Yea I have a homestead! I'm guessing the homesteaders like you are talking about wouldn't have Internet. I enjoy watching the Alaskan last frontier, those people live the life. It would take a lot of dedication for that lifestyle and would be nice to have family living the same lifestyle
I'd call my parents hobby homesteaders. They're still very much "on the grid", but they have a very large garden and can everything, raise chickens for eggs and food. Hopefully they'll have the fencing for feeder calves soon. Mom makes her own soap, has sheep for wool and the tools to turn that into fabric. I think my mom and my sister really wish they were born in the 18th century somewhere on the frontier.
I like that show too. Last one had the main family dropping a guy off on a remote island, with materials to build a cabin, along with supplies. Said he was from NYC and always wanted to do this. Didn't seem like he was all that experienced with the life he was heading into, but was eager to learn as he went. His story will be what I'll be interested in. Otto's crew has shown major advantages to having family/friends to help when needed. Kinda like FHC...
and those checks from Discovery don't hurt too bad either. Not many homesteaders with mini track excavators
I think he chose the right place for someone with little experience to homestead in Alaska. One of the few places up there with no bears.
Bet that's true. I'm sure many of the homesteaders up there would love the extra cash and an audience too...
Found this. Looks like they're doin' alright up there... Otto Kilcher net worth: Otto Kilcher is an American mechanic and reality television personality with an estimated net worth of $4 million dollars. Born in Alaska, Otto Kilcher grew up raising cattle on his family's farm. Always interested in mechanics, he began collecting broken machinery and repairing it. His hobby allowed him to amass a small store of parts that have come in handy in repairing anything that breaks on his family farm. He has since become a master mechanic and machinist. He is the sixth of eight children born to Yule and Ruth Kilcher. The Kilcher family is the subject of the Discovery Channel reality series, "Alaska: The Last Frontier", which follows the residents of Homer, Alaska as they live off of the land. Otto Kilcher is the uncle of singer, Jewel Kilcher, and was also part of the first expedition to ever successfully cross the Harding Icefield in 1968. Otto Kilcher
For me, I think the best option would be a "hybrid" homesteader. Maybe having a part time job or investments for a small income stream (health insurance is a major concern) and live off the land as much as possible. Since I don't hunt we would need money to purchase meat. We started canning last year and we keep expanding the garden as well as planting fruit trees and bushes. I could sell some fire wood. The plan is for both of us to retire fairly young.
I love the lifestyle, so I guess according to the modern definition, I do. Raise/grow just about all my own food, try to provide all my own heat, power and water. I love the challenges and thinking about systems, and I don't have to go anywhere to practice my favorite hobbies. That said, I have a job, am hooked up to power, and so on, so......
Otto's boy has his own construction company hence all the machinery. Atz is Jewels dad and also toured Europe as a singer in the 60/70's I believe. I don't think any of them are hurting for money. Also I read they are really only about 8 miles from town. Not sure just what I've read.
I raise some of my food, gather my own wood, hunt and fish for some food, have chickens. I think a lot of people on this forum are "homesteaders" in one form to some extent or another. Otherwise I don't think we would try so hard to provide a basic need (heat) for ourselves.
If you are interested in watching video of a modern day homesteader in Oregon, checkout the Wranglerstar channel on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/user/wranglerstar. Personally I enjoy the vids he puts up. As for us, I am working on our garden. We were close to making the garden our only source of vegetables, and then I moved them to a new location. With the new location, I've had to start all over with my raised boxes getting everything squared away. Once the vegetables are all set, my plan is to add chickens. Jason from RI
My honey and I have enjoyed fringe homesteading since 1978. Fringe cause it sure wasn't homesteading but felt like it at times. Our tiny cabin gives us that feeling now... we're so lucky to have had the land, time & help to get it built a few years back. Now that I see the Kilchers prolly don't have to live as off the grid as they do... I'm even more impressed with the amount of work they choose to put into every day living there. Cool. Anyone know the guy's name they just put on Perl Island?
We've done some but after the boys moved away we got away from some of it. Then injuries and age got in our way a bit but we still do some things yet. We have fruit, vegetables, deer for meat but we no longer raise animals. I had to call a halt to that. My advice is if someone is interested, do as much as you can when you can and do not wait. Waiting will get nothing done. Start small and keep adding to what you are doing. As Thoreau said, "Build your castles in the air. Now put a foundation under them."
