Question 1

How long have you been in Patrick County, VA?

Accepted Answer

We purchased our property in February 2023 and gradually developed our land until it was ready to inhabit.

Question 2

What are your backgrounds, and how did they get you into homesteading?

Accepted Answer

Angie went to school for Soil Science and worked in and around the agricultural sector before getting involved with Tilth and local farmers markets in the Seattle area (where we met). Ben has always valued self sufficiency, and only became interested in homesteading after experiencing chronic health issues. After studying Computer Science and moving into project management and process improvement, his skills definitely apply to what we are doing.

Question 3

What have you developed so far on your homestead?

Accepted Answer

We started with vacant land, some chickens, and our shipping container full of stuff. Over the first year we installed a driveway, well, septic, and built a family living space in a shed that would later house our off-grid battery system. After moving our camper onto the property, we were ready to live here full time. After that it's been non-stop action. We installed a solar ground-mount system and a fence to establish the bounds of our garden. Later we would build some storage and play structures, as well as a 12 foot chicken coop. We are slowly building our house, and are happily taking on projects as we are presented with opportunities.

Question 4

What are your farming philosophies?

Accepted Answer

We raise our plants and animals organically, and have adopted a "no-till" approach to gardening. We avoid synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMOs, and antibiotics, focusing instead on ecological balance, soil health, and biodiversity. No-till farming makes vegetables healthier by cultivating a living, undisturbed soil ecosystem that boosts nutrient density, increases water retention, and strengthens plant immunity against pests and diseases. We strive to recycle materials wherever we can, and avoid toxic ingredients when we purchase new.

Kind Hart Homestead

Angie, Ben, and Cedar are a small homesteading family, who live off-grid on a mountain in SW Virginia with the goal of living a more intentional life.

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