If I were called upon to line up our Homestead Core Values in order of importance, Family would fill the first position (see Homestead Core Values). The importance of family may be the anchoring value in our home. Family is the . . . what, exactly? The core core value, perhaps the prime value. I think we can assert that our devotion to family formed the primary motivation for moving to the homestead in the first place.
I cover this thoroughly in the Family section of my book, Sacred Coffee: A “Homesteader’s” Paradigm but to recap briefly, we chose this lifestyle primarily because it would allow us to escape the normal patterns of work and education, which separate families most days of the week, sending parents to jobs, and children to schools. We sought a way to spend our days together, working and learning as a family.