The Liturgy of the Land

Cultivating a Catholic Homestead

By: Jason M. Craig, Thomas D. Van Horn

Narrated by: Kevin Gallagher

Many people today desire a simple life that is closely connected to land, whether it be gardening, farming, or ranching. There is a spiritual draw to a non-consumeristic lifestyle that places God, the family, and the home at the center of all activity. This agrarian conversion has led many families to seek out rural communities and leave behind the suburban life.

Over ten years ago two Catholic friends, Jason M. Craig and Thomas D Van Horn, experienced a similar agrarian conversion inspired by past Catholic land-movements and a growing desire to work with their wives and children, going deeper than just supporting them financially. Both began a journey, perhaps with a tad too much romanticism, toward land-based life on farms. All these years later, the two have been tempered by the unyielding realities of land and limitations, and have gained significant insights into the reasons, challenges, and possibilities of homesteading and farming. Van Horn operates a commercial bee operation and Craig operates a microdairy while working remotely for a Catholic apostolate. Both, however, now have extensive experience in general homesteading, niche-marketing of farm products, and trying to order their households around an agricultural life.

In The Liturgy of the Land: Cultivating a Catholic Homestead, authors Jason Craig and Thomas Van Horn present the practicalities and theological aspects behind the desire for a productive, holy home. Our current culture understands economy in efficient consumeristic terms, but our Catholic Faith tells us different. The productive homestead is the center of economic life and the family is at the center of the homestead. This book aims at bringing the stories from their experience into a presentation and proposal of homesteading as a way of life, considering the principles (why?) and the practicalities (how?).

©2023 Jason M. Craig and Thomas D. Van Horn (P)2024 TAN Books

Amazing!

I have loved the book so far for it’s marrying of the two worlds: theology and agriculture. It offers very compelling and attractive reasons for every Christian to homestead or at least move towards that rhythm of life.

Amazing!

A truly amazing book that spoke very deeply to me. If you feel disconnected or discontent with modern society and want to reconnect with what is real - this is for you.

Loved it!

I thought this book was great! The authors included tons of practical information on various scales of farming and gardening, while relating everything back to Catholicism and family life.