I always find interest in activity and discussion relating to foraging and homesteading because I've come to understand that both in one way or another connect with us in nature and encourage self-reliance, although I admire foraging, but the ideal of walking around the wild in search of edible plants isn't just my thing; understandably, I've done it on several occasions during my childhood and enjoyed the adventure, but my schedule presently doesn't give me that luxury of time, but homesteading is one I've been a big fan of, and the possibilities of what can be achieved with this act are one reason why I kept on indulging in it.
I feel more at home when it comes to homesteading, and that's probably because I've been introduced to these right from when I was young by my grandparents, whom I grew up with. From the joy derived from growing your own food to making natural or DIY alternatives of tools and things, this kind of makes me live more intentionally. The kind of fulfillment I get from watching something I planted grow to become a giant that pays me back in kind is nothing to be compared with. This act of homesteading overall has gone on to teach me patience, consistency, and the need to appreciate each effort put in place to get the food we eat and other items we've.
Presently I've got a space where I plant various vegetables and crops that usually comes in handy when I want to prepare a meal or am short of cash because I can easily walk to the garden and harvest what can help save the day. I also just secured a land that I've weeded and plan on planting maize on now that we're approaching the rainy season. Beyond gardening, I also draw interest from those that help conserve energy, those that help minimize waste, and acquiring new knowledge and skills that help me enhance my self-sufficiency skills. I'm not about having the biggest farm or the best of everything, but about a lifestyle that aligns with my values, such as sustainability, mindfulness, resilience, and other related ones.
Back then when I used to practice foraging, I remember one time I visited the village, and I and other children embarked on an adventure into the woods in search of snails. It was a long walk that usually took hours, and sometimes while picking snails, we came across fruit trees that we'd plug and eat as we continued on our quest. On other occasions, I remember embarking on an almost similar quest with my grandmother Kate, but this time in search of wildlife and rare vegetables. It was also a wonderful time because when we got home and she prepared some of what we came back home with, it was always delicious and mouthwatering, but now I don't have that time to go on such adventures anymore.
So that's about it on my thoughts on both. Overall, to me, homesteading is a slow but steady journey, meaning I tend to take it one step at a time, and for foraging, even if I don't go into the wild in search of mushrooms and the like, still at home in my garden, I still get my hands dirty in the soil and go on to appreciate the beauty of nature.
All photos are mine.