~ Starting a Homestead Series ~ Cooking From Scratch
Starting a homestead sounds so daunting! I know it did to me at first. But when taken in small steps, focusing on one thing at a time, it’s doable. That’s what this series will be about. What can you do, no matter where you are in the journey, to create your own little homestead inside your own home. You don’t need acerage, you can create your own homestead in suburbia.
First things first, What is Homesteading? I think we all have preconceived notions in our head about what it might be. We picture Laura Ingalls, milking a cow, walking to town, doing it all on our own. But it doesn’t have to look like that at all, it can be pretty much whatever you’re able to accomplish in your own home. A Homestead is more about mindset. Most homesteaders make decisions by first asking themselves the following questions . . .
Can I make it for myself using local ingredients and for less money?
Do I already have something that will work just as well?
Can I do without it?
Do we NEED it or do we just WANT it?
With these questions in mind, you can be a homesteader anywhere!
A great place to begin is by learning to cook from scratch.
Any successful homesteader cooks the majority of their meals from scratch. If you’re already doing this, you’re well on your way and ahead of the curve!
Cook your own meals using fresh, local ingredients. Source from your own garden, shop your local farmers market, meet local farmers and ranchers.
Find out where your nearest Farmers Market is.
Learn how to grow your own food, even if all you have is a patio garden. This is a great option if you’re limited on space, GreenStalk Vertical Planter.
Find a local rancher or farmer in your community. I’ve been able to find a lot on this HERE.
Meal Plan and Keep it Simple.
Most of our meals consist of a whole protein, a roasted vegetable and a carbohydrate such as rice or potatoes. Dinners don’t need to be fancy to be good and nourishing. Save the fancy for special occasions and start your Homesteading Journey today!
Plan out your meals ahead of time. Consider your schedule, your family’s preferences and what you can source locally. Build in leftover nights, use what you have in the fridge and don’t let anything go to waste.
Reduce your reliance on processed foods. Choose two - three items from your pantry or freezer that you can either stop eating or make on your own.
A few we’ve been able to cut out or replace processed foods in our home:
Bread - before our Celiac diagnosis I made Sourdough bread a few times a week. I’m about to experiment with some gluten free breads so we will see how that goes! You can get a Sourdough starter and instructions HERE.
Brownies and Cookies - if we have them, I make them at home now, without all of the extra ingredients found in pre-packaged brownies and cookies.
Fresh fruit, cheese and olives instead of processed snacks.
Make your own seasonings with dried herbs. Grow your own or buy in bulk. I have had great luck with Mountain Rose Herbs.
Replace sodas with water. We flavor ours with lemons, limes or electrolytes.
Homesteading doesn’t have to be daunting and certainly doesn’t require acreage. Start where you are and take it one step at a time! Need more help? Subscribe to our Member Pages, here you’ll find detailed guidance, recipes and more. All for just $10 a month.
