More and more often these days, homeschooling family is becoming synonymous with homesteading family. Whether you are learning to appreciate simpler days, embracing the learning that comes through this lifestyle, or feel a push from the times we are living in, you may be putting more thought into taking on some homestead tasks. While homesteading encompasses a large amount of skills and tasks, it can be less overwhelming to just choose somewhere to start and focus on that. A garden can be made in a small yard or even in containers on a deck. You can find a local farmer's market and buy produce there to preserve for winter or leaner times. You can learn to bake from scratch things that perhaps you used to buy. These are smaller steps you can do that don't require a large piece of land.
Our articles this month strive to show you how being a homesteading family can enhance your homeschool as well as help you get started on some of these beginner tasks. In "Homeschooling While Homesteading," you will hear from a British Columbian mom on how her family made the transition to homesteading on a large acreage and how it has naturally become a major part of their homeschooling. In "How to Make Sourdough Bread" you will learn to make a basic sourdough bread as well as find out where to get a sourdough starter if you do not want to make one. Head to "How to Get a Homesteading Family Education" where you will get some tips and additional resources to learn big and little self-sustainable skills and be more resilient in your day-to-day life. Finally, learn how to preserve what you produce in "Preserving the Fruits of our Labour Through Canning."
Be sure to scroll down to see all the helpful content on homesteading skills for your family, and don't miss the More For You section that has additional resources to gain more insight on this theme.
One weekend, I went to my parents’ cabin with the kids and dog, and she was such a happy dog, completely different behaviour. She was able to do her job out there. That confirmed to me 100% that we needed to get onto some land right away. That week I went home and came across this rental home. We looked at it the next day and moved in a few weeks later. It was one of those times in life where I felt so firmly that God had his hands on our life and was guiding our path.
As a homesteader and homeschool mom of 3 growing children, fresh sourdough bread is something we like to have on hand. It’s a good filling breakfast and great to add to any meal. I like to make 2 loaves every week, but often I’ll make 4. I’m excited to tell you about my sourdough routine.
As we begin to produce more of our own food at home, we naturally need to learn different ways to preserve it. Freezing is often the first method thought of, but that is dependent on freezer space and also on having the time to thaw something or have it take longer cooking. Some foods work wonderfully frozen, and others not as well. Freeze drying and dehydrating are options as well, but those supplies can be costly for some people. Canning is a way to take your harvest and make it shelf stable. While some foods lose some of their nutrients through the high heat involved in the canning process, that may be worth it for the convenience and space saving benefits.
You can be a homesteader too - even if it’s just a few self-sufficiency skills you learn and teach for a homesteading family education.
More for You
That old onion or potato you’re ready to toss can be used to grow your very own crop. Read “How to Grow Your Own Root Vegetables from Discards” and try it with your family this summer!
SchoolhouseTeachers.com Member Pick
This homeschool homesteading course is designed for anyone who has a desire to live more independently and prepare much of what is needed each day using their own hands.
This homeschool homesteading course is designed for anyone who has a desire to live more independently and prepare much of what is needed each day using their own hands.
Whether you grow food, medicinal herbs or flowers, you can make it a learning adventure for you and your children. Read through these different gardening styles with your children and learn more about each approach.
Annette shares with us how she and her family practice homesteading in their large backyard in Canada. She writes curriculum and book reviews as well as articles on faith, homeschooling, and more at A Net in Time.
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it" (Proverbs 22:6).