Intuitive Homesteading

I love the idea of doing things "intuitively". It satisfies my inner rebel while coming across as sophisticated and wise. It really just boils down to doing things your own way and giving yourself permission to completely ignore rules and norms of society. It's liberating, to say the least.

I first encountered the concept as it relates to [not] dieting - it's called (you guessed it) intuitive eating. There are ten official principles of intuitive eating as established by a couple of dietitians in the 1990s. It does make a lot of sense and helped me rethink a lot of assumptions I had about food and eating. Although I've come to the opinion that "eating intuitively" in the modern world doesn't really work (more on that later), I do agree with most of the principles.

Intuitive eating did more for me though than change my thoughts about food. It changed my thoughts about almost everything. It taught me to trust myself and to give myself permission to unapologetically march to the beat of my own drum. It was also the final push I needed to let go of perfectionist thinking and be okay with doing what I can, even if some days it doesn't seem like much. It's all about meeting yourself where you currently are, respecting your strengths, not comparing yourself to others, yada yada. All good stuff.

The whole "not comparing yourself to others" thing is exceedingly difficult in the age of social media. I mean, that's almost why social media exists anymore. We can't help ourselves. It usually starts off innocently enough. You get an idea to try something like homesteading, so you go on social media for inspiration and to commune with like-minded souls, and before you know it you're overwhelmed, discouraged, and scrolling real estate websites for acreage because there's no way you will ever be able to produce cheese from your own cow on half an acre in the middle of town...just speaking theoretically, of course.

As I've gotten back into this homesteading stuff I've noticed myself trying to do too much at once and having some perfectionist relapses, so I decided to pause for a minute and regroup. Using the framework of the intuitive eating principles, I've come up with ten principles of what I'm calling "intuitive homesteading". I need to remind myself [frequently] that there is no "wrong" way to homestead. To be as cliche as possible, homesteading is a journey, not a destination. Here we go with the principles...

1. Reject perfectionism - there are no rules and/or standards for homesteading, so don't waste time and energy trying to create some; each homestead is unique, and the process is about learning, adapting, and finding joy in the journey.

   
   

2. Honor your land's capacity - understand the strengths and limits of your homestead - whether it's soil quality, size, climate, sunlight - work with what you have instead of trying to force unrealistic expectations.

   
   

3. Tune into nature's rhythms - observe the natural cycles of the seasons, weather patterns, and local ecosystems; plan your planting, harvesting, and livestock in harmony with these cycles.

   
   

4. Respect your own energy levels - some days will be highly productive and others not so much; be mindful of burnout and give yourself permission to rest when needed.

   
   

5. Honor your skills and interests - prioritize tasks that align with your interests and strengths; you don't have to be an expert in every area of homesteading; focus on what brings you joy and learn new skills as you go.

   
   

6. Feel the harvest joy - celebrate the rewards of your efforts, whether it's harvesting vegetables, drying your own herbs, preserving a bounty of fruit, collecting eggs, or completing a DIY project; these moments are nourishing and validating.

   
   

7. Find sustainable satisfaction - enjoy the gratification that comes from the inevitable eco-friendliness of homesteading, such as composting, reducing waste, and reducing dependency on systems that overuse resources.

   
   

8. Trust your instincts - if something feels off, whether it's the health of a plant, animal, or a project, trust your intuition. Seek knowledge and advice, but don't be afraid to allow your own experiences and wisdom to guide your decisions.

   
   

9. Learn and adapt - mistakes are part of the process and intuitive homesteading is about learning from trial and error, not being afraid to pivot or abandon a method that isn't working.

   
   

10. Embrace flexibility - each day on a homestead can be unpredictable; be open to change and ready to shift priorities based on weather, needs of animals, or the growth of your plants; flexibility leads to resilience.