Homesteading to Heal Our Families and Homelife?

Plus a request for prayers, help, or both at the end

A couple of years ago, I came across — quite by accident — a site called ‘Like Bacon for Acorns.’ The name intrigued me because…well…bacon and it made me wonder about the paucity of wisdom involved in trading it for acorns. Alas, it was a website focused on supporting and encouraging men in their duties, especially as ‘man of the house.’ I couldn’t find anything offering an explanation for the website’s intriguing name.

The owner, John Cuddleback, has since changed the name to Life Craft and now his wife also provides encouragement to women focused on honing their skills as ‘woman of the household.’

Do We Need a Revival of the Homestead?

In a recent post, Cuddleback makes a case for recovering what we lost when the homestead became largely a thing of the past. He proposes that we need a “new kind of homesteading.” This caught my attention, since — as many of you know — our family currently operates what many would term a modern-ish type of homestead.

In the author’s view, “The best proximate reason to homestead is to save our families.” He goes on to explain that he’s not using the word ‘save’ in some flippant way. In fact, he points out that families are under attack all across western civilization, remarking [about the family] that “it’s on life-support or even hospice in man places where it hasn’t already perished.”

Picture of DS (always topless, it seems) holding one of the chickens. Her name is Princess.

He’s careful not to propose homesteading as some sort of quick-fix or panacea. Rather, Cuddleback wisely observes that a sort of rediscovery of homesteading — reconfigured for today’s time — could act as a critical step toward “healing our families and homelife.”

Prescription: Family-Centered Production

In the article, the author refers to a book, Rural Roads to Security, co-written by Msgr. Luigi Liguti (now that’s Italian) and John Rawe, S.J. (Jesuits were better back then) and published in 1939. It’s a book I’ve placed on my list of works to add to my library.

He shares this quote from the book:

“The best way to restore the home is to provide for some family-centered production…” “In a discussion of family activity, this principle is paramount: that family unity and development are best attained when the activities of its members are centered in concerns directly connected with the preservation and welfare of the family group.” “Therefore a family should ordinarily own land as well as the tools to work it.”

It astonishes me, somewhat, that the disintegration of the family and the general unity therein was already happening back then and in such a fashion that (at least some) people noticed it.

Even back then — some 80 years ago — Cuddleback states that though family life remained largely intact, the center was falling out for many. Homesteads and knowledge of how to run them was still common knowledge, however. That’s, obviously no longer true today.

Making Your Current Home a Re-Imagined Homestead

A surprising number of people don’t ever think about where their food actually comes from or what they’d do if the grocery store supply suddenly disappeared. Young women brag — yes, literally brag — about their inability to cook. People proudly announce that they can’t even keep a hardy houseplant alive as if this indicates they have great abilities in other areas.

Cuddleback points out that today the general population suffers from a deep lack of skill in the arts of husbandry (and wifery) that especially characterize a homestead. It’s not plausible for many to just go out and buy acreage without selling their current suburb or city home. That’s a big risk. In my opinion, it’s one worth taking, but it’s not for everyone.

Picture of the DS building a sort of teepee I requested (topless again). We planted sweet peas, pole beans, and malabar spinach all around it. Soon it’ll be covered.

The author suggests that we all take some time to consider how our current homes, yes, even those in the heart of a city, can become more of a re-imagined homestead. It’s about co-creating with God and involving our families in some way, so that everyone has a stake in it. Again, he quotes the book referenced above:

“The more active a family is, the better it fulfills its nature and thrives, on the contrary if it is not active, it dies. More importantly still, if the family is not active cooperatively, each member performing the duties assigned to it by reason, its well-being is imperiled.”

It’s about honoring both the multiplicity and the unity present in the family. Read the article in its entirety here. I’d love to hear your thoughts about this idea.

My Husband Needs a New Hip

At only 51 years old, DS is in urgent need of surgery to replace his right hip. He’s in an immense amount of pain every second of everyday, yet he rarely complains. Anyway, even though we pay an EXORBITANT amount of money each month for private health insurance, the hospital where his surgery will (hopefully) take place says our out-of-pocket costs will be about $10,000 (maybe a little more). Additionally, the full amount must be paid on or before the surgery date. There are zero options for a payment plan.

We originally scheduled the surgery for this coming Monday, March 25th, but when we got the news about the out-of-pocket costs, we immediately rescheduled it for the last Monday in April. We hope this will give us time to raise the funds.

Picture of the beautiful built-in piece he created for our family. It took a year because he had to work on it each evening after working all day. We had to do it ourselves because the cost would have been prohibitive, otherwise. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We’re doing several things in an attempt to do this: huge garage sale, I’m taking on all the side work I can handle, and we’re considering selling one of our cars. Our cars are old and DS says neither of them will fetch more than about $2,500, but at least it’s something. We aren’t sure about doing that, though.

I’ve also launched a GiveSendGo campaign. If you are so inclined and are able, please consider donating any amount to the campaign. Even the tiniest amount will help. I like the way

Jeff Childers

runs his fundraisers for people in need by asking everyone to donate just $2. I’m not sure GiveSendGo allows $2 donations, but it sure would help a lot. If you’re unable to donate, please keep us in your prayers.

Here’s the link for the campaign:

DS Needs a New Hip

Thank you so much!