Simple Steps to a More Sustainable Lifestyle

I started this blog shortly after closing on our house with the intention of sharing our progress regarding both home renovations and learning how to homestead. But each time I submit a post, I get new ideas for things to write and share about.

So is this a home improvement blog? A farming blog? A motherhood blog? How do sewing and photography and small business ownership and a recipe here and there fit together? I really don’t like the idea of being limited to only one category.

I sat pondering this question for a few days, mulling it over and over in my mind, until it hit me. Perhaps the purpose of this blog does not need to fit into one typical category but perhaps instead the purpose is to share about a philosophy. A way of life. A collection of values and how they play out from day to day.

Over the past few years, our family has made some conscious decisions to live more sustainably for a variety of reasons. If I’m being honest, our original reasoning was from a mindset of frugality, but as we learn more and more about the importance of living life as thoughtful consumers our reasons have expanded to include ethics, health, and a desire to better care for this beautiful earth that the Lord gave to us to enjoy.

I hesitate to put a label such as sustainability blog anywhere close to my site because we are by no means experts and are very much learning alongside of you. We own cars, we aren’t vegan, we own some plastic items, and we have been guilty of foregoing recycling from time to time. Yet, we have made some decisions—such as learning to sew our clothes, investing in property for organic farming, cloth diapering our son, reducing our meat consumption, and buying the majority of what we own secondhand–that are rooted in sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint on the earth.

So, I’m not sure why you are here, but welcome to The Miller Acres and our little corner of the internet! Perhaps you love old homes and the process of restoring them with beautiful antiques that have stories to be told. Perhaps you are interested in sustainable living but are overwhelmed with where to start or are on a really tight budget. Perhaps you have always wanted to learn to sew or are passionate about creating a handmade-home that feels inviting, safe, and warm. Perhaps you too are intrigued by this idea of modern homesteading and want to follow along as we make mistakes and fail and try and try again. Whether you have been following along from the beginning or happened to stumble along this post by chance, I am so glad you are here and hope that these musings from a tired mom will bring some laughs, some inspiration, and some fresh ideas to the mundane.

I will be sharing and learning right alongside of you and want this to be a space that is inclusive and safe. An open dialogue—a place where it is okay to ask questions and a place where you don’t have to pretend to have it all together. Because I sure don’t! Ask anyone who knows me in real life.

As the beloved Jane Goodall once said,

“Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other.”

None of us will do it perfectly. Few of us will go about it in the same way. Yet, I do believe that each one of us is valuable and has a role to play in making this world a brighter place. Our individual efforts may seem small but collectively, we can make a lasting impact.

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