Some of you may have been fortunate enough to be invited to play the now defunct, Glitch. This little game, originally developed by Tiny Speck, was a free MMO (massive multi-player online game), and featured Glitchens - customizable characters whose sole purpose was to gain skills, collect items and make stuff out of them. It was incredibly creative and quirky. I suggest watching the original game trailer to get a better idea.
So what does this have to do with homesteading?
During the short time I was playing the game, I noticed that I became more aware of the inherit energy and supplies necessary to create things, especially with food. I had to acquire all the ingredients, have the skills to cook or bake whatever I was making, as well as the energy to do it all. This may seem obvious, but it is a reality that is often overlooked. The culture of the developed world has made us expect immediate gradification; push a button and something happens. Homesteading doesn't work that way.
Homesteading requires hard work and patience. It requires investment upfront, with the hope that you will end up with the results you want. It requires a little bit of luck, and a lot of faith - in your land, in your livestock, and in yourself.
My favourite aspect of Glitch was creating your own little house and land. You could plant bubble trees, create garden plots, even community gardens where other players could harvest veggies you planted. It all took effort and time, but I found the game quite rewarding. I started to appreciate meat, vegetables, and eggs from my local farmers market. I started knitting again, and ordered bats of wool for spinning from a local sheep farm. I started wishing that I could live in the little cottage I made in the game, surrounded by trees and a wee garden plot. Yes, I had developed the homesteading bug - and it hit hard.
A few years later, I'm still dreaming about homesteading - but this time, I'm building up my plot of land in the real world.
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