There are differing opinions on what it means to be a homesteader. You have your die hard completely self sufficient raise their own animals, grow their own food, don't rely on stores at all type, and then you have the ones who run to the local farmers market for bulk fruits and veggies to process and put away- don't grow or raise anything on their own type and then everything in between. All are fine and most still work towards being mindful, frugal, and wanting to be less dependent on Uncle Sam. My family has been on both ends of the spectrum and there will be no judgement here, just sharing what has worked for us and some of our experience. Merriam Webster Dictionary defines a homesteader as "someone who lives frugally or self-sufficiently (as on a homestead) especially by growing and preserving food. There are modern-day homesteaders who have traded contemporary conveniences such as … a reliable internet connection to grow much of their own food and—as much as possible—live off the land"