The first meeting was to share what I’d learned with other women interested in a homesteading lifestyle. I shared knowledge gained over the years and taught homesteading skills. But mostly, I shared my mistakes.

Month after month, we met, discussing the topics these women wanted to learn. New faces appeared, our knowledge expanded, our community grew, and our friendships deepened.

As my circle of like-minded friends widened, I realized the loneliness I’d wrestled with for years had vanished. I’d found my Community; I belonged and was understood.

Those women were the beginning of the National Ladies Homestead Gathering (NLHG). The elements that served us then—Share Knowledge, Build Community, and Grow Friendships—became our mission statement when we were established as a nonprofit organization in 2013.

Homesteading can be a lonely lifestyle. Joining a Community of women who share your dreams helps fight that loneliness. Face-to-face Community provides the greatest impact on a person’s homesteading journey.

Self-sufficiency or self-reliance can be nearly impossible to reach on your own. But you can achieve it within a Community of women who share the same goals and dreams. Communal Self-Sufficiency: Sharing knowledge, skills, and resources with the benefits of friendship, mentorship, and companionship.

If you’re looking for a homesteading Community where you are accepted, seen, and heard, look no further! I welcome you and encourage you to “meander” through our website and choose how you would like to connect with us:

• Look for an established NLHG Chapter close to you.
• Join our private online Community where you can talk freely about homesteading.
• Come to one of our National Gatherings where we can meet face-to-face!
• And sign up for our newsletter to stay on top of all that’s happening as we Share Knowledge, Build Community, and Grow Friendships.

Happy Homesteading!

Cyndi Ball, Founder and Executive Director