Let’s be honest here for a minute, shall we?
This organic living, whole foods, fermentation, chemical free, homemade, free range, grass-fed, grow it yourself, do it your self movement is flippin exhausting! I know it. You know it. But you either get it, or you don’t.
There’s nothing that gets my goat more then the taking time and energy to educate, plan, prep and cook a dish, a meal, an appetizer, or whatever, only to have someone say “you know, you could just buy that at the store?” Yeah, I know, I could just buy it in the store! That would be really easy, I agree. Trust me, I don’t make my own lotion, bug repellent, sun block and chapstick because I’m bored. So why do I do it? Why do I grow our own produce, raise meat birds, milk a cow, make my own butter, cheese and laundry detergent? Because that’s what’s best for my family. Not your family. My family.
I have spent the last 12 years of my life researching the best alternatives to a commercially raised lifestyle. One where my family doesn’t have to rely on modern consumerism’s. We grow our own food because God gave us two hands to do so. I process and can 120 dozen jars of fresh vegetables from my garden, every year, by myself. Because that’s the way I was born and raised. There is absolutely no reason for me to feed my family a tomato grown in Mexico, when I can grow it in my backyard. Yes, it would be much easier to buy all my family’s food, toilet paper and underwear at one store. Your already there, right? That’s not the point, you either get it, or you don’t. I CAN grow it myself, raise it myself, make it myself. Because that’s what I believe to be the healthiest option for my family.
I’m not sure how our society went from eating eggs and meat at the breakfast table to eating a $4.00 box of crappy sugar cereal on the couch with a iPad on their lap and watching some zombie carton. My kids don’t get sugar cereal, they get oatmeal or eggs for breakfast. They don’t get school lunch, they get a sandwich on homemade bread with pastured meat and homemade cream cheese.
It’s not easy.
None of it is.
But it is rewarding. Unbelievable rewarding. And its what I believe to be the best choice for my family. I know I’m a good mom and a good steward of The Lord. I’m proud to be a crunchy momma. Because that’s who I am.
You either get that, or you don’t.
Check out more homemade from livinlovinfarmin.com
Homemade Nourishing Lip Balm
Homemade Poultry Feed
Homemade Basic Wet Wipe Recipe
Homemade Healing Toothpaste
Posts like this are what keeps me motivated. Thank you for showing the world all the tips tricks to somehow making this easier. I’m just starting to research all the things I want to start on our land it’s quickly overwhelming. I enjoy reading all your great recipes and information you put out there. It’s not easy but so worth it. Stay diligent in Gods work, I will be praying for you.
Omg, Amen! You really do either get it or you don’t. I’m tired of people taking issue with how we choose to eat and live.
Today I put a package of premade sugar cookie mix in my cart…I figured me and my daughter would make some quick Halloween cookies. After about 5 minutes of walking around with it I went straight back to the aisle and put it back. The whole time in my head I hear “what are you doing!!! You have flour, eggs, sugar, and butter at home!!” This article is totally how I feel right now.
I found you over at Homestead blog Hop! I grew up a farm girl but now live in the Big City out East., your post reminded me what I loved about homesteading. I’d love for you to share it with us over at Country Fair Blog Party, it would be a perfect match for us!
http://www.thetipgarden.com/2014/11/country-fair-blog-hop-november-14.html
Best Blessings to you,
Jan
TRUTH! I get it!!!!!
I love this, the extra time and effort is so worth the benefits of our lifestyle. Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Blog Hop, hope we’ll see you there again this week.
I’m so happy to have found your blog! You can 120 dozen jars?! Wowzers. Way to go. Isn’t it so amazingly satisfying to eat the food you’ve grown yourself?! I’m trying to figure out how much to do homemade/from scratch, and what is worth buying for me… wanting to choose healthy, but also learning to steward my time and energy. I love how you said that what you do is what is best for your family. Each of us has that decision to make!
Biz @ DandelionDiscoveries recently posted…The Unexpected Thief of My Joy
BRAVO!
I cannot begin to express to you how much this post means to me and I am sure millions of others. I have been making positive changes for myself and my family over the past year. It has been slow as the money to change so many things in your life often is daunting and it has been difficult, but overall it has been so rewarding, like you said and I am sick and tired of hearing people tell me how easy it is to do it some other way.
You have given a voice to those that could not find the words. Thank you for your post and I look forward to many, many more.
~The Spicy DIva
We stay in the city 4 days a week and head home for a long weekend–every week. We get our produce from local farmers using natural farming methods, get our free range chicken, eggs, beef, pork and lamb from a local grower. I have placed great trust in Juanita and her family farm, I pay more $$’s for nitrate free bacon and sausage, almost triple $’s for chicken. Is it worth it? YES.
While I opt to live in the suburbs I totally support your choice of lifestyle. I do what I can to keep us eating clean and fresh. I freeze, can or trade my excess with other like me. Right now I’m trading tomatoes for eggs from one of my friends & we’re both enjoying the bounty.
Love your style. I am in the same boat, I seem to be the only outlier in my family. I have been making my own laundry detergent, cleaners, deodorant & herbal supplements for years- no one I know gets it. LOL. Last years was the first year I actually canned anything- not sure how many jars in total but I was able to can diced tomatoes, sauce, salsa, raspberry jam, hot peppers, relish and even made pickled green beans (not a hit, won’t try those again). This year I am hoping to can more of the same but adding a few things, like beets & pickles. Haven’t tried to make homemade soap yet (although I do have all the supplies) and never really considered cheese. You mentioned cream cheese above- I think I will try that first.
Good for you! Cream cheese is incredibly simple. I’m my opinion, one of the easiest cheeses to make.
Preach it, Sister! We’ve had this issue this week. Your post made me nod and smile!
🙂 Thank you!