Determined to Homestead
During my elementary years, I grew up living with my grandparents, who were homesteaders. At the time, the word "homestead" was not one I was familiar with, although it was a very old word. Instead, I would say that we lived on a small farm, which was also true. We raised cattle that would later end up on our table. We bought hogs from another farm that we'd have slaughtered. I distinctly remember helping my grandpa make homemade sausage using a hand meat grinder in the basement of our home. We raised rows and rows of strawberries that my grandparents would sell, and I was happy to help them pick quart after quart to be sold. And I was paid for my efforts! I remember a very large garden and breaking beans on the front porch. I also remember picking tomatoes off the vine and eating them just like I would an apple. Speaking of apples, my grandpa also had an impressive orchard. We had apples, peaches, and plums and made our own cider. My grandma c