Armenian community in rural USA

Why homesteading?

Homesteading and rural living is becoming increasingly popular. The scars of lockdowns and the prospect of future instability motivates some to form a more self-sufficient lifestyle. For others, the automation of technology and the isolation of modern life, is the spark to return to a more traditional rural community. Whatever the reason, the trend is real but it leaves Armenian Americans in a bit of a bind. How can one live in a rural Armenian community when there aren’t any anymore? Create new ones, of course! That’s exactly what the Hyeland Project is seeking to do.

Advantages

In the past, to homestead was to essentially be a subsistence farmer. It was a tough and bleak life. Today, with the proliferation of technology this is no longer the case. We now have the ability to stay connected, learn from the best, use tools and processes unheard of in the past. It won’t make homesteading easy, but it will make it more rewarding.

Here are just some advantages to rural living;

• Self-Sufficiency: Homesteading allows individuals and families to produce their own food and resources, reducing dependency on external systems and increasing resilience against supply chain disruptions​ .
• Healthier Lifestyle: Growing your own food ensures that you have access to fresh, organic produce, free from harmful pesticides and chemicals. This promotes better nutrition and overall health​.
• Environmental Sustainability: Homesteading encourages eco-friendly practices such as composting, recycling, and using renewable energy sources, significantly reducing your carbon footprint.
• Skill Development: Homesteading involves learning a variety of skills such as gardening, animal husbandry, carpentry, and food preservation. These skills not only enhance self-reliance but also provide a sense of accomplishment​.
• Community Building: Homesteaders often connect with like-minded individuals through local farmers’ markets, online forums, and community events. This fosters a sense of community and support​​.
• Educational Opportunities: Homesteading provides a practical learning environment for children and adults alike. It offers lessons in biology, ecology, economics, and many other fields through hands-on experiences.
• Future Proofing: You can’t easily be automated out of your own land. There’s no AI solution that will be firing you from your homestead. The hands-on skills you develop homesteading will make you and your children useful even during an age of radical automation.

source: (The Homestead Survival)​​ (An Off Grid Life)​

The Upper Cumberland

Where one chooses to homestead has a significant impact on success rate and quality of life. Choose some place with brutally harsh weather, natural disasters, bug infestations, unfriendly politicians, high cost of living and taxes, and you may very well regret it.

It’s for this reason, the Hyeland Project coordinators spent years finding the perfect place before starting to build such a community. Places like Virginia and Texas were tried out, Florida was investigated closely, even places abroad, no place has what Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland brings to the table.