Homesteads can still be found all over the U.S. and world, even in some suburbs or city centers. In recent years, there has been a major push to go "back to the land," as families become tired with the life of constant consumption that modern society demands. This can look like purchasing a large plot of land to begin raising cattle, or by starting a small backyard garden and compost bin to begin growing your food. Modern homesteading is much more flexible than traditional forms, as large pieces of land are much more difficult to come by.
Homesteads in concept have existed for much of human history. However, they are most well-known in North America with the passing of the Homestead Act in the 1800's. This involved millions of grants given out by the U.S. government, encouraging Americans to venture into the wide, open country and begin working the land. This process was complex. It was a hard way of life, and encroached on much of Native American territory. Today, land is very rarely granted by the government. Homesteading has changed in how it looks, and how it works, than it did in its early years of American expansion.
