Merriam Webster defines living life from scratch as “to earn barely enough to live”. When put into words like that, it can have an ominous feel to it; downright scary and depressing.
But with pandemics, food scarcity, and job losses, it also feels as if we are living that definition. Even if we have our jobs, we still are waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Then the question becomes, ‘If that shoe drops, do we have enough? Can we feed our family? Is survival an option?’
It’s time to take the worry out of the ‘What if’. Although living a life from scratch won’t produce an income in most cases, it can definitely help to stretch the income you do have. And when you stretch your income, you are able to pay a few more bills and live a happy, contented life in the process.
Different Aspects of Living a Life from Scratch
There are so many ways we can adapt a life from scratch lifestyle. The first thing we think of when we begin living life from scratch is the manner in which we are able to feed our family. With a little bit of soil, a few seeds and some water, we can produce as much, if not 90% of the food we consume.
Depending on the available space, you can grow herbs, vegetables and fruit in gardens as small as a windowsill (herbs); containers (herbs, vegetables and small fruits), or most everything in a larger kitchen garden.
But when living life from scratch, there are other aspects of living from scratch that you may not think of right away. Things like decorating our home, what happens to the homestead when illness strikes, obtaining items we cannot grow or make ourselves, and so many other things.
That is where the next posts come in. They are designed to help you answer your questions about these ‘hidden’ aspects of living from scratch. You will learn ways to not only care for your family, but also learn how to become a vital part of your Village and Community.
Grandma Essie’s Perspective on Living Life from Scratch
Before we dive into any new endeavor, it helps to get someone else’s perspective. In the case of shifting to living life from scratch, I stopped by Grandma Essie’s place for a visit. Since she has lived from scratch all her life, I thought her perspective might help us all. Join us on the porch to shell some peas and absorb a piece or two of her wisdom.
DIY Frugal Decorating Ideas
We all want a home that is not only warm and welcoming, but also aesthetically pleasing. It is through our decorating style that we can express our own thoughts, ideals, passions and more.
One of my favorite pastimes used to be perusing the decorating magazines. I often dreamed of having a home that was so perfectly matched it just screamed ‘perfection’. It took age and wisdom (and some trial and error) to finally figure out that ‘perfection’ doesn’t mean a happy, aesthetically pleasing home.
You can learn more about this in DIY Frugal Decorating Tips & Ideas.
Have an Old-Fashioned Pounding
Annie over at Road to Reliance got real excited when I expressed this concept to her. Sorry, Annie. I am not giving you permission to go buy a ten-pound sledge hammer to pound away at your problems. Instead, I am dipping my toe into the creek waters of yesteryear, and exploring the fun of ‘pounding’ another person. Yep. It does sound like you need that sledgehammer. But to figure out why it isn’t really needed, just keep reading!
Living Frugally – Learn to Barter
As much as we would like to, there is still many things we cannot grow or produce on our own. Learning the art of Bartering is not only part of living life from scratch, but also one of the best ways to stretch your dollars even further, without having to spend all of your time in the garden or craft room!
How to Stock Up – The Best Kitchen Tools for the Job
Whether you are just learning how to cook and bake from scratch or have done it since you were young and standing on a stool to ‘help’ Mom, all of us need to have a good selection of kitchen tools to get the job done. From basics to luxuries and more, this post gives you the list of most everything you will need to make your kitchen productive.
Finding Free Items
Finding free items is one of the key elements of living life from scratch. This is an age where there never seems to be enough money to make ends meet. Find some great tips in this post to help you find free items!
Living Life from Scratch Sometimes Takes a Village
This is a lesson I have learned many times over. The poet, John Donne, in his MEDITATION XVII, Devotions upon Emergent Occasions probably said it best: “No man is an island entire of itself…”
Whether we realize it or not, we are a part of a Village. And if we are not, one of the best things you can do is learn how to get one established, and how best to work within it’s ‘city limits’. Stop in for another visit with Grandma Essie, and listen to her words of wisdom on what it means to be a viable part of your own Village.
Be a Part of Your Community
In addition to living within our Village, we also need to find ways to be active and proactive within our Community. Learn some great tips on how to Join Up, find the Invisible Needs, Get Started with Volunteering, and more.
Living From Scratch – Breathing Fresh Ideas into a Simple Life
There are so many ways you can breathe freshness into living a simple life. In some cases, you just need to think outside the box. In others, you just need the spark to get your started. I hope all of these posts are the match that strikes your creative side to ignite – and through that spark you are able to add a new layer of love to living a simple life!
Need More Ideas on Ways you can Live a Life from Scratch?
12 Thrifty Tips for a Happy Life
Blending Homemaking, Homesteading & a Simple Life
Be Brave – Take the 2020 Challenge
The 2021 Challenge – Become the New YOU!
