So you want to start a homestead, but don’t know where to begin. I’ve got you. I can teach you how to start homesteading right now wherever you live. Trust me it’s not that hard and you will thank yourself for years to come. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it took one day to start.
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Don’t You Wish Your Homestead Was Hot Like Me
Kinda not kidding there. It is hot and humid here in Missouri. The chickens are panting, the plants are wilting, and the grass has given up. Walking outside is like entering a sauna. Some girls claim to glisten, but not me. I sweat.
If you have decided that you want to live the homestead life, but you don’t know how to start homesteading, I’m here to help. I always say that homesteading is a state of mind. If you aren’t sure what modern homesteading is, check out my post where I cover exactly what is modern homesteading. That being said, you don’t have to move and buy 100 acres with a barn and farmhouse. Although you always can if you want to.
If you already know what you want from your homestead, then check out this Homesteading Goals printable. Use it with the homesteading goals post to help break down your goals into achievable steps.
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How to Start Homesteading in the Kitchen
Many people start homesteading because of the food. That is great, but switching from a conventional menu and cooking to a homestead menu and cooking isn’t always an easy thing. There are some new skills and new ingredients that you should learn to do and prepare. Even if you live in a small apartment, you can learn how to start homesteading in your kitchen. Then when you have some land, you will already be a homestead kitchen master.
I’m going to break it down into 3 main areas. If you are not yet producing your own food, then check out my post on sourcing real food on a budget. Just because you don’t live on a farm, doesn’t mean you can’t eat like you do.
Cook from Scratch
Learn to cook with single ingredients, not boxed meals. Start small so as not to get overwhelmed. Replace your frozen pizza with a homemade one. Master the crust first. Then learn to make your own sauce. Then step it up a notch with some homemade mozzarella cheese. Take all of the meals that you like and slowly learn to make each one completely from scratch. Replace the pre-packaged seasoning mixes with homemade mixes.
Then try cooking new cuts of meat, so that you are eating nose to tail. Pick up a new cut of meat each time you go to the butcher. This will ease you in slowly. Use the bones for broth. Pretty soon you will know how to make use of all parts of the animal so as not to waste anything.
Eventually you will start to notice that you buy single ingredients instead of prepared foods. That means you are moving towards a homestead kitchen with homestead cooking!
Preservation
Learn how to preserve food now, so that it isn’t an overwhelming task when the garden is ready to be harvested or you have 20 pounds of tomatoes in your sink because you don’t know what to do with them all. I may speak from experience here.
Start with water bath canning. You don’t need any expensive tools to get started. You’ll need a big pot, jar, lids, rings, and a jar lifter. Ask the guy at the farmer’s market selling tomatoes for his seconds. You will get the imperfect produce which is perfect for canning. Try tomato sauce, pizza sauce, tomato soup, tomato paste, pasta sauce, whatever tomato products you normally purchase from the store. When you master one recipe try another. Then pick a new fruit or vegetable to try canning.
Dehydrating is another easy way to get started. Watch Aldi for a cheap dehydrator. You don’t need anything fancy. Dehydrate fresh herbs to use in your cooking. Dehydrated fruit is a yummy snack.
Fermenting is another easy method of preservation although your palette may need to adjust to the new flavor. Sauerkraut is the easiest way to get started. Salt, water, and cabbage in a jar for a few days. It’s really that easy. Yogurt is another easy one. Pickles are usually a favorite.
I preserve using my freezer. Learn how to properly prepare and pack foods so that they stay fresh in the freezer. I love freezing herbs because it’s like having a bit of summer in my food all year long.
Once you are ready and able to afford more equipment there is freeze drying and pressure canning. Build up slowly and soon you will find that you only purchase fresh ingredients and dry goods.
Bake
I put baking by itself because it really is a whole different skill than cooking. Just like with the other skills, it starts slow. Learn to make your favorites from scratch. Pancakes, muffins, biscuits, and waffles are all very easy to make from scratch. Those are considered quick breads. Of course cookies, cakes, and pies are always good too. Then test out sandwich bread. It’s not really as hard as people make it out to be as long as you are vaguely comfortable with baking. Soon enough you will have replaced all of your baked goods with homemade versions. Then you could up your game and try a sourdough starter.
How to Start Homesteading in the Yard
I use the term yard loosely. Maybe you only have a patio or balcony. Perhaps you have only a sunny windowsill. You can still learn how to start homesteading now. Then as you have more space you can increase your skills.
Garden
Whether it’s herbs in the windowsill, lettuce in an Aerogarden, tomatoes in pots, raised beds full of carrots, or half an acre of corn, just start growing something. First you need to plan your garden. Make sure you are growing things that your family likes to eat. Tomatoes and potatoes are easy ways to start if you have outdoor space. But never underestimate the power of a basil plant on the counter.
Animals
If you don’t have land to raise animals or can’t because of city ordinances, try hunting. That’s a great way to put meat in the freezer without having to feed and raise it all year long. If you can have chickens try getting a few hens for eggs. If you feel comfortable butchering then give meat chickens or rabbits a try. Increase as your space and abilities grow.
Foraging
This is an area of homesteading that I am completely unfamiliar with. Besides some wild fruits like persimmons and pawpaws, I don’t forage for anything. I highly recommend taking a class before you begin, so that you don’t accidentally poison yourself. Classes are frequently offered by the state parks and conservation department.
How to Start Homesteading in the Bathroom
Yep, we can even learn how to start homesteading in the bathroom. This is actually how my journey began. Homesteaders tend to want to make everything themselves in an effort to become more self-sufficient, but they also realize that the chemicals we used to clean our homes and bodies negate the better food and healthy lifestyle.
Body Products
The best part about homemade body products is that when you have the ingredients for one item, then you can usually make most of the others. Make the switch to natural body products the same way you switched to homestead cooking. As you run out of something, learn how to replace it with something homemade. I’ve got recipes for several homemade body products to help you get started.
Cleaners
Part of learning how to start homesteading is learning how to keep the home part of the homestead clean. I highly recommend you ditch the chemical cleaners and replace them with some all natural ones that you can make at home. If nothing else, just use vinegar and baking soda to clean everything. Those 2 simple ingredients can clean just about anything except natural stone. If you need some recipes to get you started check out my cleaning recipes.
Medicine
If you are going to eat good food and avoid chemicals in the home then it just makes sense that medicine would be the next step. Many homesteaders practice herbalism. I’ve got some basic recipes for the most common aliments. Give them a try. You don’t have to grow the herb yet, just order them online and give it a go.
The site may contain links to affiliate websites, and we receive an affiliate commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a Revive EO Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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