Meet Rebecca & Phil
HandyCapable Homesteaders
Hi, I'm Rebecca, and welcome to HandyCapable Homesteaders! My husband Philip and I live in southern Maryland, where we practice what we like to call "Enjoyable Homesteading." For us, that means growing herbs and vegetables, raising chickens and pigs, woodworking, cooking, and diving into all kinds of creative projects—but with a twist. I have Multiple Sclerosis, and over time my body has stopped cooperating the way it used to. That's led us to get creative, finding new ways to do the things I love and keep living life fully. I'm the idea person, then Philip dreams up the solutions and adaptations, and then brings those ideas to life. It's a pretty good partnership.
We created this site to share the ideas, workarounds, and DIY solutions we've developed along the way. Whether you're living with a disability, caring for someone who is, or just looking for creative approaches to everyday challenges, we hope you'll find something useful here. Our goal is simple: help people enjoy life a bit more, no matter what obstacles they're facing.
As for our family, we have two grown children, a cat named Oliver, a dog named Georgie, and way too many fish and chickens to count. Philip has a serious problem with math—chicken math, plant math, fish math, bicycle math... You'll see what I mean.
Thanks for being here. We're glad you found us, and we're excited to share what we've learned!
— Rebecca
My
Story
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I often tell people that they are not their disease.
But there are times when it feels like my disease is running the show.
My story begins like most other people's—with hopes and dreams and visions of the future. Today doesn't look at all like what I imagined when I first pictured my life, but I've learned that different doesn't mean less. It just means I've had to get more creative about how I show up for the things that matter to me.
Multiple Sclerosis
Many people find it difficult to understand what Multiple Sclerosis is, and how it can affect different people in different ways. If you're newly diagnosed, caring for someone with MS, or just trying to understand what we're dealing with, this page breaks down the basics in plain language.
What is MS?
