Additional benefits of homesteading

The modern definition of homesteading is creating a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. Homesteading is certainly a returning popular interest. It provides several benefits, such as increased physical activity, an increase in consumption of vegetative and animal products, creates food security, increases overall wellbeing, and can be cost effective. Increasing nutrition goes hand in hand with the benefits above and is important in a culture where fast-processed foods are so readily accessible.

Homesteading provides an easy way to increase the nutritional value of your everyday meals in an appealing and engaging manner. Some of the ways homesteading can provide this is through gardening, preservation, cooking from scratch and raising livestock.

When it comes to gardening and food preservation there are many nutritional benefits. One is your fruits and veggies are likely to be more nutritionally dense due to the way they are packaged at the store. Fresh fruits and veggies are often picked before they are fully ripe so by the time they get to the store they are ready to eat and not rotten, but this means that they sometimes not have as many nutrients as they would if they were from your backyard.

Canned fruits and veggies have a few more nutrients but they can be packaged in sugar and sodium. Growing vegetables and fruits yourself allows you to have the freshest produce. That doesn’t mean the ones at the store are bad or not worth eating but growing them yourself can be beneficial if you have the ability to.

Another benefit of growing your produce is that you can control what kind of soil your garden has and what kind of pesticides you want to use. You can also control how much salt goes into the items that you are preserving. According to the CDC, 90 percent of Americans consume too much sodium daily.

This is one way you can start to lower your salt intake because the consumption of too much sodium can lead to cardiovascular issues and other health concerns. There are many more benefits to gardening and food preservation on the nutritional level and this can be an easy start to a healthier lifestyle. Whether you have an acre or more of land to work with or just a window box in your kitchen, these little changes can help you live healthier and become more self-sufficient.

Cooking from scratch rather than eating out is a huge portion of homesteading and is crucial when looking at the nutritional benefits of your meals. Convenience meals are great in a pinch, but you can’t control the nutritional content. Taking the time to meal prep or plan meals at the beginning of the week has been shown to help with budgeting and eating healthier.

Every individual has their own nutritional needs and cooking for yourself can be very helpful in meeting those needs. A study done by the University of Cambridge and Newcastle University concluded that those who ate home cooked meals on a regular basis were more likely to have a healthier diet and a healthy BMI (body mass index).

Raising animals is a large component of homesteading and can also provide nutritional benefits. Grass fed beef can be leaner than grain fed beef because they can have less fat content once they are ready for processing. This can help lower the risk for cardiovascular issues and help meet daily nutritional requirements.

Raising your own meat also provides an opportunity to learn new cuts of beef, pork, chicken, lamb, goat, etc., and allows you to choose your preferred cuts at the butcher using cut sheets. Chickens are great for smaller homes/operations and provide a consistent source of protein through egg production adding to a more nutrient-dense diet.Milk cows, goats, and lambs can also provide excellent opportunities for your family regarding dairy products and items including dairy such as soap products.

Eating healthier can seem daunting at times with all the research that goes into it but making little choices here and there can really improve your overall health and quality of life. Taking on different aspects of homesteading is a great way to start improving your health. Homesteading is what you make it, some animals/products take a little more effort but the nice thing about it is you can tailor homesteading to your needs. Cooking for yourself, gardening, and raising animals can be very rewarding.

Program announcements

To register for an upcoming program, call the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service at 505-565-3002. For more information, visit valenciaextension.nmsu.edu.

•Ready, Set, GROW! Free gardening classes are being offered virtually. Registration required. Visit the link for upcoming classes and more information at desertblooms.nmsu.edu/grow.html

•Extension Homesteading and You Series: Homemade with Love: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, July 18, at the Valencia County CES Office to make and take home some vanilla, herb infused oil, whipped honey and herb infused salts. Call the Valencia County CES Office to get registered at 505-565-3002 for a morning full of fun and delightful homemade items you can keep for yourself or share with ones you love. Lab fee is $10 to participate, to be paid in advance by July 12, limited space is available for this lab.

•Extension Homesteading and You Series: Salsa Garden Preservation: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, at the Valencia County CES Office. Participants will learn about preserving a salsa garden and participate in a hands-on lab. Call Valencia County CES Office to get registered at 505-565-3002. The lab fee is $10 to participate and must be paid in advance by Aug. 15, limited space is available for this lab.

•Valencia County 4-H Dessert and Basket Auction Thursday, July 25, at S & J Sporting Goods (Sam’s Place Event Center) 544 Main St. NW Los Lunas. The dessert preview and raffle start at 5:30 p.m., and the live auction begins at 6:15 p.m. Come out and support our 4-H program to attend leadership retreats, scholarships for county and state events and much more. 4-H youth and clubs put together baskets and bake delicious homemade treats! For more information, please call Sierra Cain at 505-565-3002.

•The Valencia County Fair will be held Aug. 19-25, at the fairgrounds in Belen. Come out to see our 4-H member’s indoor exhibits and livestock projects! There is also entertainment and adult exhibits to enjoy! For more information visit the county fair website at valenciafair.com

If you are an individual with a disability who requires auxiliary aid or service to participate in a program, please contact the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office at 505-565-3002 two weeks in advance of the event.

(Katelyn Peach is an intern with the Valencia County Cooperative Extension Service Office.)