Homesteading for me is a mind set, a way of living that restores and maintains the balance of Nature. While there are many truly fine books, teachers, and videos There is really only one source for me.
My single, most informative source of homesteading knowledge is NATURE itself.
The assumption I make is that Nature, either through evolution or Creation, is the most perfect state we can hope to achieve today. Modern science would teach us that our human brilliance can engineer a “better” fish or bean than our Creator (or millions of years of evolution). The reason for this hubris is a very limited definition of “better”, one that is often influenced by corporate profit margins (but that’s another post).
Therefore our job is simply to observe and understand why, what, where, when and how Nature sustains its balance. Above all we must NOT judge what we observe.
Here are some of the reasons why Nature is my primary source:
Learning from Nature FORCES me to Abandon my Concepts
We all come with baggage; some better than others. Because we have received education we have been filled with ideas and concepts. Many of these ideas and concepts have been formed with objectives other than restoring or maintaining the balances of Nature.
For example, take many of the ideas of contemporary mono-culture agriculture. One objective of our conventional agriculture is to maximize yield per unit of land. Nature rarely, if ever, attempts to do this because the objectives are different. When Nature plants fruit producing trees they are widely dispersed, not concentrated in a single area. One should learn WHY Nature does this from observation. This practice in turn purges the learned ideas and concepts.
Learning from Nature is Direct and Free of Bias
Nature is a pure source of understanding with no agenda except to restore and maintain its balance. This is most evident in pristine environments. Sadly, few of these still exist. Humans have managed to taint nearly every square meter of land and ocean on the planet. But even then when we observe how Nature attempts to mitigate the damage done we can learn.
One example are the pioneer species that reclaim damaged land. By watching and learning from this progression of plants (and animals) we can begin to understand the best ways to restore land damaged by conventional agriculture practices.
Another is that to know irrigation practices observe flowing water; and still water. We all have learned that water flows downhill but have you carefully watched water as it flows? If you have you understand that water follows contours of the land. Permaculture folks correctly present this observation as a means to retain water in arid regions.
Learning from Nature is Local and Specific
Every environment we encounter is local by definition. Therefore every practice or solution must be local as well. Our decision is where do we draw the boundaries. Any environment is a continuum, somewhere between a grain of sand and a desert. Decide how you want to define an environment and observe it. Don’t forget to pay attention to the boundaries as they lead you to the adjacent environment on the continuum.
An example of this is the great variety in the fungal compositions under a pine tree versus an oak tree. There’s a reason why specific mushrooms prefer particular trees to decompose. Learn why and work with it, not against it.
Learning from Nature is an Endless Source
This reason is pretty obvious. Given our rather short lifespan we will never observe and understand all that we should from Nature. For this reason alone I am always excited about every dawning of a new day. Never is there a sense of boredom or lack of motivation. If you’re bored then you aren’t looking closely enough.
Learning from Nature Humbles Me
Humans alone amongst the animals have pride. Humans alone have developed their pride into a vacuous vanity. We actually think we have accomplished something when we can make an aquarium fish glow with jellyfish cells. Our human lives then become a selfish quest for the most extreme vanities.
But Nature will humble us if we allow it. Humbling begins with a sober realization of just how small we really are. Just picturing yourself as a mere one of 7 billion on an insignificant planet in a mediocre solar system located in the nether regions of an average galaxy should suffice.
Learning from Nature Reveals the Creator
Most importantly for me is that Nature reveals the Creator. Yes, I believe in a Creator. I also respect the right of others to believe whatever they want. Since my culture is Judea-Christian I am most familiar with it and its writings (but not ignorant of the others) so please forgive my references to the Christian Bible. Romans 1:20 reads:
”... for from the world’s creation the invisible things of Him are perceived, being apprehended by the mind through the things that are made, both His eternal power and divinity...”
But that’s just me and I’m still learning.