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If you think in order to get started with homesteading you need to move to a farm, think again!
A homestead may mean different things to different people, but broadly speaking, it is all about living a self-reliant lifestyle.
In today's post we'll show you 7 ways you can develop more self-sufficiency, practice sustainable living techniques, urban agriculture and a frugal lifestyle.
Let's be honest here, you won't be able to start homesteading without simplifying your life first.
Sometimes we get caught up wanting to do more and more, when in fact doing less but doing it really well, is a so much better approach.
Is there anything in your life that is draining your energy, time and money that you could cut back or completely eliminate?
If you try to ADD homesteading to your life without taking anything else out, you are just setting up yourself for stress and disappointment.
Everything is easier with friends, right? Plus, it's nice to partner up sometimes.If all you ever hear from people is how crazy you are for homesteading, and you don’t have anyone to talk about your new lifestyle and interests, you are going to get burnt out. Your homesteading buddies will be there to support you when you need them. The best people to ask your homesteading questions are experienced homesteaders in your area.
All you need to get started is sun, water, seeds and some dirt. Contrary to popular belief, seeds do grow in almost any old soil. Your plants might not be the same size as your neighbor who has an established compositing routine, but your seeds will still grow. You can borrow a shovel from a friend, or grow a “no-till” garden. If you have zero dirt/land to grow some seeds in, you just need to get creative. Use pots, sign up for a spot in the community garden, or better yet, you can borrow a few feet in your friends yard.
Then you have to preserve what you grow. If you do your research, you´ll find there are a million ways to preserve what you gather. Fermenting is a very simple way of preserving vegetables: all you need is salt and fresh produce. Lacto-fermentation uses a natural process to preserve foods that also creates loads of healthy bacteria, which is great for boosting immunity and gut health. If you’re new to fermenting, Masontops offers a number of kits and tools that can get you started, like The Complete Fermentation Kit.
You don't need to sew all of your family clothes to save money, but every little bit counts. Remember, sewing is not an all or nothing activity. If you don’t own a sewing machine, you can start out with small things that only require a needle and thread, like mending your clothes instead of buying new ones, or letting out the hem to your growing kids pants so they fit for a few more months.
Sewing and mending are incredibly valuable homesteading skills that will save you lots of money. So make it your goal to learn at least basic sewing skills!
When it comes to homesteading, procrastination will cost you not only money, but also time and problems. Go ahead and start making lists, planning meals and drawing out your garden. The more you plan, the better you will be at managing your resources.
Think about what a difference it would make if you were to plan out an entire month of meals. And this applies to anything, not only food. Plan ahead what tools and supplies you will need; you could be asking friends early on, or keeping your eyes out for those things at the thrift store. Think about it.
Starting a compost pile might be one of the most inexpensive homesteading activities you can start. Just throw everything compostable into a pile, and water and churn it every once in a while. Add some of your pets poop to your pile and you will really have some black gold.
Composting is not that difficult and it’s really hard to get it wrong. Just think of all the benefits of making your own compost, having a more productive and healthy garden, and free fertilizer.
Part of homesteading is being frugal. The easiest way to waste your money is to buy things you can’t reuse or are poor quality and will quickly need replacing. Invest in good tools, even if it means waiting a little longer to purchase them, and ditch single-use items and items that only serve one use. Many homesteaders gravitate towards Mason jars because they can be reused for years without losing their quality, they make great drinking glasses, storage containers, canning/fermenting vessels, sprouting jars, and even can be used to organize hardware and other small household items.
Homesteading can be a big commitment, but also you will find it's empowering, stress-relieving and absolutely worth it!
