Where does the homestead movement meet the simple life movement

[mrsflib]

and how do they differ?

I consider myself a wannabe homesteader (practicing bit by bit for now), but needing to simplify and downsize before then. I've noticed my 'to be' houseplans are getting smaller. I went from1800 (for 4-5 people) sq ft eight years ago to 800 s.f. this past week.

But, I don't want a 'tiny house' (like the ones on wheels, etc) for many practical reasons that seem counterproductive to me.

I have noted that homesteaders tend to prepare or and sometimes even hoard, while simple life proponents live in the 'now' without care for the future and therefore have less stuff.

Most of my internet learning is between these blog/forum subjects:

homesteading,
frugality,
simplicity,
permaculture,

All of them bring some new information that has helped me clarify my future goals.

So, what do you think?

Ta-ta,
Robin

[loosechickens]

Having lived for years in both worlds, sometimes overlapping....I'll give you my own take on it.

"Homesteading" usually has some connotation of "living off the land", learning old skills of self sufficiency, raising one's own food, etc. It may or may not overlap with simple living, as some homesteaders do live very simply and others seem compelled to feel that self sufficiency includes hydraulic wood splitters, and lots of equipment, etc.

Simple living, while it can and often does coexist and overlap in the same people as homesteading, really is more about living your life in a way that provides calmness, meaning, usually a concern about consumption and wish to remove oneself from the compulsive materialism of our society. Simple living can take place in the country, in an urban area, in a small apartment, or out in the wilderness.

They aren't incompatible, often people who are homesteaders are also simple livers, not all simple livers are homesteaders, and not all homesteaders are simple livers.

the similarities in the two, to me, often are a wish to live one's life by the beat of one's own drummer, as opposed to keeping up with the Joneses, or buying into the working in a cubicle for life in order to keep buying new vehicles and more and more stuff.

That's my thinking....I'm sure others will come along with more ideas.

[Mrs-M]

LC, sums it up well. (Better than I will ever be able to). Here goes my attempt. For the longest time I struggled with (still do) the true meaning of homesteading (it's real form), however through learning (this forum) I've come to the assumption that homesteading is the homogeneous parallel of farming, whereas simple living represents refraining from austerity, extravagance, wastefulness, and excess.

I've been a simple living practitioner for many years and although I will admit I do live for now, I also plan ahead and carefully prepare for the future. I like to possess a balance of the two, both today, and tomorrow. I know homesteaders and simple living practitioners alike (IRL), and although the simple living practitioners tend to define themselves by way of the categories/examples I outlined in my opening, the homesteaders tend to fall within both the defines of homesteading and, simple living.

My honest opinion, Mrsflib, you will never go wrong in your venture to seek all four interests you outline in your entry. I see it as a win- win situation for you! A well-rounded choice of specialty fields/areas that will be sure to compliment and polish your ambition.

[peggy]

I think they do meet, or rather I'm trying to meet them on our place. We have pears, blueberries, blackberries, and hickory nuts, along with a large well stocked fish pond. I'm planning to plant more pears, plums, plumcots, cherries, new jersey tea, chestnuts and pecans. So there is the permaculture/homestead part. But I don't want to plant potatoes, corn, grains, onions, carrots, or others, (although I will grow tomatoes, herbs, and some others) so my plan is to trade some of the fruit and nuts harvest for the things I don't want to grow, so there is the planning, simplicity stuff.
As LC said, it's really how you see yourself living, where ever you are. And I see myself living in a garden of Eden! :D
Do the things you want to do, but take the time to think of how you can get/do the things you don't want to do. Digging potatoes is boring grunt work to me, but planting, pruning, tending trees and shrubs isn't.

[Marianne]

Great responses!
For me, they go hand in hand. That doesn't mean that I want to do all the typical homesteading stuff (like raising critters and butchering, hunting), but I try to produce as much food as I can from the garden. My neighbor and I share excess, give each other stuff we don't need (we gave them a stock tank and gate, we can use their tractor whenever we need it). I'm really big into make it from scratch and make do with what you have.
This also gives me peace of mind, lowers my consumerism - We have less, but seem to have more.

Just do what comes naturally for you! We all have different levels of self sufficiency and different definitions of simple living. It all works.

[Gardenarian]

Interesting thread!
I agree with everything the other posters have said - I'm probably closest in my lifestyle to Peggy (hi there!) My own paradise - aah - that's what I'm working toward.

There are plenty of urban simple-lifers, and I think that is where the main difference lies. I'm suburban and don't hope for complete self-sufficiency, but do try to live lightly. I just got my permaculture design certificate, grow some of my own food, and homeschool my kid; I also work a part-time professional job (as does dh.) I guess I consider myself a simple lifer because we try to opt out (as much as possible) of consumer culture.

There may be some difference in the world view of "homesteaders" - maybe more have a survivalist mentality, and are hoping to protect themselves from coming crises. (I also believe that there are big changes coming. I'm trying to meet the challenges by continuing to learn new skills and preparing my daughter for what I feel is an uncertain future - but I'm not going to quit my day job.)

I agree that the "tiny house" movement is not always practical. There was one on treehugger.com the other day that had no bathroom or cooking facilities (it was a backyard guest house, and how green or simple is that? Eh, I get kind of angry at them for co-opting the "treehugger" name, when what they are really about is being cool - but that's another thread.)

[Mrs-M]

Today I imagined myself as a staunch homesteader, and gave thought to what I would do/incorporate (simple living related) into my homesteader lifestyle that I have done in the past/still do as of present as a simple liver. My answer to myself, everything! Absolutely everything and more!!! :)

[mrsflib]

I've enjoyed reading your answers. I think I'm a simple lifer working into a homesteader where hopefully the merge will continue to be a fun adventure.

Thanx so much!
robin

[Spartana]

I know a lot of people do feel that simple living is the same as homesteading or living off grid or back to the land movement. But as other's have pointed out, EVERY way of living can be simple if that is what you want. Each way can be as complex or simple, harried or slow, consumer & "stuff" driven or or minimalistic as you want. Homesteading can be very complex, time consuming, expensive (start up costs to buy land and equiptment, might need a big truck, fuel to drive to city, insurance and maintenance and repairs, etc...) and it can be very hard physicallly too. While it would not be "my" prefered vision of simple living (tiny apt in the city & no car is mine) but it is just as vaild of a simple life as any other and can be as simple as you'd like!! I think they mesh together very well.