The Gothic Homesteader

Since starting Gothic Homesteading on Facebook back in 2013, more than once I have been asked just what is a Gothic Homesteader?  Just about as often, I get asked, What makes someone Goth?   And what is a homesteader?  All great questions. I have over the years actually heard many explanations to what it means to be a Goth and to be a Homesteader.   The simplest way I can explain it is thusly:  A Goth is one who who sees beauty in the midst of a dark and dying world. A Homesteader is one who follows the homesteading way of life: a. raising what one can - fruits, veges, herbs, animals, etc., b. make what one can - clothing, food, all sorts of crafts, very diy ( which Goths are great at typically ), c. providing what they can for oneself and ones friends and family. A Gothic Homesteader is one who see beauty in the midst of a dark and dying world, and thusly lives the homesteading lifestyle. As both Gothic and Homesteading cultures are very DI...

Here are my Homesteading Goals for 2015: 1. Learn to Crochet Better ( currently know 1 stitch ) 2. Learn New Food Recipes. 3. Learn Ways to Preserve Food 4. Re-learn to Play Guitar ( took classes over 10 years ago ) 5. Begin Gothic/Steampunk Jewelry Making... Again. 6. Plant Balcony/Walkway Herb Garden 7. Get A Sewing Machine and Learn to Sew on it! (know how to on a Treadle, but horrid with electric) 8. Begin Writing on Gothic Homesteading - The Book. 9. Start Video Logs aka Vlogs for the Gothic Homesteading Facebook page. Here are Rob's Homesteading Goals for 2015: 1. Finnish Chef's Training 2. Begin Learning Mountain Man Skills 3. Get in Shape. 4. Dry Shucky Beans to store for ourselves. ~ Morria

Ok, so maybe I have gotten too use to Phoenix Valley warmth, but blast it all it has gotten cold down here!  Besides that it is rainy, and though I adore the rain, not when it means we are freezing!  They say it wont get out of the 40s today... and I believe it.  I am glad spring is not long away and we bought the little electric fireplace heater not sure being sure if we would need it or not...sure enough, it has already paid for its self!  It's a poor substitute to our wood burner we had in Thoreau, NM, but sure better than the nothing we had before....  At least this cold snap has meant I got to pull out the Gothic velvets and such for a few weeks this year! Note to self:  Cinder block walls once they get cold stay cold for a LONG time!!! ~ Morria

We will be selling at the Shiprock Flea Market tomorrow, trying to make some money to keep us going at the homestead. Gas, Food, and More... Living out in the desert is not easy, but it is so worth it.  I make soaps, jewelry, and up-cycled Gothic and Steampunk clothing.  Robby, he makes hemp jewelry and does photography. That along with odd jobs keeps us afloat, along with our food from being gothic homesteaders...but that doesnt start for a few more months out here.   Tis not a life most would chose, but to be honest... neither of us are at home at any other kind of life anymore... I will get back to normal Gothic Homesteader post in March.  This move has been trying... ~ Morria

I am getting more and more excited as I find all these awesome foods that can be grown, why has no one complied list of these before?  I have been around the Gothic community for over 10 years now, and other than a few black flowers, I never knew just how much we had available to us... I not sure anyone did or does.  This is just exciting!   Today I want to share with you some of the Gothic Radishes, Turnips, and Potatoes I have found: Black Spanish Radishes Purple Plum Radishes French Breakfast Radishes White Globe Turnips Purple Turnips ( solid purple, not the purple top turnip s) Kohlrabi - German Turnips Purple Wonder Potatoes Mountain Rose Potatoes Okinawan Sweet Potatoes ~ Morria Please Note:   Many of these are rare and/or harder to get ones hands on, but still do-able.  Most are heirloom  varieties .  Patience  and a good determination to hunt for the plants is needed.    Enjoy!  I know I am!  Mos...

I am not sure when exactly, but a few weeks or may be months ago, I began noticing my Gothic side coming back out.  Maybe it was always out, and I just tricked myself that it ,wasn't.  Sometime though, my wardrobe went from being perky and cheerful, to back to my normal grays, dark blues, deep browns and various blacks.  But, I guess I just really dont care anymore what others think so much. Homesteading?  Why homesteading?  Arn't I a Gothic Chick?  Wouldnt that mean I would get my skin get dark?  Isnt that just something hippies are into? I have been asked all of that and more since 2005, when I first started looking into Gothic Homesteading.  To be honest, if one looks at being a Gothic Homesteader as one who sees beauty in the midst of a dark and dying world, and thusly lives the homesteading lifestyle, how could I not be a Gothic Homesteader? ~ Morria