What are your thoughts on the homesteading life we see among women of Kansas? Do you follow any of these traditional ways of living (making or repairing clothes, canning), or are there any aspects of that life you would like to adopt? If not, why?

Book Clubs Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor Discussion
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What are your thoughts on the traditional homesteading life we see among Emily and the other women of Kansas? Do you still follow any of these traditional ways of living (making or repairing clothes, cooking your own jams and preserves), or are there any aspects of that life you would like to adopt? If not, why?

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No on homesteading life. Not for me. LOL!!

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By all accounts it was such a hard life. I can, garden, and that’s about it. I swear it’s more expensive to make clothes than to buy off the rack!

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I always said I could not be a pioneer! Pa Ingalls would have had to leave without me! I tried making my clothes once. Didn’t enjoy doing that. Canning food? Not for me either. I guess I’m just a spoiled suburban woman.

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Oh my, that would not have been the life for me. I have tremendous respect for the women who lived and worked this harsh reality.
My Grandmother grew up in a sod house in Kansas and she talked abpit having tocheck beds for rattlesnakes. In the past i garderdened and canned but wasnt my favorite thing

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I was not interested in making jams or gardening, but I did like sewing clothes. I did not need to though, like the homesteaders. I started sewing in a high school class, and it fascinated me as a creative outlet. I started making many of my own clothes and went on to sew some of my daughters’ clothes when they were little. I still repair my own clothing but stopped sewing years ago, as I got busy with a professional life that didn’t include sewing. I think the homesteading life must have been very hard but hopefully those women sometimes enjoyed the creativity of it too.

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Homesteading would not interest me. I like the modern conveniences too much.

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So glad not to be the only one to say “homesteading was not for me”!:laughing:

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I could certainly identify with it. I grew up on a farm with an outhouse until I was entering seventh grade. We had one faucet in the house with running water until we got a real bathroom. My parents raised most of our food and mom preserved it— meat, fruit and vegetables. I grew up sewing my own clothes. I have a. college degree, with honors, and had a career. However, I married a farmer and also worked on the farm. I helped butcher animals, gardened, canned and froze homegrown food, made jams, etc. I was totally in touch with producing and preserving food. I also helped prepare fields and participated in harvest. I was totally in touch with nature. However, we used modern machinery and certainly not the back-breaking methods used by the prairie settlers. Our home had all the modern conveniences. My husband and I traveled a lot and weren’t backward people. I think too many in this world are out of touch with the heritage of the land. I talke. pride in the fact that I could/can do all those things.

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I think you have to very brave and strong to homestead. I wouldn’t have survived that life.

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I think that the homesteading women lived hard lives and were very brave and strong. This would not be the life for me – I enjoy my modern life and couldn’t have survived the life that Emily and her friends lived..

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Some of the traditional ways such as canning and making clothing can be wonderful pastimes for those of us who do not depend on them for our livelihood.