The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/homesteading)
Brigid’s influence here is far-reaching, as is the gentle determination of her spirit. I believe that it is her nature to be more pleased by action than by words or acts of worship, and across the many forms she takes or names she holds, she is aware and approving of the renewal of interest in what some consider a simpler life.
“Creating a homestead from scratch is a long, slow process, especially for someone with very little practical experience as a gardener, zero experience with livestock and water management, and limited financial resources. At least it has been for me.”
Sheri Barker reflects on how she has grown her relationship with the land she lives on, and how the goddess Brigid intervened to show her a secret in the ground below.
In 2005, Richard Louv introduced an emerging theory that many of our modern children’s ills – obesity, depression, behavioral problems – are caused by their lack of interaction with nature. In his book Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, he brought together research and information from several sources to support the idea that reconnecting with nature was the antidote for many of these struggles. His work was inspirational and influential in several ways including the founding of the Children and Nature Network, an organization with a vision of creating a world “where every child can play, learn and grow in nature.” This is a stark contrast to the reports of children who spend endless hours inside watching television and playing video games. Increasing numbers of people, either out of support for the environment, concerns over rising food costs, or the desire to feed their families higher quality foods, are creating urban and suburban gardens and (re)learning how to preserve food, brew beer, make cheese, and raise chickens. Other people, including many who have been inspired by Louv’s work, are doing so for the healing that nature provides.