Homesteading 101
So, you want to be a homesteader, ay?
We don’t blame you! Who wouldn’t want to live a more independent, simple life in today’s society? Most people have learned since the pandemic that the comforts of life aren’t always guaranteed (even if you have money!).
Having the foresight to plan and prepare is wise, which all starts with becoming self-sufficient and working off the land – a resource that has been faithfully provided for us since the beginning of time.
However, homesteading can be daunting if we’re being honest. There are a lot of layers to homesteading, and you might be wondering where to start.
As former newbies ourselves, we want to provide you with some homesteading 101 basics so you can firmly plant your feet into the soil that is homesteading and confidently grow in your skills.
What is Homesteading?
Before we get started, it’s important to define what homesteading is exactly.
Many people picture homesteaders as plaid-wearing bearded men chopping wood and skinning deer in a forest. This may have been true back in the 1800s. However, fast forward to modern day, and you’ve got people homesteading in their one-bedroom apartments!
So, what is the definition of homesteading, then?
Homesteading is the act of creating a sustainable lifestyle rooted in self-sufficiency.
This can look a bit different for everyone depending on your resources. For example, if you live off-grid with many acres of land, the way you live out homesteading will look different than the person who lives in a city apartment with only a rooftop to call “land.”
The Different Types of Homesteading
With this in mind, it’s important to, first and foremost, figure out which type of homesteading you’re looking to do based on your resources.
Ask yourself: where does how I live impact my homesteading goals?
There are a few different categories of homesteading environments you’ll want to keep in mind when answering this question.
Apartment Homesteading
Starting with the smallest of the bunch, we’ve got apartment homesteading.
Usually, this is an ideal homesteading environment for single people or couples. This is often located in a city, and there may be little land to work with.
If you’re lucky, you may have a community garden you can participate in or a rooftop/balcony where you can garden in boxes. Though small, this lifestyle is admirable and is a great place for anyone to start their homesteading journey.
Suburban Homesteading
Next on the list is suburban homesteading. This homesteading often involves a larger space, such as a house in a suburban neighborhood.
Though these homesteaders may not have many acres of land to work off of, they use their backyards to the best of their ability with space for gardens, chickens (if allowed), composting, and more.
This is an excellent option for suburban dwellers with families who have local jobs and aren’t able to own many acres of land or live off-grid.
Small-scale Homesteading
If you’ve got a home and a decent amount of land to go with it (10 acres or more), you’re considered a small-scale homesteader.
This is typically for average-sized families looking to grow food and raise livestock on a larger scale to support their families. This environment is most often located in rural areas where farms are more common.
Livestock can be raised comfortably on these homesteads. Larger crops are typically yielded, hunting can take place, and so much more.
Large-scale Homesteading
When you think of a traditional homestead, you’re probably thinking of a large-scale homestead.
It’s here where 10+ acres of land exist, woods can be accessed, and pens of different livestock are scattered throughout. You’ll also find large crops, orchards, ponds, barns – everything you could ever dream of!
This type of living isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s hard work and is often a full-time job to keep up with. Having as many hands on deck, such as a large family, will make the job easier to maintain.
How to Get Started
Once you figure out which type of homesteader you are based on your time and resources, you’re ready to set some goals. And by goals, we mean realistic ones, of course.
It’s easy to go overboard when setting homesteading goals and bite off more than you can chew. So, start by examining your space and what’s most important to you.
If you don’t have a lot of land to work with but would like to grow and preserve your own food, start by making a couple of raised garden beds and growing food that can be frozen or canned, such as tomatoes. It may not feel like much, but it’s a start!
Maybe you’d like to cut back on some luxuries in your life and start homemaking items like soap, clothes, decorations, etc. This is also an excellent place to start!
Perhaps you’ve got a bit of land to work with and are interested in raising livestock. Some best beginner animals we recommend starting with our chickens, honey bees, rabbits, and goats.
Whatever your goal, no matter how big or small, start by developing a game plan on how you can practically make it a reality with the space and budget you’re given.
Living the Lifestyle of a Homesteader
It’s also important to remember that there are some practical things you’ll want to tackle before becoming a homesteader. By nature, homesteaders are preppers who thrive on self-sufficiency and simple living.
To achieve this, you’re going to want to start by living out the lifestyle of a homesteader with the following:
Address debt such as loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc.
Embrace a simpler life by cutting out life-draining activities.
Cut out luxuries that are hurting your finances and find ways to homemake/repurpose items around your home.
Start living a healthier, more holistic lifestyle through food and exercise.
Reach out and live in a community with other homesteaders.
Figure Out What You Need and Go For It
Homesteading isn’t an easy lifestyle to live.
Before jumping in, there’s much to consider, like time, money, resources, goals, etc. As former newbies, we can say that in hindsight homesteading is an incredibly rewarding lifestyle that, although takes a lot of work and planning, will leave you feeling satisfied and fulfilled in ways you never knew!
We hope this post has encouraged you to start with the homesteading 101 basics and figure out what you need to make your dreams a reality.
Looking for more in-depth articles on how to live out the homesteading lifestyle? Check out our archive of helpful blog posts!