Guided by truth
Psalm 1 begins with the path a person chooses. We want our work, decisions, and household to be shaped by God's wisdom rather than noise or haste.
Our roots
The roots came before the homestead.
I was born in California on a cattle ranch and raised around ranching and farming. The Salinas Valley—long known as the “Salad Bowl of the World”—showed me early how closely land, food, and community depend on one another.
I later served our country in the military. After my service, I studied agricultural science at Austin Peay State University. My personal focus was regenerative agriculture and more self-sustaining ways of living.
Over the years, I learned from people including Joel Salatin and Justin Rhodes. I also lived off-grid in the woods on two separate occasions and traveled by sail along coastlines and river routes through Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Along the way, I saw erosion and environmental damage, remediation projects that succeeded, and others that failed.
On a hot day, you can feel the difference between a town porch and a forested area. Concrete holds heat, while trees and plants provide shade and support healthy soil and water. Green roofs, permaculture, and teaching young people about biodiversity are practical ways to care for the ecosystems that sustain us.
When I came to see the house in the small community of Nanih Waiya, Mississippi, the nearby Nanih Waiya Attendance Center reminded me of Bitter Water-Tully Elementary. After seeing the house and talking with people from the community, I knew the choice was clear: this was the place I should buy.
I do not believe it is my responsibility to tell others how to live. I do believe each of us can choose the path we follow. In March 2026, our family purchased the property, and it became EadricStead. This homestead continues the mission of serving family and community through faith, responsible land care, useful knowledge, and a more self-sustaining life.