Renewing an interest in homesteading

Prices at the grocery store are on the rise. This has people thinking more seriously about how to save money by growing and preserving their own foods, even if they live in urban areas or on small properties. With that in mind, the Morgan County Extension office hosted its first Homesteading on a Half-Acre Workshop at the No Fences Cowboy Church in Falkville, Ala. The goal of the workshop was to teach homeowners ways to increase productivity.

About the workshop

Morgan County traditional and urban regional Extension agents in home grounds, food safety, animal and human sciences, and 4-H coordinated this event. Homesteading on a Half-Acre included hands-on learning opportunities for both adults and young people ages 5 and up. There were three educational tracks for adults, including tracks on growing fruits and vegetables, meat production, and food preservation. Youth sessions included lessons on sewing, wildlife, 4-H show and tell, and iDance. The young people also had an opportunity to interact with a live milk cow.

Program impacts

A total of 105 people registered for the workshop. Based on survey results, approximately 40 percent of participants had never attended an Alabama Extension event before. Attendees also indicated the information they learned in the classes would save them an average of $84 per person. Based on the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the event, the Morgan County Extension office plans to host a similar event in 2024 that builds on the skills demonstrated in this workshop.