How to Start a Homestead

Yay, I am so glad you’re here and interested in starting your own Homestead. I would love to be a resource for you during your journey! There are many variations of Homesteading and the great news is you can start today!!!!

Now is a great time to get started on your own self sufficient lifestyle journey.

What is Homesteading?

Wikipedia Definition – Homesteading is a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and may also involve the small scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale.

Why I chose Homesteading

Does it sound crazy to say homesteading chose me? I grew up on a 500 acre farm so it came so naturally for me. For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to stay living on the farm and live off of our land as much as possible. I have always craved a simple life unlike my sister who moved to the big city as soon as she could. Although I think she’s missing it now.

But not everything came simple and naturally when my husband and I first started our own homestead. In fact, the month we moved into our farmhouse there was a huge snow much like the one we are expierencing now. We have learned so much in the past 7 years and I love sharing with you as we go.

What Homesteading Means to Me

When I think of homesteading the first thing that comes to my mind is life. We have created this life for our family and it has been the most amazing journey. Raising our children to live off of the land and have a more simple life means so much to me. I want them to know where their food comes from and be more self sufficient in as many ways as possible. Homesteading has given my life so much purpose and I cannot imagine it any other way.

10 Ways to Start Your own Homestead

  1. Grow your own food. You can start a garden anywhere! Large or small having a garden is a fantastic way to put organic food on your table. If you do not have the space for an in ground garden you can plant many things in pots and there are also grow light planters for indoor use.
  2. Cook from Scratch. Adding those yummy vegetables from your garden to your meals will feel so rewarding! Now let’s start baking!
  3. Add a Clothesline. This is much easier to do outside when the weather allows but I do hang many things inside year round.
  4. Chickens. As long as your city allows then adding chickens is such a great way to start a homestead. Raising chickens is a great way to add a chore routine, cut down on insects in your yard and of course adds some amazing organic, dark yolked eggs to your table.
  5. Goats. Do you have space for Goats? If you do then I 10/10 recommend them! Goats help with weeding your property, supply delicious milk for consuming and selling plus they are so much fun!
  6. Cast Iron. If you do not cook with cast iron stop reading this now and go buy some! Cast Iron has many benefits and once you get the hang of it is so easy to use.
  7. Sewing and Crocheting. I learned to sew growing up and then taught myself to crochet several years ago. Not only can you now make items for yourself but you can make and sell your handmade items.
  8. Compost. You will be thankful for that free fertilizer for your garden and this can really save on waste.
  9. Ferment and Can your Food. This can be done with or without your own garden. If for some reason you do not garden or yours was not as productive as you hoped then you can purchase from a local farm stand. Fermenting and Preserving your own food adds to your shelf life and has many benefits.
  10. Simplify your home. Homesteading is all about living a more simple life. This does not always mean being a minilmalist but having this mindset defintely helps me think before keeping something in my home and especially bringing in something new.
Learn more about Homesteading and follow my Journey on Instagram.

Read all about Homesteading from some friends!

More you might like:

Cooking with Cast Iron

Sourdough Starter

Raising Chickens

Adding Goats to Your Homestead

Small Garden Layout

Raising Kids on a Homestead

  1. Love it, Samantha! Your farm is beautiful. I feel the same way about homesteading. <3

  2. Great Info! Some really great ways to begin your homesteading journey!

  3. I love your list! Such great suggestions of easy ways to get started homesteading. Do you live close to your parents’ farm still? What a neat childhood you must have had!

  4. Absolutely love your ways that people can start their homestead!

  5. […] Samantha at The Crooks Family Farm shares 10 steps to start a homestead […]

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