I feel passionate about homesteading for a variety of reasons. Some of the reasons tend to be less productive & political and more nostalgic. Though, on the flip side, many of the reasons I feel passionate about homesteading are very much political.
Our rabbits have already been a great example of this to me. As has our garden.
When I tell people that we are raising meat rabbits, I get almost unanimously one reaction: What?! You're going to butcher and eat bunnies? How could you! How disgusting!
And I really wish I was joking. But that's what 99% of everyone says.
Yet here we are on our homestead, awaiting out first litter of rabbits, and I can't help but think about the small sliver of independence that has been gained by producing this meat in our backyard.
And that's, to me, one of the great parts about homesteading. If even a small amount, it prys us from the sticky grip of intrusive government and allows us a teeny taste of freedom.
As my husband often reminds me, the government is a consumer. It literally doesn't not produce anything. Instead, it relies on hard working people like you and I to produce everything so that it can take a portion of that from us. And in turn, it is slowly breeding a culture of people that is completely reliant on them to survive.
Think about it. What would happen if even a small portion of the food system suddenly disappeared? And do you know who's in control of our entire food system?
Yes. The Government. Who has proven time and time again how ignorant they are with money, power, and responsibility.
At least for now, we have the option of not being a part of the majority that relies on everyone else for everything and we have the option to slowly & steadily be teaching ourselves how to become producers and not just consumers.
In part, our family's desire to homestead is a conscience reaction against the direction of our current culture.
A culture that teaches us we constantly need more.
A culture that is teaching women to act like men and men to act like women.
A culture that varies little from a suckling pig, completely reliant on it's mother for the weak milk of socialism.
A producer has the option to say no to the government, at least in part. Dollar by dollar, the homesteader is able to lessen it's reliance on the big-machine and put it directly into a worthy pocket.
Of a farmer. Or a mechanic. Or whomever.
When I read articles like this my initial reaction is fury – and rightfully so. I feel the same way when I watch videos like this. Unfortunately, there is simply too much money to be made off the American public to assume those in power would chose options most beneficial for us.
But then I remember that I have a voice, even if it is a small one. With my dollars (albeight, they are few), I have options.
I can say NO to big Ag and the government subsidies that unbalance the scales and keep the farmers constantly in it's control.
I can say NO to GMO Crops and the science experiment we're involuntary participating in at our children's expense.
I can say NO to ultra-pasteurized milk.
I can say NO to the government telling me how to raise my child, how to educate them and what to educate them about.
Unfortunately, there are so many things that I want to say no to. Sorry, dear government. But it's true. I'm not anti-you. I'm just anti-invasive-overbearing-thieving-you. And it's a bigger issue then food (though the homesteading lifestyle is no-doubt food oriented).
It's about taking back part of our rights and allowing ourselves to enjoy the freedom that can come from productivity that helps to ensure our survival.
It's about not becoming reliant on a system that is set up to breed consumers and consumerism.
It's about choosing to buck up and butcher a rabbit. Yes, there is a blood. And guts. And that weight that comes with taking a living creature's life. But there is also an appreciation, a gratitude, and a sense of freedom that is rarely tasted in today's culture.
Kim
March 4, 2013 at 6:32 amwe are doomed as a country when we can not chose our own foods. we should all vote with our dollars away from big ag. I find it terrible that in NJ we can’t even buy it. They won’t label gmo’s that are now starting to show up wild off the farms- roundup resistant -self seeding.- our gov doesn’t care about us only big companies like Monsanto.
Tina Ge
March 4, 2013 at 6:45 ampretty pic! 🙂
Blueberry Acres Farm
March 4, 2013 at 6:58 amExcellent excellent post! I’m with ya!
Judy Bohlen Reisinger
March 4, 2013 at 8:03 amI agree with you totally. I live in a private community in the mountains for the last 6 years. I started to homestead about 4 years ago then found out I cannot have chickens or any farm animals. So go for the meat rabbits and anythink else you can raise yourself. You know what you’re eating without gov. interferrance. Good luck to you.
Noel McNeil
March 4, 2013 at 8:05 amWonderful!
Cassidy
March 4, 2013 at 8:34 amI got that collective “Oh my goodness! I could never do that! I’ll just get my meat from the grocery store…” when my husband and I got our first two beef cows. Now we have hogs, cows, and chickens as well as growing and preserving our own garden. I know exactly what is in and on my food. Wonderful post!
Courtney Polivka
March 4, 2013 at 9:40 amAnother great post, Shaye!
Lizzy F.
March 4, 2013 at 10:19 amLove this!!!
Suzanne Taylor
March 4, 2013 at 10:29 amWell Shaye, you said it all and you said it well! All I have to add is AMEN SISTA! You are welcome at our fire anytime!
Suzanne Taylor
March 4, 2013 at 10:30 amP.S. your husband it right in the money! The Govt is the biggest suckling pig of all.
Mary Gilbert
March 4, 2013 at 11:15 amAMEN sweety.
Homestead Dad
March 4, 2013 at 11:40 amPreach Preacha! I am planning on getting rabbits as soon as we find a new place, and I get the same reaction. A rabbit, why would you want to eat a rabbit. I, like you, plan to become as independent as possible. Keep it up.
Rene Northrup
March 4, 2013 at 5:05 pmAMEN!
Teresa Getter Messick
March 4, 2013 at 5:16 pmGood one!
Stephanie Bateman
March 4, 2013 at 6:08 pmThank you so much for this! It so spoke to my heart, and what I have been saying all along. I, unfortunately, get help at the moment to feed my 2 boys. But I am working as hard as I can to get out of that…thank you for sharing.
Modernish Homemaker
March 5, 2013 at 1:24 pmAmen on all counts! I was attracted to the more self-sufficient, green lifestyle from a young age – but my political beliefs and personal values that have been shaped as I’ve grown – and what I see happening to our country to take control away from families and communities and put it in the hand of corrupt oligarchs, make my desire for a homestead of my own all the more urgent. Thanks for sharing!
Daisy Hill Homestead
March 5, 2013 at 8:02 pmGreat post! Thank you for writing this!
brenda from ar
March 6, 2013 at 7:06 pmOh, Shaye, you rock. I am so glad to read this from you. Independent, self-reliant, stubborn, perservering, hard working folks are in the minority. Time will come, though, when this segment will become quite popular.
brenda from ar
March 6, 2013 at 8:47 pmI went back and checked out the links you offered. The article and the video are scary. I haven’t trusted our government or the media for years. This may sound ignorant, but it wasn’t until the last few years that I actually discovered there are alternative news sources out there. Slow learner here.
Dee Ann Guzman
March 8, 2013 at 8:59 amThank you for this! Awesome post! It totally reflects some of my own reasoning for homesteading, the lack of desire to e nothing but a serf to government. Dependence is another word for slavery!
Gail
March 23, 2013 at 1:31 pmI completely agree!
Cultured Palate
April 2, 2013 at 9:26 amI agree! It is so nice to read of others becoming more self sufficient!
Nancy Brewer
April 10, 2013 at 4:06 pmRabbits and chickens are the most efficient at converting feed into meat than any other animals. If I didn’t have a freezer full of venison and free-range pork (feral wild hogs), I would seriously consider it. I haven’t ever eaten rabbit. What does it taste like to you? Does wild rabbit taste different than domesticated rabbit? We have a lot of cottontail bunnies running loose around here.
Emily Waits
June 18, 2013 at 12:55 pmAMEN on ALL accounts! I could NOT have said it better myself. It’s like you said all the things I believe and think, yet couldn’t put so eloquently into words myself. You are such an inspiration, Shaye. We hope to move back out to the family farm in the next few years and grow/raise more of our own food. Until then, we are buying all we can from our local, small farmer.
Katherine
June 18, 2013 at 3:06 pmAwesome post. So, SO true.
bobbi
June 18, 2013 at 3:29 pmgreat post, sharing on FB. 🙂
Evelyn
June 18, 2013 at 3:40 pmI admire you and agree with you for the position you have taken. You are living the life I wish to live, and you are doing it at a much younger age. One of my regrets is not learning a long time ago to do what you do today. But, one is never too old to learn! I enjoy your blogs. Keep up the good works.
Amy (createplayhomeschool)
June 20, 2013 at 10:27 pmA culture that is teaching women to act like men and men to act like women.-You hit the nail on that one. Great post!
JC
March 17, 2016 at 2:21 pmSo much of what you write in this and newer posts really touches me. I wholeheartedly agree on so many levels.