Why Frugal Homesteading?
What
is frugal homesteading? Why would people prefer to raise their own
poultry rather than buy eggs and chicken meat from the store? How is
planting fruit trees a hedge against inflation and scarcity? The
answers to these questions are as varied as those who (many
unwittingly) are part of the back-to-the-land movement. This current
trend has captured many and is inspiring families to
produce
some or much of their own food, energy and shelter needs.
Moved
by a desire for the best possible nutrition, some families raise their
own natural foods, from heirloom organic tomatoes and grass-based milk
dairies to heritage breed pigs fed natural diets. The health benefits
alone make this endeavor worthwhile for many, with the social and
personal aspects simply added bonuses.
Survivalists
work to be prepared against any imaginable disaster, man-made or
natural, and many build complex, self-sustaining homesteads with their
own power and energy sources as well as food production. Whether the
danger be a flood or tornado or a nuclear attack or economic collapse,
these homesteading families and groups intend to survive and even
thrive because of their skills, advanced preparations and supplies.
In
a bad economy, whether it's a regional recession or a
country-wide
prolonged economic depression, survival for many will depend on their
ability to grow and produce some of their own food and energy needs.
Many frugal homesteading families are inspired by economic reasons, as
a way to beat rising costs for food and to save money.