Homesteading For Beginners
Are you interested in becoming more self-sufficient and living a more sustainable lifestyle? If so, then homesteading might be for you! Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about homesteading for beginners. You’ll learn about the basics of homesteading, what supplies you’ll need, and how to get started. So whether you’re a city dweller looking to make the leap to the country or a suburbanite ready to start living off the land, this post is for you! Ready to start your homesteading journey? Let’s get started!
One of the first things that you’ll need to understand when it comes to homesteading is what exactly it is. Homesteading is a lifestyle choice where individuals or families strive to be as self-sufficient and sustainable as possible. This involves growing your own food, raising animals for meat, eggs, and dairy products, collecting rainwater for all of your water needs, producing items like soap and clothing from natural materials, as well as utilizing renewable energy sources like solar power and wind turbines.
Obviously the first consideration is location. Where you want to setup your homestead is the vital first step towards achieving this goal.
Do you want to be closer to a town or do you want to be somewhere more remote? Do you want to be connected to the grid or go off grid? Do you want a large parcel of land where you can have lots of animals or a smaller property with a more compact homestead? What is your budget?
These are all questions to be answered before you get started on your homesteading journey.
Next up on are supplies. You’ll need some basic tools to get started such as a hoe, shovel, rake, wheelbarrow and other gardening equipment. If your budget allows you may want to get some power tools as well like a garden tiller, gas generator for power backup, and things like drills, saws, etc for building construction.
You may also want to invest in livestock such as chickens, ducks, and goats. These animals will provide you with fresh eggs, milk, and meat.
With animals also comes the need for fencing and shelter. How elaborate you want to make these depends on your budget and skills.
Here are some simple chicken coop plans that you can make
You’ll also need to invest in rainwater collection systems or a well, as well as renewable energy sources such as solar panels or a wind turbine.
Gas generators are great electricity backups as well. I have a 10kW gas/propane generator wired into a separate breaker panel in my house to run the essentials in case of a power outage.
Well worth the investment…
Once you have all of your supplies gathered, it’s time to start homesteading! Start by planting a garden and learning how to grow your own food.
The first step is deciding what you want to grow and doing a little research into gardening techniques for those specific crops.
Container gardening is a great way to do this with a LOT less work than a traditional garden.
Here is a pic of our container garden, including our greenhouse. We fenced it off as well so that the critters (not to mention our dogs), can’t get in.
It takes a lot less work to maintain, and as a bonus, it is located right off of our deck for easy access.
Starting a homestead can be daunting at first but with some planning, research, and hard work you can make it happen. With dedication, patience and perseverance, you can be well on your way to becoming more self-sufficient in less time than you think.
Homesteading is a rewarding lifestyle choice that will allow you to live a self-sufficient and sustainable life. If you’re ready to take the leap, follow these steps and start off on your homesteading journey today! Remember, with hard work and dedication, anything is possible.
We hope this guide has helped give you an overview of homesteading for beginners. It’s important to remember that this lifestyle choice may not be suitable for everyone but if it’s something that interests you, go for it!
Thank you for taking the time to read this post about homesteading for beginners. If you found it helpful, please consider sharing with your friends and family so that they can learn about homesteading too. We hope you have a great time getting started on your homesteading adventure!
Happy homesteading!
