What is Homesteading?
Homesteading is an extremely diverse way of living and is not a one size fits all lifestyle. At its core, homesteading is about reclaiming a more hands-on and mindful way of living, where you seek to become more self sufficient. While the traditional image of a homesteader might have you thinking of acres of farmland and rustic farmhouses, it's important to recognize that homesteading takes on many different forms, each unique to the individual's goals, resources, circumstances, and lets face it...budget.
Homesteading includes a wide range of activities that's goal is to minimize the need for outside resources and embrace a more autonomous lifestyle. These activities can include gardening, raising animals, beekeeping, and homemaking.
For some, it involves crafting homemade goods, such as candles and soaps, while others may focus on renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines. The art of preserving food through canning, fermenting, and drying is another common practice of homesteading, allowing individuals to enjoy the fruits of their labor year-round.
It's crucial to recognize that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to homesteading. That is the beauty of it! Whether you're drawn to growing a thriving garden in your urban apartment, raising a small flock of chickens in your suburban backyard, or vanishing off-grid into the countryside, you are practicing the homestead lifestyle!
The Importance of Homesteading
Homesteading is not only about growing your own food, raising adorable animals, or homemaking. It offers much more than that!
With every plant you grow and vegetable you harvest, you will find yourself smiling more, appreciating the little things, and sharing your hard work with friends and family. It's not just about skills – it's about this amazing feeling of connection with nature and a simpler, more meaningful way of living.
Not to mention... your body and health will thank you too!
How to get started:
1. Create your vision
What type of homestead do you want? Will you raise animals or stick to a garden? How much room do you have and how can you use it to the best of your ability?
2. Start Small and Learn
Start with manageable steps. Begin with a small garden plot, tending to a few chickens, or experimenting with homemade goods. Gain knowledge through books, online resources, local workshops, and connecting with experienced homesteaders in your community.
3. Build Your Skills
Start putting that knowledge into action and expand your skillset. Some skills to think about are preserving, cooking, composting, and planting.
4. Never Stop Learning
Once you've mastered one skill, move on to the next. Each year you will learn and grow into the homesteader you always wanted to be.
HOMESTEADING ON A BUDGET TIPS AND TOOLS
Tip #1: Stop trying to do all of the things!
I like to think of homesteading on a spectrum. You could be on one side, living off the grid with 100% self-sufficiency or you could be in your high-rise apartment cooking homemade meals with a few plants on your balcony. Know what you can and are capable of doing and take it one step at a time.
Tip #2: Make Your Meals at Home
By making your meals at home, not only will your health thank you, but so will your wallet! Home-cooked meals are almost always cheaper than the alternative and provide greater nutritional value.
Tip #3: Save Seeds
As you cook more at home, save those seeds! Some seeds that are great for saving are peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkins, and the list goes on! You can essentially then grow free food!
Tip #4: Preserve
Learn how to freeze, can, or ferment different food items. This allows you to buy in bulk (which is almost always cheaper) or simply waste less food! This is a super cheap way to grow a stash of food and become more self sufficient.
Tip #5: Learn Skills
As I mentioned earlier, the simplest way to start homesteading is to learn new skills. Don't know how to cook? Don't know how to can? Never planted a garden before? Lucky you, learning these skills is at your fingertips with a quick search on the ole interweb!
Tip #6: Rely Less on Utilities
By cutting back your use of electricity, gas, water, etc not only are you becoming more self-sufficient (hello... a main purpose of homesteading) but you are also saving money on your bills each month!
Try these:
Hang your clothes on the line and cut out the dryer
Rely less on your microwave
Limit screen usage
Collect rainwater
Limit your waste
Take less trips to the store
Tip #7: Compost
Composting can be done almost anywhere: in your garage, under the sink, outside in a barrel, etc. Composting is a free way to feed your garden & you will put less in the garbage. Win, win!
Tip #8: Buy Local
If you are unable to grow a garden, find local farmers who can supply you with certain staples like milk, eggs, or vegetables. Homesteading is not always about providing for yourself, but about locally sourcing your food.
Tip #9: Trade/Barter
This is one of my favorites! Trade your skills or goods with others to get what you need without having to go to your bank account. Think about what skills or items you have to offer and simply ask if anyone would be interested in trading for something that would benefit you!
Tip #10: Sweatquity
What the heck is sweatquity?? Sweat Equity! Instead of paying others to build your chicken coop or fix things around your home, use your time to learn and save a pretty penny! I cannot remember the last time we paid someone to fix or build anything on our homestead and I can only imagine how much money this has saved over the years!
You are just scratching the surface of what your homesteading life could look like. Super excited for you!
By using these tips, you can start homesteading without breaking the bank. Hey... maybe you will even save some money by making these changes!
Happy Homesteading!