With the uncertainty of the world, many of us are turning to self-sufficiency to help ensure the security of our families’ food. This can seem like such a daunting task when you first begin to look at doing homesteading.
Like you, I once wondered where to start when it came to homesteading.
Homesteading can be relatively simple with the right planning and resources. Here we will discuss resources to help simplify the process of becoming more self-sufficient.
How do I start a homesteading garden?
There are a few things to think about when you start to decide how you want to go about growing food. The main one is planning out your garden. A well-planned garden can help simplify your growing season and thus help amplify your overall yield.
I am a big fan of Jess from Roots and Refuge. Last year she wrote The First Time Gardener: Growing Vegetables and honestly, it is amazing! She goes over in-depth on starting gardens and is a valuable resource for every beginner.
Deciding what your family eats can go a long way when you are planning your garden. Why would you want to take up valuable space with beets if you do not eat them?
The closer your garden is to your house, the more likely you are to visit your garden. Frequent visits are key to making sure your garden stays healthy!
How do you transition to homesteading?
Transitioning to homesteading was probably the hardest part for my family. We love our sleep! But, the fresh food made it worth it.
- Set alarms
- Start small
- Don’t quit your day job!
With these three tips, your transition will be much easier!
Setting alarms before you have a cow to milk and chickens to feed can help you adapt to the lifestyle well before you are in it. This can help the transition into the lifestyle since you will not have the exact responsibilities of homesteading!
Please start small. I see it every day where someone goes all out. You can burn yourself out and overall, set yourself up for failure. Many people will try and expand faster than they are ready. Start out with a few chickens before moving on to a flock of a thousand.
Some may be tempted to quit their job and follow the calling of homesteading. While for some this is a valid thing to do, it may not be feasible for everyone.
Where is the easiest place to Homestead?
Homesteading can be done anywhere that you want. This question can be slightly overthought when many ask me this.
There are considerations that need to be thought of when deciding where you want to homestead and many of which have to do with legality.
- Goals on your homestead
- Zoning laws
- Cost of living
- Climate
These all should play a factor in where you decide to permanently settle down. Some states have laws in regards to living off-grid and some counties do not allow certain animals. If these are important for you considerations should be made when deciding where to live.
Other things like the cost of living should always be considered when settling down. These are factors that affect our everyday lives.
Your goals should be first above all. Deciding where to homestead is somewhat permanent and shouldn’t be taken lightly! Climate is another factor because if you are wanting to grow things like citrus then Alaska is not the place for you!
Does homesteading save money?
Homesteading can save money. This is only if done correctly.
Having a budget in place is important to help you and your family save money when growing your own food. This and careful planning are on the front lines to success.
By saving your own seeds, you are also creating a plant that is better suited to your environment. Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to grow heirlooms to save the seeds.
Heirloom seeds just mean the plant has been grown and passed down for years. Hybrids are just plants that have been crossed, and occasionally in our gardens, we accidentally grow hybrids!
Literature and Farms 