Homesteading is important to me for a many reasons. I think it would be easier to answer why isn't homesteading important to me. Well maybe not, but the list would definitely be shorter. Homesteading is so much more than being able to produce my own food or developing self sustainability. To me, homesteading is more about the triumphs I achieve on a daily basis. I grew up on a dairy farm as a kid and took a lot of what I had for granted. As a young adult I now see the value to what my grandparents were trying to teach to me. They were teaching me independence, pride and the ability to take care of my family should SHTF. Now that my family has reached our forever home and we have the ability to embark on our homesteading adventure. Something I have been yearning to do for the past 10 years we have been a Military Family moving from duty assignment to duty assignment.
since we have just moved to our new home we are starting first with our garden. It is not much and we got it in the ground LATE. fortunately we are in Virginia so we still have enough of a growing season we might be able to sneak in a decent harvest. I am fervently working on preparing seedlings this weekend for a fall garden. I have already placed my order for Garlic from Baker Creek too. I am determined to make this garden grow! This is one of my favorite parts of homesteading; watching my little garden grow and produce. I received the below tomato plants for free from a local nursery because they ere past the selling season. they were badly damaged and infested with big ugly green worms. However - look at them grow and thrive with a little tender love and care.
I really dislike these little guys - will be glad to get some chickens who will enjoy this tasty little treat! Chickens are Augusts project.
Homesteading is also important to me because it is a family activity. Both my husband and I work full time jobs that demand a lot of our time. I am fortunate enough to be able to work from home. So, I still have the ability to care for the homestead while my husband is away during the day. That all being said, the times that we are all home together we can work in the garden as a family or in some cases fix a piece of machinery that is not working. case in point - our lawn mower was having some issues last night. Neither my husband nor I have any mechanical know how. But, with a little problem solving a few youtube videos later we accomplished a repair on our own...as a team.
Most of all homesteading makes me HAPPY. If you can find happiness in life you have achieved great things. I may not look happy in the picture below but I am. #homesteadingchallenge This is why I homestead. 
Chickens are great to have when you have a large garden- built in pest control!
But I remember one year when our flock demolished our entire pumpkin patch. I was so upset! (mainly because I LOVE homemade pumpkin seeds)
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Hi @goldendawne, I had chickens as a kid growing up. Never understood what an important role they played in our homestead ecosystem as a child. Now, I am so stupid excited to get them on my property to get to work composting and tending the insect population in our garden. LOL I will keep an eye on our pumpkins though as the chicken coop is planned to go on that end of the garden. Might have to re-think that idea. :D thanks for the up vote :D
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@bthompson nice work, you are blessed to have a big enough gardening space in Virginia. enjoy it
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HI @fshllc we have about 7.5 acres out here in Gloucester, VA. We picked this area specifically because we wanted space away from the hustle and bustle. Space to grow our little garden and leave the busy world behind and have some peace and quiet. Thanks for the up vote :D
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@bthompson, 7+ acres is golden in the DMV. Enjoy
The upvote was my pleasure, your post is worth more :)
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Thanks for sharing your perspective. And congratulations on your success so far!
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Congratulations on the Homesteading Challenge, @bthompson! Sorry I haven't even looked at your post until now, so it's too late for an upvote, but I'm following you, so the next one I shouldn't miss.
I like how you're finally getting to enjoy the homesteading experience. It sure is a trip, but you seem to be doing great. Your tomatoes are gorgeous! Although, I must admit, I also like that green caterpillar on it (it must be your beautiful photography), but you're right, a chicken should like it even more. ;-) Also, great props for fixing the mower!
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no worries. happy to be a part of the homesteading challenge either way and share in everyone else's posts. It is refreshing to be part of a like minded community of people.
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Wonderful article! You have been entered into the challenge - thank you!
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It is a wonderful start. Hey just remember Rome was not built in a day. Spend your fall and winter planning and hammer it out in the early spring starting your seeds. Now Following and looking forward to watching the progress transform. Thanks for sharing
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Being in Virginia, you have a lot of growing season left, especially if you include fall crops that like the cool weather, like many of the greens. Nice work, too, in troubleshooting all the mechanical things that come up. Enjoy your forever homestead! And it will be fun to see how your projects evolve! :D
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