I know, I know. I’ve linked to Erica’s Northwest Edible Life blog quite a few times. And I’ve linked specifically to her Don’t be an Urban Homesteader Asshole post more than once. What can I say? It’s an awesome post and sooooo needed to be said. While her post deals with those in our community that try to get EVERYONE they come across to join in the fun, this post will be a bit different. And yet it was inspired by a comment left on that very same post by an anonymous
if she cultivated 6,000lbs of organic produce year after year on a 1/10 of an acre without not even a drop of a pesticide, a 4,5kW solar array, a dozen chicken and ducks laying fresh eggs, an organic garden and compost pile, milled all her flour by hand, a greywater system, a compost toilet, a rainwater catchment system, have organized hundreds of seminars, screenings and free potlucks to teach and enlighten the lalahood while keeping a family of four together, healthy and sane she might have a case, as it is, it is only disgusting and mean-spirited writing
At first when I read this I was like “Wow! What an urban homesteader asshole!” I think most of those that read it and commented after it would have agreed. But these people aren’t interested in sharing the juicy details with anyone, let alone everyone like Erica’s example of an Urban Homesteader Asshole. For them it’s a whole other level of Urban Homesteader Asshole. The type that thinks urban homesteading is a competition. The dreaded one-uppers. “I’m better than you because I do more.”
Urban homesteading is not a competition. So knock it off. Everyone has a limit of what they can do. You don’t have to take on everything and you shouldn’t be made to feel guilty for not doing so. YJust because you aren’t off the grid and don’t have chickens doesn’t mean your urban homestead is less authentic than the above commenter.
And remember as long as you give it a shot and do what you can, I’ll be your biggest supporter and cheerleader.
Thank you Rachel!!!! I am so tired of the "I do more and am better than you" b.s. We're a community educating each other, making mistakes together, and doing the best we can with what we've got, which is essentially what homesteading is – do what you can with what you have and barter with your neighbor for the rest. We aren't isolated strongholds trying to do it all ourselves. That would be impossible and ridiculous (who's going to grow enough grain in their urban b.y. to feed themselves?). Yes, it is certainly impressive what those folks have done on their little lot, but I also think it is impressive what you guys have done in such a short time or what all of my urban farming friends have done. we're on the SAME TEAM people. Most folks when they come over to Itty Bitty are floored by what we've crammed into a 1000 square feet. and i could still do better!!! I'm sure in 10 years, I will be producing ridiculous amounts of food on my little lot and then I will be king of the urban farmers…. mwahahahahahahaha.
First, thanks for the link.
Second, Amen, sister! I just hate this "land grab" mentality, like people have to prove they are doing more and were doing it before anyone else. Life is messy even when intentions are good! We all just need to do our best and be generous with our knowledge but light on our judgment of others and of ourselves.
I had not yet read this post but THANK YOU!! Living in Portland Oregon I am so sick and tired of the assholes that make it a competition. My Sicilian family homesteaded not far from the train tracks of SE Portland 100 years ago and they could have kicked any contemporary urban homesteaders butt any day. I do what I can, but I find many of the activities too nostalgic. I love reading about other people doing it—but again—not assholes, and I know quite a few around here.
I wanted to make a difference, so I became a foster parent part-time. Teaching kids basic gardening and showing them that vegetables can taste delicious will make a greater change in society (in my opinion) and I encourage any gardener to take a troubled kid under their wing. Too many of these urban homesteaders preach to their own choir and that is about as radical as a 9-5 desk job at an insurance company.
Keep up the great blogging!!! You've made my day.
We are all a very large group of like minded individuals who do what we can with what we have, which is the words I have on my blog. I live in a poop-hole trailer park that is really a 3rd world nation and unfortunatly the only place I have to live and put my modular home, so I work with what I have. I produce a large amount of food in containers on a very tiny lot and then some, where ever I can squeeze a plant or a pot. I agree with Heidi, we all are doing "it" however we can, it isn't a competition against one another, and we learn from each other and complement each other for sucesses and a shoulder to cry on for failures.
Amen!
Thanks for the post. I continue to value the input of you and Erica's blog, as they inspire me to take a look at my own life and how I can live more sustainably on my little 1/3rd acre.
As an aside, it's been mentioned here on on Erica's comments that we all know who the commenter is. Seriously, how does everyone know him/her? Is it the Monsanto devil? Big Food? Corporate America?
I wanted to go kick that commenter's urban homestead butt when I read that comment! She reminds me of that girl on the SNL skit who always claimed she was better. This really isn't a competition. Some people are lucky to have more space to plant 20 some trees, have tons of livestock, etc. I feel blessed to have 3 apple trees and an urban homestead, period! It's not a race, and thank you for articulating this so well.
***standing ovation***
Thank you! Great post. And I'm starting to feel sorry for the person and family (we all know who they are) who left that comment. What part of them has shriveled up and died to leave them so selfish and bitter?
It's not a competition, and those who think it is, are clearly massively insecure. Honestly, I don't care if you're only growing a tomato plant, or a few heads of lettuce. The point is, you're growing something, and valuing healthy, and flavorful food.
Perfect timing that I post this as I totally just had someone berate me for being ignorant because they do more than I do have more land and are older and therefore wiser on another blog. Good times.
@locavore family, the offender is most likely Jules Dervaes of the famous Urban Homesteading Trademark brouhaha.
amen amen and more amens to you all… i do have a friend who plays the 'i'm a better gardener/preserver blah blah game' sighh… in the long run the only thing that matters is that we help each other, sharing and caring is my motto… if u see something on my blog you can use, go for it, and i'm sure a goodly bunch of us feel that way…
A-MEN!
And it's not just an online thing either. Last weekend I was berated in the line at the grocery store that I was using the wrong gardening "system" if I couldn't grow cauliflower without it bolting. What? Grocery store dude had no idea what was and wasn't working in my garden, but he just had to interject that I'm doing it wrong, rather than take the opportunity to make friends & allies with another food-growing neighbor.
Hallelujah. Wouldn't we all like to make the entire world sustainable? The commenter has it all wrong though. Working too hard at doing the textbook homesteading is itself not sustainable. I say, balance your life and try not to throw the other people around you out of balance. That's more sustainable to me than knocking someone else down on a comment page by gloating about themselves.
Ugh. Self-righteous and competitive. What a winning combination!
I think that mean-spiritedness is seeping into a lot of blogs. I've started unfollowing a ton of food blogs because of their frantic attempts to be the Next Big Thing.
Personally, I like it when we all get to be winners and work together to build community.
Again, massive love and thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my posts over on NWEdible.com. I'm sure Rachel and all bloggers would agree that it's so rewarding to have thoughtful comments on your blog.
Anyway, I put this up over on the FB Page in response to a very thoughtful comment about Rachel's post, but I thought I'd reiterate it here just to clarify:
"In brief defense of my original post, it was written and published a few weeks before this trademark stuff happened. In no way were the Derveas the inspiration or "target" of the post. In fact, in the original post the only reference at all to that family was through a link to one of their videos as a positive example of how popular this lifestyle is coming. Just wanted to clarify that despite what one of the commenters may have felt the post itself was in no way a response to the Derveas family's action."
Gotcha. Thanks. I'm only vaguely aware of this bruh-ha-ha around trademarking.
Thanks. I'm just beginning with the urban homesteading, but I'm a veteran when it comes to living frugal. I see the same competitive mindset among some of the frugalites.
Seriously…do what you can. Do what you feel comfortable doing. If something just isn't your cup of tea, then don't do it. But for pete's sake, don't turn it into a race or competition. It's not a game, but everybody can still win at it.
Great post. I think everyone could approach life and their various pursuits with a less adversarial attitude and be more willing to help others.
When it comes to Urban Homesteading I know that no matter what I ever do, ever, it'll never hold a candle to my grandmother, who canned, preserved, gardened, baked, sewed, and was generally awesome and self sufficient all by herself, well into her 80's. She was a pretty rad grandma.
Family of 4… able bodied ADULTS. Sorry, I don't mean to be snarky.. but seriously kudos to those trying to tackle any of this while chasing around lil ones (they are nothing short of amazing. Heck… taking a shower or getting sleep is a challenge with lil kids! I'm probably not the only one that had to stop planting to go to the ER because "my lil helper" holding the seeds got a corn kernel stuck in her nose.)
What each person does, on whatever level or intensity is a good thing. Even if it is as simple as discovering you are good at growing basil on your windowsill.
There is NO set standard or requirements.
^ That's the bonus of it.. while 1 person may be good at growing produce, another may have a knack for fiber arts or woodworking.
For information on how to do things at scale.. heads up on trials and tribulations.. the D's are not the ones to look towards.
Great post, I totally agree! Another farmer (who shall remain nameless) recently posted a "farm hunt" challenge to her members, and if you win, you get a free poultry share. All you have to do is find another farm that meets or exceeds 25 criteria.
Sounds fun, huh? I thought it was a really neat idea, until I read further. Basically the challenge says "find another farm that is EXACTLY LIKE US" (because we are clearly the best at everything we do and there are no other farms like us).
No, I may not raise 4 varieties of heritage game birds (yes, this was one of the requirements), but you know, we do cool things too. The farm hunt was clearly just a promotional tool, which is fine, but a bit disingenuous.
Everyone who grows and raises food for themselves and for others should be uniting, not dividing!
Great post, I totally agree! Another farmer (who shall remain nameless) recently posted a "farm hunt" challenge to her members, and if you win, you get a free poultry share. All you have to do is find another farm that meets or exceeds 25 criteria.
Sounds fun, huh? I thought it was a really neat idea, until I read further. Basically the challenge says "find another farm that is EXACTLY LIKE US" (because we are clearly the best at everything we do and there are no other farms like us).
No, I may not raise 4 varieties of heritage game birds (yes, this was one of the requirements), but you know, we do cool things too. The farm hunt was clearly just a promotional tool, which is fine, but a bit disingenuous.
Everyone who grows and raises food for themselves and for others should be uniting, not dividing!
Ack! I was having trouble posting this from my new computer. Please delete the double comment 🙂
Um, I invented dirt. 🙂
That anonymous poster had the lonnnnngest run on sentence I have ever seen! It left me gasping for breath.
I feel bad for anyone who is so insecure that they have to berate others, and turn into an Urban Homesteading Asshole, in an effort to make themselves be more.
Don't try to make me less, so that you can be more. I am enough. We all are.
Rachel, you are so rigth, I cant imagine how people can turn something so good and with a good intention in a competition.
Those people jut dont get it.
Greetings from Uruguay!
Carola
You've really just gotta laugh, don't you?
Very well said, and thanks for keeping it light. One of my main motivations for 'urban farming' (and I use the term loosely in referring to myself) is the experience of learning from others and sharing ideas. If we're all just out for ourselves, what will we stand to gain??
Cheers to you and a great blog!