How a Minnesota homesteader plans to grow year-round food
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A view of Katie Krejci's Duluth-area homestead. Photo: Courtesy of Katie Krejci
Social media is teeming with Minnesotans living off the land. But you don't need acres to become a bit more self-sufficient, says Katie Krejci, who hunts, gardens and forages on a wooded 240-acre homestead near Duluth.
Why it matters: Some people are leaning into lifestyles such as homesteading in attempts to improve their health and make environmentally friendly choices.
What they're saying: "I like to do things on my own and don't like to be dependent on others," Krejci tells Axios.
- Even a city lot can yield a bounty — think fruit trees, veggies and grape vines snaking up a fence, says Krejci, who's also a registered dietician.
- Apartment dwellers can grow herbs on the balcony or snag a plot in a community garden.
The catch: Be sure to check local rules about raising animals like chickens.
- For example, in Minneapolis, roosters are allowed with a permit, but in St. Paul, they're not.
How it works: Generally, homesteading is when someone intentionally produces something (like food) for their own consumption.
- The fine print: The term homesteading comes from troubled roots, during a time when settlers displaced Native Americans from their land.
The big picture: In a 2022 Homesteaders of America survey, roughly 40% of homesteaders reported adopting the lifestyle within the last three years.
- History suggests people turn back to the land during times of crisis or economic turbulence, says Jason Strange, author of "Shelter From the Machine: Homesteaders in the Age of Capitalism."
- During the pandemic, people feared grocery stores might run out of food, and they were worried about their health.
Yes, but: It's not all doom and gloom. The joy of learning something new and working with your hands appeals to many, Strange tells Axios.
Reality check: While modern-day homesteading might seem like a romantic lifestyle, it can take a lot of work.
- Krejci, who's living in a 960-square-foot hunting cabin while she and her husband build their "forever home" on the land, spoke with Axios about her typical day.
🐓 What's your first task of the day? Feed and refill water for the chickens at 6:30am, then let them out to free range.
🥣 What are you making for breakfast? Eggs from our chickens with homemade fermented hot sauce and home-grown microgreens, plus oatmeal topped with frozen berries that I foraged last year or dehydrated apples from our tree.
🤩 Dream home features: We're getting into deer hunting, so our plans include a walk-in cooler to dry-age the meat. We're also going to dig a root cellar in the basement to store my onions, apples, potatoes and canned goods.
- Plus, a heated greenhouse where I can grow food year-round, including banana and citrus trees, which are unreal for Minnesota.
💬 Something you do every day: Duolingo (I'm learning French) and work on my homesteading social media accounts.
📺 Nighttime ritual: Read or watch a show with my husband (usually "The Chosen", "Alone" or "Mountain Men").
Between the lines: Some homestead work, including gardening and preserving food with appliances like a deep freezer or dehydrator, can hike the water and electricity bills.
- It's one reason why Krejci is making the switch to solar power. (They already have their own private water well.)