Starting A Homestead
For anyone dreaming of a simpler life surrounded by nature, homesteading may be the answer. But where to start? Here are some things to think about when starting a homestead that will help get you on your way to turning that dream into reality.
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Starting A Homestead
These are not hard and fast rules, just some tips to help you get started on your homestead journey. To give you something to think about as you think about becoming a homesteader.
If after reading and thinking about everything clearly, you decide that this isn't the life for you, that's totally fine, it's not for everyone. Or maybe you have decided that you need to take things really slow, and start by learning to garden, GREAT, because you are setting yourself up for success.
Consider What Homesteading Involves.
You should consider carefully whether you want to handle household tasks yourself. You’ll have to engage in laborious tasks, in fact, planting crops and taking care of livestock contractors are among the most strenuous ones.
Make sure you have your spouse or partner on the same page as you are if you're going to quit your previous life and start homesteading.
Don’t make a major homesteading decision without the necessary facts and knowledge. Watch documentaries, read books and fully immerse yourself in the homesteading mindset.
Set Goals For Yourself.
Homesteading can transform your life for the better, regardless of where you live. Even in a city neighborhood, you can still initially plant a garden and raise chickens. Furthermore, you can preserve and store your own food.
What goals do you want to accomplish on your homestead? Plan them year by year.
Decide Where You Want To Live.
Decide what size of property you’ll need. If you plan to have a full-time or part-time job still and just do homesteading as a hobby, then you can probably get by in an urban or semi-rural environment.
If you plan to make homesteading your full-time job and lifestyle, you’ll need enough room to grow all the vegetables and fruit that you need, plus space for cows, sheep, or any other livestock you want.
Make A Budget
Having a thoroughly thought-out budget is critical for homesteading, particularly if you’re planning to give up a steady job to become completely self-sufficient.
If you’re buying land and property, it’s important not to use all your savings to buy it. Otherwise, you won’t have any money left for renovations, improvements, equipment, or other necessary things.
Start Small
You don't need a dream farm to begin. Your journey toward homesteading can begin right now. Many people who homestead do so for that reason, not because they really live in the country.
Get acquainted with Your Growing Season
Every area can have a different growing season. Mine is slightly different than friends who live 15 minutes away. They are closer to the coast which completely changes how things grow and when they can grow.
Take to neighbors, and do your research on your area.
If you want to grow tropical fruit you might not want to live in an area that gets harsh winters.
Make Your Kitchen a Working Kitchen
Making a house a productive homestead is a lot of work.
Growing your own food is a big job. Do you know what else is a really big job? Making from-scratch meals and preserving the excess. As I am in the middle of preserving (September) I am so happy that we went with a large sink in our kitchen that I can clean jars in. Clean vegetables and fits my large pot.
Start small in the garden so you have the time and space to add new food-prep skills to your repertoire.
Become a Perpetual Student.
When I started this life, I knew I would be constantly learning. For example, I would have to learn how to garden and preserve food. And then everything I could about the animals that I wanted to raise.
Things tend to be a little slower in the winter so take this time to read and research things that interest you and you might be looking to add to your homestead. This is when I start looking at what I might want to plant in the spring, looking for new ideas, and new ways to preserve those foods.
More on Homesteading
5 Tips to Homesteading with Kids
5+ Books on Getting Started with Your Homestead
