Interest in homesteading, growing food continues during inflation and shortages

Homesteading is a philosophy of self-sufficiency that can be practiced anywhere. Whether you live on 100 acres in the country or in the heart of a big city, it’s all about making more and buying less.

It’s also about growing as a family. Spending the day together working on projects and taking care of animals brings people closer.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – (Iowa’s News Now) — At Walker Homestead in Iowa City, variety is the spice — and herbs — of life.

“Four acre garden, so we grow probably 80-100 different species of vegetables and a handful of fruits as well,” says farm manager Ben Weber. “We’ve got cows, chickens, goats, sheep, turkeys.”

The farm sells much of its product through community-supported agriculture or CSA programs or at an on-site farmers market. Though Walker is also in the business of educating about a more self-sustainable way of life.

“It’s more than a trend. I think this is the new lifestyle,” says general manager Kent Foulker.

During the pandemic, as more people stayed at home, interest in homesteading grew. Homesteading itself is a spectrum, but focused on a more self-reliant lifestyle that often includes growing your own food or raising animals for meat and other products.

While Walker is a fairly large operation, Weber says it doesn’t take a huge plot or time commitment to grow your own groceries.

“Half an acre of vegetables can more than provide for a family of four for a year with intensive planting and succession planting,” he says.

With inflation and shortages still cropping up, homesteaders find cutting links out of the supply chain helps cut their own food costs.

“You know a lot of that cost that gets accrued is shipping costs,” Foulker says. “The whole supply chain that builds up cost over time and the customer has to pay for it.”

“Seeds are just 90 cents a packet and you can grow huge amounts of food from just that 90 cents,” says president Kristy Walker.

Weber says homegrown food is better for the environment because it cuts down on the transportation of the supply chain and can be better for your mind and body. He says by reducing the time between farm and table, you can get more nutrients from the produce. There’s also the benefits of being outside.

“You’re getting both the fresh air and the exercise,” Walker says. “Nothing like lifting your spirits by even just ten minutes in the garden.”

Walker Homestead will soon launch a series on Tik Tok to introduce a new generation to homesteading; videos will teach about growing food using a new victory garden the team will soon plant. Walker Homestead hopes using this new tool to teach an age-old way of life will mean even more people grow closer to how their food is grown.

“It’s ownership. And you can say I did that, I grew that and now I’m eating it and it is better than what you can get at the store,” Weber says. “It’s hard to be upset when you get to play into the dirt all day.”

Source: cbs2iowa.com