In recent years, homesteading has increased significantly not just among rural landowners but also among many people who desire to live a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Homesteading, which includes small-scale farming and the production of textiles, clothing, and crafts for household consumption and for sale, is being practiced in many cities.
After COVID-19, we saw a sudden surge in people pursuing a more sustainable approach to life. From baking bread, to growing your own food, the trend of homesteading rose rapidly. Why is that?
The internet has never before enabled the world to be so connected, yet somehow we are more isolated than ever before.
Our lives are becoming more complicated, yet something within us yearns for simplicity: returning to our roots and getting our hands dirty, to reconnect with what really matters.
Rory Feek has been referred to as a man who wears many hats throughout his career as a Grammy Award-winning musician, a New York Times best-selling author, a reputable blogger and a critically-acclaimed filmmaker.
Today, Feek spends the majority of his time working the land with his daughter, Indy.
"Just a few years ago, I was right where you are.
Blessed to have the house we live in and the life we live, but longing for a home that means more. Not more things, but more of the ‘good stuff.’
The things that money can’t buy.
So my wife Joey and I started putting down new roots, building a more sustainable life, and living on a farm, turning our house into a home.
From the simple act of putting seeds in the soil, our homestead has become
a thriving source of life and love for my family and many of our friends." Feek says.
Recently, I was given the opportunity to visit with Feek and his team at The Homestead, his "100-acre backyard" located in Maury County.
During my visit, we toured the Hardison Mill Homestead Hall, One-Room Schoolhouse, and Feek's office, which originally served as the Milk Barn.
My night ended with Feek sharing some of his favorite songs and stories from life and the farm during a concert in the Hall.
Hardison Mill Homestead Hall was originally a 40' x 70' barn that was used to store mowers and tractors by Joey and Rory Feek. It later became a sound stage for the Feek's weekly television show, then for multiple TV specials, and finally became the concert and private venue that it is today.
By the end of the day, my curiosity about homesteading and getting back to our roots had grown substantially!
For a new homesteader like me, I needed to learn everything there was to know about how to start a homestead. From how to make the most out of your land, to the benefits of growing your own food... I wanted to know it all and found that The Homestead Festival was the perfect place for me!
So my fiance and I packed our bags and headed back to The Homestead at Hardison Mill in Columbia, TN for their homesteading festival.
Throughout the two-day festival, there were demonstrations and classes led by some of the top experts in the industry. The event's vendors and many food trucks kept us occupied between classes and demonstrations.
As the sun began to set, the live music began! Joining us were musical headliners Kevin Costner & Modern West, The Isaacs, Bradley Walker, Jimmy Fortune, and Rory Feek himself.
As the weekend came to a close, I not only felt confident about growing my own food, but also how to grow a life that is filled with meaning and purpose.