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There can be a lot of information out there when learning how to start a homestead. But don’t feel overwhelmed! Taking it one step at a time and making small changes can help you adjust your lifestyle the easiest way. Only some people can jump into a self-sufficient homesteading lifestyle both feet in. Learn as you go, take small steps, and learn from the mistakes we are all bound to make.
People are looking to start their homestead for many reasons. Whether you are looking for ways to cut out chemicals and be more natural, are looking for ways to save money by doing it yourself, or simply want to live a self-sufficient lifestyle where you don’t have to depend on anything other than yourself to survive.
There is no right or wrong way to start your homestead. You can even learn how to start a homestead in an apartment! Or, make small changes like starting to grow your herbs or making homemade cleaners, and learning to make homemade bread.
Picking one skill to focus on at a time and learning to build from there can ensure you are focusing on learning things correctly, and avoid feeling overwhelmed. This is a lifestyle change, not a simple skill one learns in a couple of months.
Remember why you want to start this journey and choose your starting point from there. If you want to erase harmful chemicals from your life, you may choose to first learn how to make your homemade cleaners, toiletries, and foods. If you want to be more self-sufficient you may instead choose to learn about off-grid energy, rainwater harvesting, and raising animals first.
No matter the starting point, the end goal will remain the same. Living a natural and self-sufficient lifestyle.
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1. When deciding to start a homestead, take inventory of everything you already have in your home, and the skills you already know.
The first thing I would do when beginning this journey would be to take stock of everything I have on hand. Being more self-sufficient can simply start by using everything you have in your house.
You can also prepare your home by reorganizing and making room to stock up on certain items. Being prepared for the future means keeping things on hand, and not needing to make them, or buy them, weekly.
You do not need a lot of money to start this, many items can be made cheaper and more naturally, eliminating harmful chemicals and saving you money.
Even if you are looking to start a homestead in an apartment, you can optimize your storage space to make these changes.
Also Read: 8 Secrets to Being More Successful with your Apartment Garden
2.Homemade cleaning products.
Cleaning products come with many harmful chemicals that should be avoided in our homes. Making natural homemade cleaners is a great way to start your homesteading journey.
There are many different recipes available. These natural homemade cleaners are less harmful, work better, and will be much cheaper than the alternatives you would buy at the store.
A vinegar-based cleaner is a very easy-to-make cleaner that is perfect to keep on hand. This can be used as an everyday cleaner. Many people worry about having their home smell like vinegar, but adding essential oil will make the cleaner smell great!
Homemade Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
1 Cup water
1 Cup Vinegar
15-20 drops Essential oil
3. Growing your foods, herbs, vegetables, fruit, and plants for tinctures and teas.
Starting a garden is another great skill when learning how to start a homestead. You would be amazed at all the different herbs, vegetables, and even fruits you can grow in all different climates.
Also Read: 8 Secrets to Being More Successful with your Apartment Garden.
There are many different options when starting your garden. You can choose a small plot of land outside to grow during a specific season, a specific area inside your home or apartment to add shelves and grow lights, or build or buy an outdoor greenhouse for your plants to thrive!
The plants you grow in your garden don’t have to be limited to foods you can eat. There are many plants and flowers that have amazing health benefits and can be added to tinctures, salves, teas, and more.
4. Homemade self-care products.
You can learn recipes to create your own shampoos, body wash, toothpaste, deodorant, and more. Any product you buy at the store, you can learn a more natural, and homemade recipe for!
You can also choose to make the switch to these products, but buy them from a local store. Many local markets, such as a farmer’s market or flea market, or some other local stores will have a variety of these products to choose from.
Not everything has to be made at your home, buying from small community stores and choosing natural products is a big part of the homesteading lifestyle for many.
5. Homemade medicines, tinctures, and salves.
Tinctures have many medical benefits, and just like traditional medicines, there are different tincture recipes available for anything you are searching for. Tinctures are available at local stores, and online shops or recipes are available online and in many books.
I love this book available on Amazon for beginner-friendly natural homemade recipes. Even if you are not looking to make your own at this time, it can be a great book to teach you about the different benefits of each.
Living in the Northeast US, I love slaves in the colder months. Living with sensitive skin in this weather, herbal salves have been a staple in our lives.
6. Cooking and Baking from scratch. How to make your own ingredients.
You may already know how to cook and bake from scratch, you may know a little bit to get by, or you may be totally clueless in the kitchen. When learning how to start a homestead, learning how to make your way around the kitchen is top on most people’s lists.
I have always loved to cook and bake, and I will always love experimenting with new recipes and techniques. Buy yourself a new cook book, watch recipes on YouTube or TikTok, or search Pinterest for your next dinner idea. Jump in the kitchen and learn!
It doesn’t stop there though, if you want to truly be self-sufficient learning how to prepare food yourself is just the beginning. How would you supply your own ingredients if you couldn’t run to the store?
Next, you could consider learning how to mill flour, how to make homemade yeast, butter, and cheese recipes, and more. There is a never-ending bounty of knowledge out there when it comes to creating food, and ingredients at home.
7. How to can and preserve your food.
If you want to grow your food, it is important to learn how to properly store it. Or maybe you want to build up a stockpile of food to prepare yourself for various circumstances, such as lasting without growing food for winter, a bad storm in your area, or a more widespread event.
Learning how to can your food can seem difficult, but practice makes perfect! Just with every other skill on this list, it will take time and research and may not be something you learn right away.
Many families where I grew up canned food and many of you know someone who does! It can be helpful to ask someone you know to help teach you firsthand.
There is also plenty of information on the internet. If you learn better by reading, check for books available but if videos help you learn better, search on your favorite platform.
I love Pressure Canning & Water Bath Canning for the Modern Homesteader.
8. Using and creating less waste.
Creating less waste is important to the environment, and can make it easier on you when you’re living a self-sufficient lifestyle.
Consider making the switch in your lifestyle when it comes to reusable products.
Buying products that don’t come in plastic, or making your own products in reusable containers is a great option.
Some stores sell products by weight, and you can bring your own containers in.
9. Lower expenses, starting side hustles, and making your own money.
Breaking away from the traditional corporate life and becoming self-sufficient financially creates the freedom in your life to live any way you choose to.
There are many options when it comes to creating your own financial freedom. You may choose to start an online business, market a skill you already have online or in-person, or search for a flexible remote position.
Gaining back the freedom of time can be a huge step in becoming self-sufficient and being able to afford the homesteading lifestyle. Although homesteading can be much less expensive than the “average” lifestyle nowadays, you will still have expenses and it will cost money to get things going.
You can slowly begin to lower expenses and become self-sufficient by making switches in your life, like solar power energy, and growing your own foods.
10. Raising animals on your homestead
When learning how to start a homestead, many people will think about raising chickens and other animals! Chickens are a great animal to keep on your homestead.
Other popular animals to keep on a small homestead could include quails, ducks, goats, and rabbits.
You can keep these animals on smaller plots of land, you don’t need a huge farm to be able to start raising animals on your homestead!
Do your research, and if you are within city limits it’s also important to look up local laws. As some areas will not allow you to raise these animals inside city limits.
11. Sourcing your own energy and electric and rainwater harvesting.
One of the last steps of being truly self-sufficient is being able to generate your own energy and be able to supply your own water.
There are many ways to do both of these things, and depending on your location some may be easier than others.
Finding land with freshwater, such as a pond or stream, is a huge asset when it comes to homesteading. Having a fresh supply of water makes being self-sufficient much easier. Of course, you will still want to learn how to properly filter and store your water.
There are many options when it comes to off-grid energy. You may want to look into generators, solar power, or wind-powered energy alternatives.
12. Always education and planning for the future.
There will always be more to learn, and homesteading is no exception. Be open to new ideas and techniques, and never stop looking for more things to learn.
Plan for the future and be mindful of what you do. Create an easy and peaceful way of living for you and your family, knowing that you are capable of living a lifestyle where you have full control over the unexpected.
13. Connect with others, bartering and building community.
Connect with other homesteaders near you, or find a community online. If you find other homesteaders and farmers in your area, you can barter with them for things and skills you may need.
Think about the things you have to offer, and if there comes a time you need something barter with your community.
Nobody can do it all themselves, being involved in a community can open the door for you to many new possibilities.
Starting a homestead isn’t as simple as a few easy steps and changes. It is a lifestyle that allows one to be truly self-sufficient and dependable on their land.
No matter the reason you are searching for ways to start your homestead, it is a lifestyle switch that can benefit many for a multitude of different reasons.
Even if you decide to learn one skill at a time, and grow your lifestyle from there, it can make a world of difference in your future of creating your very own homestead.
Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will a fully functioning homestead. There is always more to learn, but the most important thing is taking the first step.
