About Homesteading

Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and may also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craft work for household use or sale.

Stevens Family Outdoors focuses directly on being self-sufficient through living off the land.  We do this by huntin' and trappin' our own meat, skinnin' and processin' our own food, including gardening, canning, baking and more.  Our goal is to help with training and understanding of these elements so we can train the current and future generations to homestead.

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Trappin' Muskrats

It all starts at Home

Homesteading is a way of life that starts at home, with a commitment to living in harmony with God's creation and cultivating sustainability. By creating a homestead, individuals and families can establish a self-sufficient and self-reliant lifestyle that is rooted in faith and a connection to the land.

One of the key aspects of homesteading is the practice of trapping and hunting as a means of obtaining meat and protein. This can be a sustainable and ethical way of sourcing food, as it allows for a closer relationship with the natural world and a deeper appreciation for the value of life.

By utilizing these resources, homesteaders can reduce their dependence on commercial agriculture and factory farming, which can be harmful to the environment and often involve cruel treatment of animals. Instead, they can take a more responsible and respectful approach to sourcing their food, ensuring that it is both healthy and sustainable.

Of course, homesteading involves much more than just trapping and hunting. It also involves practices such as gardening, canning, baking, and other forms of food preparation, as well as raising livestock, generating energy, and creating shelter.

By focusing on these practices and cultivating a deep connection to the land and to God's creation, homesteaders can establish a sustainable way of life that is both fulfilling and meaningful. They can reduce their impact on the environment, take responsibility for their own well-being, and honor God's call to be good stewards of the earth.

Homesteading is a self-sufficient lifestyle that involves growing your own food, raising animals, and creating a sustainable home.

Venison Straps

Processing Meat

For a homesteader, processing meat for cooking and storage is an important part of the self-sufficient lifestyle. There are several steps involved in this process, which can vary depending on the type of meat and the individual homesteader's preferences.

The first step in processing meat is to harvest the animal. This can be done through hunting or trapping, or by raising livestock on the homestead. Once the animal has been killed, it must be dressed and cleaned to prepare it for cooking and storage.

Dressing the animal involves removing the internal organs and other unwanted parts, such as the head and feet. This is typically done using a sharp knife and careful, precise cuts to avoid contaminating the meat. Once the animal has been dressed, it can be cut into more manageable pieces for further processing.

The next step is to process the meat for cooking and storage. This can involve cutting the meat into smaller pieces, such as steaks or roasts, or grinding it up for use in ground meat dishes. Some homesteaders may also choose to cure or smoke the meat to preserve it for longer periods of time.

After the meat has been processed, it must be stored in a way that will keep it fresh and safe to eat. This can involve freezing the meat, which can preserve it for several months or even longer. Alternatively, homesteaders may choose to can the meat, which involves sealing it in a jar with a pressure canner to prevent bacteria from growing.

Processing meat for cooking and storage is an important skill for homesteaders who wish to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. By learning how to harvest, dress, and process meat on their own, they can ensure that the meat they eat is healthy, sustainable, and free from the harmful chemicals and additives that are often found in commercial meat products.

Homesteading in faith involves living a self-sufficient lifestyle based on God's principles, relying on traditional skills such as farming, gardening, and animal husbandry to provide for one's family.

Maw's Baked Goods

Baking from Scratch

Baking goods from scratch is an important skill for homesteaders who wish to live a self-sufficient lifestyle. By making their own bread, pastries, and other baked goods, homesteaders can ensure that they are consuming healthy, wholesome foods that are free from additives and preservatives.

The first step in baking goods from scratch is to gather the necessary ingredients. This can include flour, yeast, sugar, salt, butter, and other ingredients depending on the specific recipe. Homesteaders may choose to grow their own grains, such as wheat or oats, to use in their baking, or they may purchase these ingredients from a local farmer or mill.

Once the ingredients have been gathered, the next step is to mix them together to create a dough or batter. This can be done by hand, using a wooden spoon or other utensil, or with the help of a mixer or food processor. Homesteaders may also choose to knead the dough by hand to develop the gluten and improve the texture of the finished product.

Once the dough or batter has been mixed, it is typically shaped into the desired form and baked in an oven. This can involve shaping bread dough into loaves or rolls, or using cookie cutters to create individual pastries or cookies. Depending on the recipe, the baking time and temperature may vary, so it is important to follow the instructions carefully to ensure the best results.

Once the baked goods have been removed from the oven and allowed to cool, they can be enjoyed fresh or stored for later use. Homesteaders may choose to freeze their baked goods to preserve them for longer periods of time, or store them in an airtight container at room temperature.

Learning how to make their own bread, pastries, and other baked goods, homesteaders can ensure that they are consuming healthy, wholesome foods that are free from additives and preservatives, and they can take pride in knowing that they have created something delicious and nutritious from scratch.

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