It began with Reclaiming My Health
This journey was never linear. I never set a homesteading goal. My only intention was to take better care of myself. Over the years past, I had a string of health concerns, including debilitating migraines. In my quest to take charge of my health, I began with removing.
“I began, I mastered, now I teach.”
-Texas
I began broad, with highly processed foods. I would experiment more and more. Removing (at different times in my life) meat, grains, eggs, dairy, sugar, certain fats, even chocolate. Later my focus became to just keep as many chemicals out of my food as possible, by removing as many preservatives out of my food as I could. I would shift my focus by eating cleaner than the day before.
Preserving was a Natural Progression
My answer came from the desire to know what exactly was in my food. I started to obsessively make as much as my food from scratch. I wanted to know what exactly was in everything I ate. I allowed some cheats because I knew the majority of my diet was clean. I began to remove preservatives and additives in exchange for wholesome ingredients that were simpler.
Preserving became another step deeper along my journey. When I began cooking from scratch, it became a necessary step. I wanted to have more of my homemade goods on hand in my pantry.
I Feel More Whole
When I preserve food, I feel more whole as a woman. I feel strong in my abilities, confident in knowing what women knew before, a deeper connection to my past.
To me Preserving is an act of self-preservation, confidence, and power.
I practice it because I own my Life.