MEDIA ALERT | NEW DAY PROCLAMATION | NATIONAL HOMESTEADERS DAY | August 15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New National Observance Proclaimed: Inaugural "National Homesteaders Day" to Debut on August 15, 2026
MT PLEASANT, IOWA — A new national movement toward self-reliance and community resilience officially takes root this summer. The Registrar at National Day Calendar® has officially proclaimed August 15, 2026, as the inaugural National Homesteaders Day. Founded by Southeast Iowa-based educational company Preppin Mama™, the annual observance celebrates the everyday journey toward self-sufficiency and promotes a revival of hands-on heritage.
National Homesteaders Day honors the individuals, families, and communities intentionally reclaiming practical life skills and producing goods from home. Crucially, the day aims to redefine "homesteading" not as a physical location or a vast plot of land, but as a mindset accessible to anyone—whether they live on a sprawling acreage, in a suburban neighborhood, or a city apartment.
"Homesteading isn't a place—it's a choice," says Dani Murphy, Founder of Preppin Mama™. "Many foundational household and trade skills have quietly faded from daily life over the past few generations due to societal shifts and the conveniences of a highly digital world. True security is found in the confidence that comes from knowing how to provide, create, repair, and care for ourselves and others. This day is an open invitation for everyone to reclaim one lost skill and pass it down."
The August 15 date falls perfectly during the peak of the late-summer harvest season, making it an ideal time for communities to gather, learn, and share knowledge.
To make self-reliance approachable, the day organizes practical life skills into 7 Heritage Skills:
GROW: Raising plants and animals to nourish ourselves and others.
PRESERVE: Protecting harvests and reducing waste through methods like canning and fermentation.
MAKE: Creating useful things with our own hands.
MEND: Repairing everyday items instead of replacing them.
BUILD: Gaining hands-on, practical construction and trade skills.
GATHER: Bringing people together to share knowledge, stories, and traditions.
COMMUNITY: Supporting neighbors to build strong, resilient local networks.
August 15, 2026, will also mark the official public launch of the Lost Skills Revival, a year-round initiative encouraging people to master one traditional skill at a time—from baking sourdough from scratch and sewing, to tool repair and backyard gardening.
The public is encouraged to celebrate National Homesteaders Day in several tangible ways:
Learn One New Skill: Start a sourdough culture, try a fermentation recipe, or practice basic tool maintenance.
Support Local Producers: Visit a local farmers market or purchase goods from local artisans and makers.
Host a Skill-Share: Gather friends or neighbors for a backyard workshop where a skill or traditional recipe can be passed down.
Teach the Next Generation: Take time to intentionally pass a practical life skill down to a child or young adult.
Share the Journey: Post photos of gardens, baked goods, or handmade projects on social media using the official hashtag #NationalHomesteadersDay.
About Preppin Mama™
Founded by Dani Murphy, Preppin Mama™ began as a personal journey born out of necessity by a single mother raising four daughters. It has since grown into an educational company and community dedicated to preserving practical life skills. Based in Southeast Iowa, the company hosts hands-on workshops in quilting, fermentation, home remedies, and food preservation. Through its unique Sweeties Program mentorship for young women and retail partnerships with over 20 local makers, Preppin Mama™ works to prove that community stability thrives when we look out for one another. To learn more about National Homesteaders Day, Dani and Peppin Mama™, head over here. What is a Homesteader?
About National Day Calendar®
National Day Calendar is the premier media source for national days, weeks, and months. Based in Mandan, North Dakota, the organization tracks and creates awareness for over 1,500 national days, helping millions of people find reasons to celebrate every single day.
Media Contact:
Preppin Mama™
Dani Murphy
319-541-1944
NationalHomesteadersDay.com