Homesteading: Man’s Original Job

When you strip away the noise of the modern world—the deadlines, traffic, screens, and distractions—what you find at the heart of human purpose is something much older and far more sacred: tending the land.

As I’ve been on this homesteading journey with my family, I started reflecting on where all of this began—not just for us, but for mankind. And the more I read, the more I believe it’s safe to say: homesteading was man’s original job.

The Responsibilities of Being in the Garden

In Genesis 2:15 (NKJV), Scripture says:

“Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”

God didn’t place Adam in a palace. He didn’t give him a corporate title or plug him into some system. He gave him land—a garden. And not just to admire it, but to tend and keep it. These two words are powerful. “Tend” implies cultivation, labor, stewardship. “Keep” means to guard, protect, and watch over.

From the beginning, man was called to get his hands in the dirt, to be a steward of God’s creation. This wasn’t a punishment. It was purpose.

Returning to the Roots

When my wife and I began dreaming of a homestead, we weren’t chasing some trendy lifestyle. We were chasing peace. Simplicity. Purpose. And whether it’s planting vegetables or raising animals, we keep returning to the same realization:

This is what we were made for.

Working the land is not just physical labor—it’s spiritual. It reconnects us with God’s design. It forces us to trust in His timing (just like waiting for rain). It teaches us patience, resilience, and gratitude. Every seed planted is a quiet act of faith. Every harvest is a reminder of God’s provision.

Homesteading in a Fallen World

After the fall, man’s work became harder (Genesis 3:17-19). The ground would now produce thorns and thistles, and we’d have to sweat for our food. But notice this: the work itself was never the curse. The land still needed tending. It still held blessings. The curse only made the work more difficult—not meaningless.

Today, homesteading is still hard work. There are weeds to pull, fences to fix, animals to care for, and a lot of trial and error. But through it all, we find joy in the labor. Because this life—this way of living—isn’t just a lifestyle.

It’s a calling.

Guarding the Homestead

Our brand, Guard the Homestead, isn’t just about selling products or sharing content. It’s about protecting a way of life that’s worth fighting for. It’s about teaching our children what it means to work with their hands, pray over their meals, and depend on the land—not the system.

And ultimately, it’s about returning to something that was never supposed to be lost: our God-given purpose to tend and keep the land.

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Guard the Homestead — Faith. Soil. Freedom.