For many of us, the word “homestead” probably conjures up an image of a dilapidated farmhouse in a backwoods area, with a farmer who is barely getting by financially, and is forced to live off the land in near-primitive fashion. But, this image is a far cry from today’s modern homestead. Lifestyle and perspectives towards homesteading have evolved signigicantly in the last decade, and while the 21st century homesteader still embraces a lifestyle of self-sufficiency, he no longer eschews the urban or even suburban lifestyle. Homesteading is more concerned with improving quality of life for the family, the community, and the environment, and less concerned about where that happens.