50 Things You Can Do To Get Started Homesteading Wherever You Are!!
For me, homesteading means actively pursuing a lifestyle of self-sufficiency. By providing for myself and my family, I can keep more of our hard-earned dollars in the home.
The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist talks about money in a unique way. She calls attention to the fact that money is neither good nor evil, but our intentions with it can be. It is a current-cy, a mode through which our energy or intentions can travel. We can (and should!) spend money on what's important to us! We should direct our currency towards what we value in life.
For me, by buying quality organic foods, often from my local community, I am sending a message that quality nutrition and my neighbors matter to me. By purchasing quality clothing or homegoods (or - even better - making them myself) I'm saying I value craftsmanship and quality and my own ability to create more than something slapped together in a sweat shop in China.
So if homesteading is pursuing self-sufficiency, and directing our currency towards what's important to us, we can get started homesteading no matter where we are. Whether we're on an 100 acre family farm or an apartment in the city, there are ways we can all homestead -- and most are free, or almost free!
I've gathered my top 50...
Cook from scratch
Buy in bulk
Learn how to can
Use less electricity
Learn how to sew
Learn how to knit
Learn how to crochet
Learn woodworking
Learn basic car maintenance and repair
Make your own all natural house cleaners
Grow medicinal herbs (in pots)
Learn how to make herbal teas
Learn how to make herbal salves
Learn herbal medicine
Learn how to make medicinal tinctures
Meditate or take regular time out for yourself
Spend time in nature
Learn yoga (there are tons of videos on youtube)
Learn first aid and CPR
Grow vegetables in pots (tomatoes and garlic and onions are great potted veggies to grow)
Learn food fermentation
Learn how to can
Learn how to dry or freeze food
Learn how to make butter and cheese
Hunt
Fish
Join a CSA
If you have a deep freezer, buy half a cow or half a pig
Learn how to brew your own beer/wine/whiskey
Learn how to tap trees for syrup
Learn how to forage for plants and mushrooms in your area
Compost or try vermiculture if you have the space
Line dry your clothes
Ditch the tv, or at least cable
Make your own candles
Install rain barrels
Get a small solar panel to charge your small electronics like phone or kindles.
Read, read, read
Watch homesteading videos on youtube
Join homesteading Facebook groups to surround yourself with like-minded people
Get your friends and family involved – it’s always more fun with friends!
Sign up for newsletter for a few of your favorite homesteading blogs. Surrounding yourself with knowledgeable people and getting behind-the-scenes look into the lifestyle of other homesteaders will give you an endless source of ideas, recipes and information!
Very good list!
An excellent #healthy-home post!
Peace
Love the article and the suggestions. What a challenging checklist!
upvote, following to see what comes next!
Oh YEAH! This could be my list too!
One day I will learn to make candles. Ive conquered the soap making and started fermenting now, so candles need to be coming soon
They are so simple @goldendawne ! You'd pick it up in no time! I feel like it's way easier than soap!
You are a treasure trove of tips and tricks for fine country living, and this post is a good example. I can see you creating posts for each of these 50, and I eagerly await the day when you share your tips for handcrafted candles, homebrewed beverages, homemade herbal remedies... I'm upping and resteeming.
Thank you @cabelindsay ! That's a fabulous idea! I have mead and apple cider vinegar brewing right now, am planning my Spring medicinal garden, and haven't made candles in awhile, but I don't see why I can't make some soon! I will definitely make a post about each of these!
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LOVE this list- Since there are 52 weeks in the year, one COULD learn one a week and be well on their way... you've given me lots to think about @aibell! <3
What a great idea! Maybe I'll break this into a weekly how-to series!
Wow! Do I know how to do everuthing on that list!? It’s certainly a goal I’d want to work toward
This is such a cornerstone list! Wonderful suggestions to everyone who is starting out, and for the rest of us to revisit regularly. Homesteading is such a cyclical lifestyle where we are blessed to come back to these skills time and time again. Thank-you for posting!
Yes! Thank you! You put exactly into words how I feel - even those of us who have mastered some of the skills, we can always go back and revisit them. Learn new recipes, or a new woodworking trick, or figure out new ways to be more self-sufficient! Like taking a knife back to the grinding wheel to resharpen our skills!
water-bath canning is one of the easiest things i've learned how to do - i encourage everyone to try it at least for a season!
I like this list! I have plans on crossing quite a few off of my list this year, along the lines of perserves and herbal things, including natural cleaning stuff and beauty care. Its great to know many people have the same goals, let us work on them and share our progress on here together! its quite inspiring!
Just followed you @skycae ! I'll share everything I learn this next year and hope to learn from you as well!
Thanks eh! I am excited for us all to share and learn together. The winter is a great time for ideas, but I think this summer will be really awesome for the homesteading community and we will get a lot done!
It's hard to do anything but plan in the Winter! The Spring and summer I thought we'll see the homestead community flourish! Gardening, animals, foraging, canning...I can't wait to see everyone's projects and share some of my own!
yeah same haha, I cant wait to pick wildberries and herbs and share the beauty, and share in everyone elses beauty. I am so stoked for summer!
I must say though, it is good that spring isnt here yet, I got a lot more planning to do haha.
I like how you define homesteading!
According to this understanding I am a 25 yr veteran, 3 yrs into relocating to the woods. I like that, I can work with that. Thanks!
I don't want people to think the term homesteading is exclusive. ANYONE can homestead ANYWHERE. It's a mindset, not a number of acres. Checking out your blog now! I want to hear more about your relocation!