Subsistence Living in Ohio

Reader Contribution by Kate Marlowe
Published on February 12, 2020
1 / 3
2 / 3
3 / 3

A common misconception we often come across when talking to non-homesteaders concerns our way of life. A picture of open fields, livestock grazing and large areas for gardening are often assumed. This seems to be the modern view of what homesteading is; however, homesteading is far more than this. Homesteading is a way of life, a lifestyle that encompasses self-sufficient, frugal and independent living regardless of your geographical situation. We do not fit the modern view and are taking this opportunity to share the ways in which we find success homesteading in the backwoods.

Deer from our hunting cam

The property we live on in Southern Ohio is surrounded by wooded area and borders state forest. The homesteading life we have chosen consists of subsistence living through hunting, fishing and foraging the land we have. Resources from our backwoods allow us to make use of the dense, clay-packed soil and create fertile land to grow vegetables and herbs. We aren’t a picture of the previously mentioned vision of homesteaders, but we are living the lifestyle and utilizing the land to provide a self-sufficient homestead.

Swampy terrain combined with the forest areas surrounds our homestead. This affords us an abundant variety of nuts, greens, fruits and tubers in the backwoods. We are able to collect and dry a variety of nuts including walnuts, chestnuts and hickory. Fruits indigenous to the area are also collected as a food source such as black raspberries, papaws, elderberries and wild strawberries. Salads may be spiced up during growing seasons with dandelions, fiddleheads, ramps and cattails. Spring is our favorite time of year for foraging. We are able to search for morels, a delicacy indigenous to the area, and it provides fun hunting opportunities as well as a tasty treat!

Online Store Logo
Need Help? Call 1-866-803-7096