These are two of my favorite homesteading-type blogs. The first is the Matron of Husbandry, who has a fantastic farm blog. It is exactly what it appears to be, which is a journal of daily farm life on what appears to be an extremely self-sufficient homestead and working farm. Lots of beautiful pics and great ideas for canning, farming, livestock and planting.
http://matronofhusbandry.wordpress.com/
The second is RootSimple. This is a great blog for urban and suburban homesteaders to enjoy. These folks live in the heart of Los Angeles and are not afraid to experiment to discover how to live a simpler, more eco-friendly and economical life. They are also extremely honest about the areas where they live a more typical urban existence, and where they've tried things and failed. But they have far more success than failures, and are just so inventive it's a consistent pleasure to read their posts.
http://www.rootsimple.com/
So why am I recommending these blogs to anyone who is reading this post? Because it's very easy to get wrapped around the axle of frustration when we discover a particular farm or homesteading blog is are not what it appears to be, or which deliberately tries to lead us to think they are something they are not. I know a few years ago one of my favorite blogging families filed a lawsuit to trademark the term "urban homestead" and, honestly, it was incredibly disappointing to find these people were not who I thought they were. I looked for my inspiration elsewhere and found it, in part on these two other blogs. So it only makes sense to share them with you.
I hope the Hot Flash Homestead never misleads anyone, we are far from completely self-sufficient but just try to do our part wherever we can. I enjoy writing about our efforts and also about the wonderful area we live in, and if it makes just one person put up a clothesline, cook in a solar oven or grow some of their food, I'm happy.
But both these other blogs are also wonderful resources, written with intelligence and wit, and will give you lots of ideas to try. So read and enjoy!
I know exactly which blog you are referring to as the "axle of frustration"; it was comments in another blog that led me to your blog. Hot Flash Homestead is wonderful - uplifting, real, interesting. I've gone back to the start and have caught up on all the entries. My cousin and her husband own a winery in the Napa Valley, so I enjoy all the wine "stuff" you write about. I've lived in Michigan for about 20 years, but was born and raised in Seattle, so I am looking forward to Matron of Husbandry. I do miss the west coast, particularly the Pacific Northwest. Thanks again for the recommendations and your great blog.
ReplyDeleteSandra
Thanks Sandra, and welcome! Every time I read "Matron of Husbandry" I want to buy land in the Pacific Northwest, although I do love CA wine country and it's home now. But her property is SO green, year-round.
DeleteThanks so much for the blog recommendations! I've skimmed Root Simple before, but MoH is totally new to me! What a talented group they are. I'm excited to go back and read through the archives. Yes...I need to stop reading that other blog! It is so annoying, and yet I go back and read it!
ReplyDeleteI just love that MOH is so damn self-sufficient, everything is done on a fairly large scale and when I see pics of her greenhouse and pantry, I'm completely jealous (in a good way).
DeleteYou guys are not alone in checking that "other" blog for signs of change, I still look once in awhile and wonder why I do. And that's is the definition of insanity, right? ... Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome? So guess we're all in the loony bin together lol.
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