Kody Hanner
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My homestead philosophy
I have written a lot about our story and how we got to where we are today with homesteading and homeschooling. Another area I have spoken on is how we function currently as a family and on our homestead. Now I would like to talk about my philosophies for raising my kids, the importance of self-sufficiency, the beauty of rural life beyond the scenery and why I’ve taken a turn with the Homemade Revelation to celebrate a Homestead Education.
Some of the books that have helped my growth
Raising rural kids
I knew long before I had children that they would never be raised in a city, or even a neighborhood for that matter. And this is not just because I have never had the desire to live in these locations, its because I know that the life education and experiences that they would have will take them as far in life as they choose to go. There is grit, problem solving skills, and a comfort in the sometimes uncomfortable that will make them shine in wherever the road takes them.
However, there is more to simply living rurally to building the character that I so strongly believe is necessary to succeed in life.
I believe that children should learn to work from an early age. I’m not speaking if this in an indentured servant type of way, I’m saying that simply having a dish night is not enough for a child to be self-sufficient when they walk out the door into adulthood.
I believe children should play and play hard. I think they learn through their imagination. They should get dirty, scrape their knees, and always have a dog by their side.
Children should learn skills in providing and growing food, home cooking, food preservation, caring for animals, cutting firewood, and working on engines.
Children should be able to rely on their family and their neighbors, as their family and neighbors should be able to rely on them.
We tell our kids all the time, “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking.”
Importance of Self-Sufficiency
Everyone speaks of the importance of self-sufficiency, but do they speak of what it really means to them, and to our society as a whole. Really, it’s a balance between independence, and a healthy reliance.
I see self-sufficiency in three different categories.
Independence from the immediate people in your life.
This can be a kindergartener no longer needing mom or dad to pour their cereal, and also knowing that their parents will always be there to pour it if the child cannot. It’s a young adult facing all the trials of life for the first time confidently on their own, while having family, friends, professors, or bosses to help guide them. It’s a man or woman knowing that they can handle anything life faces with their spouse by their side, but also knowing they would be ok on their own as well.
Independence from your immediate community.
Some people do need this occasionally in the form of a food bank or volunteer services. However, I never fully understood the concepts of self-sufficiency vs relying on my community until I moved to North Idaho, I talk about my full understanding of this in my post “A Small-Town Farewell”. As a family, we are self-sufficient. I have minimal NEEDS from my community. I rely on my community for information, socialization, and activities for my children. I don’t rely on my community to feed my family, but if tomorrow I could long feed my family, I know my community would be there.
Independence from the larger infrastructure
After the events of the last two years, I think many of us have seen the importance of independence from the larger infrastructure. We need an alternative to the supply chain. We need an alternative to the public education system. We need an alternative to communication. We need an alternative to information. The independence I have seen so many gain over the last two years is inspiring.
In my understanding of self-sufficiency and independence I realized that I have the skills I possess and the support system we have created I have ability to teach self-sufficiency beyond the standard definition for children and adults alike.
My philosophy of the beauty of rural life
Rural life has a beauty that many have tried to put into words or capture through photography and art. Nothing, however, can capture the beauty of being able to appreciate these views out their front door everyday. I don’t know that there are words to describe the pride that is felt when your children are snacking on vegetables grown in your own garden. Or the bonds you build milking the family cow every morning. Let’s face it, nothing beats the beauty of build an immune system playing in the creek. This last part isn’t only for children either. When was the last time you played in a creek?
Why I’m changing the face of The Homemade Revelation
I will always be the Homemade Revelation with the goals of teaching natural living. With the changes going on in our world today and my ability to teach my skills, I would like to teach you, and your children, how to grow your own food and grow as a person with a homestead education.
Homeschool Curriculum Available Now!
Build Your Own Homestead – Little Learners Edition is an interactive homeschool curriculum that will introduce your child to small scale farming. This one of a kind homestead curriculum is designed for pre-school through to 3rd or 4th grade depending on your child and whether this will be used as a full curriculum or supplemental to another curriculum.
Build Your Own Homestead is designed to give your child a better understanding of where their food comes from. This allows them to take ownership in providing food for the family whether that’s understanding what they are choosing at the grocery store, helping you tend to the garden, or gathering eggs from your chickens.
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You might also enjoy
Episode 108: Just Be You with Roxy Kilmer
Roxy Kilmer from Simply Seeded and author of new children’s book, Be You. Roxy is a fellow homesteader who teaches you to grow where you are planted!
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Episode 107: An Honest Homestead Mom Helping Parents Raise Self-Sufficient Kids
My goal was to teach self-sufficiency skills to the next generation, but it has also been laid upon my heart to teach parents how to instill in their kids a desire for self-sufficiency. I would like to tell you some of my story of an honest homestead mom.
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Episode 106: An Honest Talk About Raising Boys With Durenda Wilson
Raising boys often makes us question why in the world they were designed the way they were. But as Durenda Wilson, author of Raising Boys to Men, so hilariously puts it, stupidity is not sustainable.
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Letting our kids get enough play and how to provide the best type of play.
The question of letting our kids play enough might sound strange coming from such a strong advocate for kids working on the farm and personal responsibility.
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Episode 105: Getting Kids Excited About Useful Science with Dale Cox
Dale Cox shares about his background in food science and his curriculums in food and physics to get kids excited about useful science.
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Episode 104: Introduction to Chickens 101 with Dalia Monterroso
Get an introduction to backyard chickens with Dalia Monterroso, the self-proclaimed President of Chickenlandia.
One Comment
Pamela
Iam intrested in this curriculumn