Starting homesteading requires a lot of preparation and a basic plan.
And, it also takes a lot of patience because you’ll need to be in the yard for much of your whole day.
For this reason, knowing which things to take into consideration is really important for every beginner.
As always, I am thinking of how to help you with some useful tips and suggestions.
You’ll also find a guideline on how to start homesteading and ace it like a pro!
But first of all, you need to know what homesteading is all about and how it’s different from farming.
Well, homesteading is a minimalist lifestyle that you can switch to by growing your food.
And that requires you to own land, grow crops, raise livestock, and know the art of preservation.
So, without any further delay, let me answer the most frequently asked question first.
What To Know Before Starting A Homestead?
Starting a homestead involves a lot of daily activities that you need to know.
From managing crops to raising livestock, every task will demand both mental and physical activities. And if you have a homestead partner, both of you will need to be completely on board all the time.
Often, homesteading becomes the most difficult task without a partner. That’s why you need to discuss again and again whether your partner is willing to help you as you start. And both of you need to read books, watch documentaries and follow online guidelines on homesteading.
One of the best ways to know about homesteading is to ask questions of a veteran homesteader. If you have any family member, friend, or neighbor who’s already into homesteading, you can spend a good amount of time in that homestead.
It’ll help you more in understanding the lifestyle.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A Homestead
Usually, it takes about $50,000 to start a 1-acre homestead.
But, the budget can be reduced if you follow DIY methods and recycle old materials. Also, if you have a big plan in your mind, the budget may increase further.
I suggest every beginner start small when planning their homestead. Because they’ll be able to sustain better if they do so.
Gradually, they can invest in their crops, livestock, barn, kitchen, garden, and all necessary equipment.
Is Homesteading Legal?
Due to the rising population in the USA, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act ended homesteading in 1976 in most states.
Alaska is the only exception, which allowed homesteading till 1986. But, even today, you can buy or lease a small acre of land in most cities for homesteading.
What Is The Difference Between Homesteading And Farming?
Homesteading refers to acquiring a small unit of land and growing crops for sustenance.
In contrast, farming requires you to acquire a larger piece of land to grow crops for profit. Usually, homesteads can be built on less than 100 acres of land whereas farms are built on more than 400 acres of land.
Homesteaders need to live in their homesteads and work on everything from scratch. But, farmers don’t need to live in their farming area and often they appoint other farmers to work together.
And for both homesteading and farming, two different kinds of laws exist.
Can You Get Free Land In The US?
Well, getting free land in the US is still possible in some states.
More than a century back in 1862, the Homesteading Act allowed providing small acres of land to many homesteaders to raise the populations of some small towns. If you research well, you’ll be able to find a free land of a very small quantity in these places.
Lincoln (Kansas), Marquette (Kansas), Mankato (Kansas), Osborne (Kansas), and New Richland (Minnesota) are some places where you can search for free lands for homesteading.
The requirement of these places may vary depending on the location and laws.
Where Is The Best Place To Homestead?
Location is really important for homesteading because of many reasons like cost, safety, seasons, and weather.
Here are the best places in the USA where starting homesteading will be a great idea.
Tennessee, Idaho, Alaska, Oregon, Michigan, Maine, and Montana are ideal for living a homestead lifestyle. That’s because the climates are moderate and perfect for growing crops. Also, the costs of land and living are comparatively lower in these cities.
What Is The Hardest State To Homestead?
New Jersey is the hardest start to homestead because there are too many obstacles.
The temperature of the state is extreme and there’s too much snowfall and rain. The second reason that can make it worst for you to sustain is the high cost of land and living.
The amount of snowfall in winter in NJ is about 27 inches, which can make it pathetic for your land and crops. And though there’s plenty of groundwater, it’s contaminated in some areas.
Plus, the cost of land in NJ is about 40 percent higher than the average in the USA.
What Do Homesteaders Do In The Winter?
Winter is the time when homesteaders probably prepare themselves for the next three seasons full of activities.
Though it’s a time for relaxing because most homesteading tasks are performed in the rest of the seasons, here’s a list of fun activities that homesteaders involve themselves with.
Baking
Comfort foods are enjoyed all year round but winter is the best time to fire up the wood stove and enjoy baked goodies.
Winter Gardening
In winter, the maximum number of plants can’t survive but there is some cold-sustainable veggies ideal for gardening in winter.
Handicrafts
Knitting, crocheting, and candle-making are activities that can be taken up in winter because of the cozy weather inside the room.
Reading
For avid readers and even for those who aren’t, winter is the ultimate season to enjoy reading and writing.
Activities like carpentry, soap making, personal development, and family get-togethers are also things that most homesteaders love to do in winter.
Checklist For Starting A Homestead
Here’s a checklist that you need for starting your new homestead:
- Land
- Seeds
- Compost
- Water Source
- Sunlight
- Pots
- Farming Tools
- Livestock
- Coops
- Fence
- Shed
- Birdhouses
- Greenhouse
- First Aid Kits
- Kitchen
Your Homestead Garden
Gardening on your homestead requires a lot of hard work and proper planning.
Since homesteading is an organic way of life, you will need to make compost for the nourishment of your plants. You can do that by recycling your kitchen scraps and mixing them with fallen or dried leaves.
Composting lets you make organic fertilizer for your vegetables, which ensures the health of your family. It involves a process of rotting or decomposing the ingredients for a few days.
But, you’ll need to learn the best method of composting as it requires controlled conditions.
Your Homestead Kitchen
The kitchen is an integral part of every homestead because there are plenty of tasks.
And to start your own, you need to be in the kitchen for many hours daily. So, if you’re a beginner who doesn’t want to spend time in the kitchen, you need to reconsider.
Food preservation is the main task that requires you to be in your homestead kitchen.
Apart from that, you need to prepare food for your livestock, cook your daily meals and perform plenty of other tasks in the kitchen.
Your Backyard Farm
Raising livestock in the homestead provides you with lots of benefits.
For example, if you raise chickens in your homestead, you’ll be benefitted from eggs and meat. And apart from that, they’ll also help you to maintain the ecosystem of your homestead.
Homestead Power & Light
Energy sources are really important for every homestead. Sunlight is the main source of food for plants and it can also be used to produce alternate energy. You can light up your entire homestead in the evening by producing solar energy with panels.
Biomass energy is another option that’s gaining more popularity these days. You can make use of your agricultural residues to produce this type of energy. But, as a self-reliant homesteader, you’ll need to learn the process from scratch.
Preserving Your Own Food
The main reason for preservation is to sustain your excess crops for the whole year.
If you don’t want to waste the huge production or sell it, you can preserve the entire batch and enjoy it all year long.
Canning and pickling are the two most popular forms of preservation.
Top 7 Homestead Structures
Here are the top 7 homestead structures that you can build:
1. Dog Houses
If you own a dog, building a dog house will provide the best shelter for your furry friend.
2. Chicken Coops
If you’re planning to raise chickens, building their coops in your homestead is a must.
3. Bird Houses
To attract birds in your greenhouse, you can build birdhouses and provide them with food and water.
4. Greenhouse
To grow plants that are weather sensitive, building a greenhouse will be the best idea.
5. Shed
You can store your gardening tools and other necessary things in your homestead shed.
6. Fences
To mark your homestead property and protect it, building fences will be the best idea.
7. Pools
If you love fishing, you can look for a homestead land that includes a natural pool.
Homestead Pest Control
Spider mites, aphids, beetles, slugs, and snails are the top homestead pests that you need to get rid of for the safety of your plants.
They not only reduce plant growth but also can cause fatal diseases and even the death of your valuable plants.
You can prepare organic pest controls with coffee, egg shells, and other scraps.
Conclusion
Starting homesteading can be fun if you plan ahead and go according to it.
Though homesteading requires you to become a learner, you can surely learn as it goes.
And once you start enjoying it, I’m sure you’ll be rewarded with great success at the end of every season.
Below is a Pinterest friendly photo…. so you can pin it to your Homestead Lifestyle Board!!
