The Difference between a PREPPER and a HOMESTEADER
If you are like me resourceful, you have visited many website for valuable information, and you found both Prepper websites and homesteading websites, hold a lot of similar information, but the question is: Is there really a difference between the two. This post will explain the similarities and the differences between them.
First lets define what a PREPPER is.....
A Prepper is a person who believes a catastrophic disaster or emergency is likely to occur in the future and makes active preparations for it, typically by stockpiling food, ammunition, and other supplies.
"there's no agreement among preppers about what disaster is most imminent"according to the dictionary, "
Now let's define what a Homesteader is....
A Homesteader is a person who owns a Homestead, so lets define Homesteading to further clarify. Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of foodstuffs, and it may or may not also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale.
In my opinion a prepper is getting ready for a specific event and a homesteader is just striving for a more self sustainable lifestyle. A prepper can be a homesteader or a homesteader can be a prepper. There are a lot of overlapping thought processes and each group can learn a lot from the other. We share some of the same goals. To be; self reliant, self sufficient, and self sustainable.
There are in recent years other groups popping up, that also share these same goals. Survivalists, and Bushcrafters just to name two. My opinion is that a prepper can be a homesteader, a homesteader can be a prepper. We all share in this wonderful idea and can all share our resources. This is what Steemit has really brought to me, a sense of community, as I am from a small community, with limited resources. Thank you all for sharing.
Happy Trails
Sources:
http://homesteadinguniversity.com/
http://www.freedompreppers.com/prepper-pantry.htm
http://theruraleconomist.blogspot.ca/2013/03/the-difference-between-prepper-and.html
I like the whole prepping idea, but I think homesteading is probably where it's at. A lot of "preppers" simply buy a lot of stuff, such as dry or canned foods, ammunition, guns, all sorts of survival gear, etc. I think Homesteaders live the lifestyle every day and would probably be a lot better off if some catastrophe were to strike.
I agree. You can only prep so much, you need to also learn how to do basic things such as grow and preserve your own food. The store bought food will run out sooner or later, if you grow your own, you can get by. And, of course, the more of your own food you grow, the less you have to spend at the grocery store. :-)
exactly, look at the great Depression. It lasted 10 years. I don't think that preppers would hold 10 years of food. Just my opinion.
My take is that if you are a homesteader, you better be a prepper because disaster is just a disease, pest, or predator away! Then there's illness, financial setbacks, and the taxman. Throw in there a good ol' fashioned tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or company come to visit too long and you got yourself an event ;0) The event doesnt have to affect everybody, just you🌻
True True. I guess the homesteader who cans their goods could represent a prepper. Thanks for your insight
There were times when my hubby first got sick and the insurance companies were denying his pay, if we hadnt had a garden, preserved foods, and baking skills, we would have starved. Great topic to discuss because people who havent been there before may not see a need to prep.
I am sorry to hear about your husbands illness. Your absolutely right, God gives us the guidance we need to overcome our life's challenges. Preppers really do need to bone up on the skills of gardening, and so much more.
I agree! I'm a little bit of both!
Having a homestead is the ultimate survival prep! It's just my opinion that when you push emergency preparedness to its logical conclusion, you end up on a homestead. Thanks for sharing! Upvoted!
Then we can appropriately call you a Prepsteader... LOL
Prepsteader. Now there's a new t-shirt. I like it!
Another most interesting article @gardengirlcanada. Thank you.
I'm definitely a bit of both. I started out as a mini-prepper when I was about 17, but always with a dream of becoming a homesteader. Finally managed that almost 25 years later.
Now I prep and homestead in equal measure, every day in every way I can.
I have seen the term 'PrepSteader' for someone who does both but it doesn't roll well for me and sounds just a little bit yucky.
When I started the Preppers & Homesteaders on steemit list I was in a bit of a dilemma as to whether put both together but when I started looking I realised quite a few people declare interests in both. Although homesteaders are a bit in the majority (59 v 35 at present).
I hope you don't mind me popping the link to the list in here - but just in case anyone reading this article is interested here is the list :
There were 77 on that list. I've had more contacts since then and am now up to 86. I'll publish the new version of the list when we reach 100.
Anything to build this community. Anytime you want to share, share away. I just posted an article about Handspinning Wool on the homestead. Just the basic, enough to get anyone out of their comfort zone and perhaps give it a try. Thanks
Thank you.
I totally agree with you, when my wife and I tell people we are preppers, most people have a bias based on the "Doomsday Preppers" TV show. We started calling ourselves Homesteaders after finding "An American Homestead" and "Wranglerstar" YouTube Channels. We still prepare for the worse but hope for the best, but incognito. ;)
same people think your fear mongering when you say prepper, I find more respect with Homesteading. Now following you and welcome to the Homestead gardening community
in the past six year's I've been learning about both prepping and homesteading and I agree they kinda merge or blend on several things while at the same time be two totally different styles of living I hope to one day be a prepared homesteader of sorts. thanks for this post.
one of those....a Prepsteader....LOL
Good discussion. There is a lot of overlap, for sure! There's such diversity among each community, too. An established homesteader has a lot of food around, usually homegrown and harvested at peak ripeness, and can get through a good long while without outside inputs. And homesteading is more about growing and investing time and effort for a positive future. That includes building community, too -- and that works even in urban areas.
I prefer that homesteading approach to those based on fear, aggression, and pitting one group against another (rural vs urban, usually), like I see in many prepping groups.
For most of us, the most likely disaster is that someone in the family loses a job, there's a long-term health issue, or there's a natural disaster like a fire or even drought. And, there's times when opportunities come up that can take a whole family's attention. So a homestead can provide the basic resources and cushion for getting through those times, in a way that's more supportive that prepping alone.
What a great perspective. I'm with you. Homesteading just makes more sense. Learn to grow the food instead of storing mass quantities. Can the food for the winter. Less storage space. Thanks
You're welcome! Interesting discussion!
Hmmm if chickens are the gateway animal to homesteading I would say that prepping is the gateway to homesteading....Both plan for the future, both learn skills to achieve their goal of being prepared for whatever lands on their door steps... Resteemit!
True. I think the mindset of both are the exact same. However the skills set of a homesteader will carry them through the next great depression. The last depression lasted 10 years. Thanks for the Re-Steem
I consider myself to inhabit both descriptors. I have been a proper since 2008. My prepping has led me down the path of homesteading. Thanks for the post.
so your a homeprepper...lol Keep posting and prepping and homesteading. The world needs more people like us.
There it is. "Homeprepper". I like it!
or a Prepsteader. LOL
Interesting perspective! I guess I'm more of a homesteader because the power went out for a few days a couple of months ago and other than my food and water... I was NOT prepared lol
Ah but it's moments like these that teach us were we are at with our skills and supplies. It was like the dry run.
Yup we sat in the dark watching movies on my phone while my wife cursed me for not buying that generator she wanted on craigslist... stored gasoline worthless without a geni, pellet stove & propane furnace also worthless. To be fair it is a new home so we were "prepared" at the old place but you definitely need to adjust when your situation changes. It was a perfect dry run!