Dh and I have been listening to some excellent cd's lately on pursuing an agrarian lifestyle.  Rick Saenz of Cumberland Books has recorded some NPR type interviews with Christian men and women who are pursuing an agrarian home-centered lifestyle in order to build their families in a more healthy and godly way (The plain talk cd's).  Essentially these folks are pursuing pre-19th century models of family life.  The cd's have been very valuable to us in forming and working through our own family vision.  The vision has been refined as we listen to people like Doug Phillips and RCSproul as well.   And it has been refined in the process of our move 3 years ago to a small town and into a family business.  We would like a farm and some land in the next few years, but even if we never get that we are already in a position where our whole family can work together and where my son can be actively mentored by his dad.  We are moving in the direction of producing more of what we can ourselves (like grinding our own wheat for bread and growing some vegetables and fruits and supporting folks who do grow locally in our agriculture share at a neigboring farm.).  I have come to that conclusion that much of an agrarian life is determined first by one's mindset.  There are many things any family can do in their current situation that builds a healthy cohesive family, without having to make the more radical changes of relocation, etc.  Homeschooling is definately part of that process as well.  Many of you folks who read my blog are making the same kinds of decisions or at least interested in pursuing these same goals.  I encourage you to look at the website of Cumberland Books and consider the value of some of his resources and also reading some of the literature at his site as well.  There are many others out there pursuing a similar journey and we need to encourage one another and learn from each other.  I am interested to hear the thoughts of others who feel you are on the same journey or would like to be.

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Posted by EEEEMommy

Sorry I haven't been around lately! I've enjoyed catching up with your blog! Looks like you're having a good summer!

I haven't ever lived much of an agrarian life before and haven't had the opportunity to do so. At present, I am in the inner-city with all its unmentionables, but even here, my mom usually had a garden(flowers, vegetables, grape vines, and mint), she also canned and sewed and did all things domestic, so I think you're right about the mindset. I am looking forward to having my own garden for the first time ever when we move into our house in a month, of course I'm not naive to think that it will just grow itself, it's going to take work! I'm excited to learn how to grow things along with my kids.

The one comment I would make to challenge the idea that an agrarian lifestyle is best is based on Acts 17:26 where Paul says, that the Lord of heaven and earth, "made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation." God didn't determine for me to be born in pre-19th century or in a rural area of the world. Instead, I was born in the inner-city in the 20th century and now live in the 21st century. God definately had a purpose in that and I don't feel compelled to try to go back to the agrarian way of life in order to pursue godliness, but am pursuing godliness and raising my kids up in righteousness in the time and place where God has put us. My husband is a computer guy not a farmer, that's just how God made him (and frankly, I don't know that I have enough energy to live on a farm...it's a lot of hard work!) :)

Anyway, God will use us wherever we are whether on a farm, in the city, or somewhere in between.

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Posted by cyndiegirl72

Good for you and your DH. It is the multigenerational thing. We are feeling so unplugged this week as all the other families we know are getting ready to go back to school. No shopping, no lines, no worries. I am so happy and less stressed. I will be posting soon reguarding how free I feel.

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Posted by momofsix

That sounds great. I bet you can save a lot of money with the incredible high price of food and gas. I can't believe one head of cauliflower is $1.89. It sounds easier to raise a big family with that lifestyle.

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Posted by ThreeLittleLadies

we love living the simple life, gardening, raising your own animals and so forth. One magazine we've taken for years is "Mother Earth News" which gives a lot of practical advice in these things. Right now the Lord has us living as missionaries, and yet He has placed us where we grow a community garden to can the produce together. We have an electric generator on a mountain stream. We butcher meat - elk, deer, etc for use here in our meals. We are right in our element. I'm looking forward to see how God grows you and leads you in this journey.

By the way, the homesteading.com blogs are full of people with similar vision.

In Christ, Carol

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Posted by SarahLynne

I'm right there with you. We'd love to get out to a small little farm and be able to be more self sufficient. We have a plan that we're hoping works so that we can eventually do that. I guess the Lord only knows if he will allow us to pursue that dream. My problem is.... I really really dislike gardening! Isn't that awful? I love the wonderful foods it produces....but the weeding....no thanks!

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