Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency that involves subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and small-scale production of textiles, clothing, and craft work for household use or sale. It is a way of life that emphasizes being a producer instead of a consumer, and it is not defined by where someone lives, such as the city or the country, but by the lifestyle choices they make. Homesteading can be pursued in different ways around the world and in different historical eras, but it is generally differentiated from rural village or commune living by isolation (either socially or physically) of the homestead.
Historically, homesteading has been used by governmental entities to help settle what were previously unsettled areas, especially in the United States, Canada, and Australia. However, today, the spirit of homesteading is much the same as it used to be, but it’s much more accessible to each individual. People may desire to move away from modern living to raw land to develop it and live off the land or start a farm and live a homestead lifestyle. But, more people are homesteading than you may think, engaging in many different types of homesteading endeavors.
In the United States, the term "homestead" has a legal definition that varies state by state. It can refer to the house and adjoining land where the owner primarily resides, and properties that qualify as homesteads may be eligible for a homestead exemption, which is an exemption or credit that a homeowner can claim on their primary residence to help minimize property taxes.
