Global Homesteading: How a Community Can Fill Your Cup
When I was a young girl, I remember my mom bustling about the kitchen. She turned and handed me a glass coffee mug and said, "Can you ask Mary for a cup of sugar?"
![Sugar](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/sugar-1514247_1280.jpg)
Without question I wandered next door, cup in hand. Mary opened the door and welcomed me inside. She opened a large bin and scooped up the sparkling white granules and handed the cup back to me with a smile. I carefully walked home and returned the now brimming cup to my mother. Late that night I was probably rewarded for my efforts with a cookie or two.
That cup of sugar may have been a small gesture but as a child it represented my first experience with the value of community. When we open our doors to our neighbours, we receive so much in return; sugar, advice, friendship.
Growing up in the city, my community members were always just a hop, skip, and a jump away. Most anything I needed was a simple phone call and few doors away. The first time I moved to the country-side I felt like my community drifted. There was an initial sense of isolation, where had my community gone?
I didn't take long to recognize that, even though we were further away, our community still existed. We'd made friendships along the way and putting just a few miles between our doorsteps didn't mean those friendship bonds had been broken.
At our first acreage, our landlords house shared a yard with us and we became fast friends. If anything looked remotely suspicious we would call on each other to ensure each others well-being and safety. Just up the road we would find a homemade sign advertising eggs. We came for eggs so often that if our schedules didn't line up she'd leave our order on her porch and we'd leave her money in a boot.
The more I talked to country-dwellers the more I would see that it didn't matter whether your house was a few feet or a few miles away; people are generally good and want to help. I've seen neighbours lend trailers for hauling, rototillers for the garden, quads and more.
![create](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/my-life-through-a-lens-110632-unsplash.jpg)
So How Far Can a Community Stretch?
As far, as your imagination will let it!
When we joined Steemit we had two main goals: (1) Earn a currency to create a working permaculture homestead, and (2) Establish a brand that people could trust and turn to for information. We wanted to deliver information to the masses about what we were learning as we worked towards our freedom.
Somewhere along the way, we started to build a community. We found ourselves connecting with one individual after the next. What an amazing feeling to find so many like-minded individuals. Suddenly, our little tiny-house world wasn't so tiny anymore.
We would discover that some of our new-found friends were actually close by while others resided on the opposite end of the globe. We would share knowledge, and ask questions and rarely did we ever leave emptied handed. We've learned, grown, and connected in ways we never imagined we could in our short nine months here.
![chicken](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/http://www.canadianrenegade.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/annie-spratt-143539-unsplash.jpg)
Could There Be More?
While I really enjoy curating content, and connecting with Steemians through posts, there still felt like something was missing. As a self professed social-butterfly I really liked to be able to connect with people in real-time. Occasionally, I would catch someone's comment quickly enough to have a short exchange.
Wouldn't it be nice to connect like that more often?
Then the @ghscollective appeared in my feed with a game changing idea to connect homesteaders globally. This discord community is the brain-child of @steemcafe, @freedompoint, and @freedomtowrite.
Here you can connect with homesteaders who share the same passion for homegrown goodness. These people are of the earth and bursting at the seams with knowledge. But don't let their wealth of knowledge scare you because the atmosphere is nothing but relaxed and welcoming. Whether you're excited to share what's growing on in your garden or are looking for advice the GHS Collective welcomes you.
One of the most beautiful aspects of the the Global Homesteading Collective is that it's community driven.
If there is an aspect of homesteading that you feel passionate about but don't see a channel, hop on over to the town-hall and let the community know! Want to swap recipes? We—no, you can make that happen.
If you feel like you're sharing top-notch homesteading content but you're having a hard time reaching your audience drop a link in post-promo-channel. Or if you're following a fellow homesteader that needs more recognition, there is a place to share those posts too.
Plus, whether you gearing up for your day or are taking a break for a coffee, the GHSC has a space for you to have a conversation beyond the keyboard. Hop into the Coffee Break voice chat to say hello to your fellow homesteaders. We've had some great conversations already and want to hear what's happening on your homestead too.
So while the distance between us may leave your cup devoid of sugar, we can fill it up with so much more; knowledge, advice, encouragement, inspiration, and friendship just to name a few.
The homesteading community is vibrant and growing and we want you to join us. If you don't have a discord account, what are you waiting for?
Come be a part of the GHS Collective conversation: https://discord.gg/aYpkQR
I'm not a homesteader and didn't even know of the term until I came to Steemit, but I swear I have some sort of sacred kinship with you all because I love this posts. You were featured this week in the #payitforward contest by @dipoabasch. Congrats!
Well thank you for stopping by and talking the time to read this post. I love that you feel a kinship with the homesteading community, maybe homesteading is calling to you. -Aimee
I loved it! Thank you so much for writing this and spreading the word!
Loved the post! Resteemed!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the resteem!
Wanted to let you know that you were featured in @dipoabasch's entry post for the Pay It Forward Curation Contest. This week we tossed out our normal rules of only featuring level 50 and below steemians.
The idea of community and helping others is exactly what the contest is about. We have had more then a few homesteading members featured in the past and it's great that this week this post was able to be featured as we removed the reputation score cap for a week.
Think that as newer member in the homesteading community are coming up the contest might be a great place for an established member to feature them and get them some added exposure along with exposing the homesteading community and lifestyle to more people....hint hint ;) .
Wow! What an honor. I will check out the contest and see what I can do. Thanks for giving me a poke to let me know. -Aimee
Phenomenal article. I feel like you have put a great level of effort on writing this. Thanks a lot. 😃
PS: I came here after reading @dipoabasch's entry in the Pay It Forward Contest
Thank you for stopping by to read the article and leave a comment. Cheers, Aimee
I always want to join the GHS since @el-nailul showed me your blog, but I just hold myself because I don't have homestead but always love to read any post about homesteading experience and it's getting more interesting now.
Found your post through @dipoabasch post in Pay It Forward Contest this week. Thank you.
Don't worry, the @ghscollective is a great place to learn about homesteading regardless of whether you're in an urban or rural setting. The community is very welcoming and if you're looking to learn and connect please stop by for some conversations.
In fact, we are staying with family in suburbia while we chip away at building our country home and then, eventually, our homestead. We welcome homesteaders at every level.
Thanks for stopping by to read and comment. -Aimee
As you know @dipoabasch featured you in this week's #PayItForward contest @pifc.
You actually gave me a trip down memory lane. I miss the that feeling of community. I live in an area that's partially considered rural, yet the neighbors are not very neighborly. I love the idea of homesteading and permaculture. I have some room to get things going, I have major issues with heat during the summer. Hopefully next year I'll be able to get back up and going.
Thanks for stopping by! I love a good trip down memory lane. Too bad your neighbours aren't friendly though. Do you struggle with heat sensitivity? I know I do! Hopefully you find a resolution so you can enjoy your homesteading adventures. I try to take breaks in the shade and drink lots of water. I hope to see you in the discord. -Aimee
Sadly I do. Like this week our avg temp has been 103. The main issue has been working graveyards, just not enough time. Working on changing that though. I'll have to check out discord though.
And all because of a cup of sugar! This is so true @canadianrenegade and I agree; GHSCollective is really going from strength to strength! Wish I had time to dicord but I appreciate the posts. Great cyber community!
Right? We are so impressionable as children which is why I think being mindful of our actions and words with kids is so important. We can set the tone for life as such a young age! We don't have much time for discord either, and to be honest I have neglected steemit a little because I've been having such great conversations over there. I need to find a way to balance both a little better. The ghsc discord also has a parenting channel so we'd love to have you drop by, even occasionally if you can spare a minute or two. There are no expectations for how much you have to contribute or how long you need to stay on and connect. I just learned that the discord link only lasts a day too so if you're interested and haven't joined yet here is a link:https://discord.gg/qtByb6
If you're not able to make it though, I hope we keep connecting here! -Aimee
Hi Aimee. You see what I mean! Hardly time for Steemit. And here I missed your comment! Which means it's also too late for discord. It's late and almost past even bedtime for mama!
Hey mama, I hope you got some rest. If you're still interested in heading to discord try this link: Join Us On Discord
Hope to cross paths with you there one day. -Aimee
Thank you Aimee. That'll work! My brother has also been asking me why I've almost disappeared off steemit.....
It's a Steemit family affair! Awesome. I have tried to rope my brother in too but he hasn't gotten passed creating an account. Ha ha! -Aimee
My brother was the one with the lasso! He joined last year. Nagged. And nagged some more so my Dad joined. My brother nagged again and I joined a couple months ago
So glad @dipoabasch featured you in his #payitforward post this week! This was a great read.
I was just last week discussing with someone how times have changed, wondering if anyone still goes next door for an egg or cup of flour. However you are very right the concept lives on just with miles involved. Just yesterday Papa Bill dropped by gifting me some sassafras as well as an antique light fixture from the old family home-place. On Sat we will make the two hour trip to his place taking the welder to help with some auto repairs. Though I do still miss having relatives just across the yard, the community spirit still lives strong.
I also am finding the same here on Steemit. I feel very fortunate to have found some great communities who focus on the growth of all members while helping out new accounts.
I am always excited to meet some new community minded people. I am sure we will find ourselves traveling some of the same circles, so will bump into each other again.
I agree! Everything comes with pros and cons doesn't it? I love being close to friends and family but I also love being in the country. Sounds like you definitely embrace the community spirit even with the miles between you. How serendipitous that you were just talking about going next door to borrow an egg or cup of flour. :)
Also, I just learned that the discord link expires within a day so if you haven't joined yet and would like to here is a new link: https://discord.gg/qtByb6
I look forward to bumping into you again here on steemit. -Aimee
Thanks so much for the update.
What a lovely initiative and great promotion!! I will join the channel soon!! Thank you for sharing! ☺
The @ghscollective really is a lovely initiative and I hope to see you on the discord channel. Thanks for stopping by. -Aimee