5 Tips for Starting a Homestead

Homesteading centers on simplicity. When taking the first few steps on your journey to a simpler life, these tips can help you succeed.

Chose sensible livestock

In general, the larger the animal, the more work and expense they will create. A chicken is easy to raise, but cows and horses take a much larger commitment. It makes sense to raise an animal for a year or two before committing to breed and sell them.

Chicken equipment: Chicken Raising Accessories | Lehman's (lehmans.com)

Invest in infrastructure

Build your home first—a half-finished dwelling may get overshadowed by other projects. You want to be warm and safe before winter hits!

Install fencing to keep your livestock where they are supposed to be—on your homestead. An escaped animal is stressful for you and for the animal, making a dangerous situation.

A source for sun and water are also essential to raise livestock and keep your garden thriving. Sun map your property and see which areas get at least six hours of sun a day—that’s where your garden should be.

If you are in a very rural area, be prepared for long-term power outages. A wood cook stove, water pump, and oil lamps could be life savers.

Cookstoves: Cookstoves I Lehman's (lehmans.com)

Prepare your garden

After you have site located your garden, decide how large it should be…then start small. Don’t forget a fence or your garden might be a buffet for the rabbits and deer.

Gardening: Garden Accessories: Garden Tools, Beds, Tables (lehmans.com)

Learn to preserve

The ability to preserve food— canning, cold storage, curing, drying, or freeze drying—is essential. Experiment with canning (water bath or pressure canning), pickling and fermenting, dehydrating and freeze drying and, the easiest of all, freezing.

There are lots of resources online, including blog.lehmans.com.

Get to know your community

Bartering for goods and services is satisfying and helps your budget. Offer to help build a roof in exchange for help installing your fencing, for example.