Student Spotlight: Mia Mariotti
My name is Mia Mariotti. I received my undergraduate degree from Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH) and work as a water resources engineer providing consulting services for municipalities in Cleveland and NYC. I'm working towards completing a master’s degree in Urban Strategy from Drexel University, where I am currently studying the modern homesteading movement for my thesis. I'm also a yoga and reiki teacher and spend much of my free time immersed in these practices, as well as running, spending time in the woods, gardening, and cuddled up with a good book.
Tell us about your research
I'm studying the modern homesteading movement as a strategy for ecological, social, and spiritual restoration. The practice of homesteading today suggests linkages to Indigenous precepts that are rooted in connection to land, nonhierarchical society, belief in spiritual energies, and mutual dependence. My paper aims to honor these foundational Indigenous roots while understanding the purpose of homesteading today. My research includes informational interviews with homesteaders and small-scale farmers throughout the US, ranging from urban to rural practitioners. Although homesteading is commonly tied to the goal of self-sufficiency, my research suggests that community-sufficiency is more foundational and sustainable for this practice. The homesteaders with whom I spoke all share in the sentiments of providing healthier options for their families while fulfilling a longing to live a life that aligns with their values.
Why are these issues important to you?
I've always had a strong connection to the land. I grew up on a small homestead where we raised pygmy goats and chickens and used plants as medicine. Connection to land was a central part of my childhood and has continually grown as a part of my life since then. To me, being a part of nature is a sacred experience, and I wanted to learn from other homesteaders what the deeper meaning behind their practice is, if any. I also see homesteading and small-scale farming as a solution to mitigate our climate crisis and bring about greater community belonging, and I hope that my paper brings awareness to this mission-driven practice as one possible solution.
Braiding Sweetgrass is the most influential book I've read - Robin Wall Kimmerer is so full of wisdom and depth, and her work resonated with me on a spiritual level. She beautifully weaves together the scientific wisdom found in nature with our human behaviors and emotions.