Welcome to this week’s edition of the Redeeming the Dirt Newsletter!

Redeeming the Dirt is the ministry of Noah Sanders and his family, committed to encouraging Christians to live for Jesus, excel in agriculture, and make disciples.

Highlights

This week I am sharing some of my thoughts related to the Homestead Act of 1862 and a Biblical perspective of government handouts.

Happenings on the farm: Today we planted broccoli, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts. My sons have also been training our horse to pull a forecart that has a hitch on it. Today for the first time they were able to pull our small trailer and take the trash to the road using home-grown draft power! (Our driveway is 3/4 miles long so that is no small trip). What do you have happening on your farm this week?

New Article: Homesteading and Handouts​

New Podcast: Government Handouts and the Homestead Act​

Announcements

In 2027 we are planning on hosting two, 5-day Training for Trainers in Foundations for Farming and the Well-Watered Garden Project. Dates are coming soon, but we plan to have one in the spring and one in the fall.

We are also pleased to announce that there are scholarship funds that have been donated for trainees this year and we will be offering applications for those who need financial assistance. Especially young people!

Below is an excerpt from the article this week.

Homesteading and Handouts

I had read about the original homesteads settled under the Homestead Act of 1862, but I never expected to visit one in person. So when we saw the signs for the Prairie Homestead Historic Site a few years ago while driving through South Dakota, we decided to stop. I'm glad we did. It's an original, intact collection of buildings and equipment still sitting on an original homestead farm, in one of the areas settled in the early 1900's.

As we walked up the hill to the old buildings, the kids were fascinated by the prairie dog town. We don't have those in Alabama, and my boys were sorely tempted to try to catch one. I don't think they could have even if I'd let them. The prairie dogs dove into their holes and popped up somewhere else from another tunnel entrance before you could blink. I can see why riders on horseback avoided crossing a prairie dog town—it's asking for a tumble and a broken leg.

The buildings were well preserved by the dry Dakota climate. The house was a true dugout, built back into the hill for protection from the harsh weather and long winters. Behind the barn, the old farm equipment was still parked where it had been left.

As we drove on through the area, you could see the remnants of old dugouts everywhere. The reason? Most of the homesteaders who tried to claim 160 acres of free land by settling and farming it for five years didn't make it.

​Click here to read the rest of the article.​

Until next time, stay humble, be faithful, and keep Redeeming the Dirt!

God Bless,

Noah Sanders

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