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On today’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Cindy Patterson. Cindy and her family live on a 700-acre farm/homestead in Saskatchewan Canada and are doing a little bit of everything to be as self-sufficient as they can be.

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Building a Modern Homestead: Lessons from Cindy Patterson

Homesteading can look different for everyone, but Cindy Patterson, a homesteader from Saskatchewan, Canada, offers a great example of how much can be accomplished with determination, family involvement, and community support.

Her journey into modern homesteading began out of necessity, but quickly became a lifestyle filled with purpose and joy. Here’s a look at some key takeaways from Cindy’s experience that might inspire others to start or enhance their own homesteading journey.

Starting Small, Growing Big

Cindy and her family didn’t dive into homesteading all at once. They started slowly with a few goats to provide milk for their son, who couldn’t drink cow’s milk. Once they saw how easy it was to care for the goats and enjoy fresh milk, they began adding more animals to their homestead. Now, Cindy and her family raise a variety of animals, including cows, chickens, quail, and rabbits.

Lesson Learned: Homesteading is addicting! Once you get started, it’s easy to add more projects and animals. Start small, grow as you feel comfortable, and before long, you’ll find yourself with a bustling homestead.

Food Security and Peace of Mind

Cindy’s family initially turned to homesteading after several grocery store purchases were recalled due to contamination. This experience made them want more control over their food, ensuring its quality and safety. Today, they produce most of their own food, from meat to vegetables, and even preserve it for the long, cold winters of Saskatchewan.

Lesson Learned: Producing your own food gives peace of mind. Knowing exactly what’s in your food and where it came from can remove the anxiety of food recalls and provide a deeper connection to what you eat.

Community and Collaboration

Homesteading, especially on a larger scale, can be challenging to do alone. Cindy emphasizes the importance of community and collaboration. Although they raise many animals and grow a large garden, there are still things they don’t do as well, such as raising turkeys. Instead of getting overwhelmed, they trade with neighbors who are better at raising certain animals.

Lesson Learned: You don’t have to do it all! Find like-minded people, whether online or in your area, who can support you by sharing skills and trading goods. Collaboration makes homesteading more enjoyable and sustainable.

Getting Kids Involved

For Cindy, homesteading isn’t just about feeding her family, it’s also a way to teach her children important life skills. Her kids are involved in all aspects of the homestead, from gathering eggs to butchering animals. This has given them a deep appreciation for their food and the effort that goes into producing it.

Lesson Learned: Homesteading is a fantastic way to teach kids responsibility and the value of hard work. It’s also a chance to pass on important lessons about sustainability, ethical farming, and healthy eating.

Growing and Preserving Food

The Pattersons maintain a large garden, producing everything from root vegetables like potatoes and carrots to cucumbers and herbs. They even started an orchard with apples, plums, and berries.

The family makes good use of their root cellar, preserving potatoes and carrots well into the next growing season. They also can and dehydrate a lot of their harvest to ensure they have plenty of food through the long winters.

Lesson Learned: Growing and preserving food can save money and reduce reliance on grocery stores. If you’re new to homesteading, start with easy-to-grow crops like potatoes and carrots, and learn how to preserve them for long-term use.

Specializing and Simplifying

One of Cindy’s key realizations was that homesteading doesn’t mean doing everything perfectly. The family quickly learned that some animals, like turkeys, didn’t fit well with their setup. Instead of stressing, they focused on what they were good at: raising goats, cows, chickens, and rabbits. They left the turkey farming to their neighbors, who enjoyed the challenge.

Lesson Learned: It’s okay to let go of projects that aren’t working and focus on what you enjoy or are good at. Simplify where you can and make sure your homestead brings joy, not burnout.

Embracing the Seasons

Living in a place as cold as Saskatchewan means that preparing for winter is a massive part of Cindy’s homestead routine. The family carefully plans their food storage, protects their garden beds, and ensures their animals have plenty of food and warm shelter. They even make use of the short growing season by using a greenhouse to extend the time they can grow plants.

Lesson Learned: Homesteading means working with the seasons. Learn to embrace the challenges of your climate and make the most of the time you have, whether that’s using greenhouses to grow in the colder months or preserving food for when the garden is bare.

Homesteading For Self Sufficiency Your Way

Cindy’s story reminds us that modern homesteading isn’t about doing everything or living a completely self-sufficient life. It’s about finding a balance that works for you and your family. Whether you have a large farm or just a small backyard, there’s always something you can do to live a more sustainable and fulfilling life.

Homesteading is more than just a lifestyle – it’s a way to reclaim control over what you eat, connect with your community, and teach your kids the importance of hard work and sustainability. Even if you’re not raising goats or cows, you can still make a difference by starting a small garden, preserving your food, or buying locally.

Ready to get started? Start small, embrace the learning process, and remember, there’s no one right way to homestead!

Resources and links from today’s episode:

Cindy’s Homestead Facebook Page – Homestead Therapy

Homestead Front Porch Facebook Group

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