even opening your beer after a long day working in the garden;) Hori Hori, which translates to “dig dig” in Japanese, is considered one of the best all-around garden tools of 2019. And, of course, it’s a Japanese-made knife, which means it’s built to last.
Canvas Garden Apron
Fashionable and functional, this canvas garden apron has 6 large and medium pockets to hold seed packets, tools, gloves, your phone and anything else you might need out in the garden.
Garden Tool Stool
As an avid gardener, I know how painful it can be to be on your knees on the dirt all the time. That’s why this fold-out canvas garden tool stool is a dream come true for gardeners of all ages! Not only does it offer you a place to sit comfortably anywhere in your garden, it also has eight large pockets to keep all of your tools and gardening gear close at hand.
Gardener’s Scissors Gift Set
These beautiful and functional garden scissors make a perfect stocking stuffer for homesteaders and gardeners. Not only will they be well used come spring when it’s time to start snipping herbs and cutting twine, these stainless steel scissors with bamboo handles packaged in a reusable wooden box make this a gorgeous gift set that would pair well with a pair of quality gardening gloves.
Garden Journal
A garden journal is the perfect gift for homesteaders who love to get their goals and dreams down on paper, record their results and stay organized. This month-by-month guided journal helps to ensure you make the most of your garden by helping you plan your garden calendar all year long so you never miss an important task or date. There’s also space to write, doodle, plan and dream and to record your harvest, yield, seeds, crop rotation cycle and more to give you an advantage the following season too!
Egg Gathering Apron
An egg gathering apron is a must for every chicken farmer! (Yup, even the dudes;) Not only does it make gathering eggs easy and helps to ensure they don’t crack and break, it looks super cute too! Another fun and functional gift that makes homestead life just that much better:)
Gifts for the Home
Essential Oils
Essential oils have changed my life in so many ways. They’re a key ingredient almost every homemade product I make, from candles and room sprays to body butters and salves to homemade cleaners and bath products. And they’ve become an integral part of my journey to creating an all-natural home and medicine cabinet.
There’s an essential oil for just about everything, from illnesses and injuries to stress and anxiety to helping you focus and easing fatigue. Plus they’re an all-natural, synthetic chemical free way to make your home smell ah-mazing. Essential oils are the perfect gift for anyone, and they’re a sure hit with homesteaders everywhere.
Diffuser
Every essential oil enthusiast must have a diffuser. Diffusing essential oils is one of the most common ways to enjoy them and reap their health benefits and their beautiful aromas.
I currently own two diffusers and have a goal of someday having one in every room! I love using them to make my house smell amazing with just a little water and a few drops of essential oils rather than using synthetic fragrances. I especially love that I can diffuse relaxing oils like lavender in my daughter’s bedroom at night to help her sleep or I can add oils that help ease symptoms of illness that the whole family can benefit from when we’re under the weather.
Wood Stove Eco-Fan
Anyone with a wood stove needs one of these eco-fans! It helps to heat your living space by blowing warm air throughout your home, and it’s powered by the heat of the wood stove itself. Just set it on top of your wood stove, light a fire and enjoy the toasty warmth!
Oil Lamp
Nothing says “pioneer” like a good ol’ fashioned oil lamp. Not only does it complete the look of a vintage farmhouse, it’s also backup lighting for if and when the power goes out. Pick up a used one from your local second hand store or order new online (Yes! They actually still make these!)
16-Arm Laundry Dryer
There’s just something about line drying your clothes that harkens back to a simpler time. Not to mention, hanging clothes to dry helps to preserve them longer and saves money and energy. You can hang your clothes to dry inside or out with this adjustable 16-arm dryer that folds up completely and was designed for use in any size space. Great for the apartment homesteader who still wants the benefits of hanging clothes to dry!
Laundry Soap Nuts
Soap nuts naturally produce saponin: a biodegradable, hypoallergenic and extremely effective detergent. A great stocking stuffer or companion gift for the drying rack!
Cast Iron Skillet Clock
Handcrafted in the USA, this cast iron skillet clock is the perfect cute but functional piece of decor for any homestead kitchen, old or new!
Handmade Gifts From The Heart
Every modern homesteader appreciates the art of the handmade gift as much (if not more than) store-bought gifts. Here are some quick and easy QUALITY handmade gifts you can make at home for yourself and for the people on your list, whether they’re homesteaders or not!
- Homemade Soy Candles with Essential Oils
- Christmas Room Sprays with Essential Oils
- Homemade Whipped Body Butter
- DIY Hair Pomade with Rosemary Essential Oil
- Peppermint Sugar Scrub
- DIY Bath Salts with Essential Oils
- DIY Cookie Cutter Birdseed Ornaments
And as always, if you have anything you think should be added to the list, let me know in the comments below!
Wishing you a homemade, homegrown, homestead Christmas 🙂
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Do you dream of escaping the rat race and starting a homestead far from the chaos of the modern world?
It’s no surprise that in this day and age, more and more people are ready to leave it all behind and move to a property in the country where they can grow their own food, live a simpler life and become more self-sufficient and less dependent on “the system.” But as romantic as it sounds, it’s definitely easier said than done.
In the latest issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, I sat down with Ann Accetta-Scott of @afarmgirlinthemaking to talk all about what people need to know about buying and selling a homestead property.
Ann and her husband Justin recently moved from their two-acre homestead outside of Seattle, Washington to a 40-acre homestead in rural Tennessee. Ann and I sat down to talk about the realities of buying and selling a homestead, moving across the country to pursue your homesteading dream, what to look for when you’re searching for your next property, pitfalls to avoid (if you can!), and what you can do if you’re not ready or in a position to make your move just yet.
Whether you’re looking to purchase your first homestead or trying to sell an existing homestead and upgrade to a bigger property, Ann had some great insights to share that can save you time, stress and money when you’re ready to make your move.
Check out the full interview in the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine: link in bio @anna.sakawsky or visit www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com to subscribe, login to the library (if you’re already a subscriber) or view a sample of the current issue!
#modernhomesteading #homesteadersofinstagram #escapethematrix #selfsufficiency #selfreliance #selfsufficientliving
This is why people don’t trust our medical system!!!
I very rarely go on a rant about current events but this has me feeling really fired up…
My husband and I each got an Amber Alert on our phones the other night along with millions of other British Columbians, informing us of a child abduction in Vancouver. It made the suspect sound like a dangerous kidnapper and said “do not approach. Call 911.”
As it turns out, it was the mother of the child (a 3-year-old boy), who had refused medical treatment without getting a second opinion and follow up blood tests, so the Ministry of Child and Family Services was called, she was arrested and her son was taken from her and was administered medical treatment in the hospital without consent and without a guardian present.
There’s a lot more to this story than I’m able to share in this video or this caption, so I’ll post some links below where you can hear directly from the mom what happened, and check out other IG accounts that have been in direct contact with her and the father. But the point is this was a GROSS misuse of our Amber Alert system, a GROSS abuse of power (turns out the boy wasn’t sick in the end anyway), and has now traumatized this family for life.
Doctors are not gods and as mothers we do not co-parent with the government!!!
This hits close to home for me because I too have been through the medical system and had my concerns dismissed, was misdiagnosed and given wrong information, and was treated with obvious contempt when I got a second opinion.
In this day and age of rampant medical coercion and the erosion of bodily autonomy over our own bodies and over those of our children, this story highlights the dangers of the very slippery slope we’re on.
As parents who only have the best interests of our children at heart, this could happen to any one of us. We can’t let this be normalized. Remember “first they came for (fill in the blank), and I said nothing. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Check out my stories for the full video that the mom, Wiloh made explaining the details of what happened or check out the comments for links to learn more & support this family.
I’ve hesitated about posting this reel over and over because I know I’ll probably get backlash, hate and vitriol from some people in return. But I wouldn’t be being true to myself if I didn’t speak the truth that’s on my heart and mind…
If you haven’t noticed, there are currently thousands of Canadians sharing their stories and using the hashtag #trudeaumustgo on their social media posts right now in response to the divisive rhetoric and actions of our prime minister over the past few months. But our media has downplayed the issue and has attributed most of the hashtags to “bot” accounts and foreigners trying to influence our politics.
In response, real Canadians are making videos and sharing their stories to show that we are not bots, but real people who have been negatively affected by the words and actions of our leaders, particularly our leader at the top.
I used to consider myself a lifelong leftist and have supported the liberal government and Trudeau over the years, but after what I’ve witnessed over the past few months; After how he has spoken about Canadians who have made a different medical choice or who have protested mandates (which have done nothing to stop the spread of you-know-what anyway); After the hate and division that has trickled down from the top and infiltrated our communities, I can no longer stand silently by.
While I am 💉, a few months ago when I voiced my support for those who stood up against mandates and against the division being pushed on us by our leadership, I suddenly found myself among what our prime minister called the “small fringe minority” of citizens with “unacceptable views.”
I lost followers, friends and even a couple family members. I was told I’d been “radicalized,” although my views have never changed.
So today I’m adding my voice to the chorus of real, everyday Canadians who are taking a stand against tyranny and division in this country. As the saying goes, if we do not stand for something, we’ll fall for anything. I stand for freedom & autonomy, and against division & tyranny.
#trudeaumustgo
(Special thanks to fellow 🇨🇦 homesteader @meggarlandd for inspiring me & giving me the courage to post this:)
What would you do if the grid went down?
Imagine not just the lights going out, but all power, all digital communication and information. Would you be prepared?
A lot of us THINK we’re prepared for a grid down situation, but unless you’re already living off grid, you might not realize how dependent on technology we really are!
In the fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, contributor Ashley Constance of @dirtypawshomestead and @alittleselfreliant shares her experience voluntarily going without power for the day, and what she and her husband, Shawn learned from their grid down experiment.
You might be surprised at the things they discovered and missed on their prep list, and it might prompt you to reevaluate whether you’re ready in case the grid goes down, or even just Google 😱
Check out the full story in the latest issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine!
Link in bio @anna.sakawsky or visit www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
#modernhomesteadingmagazine #homesteadersofinstagram #homesteading #modernhomesteading #prepping #nationalpreparednessmonth
The other day when I had a few minutes to spare, I was out in the garden doing a little work when my neighbour said hi over the fence.
I lamented to her about how busy we’ve been and how hard it’s been to keep on top of this year. Very sincerely, she replied “wait until you have another one,” referring to our baby on the way.
“You’ll be moving back to the suburbs so quick, mark my words,” she said.
Now, I don’t for a second think there was any ill intent behind her statement, but still, it took me aback.
“We’ll never move back to the city or the suburbs,” I replied with a laugh. “This may be hard work but we love it.”
She then repeated her statement and followed it up with “just you wait and see.”
I decided not to continue the back and forth. After all, I told myself, it doesn’t matter if she or anyone else knows what’s truly in your heart. It doesn’t matter if she understands that there’s no amount of difficulty that would make me run back to the suburbs and leave this life behind. In fact, our dream is to upgrade to a bigger property someday where we can grow an even bigger garden and add more livestock to our homestead!
Likewise, I visited the city last weekend for a family event and as always, I had at least a couple people ask me “so when are you moving back to the city?”
Seven years later, and still we have friends and family members who think this is just a phase we’re going through, and eventually we’ll come to our senses and move back.
I used to get offended by these questions because I felt unseen; I felt like nobody took this life that I’m so passionate about seriously, and thought it was “cute” that I was “playing farmer” for a bit, but eventually I had to grow up and become part of the “real world” once again.
Now I just smile and reply “never:)”
Can you relate? How do you (politely) respond when someone questions your lifestyle choices or implies that you’ll eventually come to your senses and come back to “reality”?
Let me know below 👇
The fall issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine just dropped!
In this issue you’ll find:
• Preparedness tips, tricks and advice to help you be ready for anything on the homestead (and in life!)
•The ultimate guide to growing garlic at home and it as both food and medicine
• Drool-worthy recipes that feature garlic as the star!
• Expert advice from A Farmgirl in the Making’s Ann Accetta-Scott on what to look for (and look out for) when buying or selling a homestead property
• Advice on how to learn and grow from perceived homesteading “failures”
And more!!!
Go to modernhomesteadingmagazine.com or click the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky to subscribe or login to the library and read the latest issue if you’re already subscribed!
When I first started homesteading, I had a burning desire to become more self-sufficient and live a more sustainable life.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been a rebel at heart, and learning how to homestead and become more self-reliant was a way for me to “throw a proverbial middle finger to the system” and live life on my own terms.
As a teenager, I was the girl who drove around town with punk rock music blaring from my car, Misfits sticker on the back and studs around my wrists. I felt misunderstood and angsty and like I desperately didn’t fit in with the world I grew up in.
I always knew in my soul that I wanted something different; Something more.
Today I’m the mama with stretch marks on my belly and battle scars on my heart. I’m the woman who gardens and cans food and makes her own tinctures and believes in something greater than herself and fights every day to stay free in a world that feels increasingly engineered to keep us hopelessly dependent.
Today I feel whole and at peace, and connected to a higher power and a higher purpose. I feel like I’ve finally found the place where I belong.
This journey has been about so much more than homesteading for me, and I've learned, lost, gained and loved so much more than I ever could have imagined.
Because, as I've said before, homesteading doesn't happen in a vacuum. Life is always happening at the same time.
This is the full, raw and unfiltered story of my homesteading journey, and how I've gained so much more than a pantry full of food along the way.
Click the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky to read more or check it out here >> https://thehouseandhomestead.com/how-it-started-how-its-going
The news we’ve all been waiting for…
IT’S A BOY!!!
After so many years and too many losses, our hearts are so full and it feels like we are inching closer to our family finally being complete.
I’ve always known in my heart and soul that we were meant to have a girl and a boy. I know, it sounds cliché and very “nuclear family,” but years ago I saw a psychic who told me I would have a girl who loved to be centre stage and had a personality larger than life, very much how our daughter has turned out!
She also said I would have a boy who would be much more introverted and in tune with nature and with his own intuition. That’s yet to be seen, but I’ve always had this unwavering vision of a son and a daughter that fit these descriptions, and my heart has been set on a son ever since we had Evelyn.
Of course, things went sideways for a few years. Shortly after Evelyn was born, I became pregnant again, but we made the heartbreaking decision to terminate that pregnancy at 24 weeks due to a severe medical diagnosis. We lost our son, Phoenix Rain on June 15, 2018. Our hearts were shattered and have never fully healed.
Over the next few years, I had 3 more early miscarriages. None of the doctors knew what was causing them as most didn’t seem to have any sort of genetic explanation. We were told it was “something environmental,” but weren’t given any clues as to what that could be.
After pushing to see several specialists last year (after our most recent loss), and being told once again that there was “nothing wrong with me,” I finally got another opinion and found out I had something called Chronic Endometritis: A low-grade infection in my uterus that I believe in my heart was caused by my c-section with our daughter; A c-section I didn’t want and probably didn’t need, but felt I needed because I was under pressure to make a decision before the surgeon went off duty.
I’ll never know for sure, but when I pushed for more testing and finally got a simple round of antibiotics, the endometritis cleared up. I got pregnant again almost immediately and so far we now have a healthy baby boy on the way.
(Continued in comments…)
My baby girl is 6 today!
For the last couple months I’ve been making a concerted effort to be more present with her. While I try to do this all the time, it’s easy to get caught up with work, the daily to-do list, etc. But with her home from school for the summer, dad working out of the home full time at a new job and me pregnant with a new baby on the way, I knew that not only did I need to take a step back from work and the daily grind for a while, but that this time together, just her and I, is precious and fleeting, and I need to make the most of it while I can.
Over the last few weeks we’ve had many adventures and fun times together. We’ve gone camping, hit the beach, she learned how to ride a two-wheeler, is swimming in the deep end of the pool and in the ocean on her own, and we’ve spent countless hours together just talking, bonding, cuddling and enjoying each other’s company.
Many nights I’ve gone to bed after a long day of fun with dishes still in the sink, emails still unanswered and not one thing scratched off my to-do list. But then I remember that my most important “to-do” right now is to be a mama to my girl, and to cherish this time together because I know it won’t last forever.
She’s an independent spirit who probably won’t always be willing to spend hours hanging out with her mom or invite me to snuggle with her every night before bed. So I’m gonna soak up as many of those moments together as possible while I can.
Today my baby girl is 6, but she won’t be forever. So if you can’t find me here, you know where I’ll be:)
Oh, and maybe from now on I’ll remember to get a few more pics of the two of us together too 😉
We’re living through interesting times. Many people have even used the term “unprecedented times,” and while that may be true in that there has perhaps never been another time in history when we’ve faced so many existential threats all at once (ie. a global pandemic, climate change, political divisions, AI advancing at an incredible rate, cyber attacks, nuclear threats, globalization, food shortages, supply chain issues, hyperinflation, social media and the age of information/misinformation, etc. etc. all converging at once). But despite all of this, we are not the first generation(s) of humans to face hardships and threats of great magnitude, and in fact we’ve had it better than any other previous generations for most of our lives, especially here in the west.
The fact is, there are lots of things we can do to ensure we’re not sitting ducks when these threats come knocking at our door. But it takes action on our part, not waiting around for someone else to fix things or take care of us.
In the Summer issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, I sat down with The Grow Network’s Marjory Wildcraft to talk all about the realities of our current climate, including worsening inflation and looming global food shortages, as well as what every day people like you and I can actually DO to improve our food security, become more self-sufficient, care for our families and communities and ensure our own survival and wellbeing even in difficult and uncertain times like these.
While I don’t believe in fear mongering, I do believe in acknowledging hard truths and not burying your head in the sand. That being said, things may very well get worse before they get better, and we would all do well to start learning the necessary skills, stocking up on essential resources and preparing now while there’s still time.
Check out the full interview in the summer issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine. Link in bio @anna.sakawsky to subscribe or go to www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com to subscribe or login and read the current issue.
#foodshortages #selfsufficiency #selfreliance #foodsecurity #foodsecurityisfreedom #homesteading #growyourownfood #fightinflation #stayfree
If you’re like most homesteaders, you probably have a pile of scrap materials laying somewhere on your property, all with the “intention” of being resourceful and using those scrap pieces for future projects. And let’s be honest: With inflation and the cost of lumber and, well, pretty much everything these days, being resourceful with our scraps isn’t just practical, it’s downright necessary in many cases!
But the reality is that it’s often much easier to accumulate scrap pieces than it is to actually put them to good use, and if we’re not careful and discerning with what we keep on hand, that scrap pile full of homesteader gold can quickly turn into a junk pile of clutter taking up space on our property.
In the Summer issue of Modern Homesteading Magazine, our resident handyman (my dear husband @ryan.sakawsky ;) shares his best tips for how to put your scrap pile to good use and knock some projects off your list while the weather’s still good, including which materials are worth saving and which ones aren’t.
If you haven’t had a chance to check out the summer issue yet, you can subscribe via the link in my bio @anna.sakawsky (or login to the library if you’re a already a subscriber) or go to www.modernhomesteadingmagazine.com
Do you keep a scrap pile? If so, what sort of materials do you have laying around?
#scrappile #modernhomesteading #homesteading #diy #getscrappy #resourcefulness #inflation #beatinflation
What’s doing well in your garden this year??
Every year in the garden, some things don’t do so well. We tend to focus on the failures, but there is abundance all around us if we just look in the right places.
This year our raspberries have been incredibly productive, but I didn’t even really notice until recently because I was too focused on the things that weren’t doing well.
No matter what area of life you’re feeling lack or scarcity or dealing with “failure” in, remember that it’s all a matter of perspective.
Sometimes we just need to look a little harder to find the blessings, but when you finally see them you’ll wonder how you possibly could have missed them in the first place.
Our broccoli might have bombed and our tomatoes and peppers might not ripen and our strawberries may have been ravaged by pests and disease, but we’ll be eating raspberries from our garden well into the winter months this year, and for that I’m eternally grateful.
What are you grateful for??
(P.S. Since Instagram is very much a “highlight reel” of everybody’s best selves, I totally plan on sharing our garden failures soon too. Stay tuned 😜)
Great list of homesteader items! In fact, I had a lot of these same items on my Honesteader’s Christmas article! I especially loved how you added non money gifts. The gift of time and help means so much! Thank you for a great blog post.