Celebrating Our Community: A Christmas Review of 2025

As we wrap up 2025, we wanted to dedicate this month’s newsletter to our first six months of Homestead Horizon and some of the best moments from our content so far. It has been a year of growth, learning and connection, and we are delighted to share a look back at what we have created together. Dive into some of the best highlights below, along with a short message from us as we close the year.

What a time it has been! Six months has truly flown by for all of us in the HH team, we are truly thankful to each and every one of our members for their continued support and engagement. As 2025 draws to a close, we have some exciting things planned for 2026 that we can't wait to share. Homestead Horizon remains as devoted as ever to keep our core ethos alive - to curate a slower paced, authentic hub for all things sustainable living, for everyone to learn from and enjoy.

We are also excited to begin partnering with some new voices in the sustainable living space. By working more closely with other creators across the industry, we will be able to offer an even broader range of insights to support your journey in self sufficient living, whatever form that takes for you. We cannot wait to share more of this with you in 2026. Thank you again and we hope you all enjoy the festive period! - Joe Tickner, Founder and Editor

We want to continue building our membership into a broader and more diverse space where we can collaborate and learn together.

A key focus for 2026 will be welcoming more contributor members, which could include you... We want to bring more voices into our pages and reflect the full range of experiences within our community. If this sounds like something you would enjoy, you can explore our contributor membership option here.

Learn more

Highlights from the year: a glance back at some of our most engaging reads

Embracing Sustainable Heritage: A Week on a Homestead in Eastern Poland

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Embracing Sustainable Heritage: A Week on a Homestead in Eastern Poland was one of our most heartfelt location features. Guided by contributor member Kaja, we spent a week on her family’s smallhold, learning from a landscape shaped by generations of self reliant living.

The article explored everything from no dig gardening and solar power to pond stewardship and traditional food preservation. It offered readers a vivid portrait of a homestead where every corner reflects care, resourcefulness and continuity.

Writing this piece was a deeply grounding experience. The generosity of the family, the rhythm of their days and the connection between heritage and modern sustainability left a lasting impression on our team. Members responded warmly to the emphasis on community, shared labour and the restorative power of living close to the land. It stands as one of our most inspiring features of the year.

Balcony Bounty: Three Edible Plant Combinations for European Balconies

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Our article Balcony Bounty: Three Edible Plant Combinations for European Balconies became one of our most widely shared pieces of the year. Its appeal lay in its accessibility, offering practical and affordable planting combinations for balconies across Europe. Whether readers were working with a sun drenched terrace or a shaded city corner, the article showed how even the smallest outdoor space can become a productive kitchen garden. The detailed cost breakdowns and step by step instructions resonated strongly with beginners and seasoned growers alike.

This piece gained significant traction across social media, with many readers sharing their own balcony transformations inspired by the combinations we featured. It reminded us how important it is to champion homesteading at every scale, something we will continue to foster in 2026. The enthusiasm around this article affirmed our belief that self sufficiency is not defined by acreage but by intention, creativity and care.

End of Summer Location Feature: Sustainable Living in Dubrovnik and Cavtat

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Our location feature End of Summer Location Feature: Sustainable Living in Dubrovnik and Cavtat offered a rich exploration of two Adriatic towns where land, sea and heritage intertwine. Writing this piece allowed us to immerse ourselves in centuries old practices, from terrace farming and olive cultivation to rainwater harvesting and traditional food preservation. The article highlighted how these coastal communities have shaped their landscapes with ingenuity, resilience and deep respect for the natural world.

Members particularly enjoyed the insight into daily life in Cavtat and Dubrovnik, where smallholders continue to rely on intercropping, greywater systems and community exchange. The feature captured the essence of slow living in a region often associated with tourism, reminding us that sustainable practices thrive even in the busiest corners of Europe. Creating this article was a joy, offering a chance to celebrate a culture where ecological stewardship is both practical and deeply rooted in identity.

Homesteading in Chamonix: A Life Rooted in Tradition and Nature

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Our article Homesteading in Chamonix: A Life Rooted in Tradition and Nature took readers to the foot of Mont Blanc, where alpine life continues to be shaped by resilience and self sufficiency. The feature explored the region’s thriving allotments, traditional architecture and long history of small scale farming. From raised beds designed to withstand sudden downpours to herbs thriving in mineral rich soil, the article highlighted the ingenuity required to homestead in such a dramatic landscape.

Creating this piece allowed us to reflect on the harmony between cultivated land and wild terrain. Members particularly enjoyed the historical context, from the valley’s monastic origins to its transformation into a centre for alpine exploration. The article captured the spirit of a place where nature is both a challenge and a companion, and where homesteading remains a cherished way of life.

Homesteading as Resistance: Reclaiming Autonomy in a Fast Paced World

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Homesteading as Resistance: Reclaiming Autonomy in a Fast Paced World was one of the most meaningful pieces we published this year. This article explored homesteading as a philosophical stance, a deliberate act of slowing down and reclaiming agency in a world defined by speed and consumption. It resonated deeply with our members, some of whom shared their own reflections on the emotional and practical rewards of self reliant living.

Writing this piece was a powerful experience for our team. It allowed us to articulate the values at the heart of Homestead Horizon: autonomy, stewardship, community and relationship with the land. The article’s warm and stoic tone captured the essence of what we strive to bring to the world through our content. It remains one of the pieces we are most proud of.

Next year offers many more opportunities to build on what has already been an incredible launch for Homestead Horizon. We promise to remain true to our core ethos, ensuring that our commitment to nurturing a meaningful and generous space for our members and the wider community never wavers. In a fast paced and increasingly commercial world, we will continue to prioritise the greater good of our community and uphold the values that place smallholding and self reliant practices at the centre of a more sustainable future.

Thank you for an incredible 2025. We hope you enjoy a wonderful Christmas with your loved ones and a happy New Year. You will hear from us again on the 8th of January as our team takes a short break at the end of the year. If you need anything before then, please contact us at homesteadhcommunity@gmail.com and we will assist when we can.

Thank you again,

HH ❤️