Show Notes
In this solo episode of The Coop, Homestead Living Editor-in-Chief Anna Sakawsky shares her personal story for the first time.
From growing up as a city kid in Vancouver with almost no exposure to homesteading, to the stressful travel-agent days that sparked her desire for a slower, more connected life, Anna opens up about the path that led her here.
She talks about how her travels abroad unexpectedly taught her to cook creatively and make do with what was available, and the early days with her husband Ryan … learning to turn simple ingredients into meals on a tight budget. Most importantly, Anna addresses the big question: What does homesteading actually mean in the modern world? She shares her thoughts on the confusion around the term, why definitions vary, and who this lifestyle is really for. Whether you’re just starting out or have been at it for years, this honest conversation will give you a clearer picture of the heart behind Homestead Living and The Coop. In this episode, Anna discusses: Her city upbringing and limited early exposure to homesteading The travel-agent job that sparked her desire for change How traveling and living abroad shaped her skills and perspective Early married life with Ryan: learning to cook creatively on a tight budget What homesteading means (and doesn’t mean) today Why there’s debate around who counts as a “real” homesteader
More from The Coop
John Bush has spent years teaching people how to move toward greater freedom and autonomy through his work with Live Free Academy and the Exit and Build program.
Rory Groves has spent fourteen years on a southern Minnesota homestead building a practice of resilience. He’s made his mark asking questions like “How do you build a life that still stands if the job, the market, or the news goes sideways?”
Episode #30 of The Coop is for anyone standing at the edge of a bigger life … and wondering if they have to leap overnight. Homestead Living Editor-in-Chief Anna Sakawsky sat down with Jason Contreras (Homestead Living contributor and the voice behind Sow the Land) to talk about the long road from a standard modern life outside Los Angeles to a working homestead in North Carolina.
In Episode #29 of The Coop, Anna sits down with Anne Briggs (Anne of All Trades … homesteader, woodworker, teacher, and Homestead Living contributor) for an honest conversation about getting things done when your brain, your time, and the farm all pull in different directions.
In Episode #28 of The Coop, Anna sits down with Larry Littrell … urban homesteader, specialized real estate agent, and author of Fresh Starts Old Roots. They have an important conversation about one of the biggest decisions many homesteaders face: whether to stay, move, buy, or sell.