With such a variety of lifestyles present in the world today, it can be difficult to keep up with the specifics. Knowledge of how individuals chose to live can be both informative and interesting. Two particularly interesting trends are survivalists and homesteaders. Although both involve the requirement of being self-sufficient, the specific lives of survivalists and homesteaders are quite unique.
As mentioned, both survivalists and homesteaders have a primary focus of being self-sufficient. However, the details behind each lifestyle are quite different. Homesteaders work to provide as much as possible for their family without the need for outside resources. This includes growing crops and raising livestock. Many homesteaders take this even further and work to provide their own textiles, clothing, woodwork, and crafts. Basically, homesteaders aim to simplify their life by only including necessities and they are in favor of any thing that can increase their self-reliance.
On the other hand, survivalists work to prepare for any emergency. They are less concerned about being self-reliant in the present, but rather work to become self-reliant in a disaster. This can include natural disasters, economic declines, pandemics, societal collapse, or other apocalyptic event. Most survivalists prepare for these emergencies by stocking up on food, supplies, and preparing a shelter. They rely of being self-reliant if these disasters were to occur.
While both lifestyles have been around for many years, each have their own modern trends. For example, many modern homesteaders are focusing on renewable energy, rather than relying on electrical energy and oil. This renewable energy includes solar energy and wind power. Many have also ensured that their crops are heir-loomed, or passed through generations. Survivalists, on the other hand, tend to changed based on current concerns. While survivalists used to have concerns of a nuclear war, many are now preparing for disease outbreaks or extreme climate changes.
Details about how these individuals live their lives can be very interesting, and each offers a wealth of valuable information everyone could use. While the lifestyles may seem extreme to an outsider, survivalists and homesteaders are each quite capable of living without many of the luxuries that the rest of us depend on for our own daily survival — something they consider the norm, rather than an ultimatum. Which lifestyle appeals most to you?
Featured Image from Andrew Neel/Unsplash
