15 Ways To Homestead Anywhere

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If you think it is too late for you to start a homestead, or you don’t have enough room to start I have great news. I am going to share with you 15 ways to homestead anywhere. Simple tips that you can use to get closer to your goal of self-sufficiency.

Take these homesteading tips and use them to get control of your kitchen fridge and pantry, filling it with the most vibrant and nutrient-rich foods.

When you hear the word homestead, what do you think of?  Do you think of a man in coveralls out in a field sowing corn? Or a woman living in the suburbs gathering eggs from her 3 chickens for breakfast? How about a family living in an apartment in the city that grows tomatoes on their terrace?

In today’s world, there are so many variations of homesteading, from large farms to small urban gardening setups on a balcony in the city. No matter which view you see the core belief is the same. Make it, grow it, or raise it so you don’t have to buy it.

Overall, homesteading means getting more of what you need at home instead of running to the store.

Whether you live on 100 acres in the country or in the middle of a large city doesn’t matter.  The “where” isn’t the important part. It’s the “how” that matters. Learning to make more so you buy less is a way of life. A thought process that guides you through your days.

Homesteaders live with intention at all times. They do not blindly spend or shop just to shop. They go to the store with a specific need in mind and a list in hand with just enough money to cover that list.

Shopping with intention is a life changer and one I highly recommend to everyone….whether you homestead or not. If you want to be more self-sufficient, here are a few quick tips to get you on your way to a life of a homesteader.

15 Ways To Homestead Anywhere

These tips will work for just about anyone. From the young to the retired and folks in between. I suggest you do one tip at a time adding another one on as you go. The more you can do, the more you can save and that is always the goal of a homesteader.

Tip #1. Stay out of the stores

Whether shopping for food, stocking up on supplies, getting pet food, or clothing, learning to limit your trips to town is a huge part of homesteading. One of the biggest perks of living this way is the ability to save money and the easiest way to save money is to stay out of the stores.  

How do you do this? You need to plan your trips and shop with intention. Remember, you are there to purchase something you need, something you cannot make. Your best approach to shopping is to get in, get out sticking to your list. Each time you stick to this plan you will save a large amount of money.

Tip #2. Pare down on what you own

If you don’t treasure, love, or use something, then odds are you probably don’t need it. I have “declutter” on my to-do list continuously. Having random stuff lying out can make it impossible to find things when you need them. If you can’t find what you need, you run the risk of buying what you already have.

Pare down what you have, clean out what you no longer need or use, and quit wasting time looking for things. A bonus side effect of decluttering is you will now have more time and more space to create things. To work on projects and achieve goals.

Not sure how to start? Read more here to get awesome simple tips on how to take that first step.

Tip #3. Start a garden

This is my favorite way to homestead. I love gardening. If you are new to gardening, my best advice is to start out small so you do not get overwhelmed.

READ: How to Start From Scratch

If you keep it simple you will grow with your garden. Diving in off the deep end planting rows and rows of vegetables will only set yourself up for failure.

But don’t think small is not worth the effort. You will be amazed at how much you can grow in a small space. The secret is this: you don’t need a lot of space to grow enough fresh produce to feed your entire family.

Good news, right!?

If you live in the city, container gardening is the perfect solution. Totes, bins, buckets, and even bags will work perfectly in a small space like a patio or terrace. If you have drainage, plenty of sunshine, and room for the roots to grow, you can use it for your garden.

No more excuses, it’s time to get your tomato on!

Tip #4. Make it don’t buy it

Making what you need instead of going to the store multiple times a week is especially true in the kitchen.

Sure, convenience foods save you loads of time but try not to rely on them. Keeping a few staple items in your pantry for days when you need dinner fast and easy is fine. Just remember to use those items for what they were intended for. Convenience.

The trick is not to rely on them for every single dinner. Make a meal plan so you can map out a dinner schedule for each day of the week. A weekly menu is a huge way to not only save time but money as well.

Fall back in love with your crock pot. Dig it out and dust it off. I adore my crockpot and aim to use it at least once a week year-round. Toss some frozen meat in at breakfast and have a full meal ready for dinner.

Easy. Fast. Super delicious!

Making what you need is more than just food. You can make so many things right from home. Things like:

• Soap
• Lotion
• Soy candles
• Herbs
• Flavored oils and butters
• Salts

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Tip #5. Store more, waste less

Learning to preserve what you grow is a huge reason to homestead and something you can do no matter where you live.

We all want to be more self-sufficient, and what better way than to get the food we eat from our own homes? If you are new to canning and don’t want to try your hand at it yet, there are other ways to preserve your food. Dehydration, freezing, and cold storage are easy and efficient ways to keep food for your family.

Make a goal to work throughout the summer months filling your freezer for the winter. Most produce will freeze wonderfully and it’s so simple to do. Berries and peppers fill our freezers along with diced onions, shredded zucchini, and sugar snap peas.

Food Preservation Resources:

• How to Freeze Corn
• How to Freeze Strawberries
• How to Freeze Blueberries
• How to Freeze Peppers

The trick here is to plan.  

For example. Chocolate Zucchini Bread is a fast and favorite breakfast for my family. It takes about 25-30 loaves to get us through the winter. To make that huge chore more manageable, I try to make six loaves a week during the summer until my quota is filled. Having a game plan helps stop the feeling of being overwhelmed.

Tip #6. Conserve water.

This is so simple to do and whether you are on a well or in the city, it can benefit you to conserve water whenever necessary.

If you use a dehumidifier in your basement, don’t dump the water out, use it instead to water your herbs and patio plants. I dump the water into old milk jugs as my humidifier fills up. In the lid, I have holes punched out creating a perfect watering can.

SLCG Pro Tip: Do not use water from a dehydrator for animals because it can be dirty and undrinkable. Save this type of water for your plants only.

Another tip is one I use every day. When you are filling your sink with warm water to do dishes, don’t let that cold water go down the drain as you are waiting for it to warm up. Instead, fill a couple of clean milk jugs with the cool water. This water is clean so it can be used to water animals or you can put it in your fridge to drink later.

Finally, you can a rain barrel out by your garden and use it to catch rainwater. Any container will work for this but if you want to purchase one to get started, this rain barrel is a good option to look into.

To use this water, cut the top off of an old milk jug making sure to leave the handle intact. This is the perfect water scoop that you can use to water your garden plants. You can also use the barrel water to do a quick hand wash after a weeding session.

Tip #7. Use it up, wear it out, do without 

I am sure by now you are seeing an underlying theme here. Buy less so you can save more.

• Tear in your shirt? Mend it rather than replacing it.
• Broken zipper? It is much cheaper to buy a new zipper and replace it rather than a whole new coat.
• Do you have a hole in your barn boots?  A little duck tape can extend the life for a few more weeks, or even months if you do it right. 🙂
• Hole in the finger of your gloves?  Cut off all the fingers and use them when you need warmth but don’t want your hand covered.

The point is to completely wear it out before you replace it. Hey, clothes are expensive especially good quality clothes. Make sure they last as long as possible. Sew and mend just don’t throw away!!!

SLCG Pro Tip: Don’t have a sewing machine? Maybe it is time you invest in one. Yes, the upfront cost will be a hit, but the savings you will have over time will be worth every penny spent. You don’t need an expensive machine to do the trick. I love this machine and the cost is very reasonable, and you also get an instructional DVD if you are new. 

Tip #8. Learn to use your Mad Macgyver skills

My favorite part of having a homestead is honing my red necking skills to a point of masterdom.(is that even a word?)

I have learned to create something out of nothing so much so that I now feel a master in my field. There is nothing I cannot do with a couple of zip ties and some baler twine. I really should do a redneck farm tour for you all!

Even though Hubby cringes at my cheapskate projects, I have found him a time or two pointing out my creations to visitors when he believed I was not looking. 🤣

Tip #9. Make your own cleaners 

Another homestead skill you can do anywhere is making more of what you need.

Even thought companies have tried to offer safer cleaners, many of them can be toxic to our families. Learn to make bathroom cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, even dishwasher, and laundry detergent and control what chemicals you allow into your home.

READ: DIY Cleaners From the Amish

Tip #10. Hang it up 

Nothing soothes my soul more than clothes on the line. The site and sound bring me back to a simpler time. I have a line in my yard and even in my basement. Not only does drying your own clothes save energy, but it also saves the life of your clothes as well.

If you are limited on space, you can use a retractable clothesline or even a drying rack.

Our system is an old broom handle suspended from the ceiling that I use to hang up clothes to dry in our laundry area. No, not pretty but super efficient! You would be amazed at how many shirts you can fit on the hanger to dry this way.

Tip #11. Compost

Composting is such a great way to cut down on food waste and to help your plants at the same time. It is surprising how little room you need to compost. I have a small metal bucket under my sink for food scraps and a large pile outside our barn.

The key to a good compost pile is all in the layering.

Alternating green and brown matter keeps things in sync and helps it to break down more quickly. You can read more about composting here. The good news is that you do not need a lot of room. A small container will make enough for your patio garden. Things like an old trash can or plastic tote.

The material from your compost setup will help to jumpstart your backyard garden so you can grow really healthy vegetables.

Tip #12. Buy locally

This tip is simple no matter where you live.

With the increasing popularity of farm to table, more and more cities are seeing the benefits of farmer’s markets. Nothing is more relaxing than strolling through a market on a Saturday morning purchasing a bounty of fruits and veggies. You will be amazed at the colors of freshly grown fruit. Bright, beautiful and delicious.

Another great option is to join a food or garden co-op. My brother lives in the city and is a member of a garden co-op. I was able to visit once and I was just amazed at the quality and ease of getting their freshly grown food. Call your extension office to see if one is available in your area.

Tip #13. Recycle more

Not everything you have can be used again, I get that, but don’t just toss it in the trash.

Whether it be in a recycling bin, sold at a yard sale, placed into a donation box or given to a friend. Try to get more life out of your things either by you or someone else. Do your part to keep the trash out of the trash bins.

Tip #14. Barter, trade or borrow 

You don’t always need to own a tool especially when it requires a one time use.

Ask around before you purchase and offer the use of your own tools while you are at it. Homesteading is a community and communities work as a team and help each other out. Don’t just ask for help, offer it too.

You will be amazed at what you have to offer others.  Don’t keep your talents a secret. Baking, weeding, planting, canning, laundry, are just a few ideas of what you can do for trade or barter.

Almost Amish: One Woman’s Quest for a Slower, Simpler, More Sustainable LifeThe Amish Cook’s Family Favorite Recipes by Lovina Eicher (2013-01-01)Amish Baking: Traditional Recipes for Bread, Cookies, Cakes, and PiesThe Encyclopedia of Country Living, 50th Anniversary Edition: The Original Manual for Living off the Land & Doing It Yourself

 

Tip #15. Learn from a simple people

I am amazed time and again from the Amish and how they are able to live a simple life in such a modern world.

Even if you adopt just a few of their tips you will not regret it. Their sense of living off the land, making use of what they have and extreme sense of community are all qualities I try to emulate daily in our own home.

You can read more about the Amish here and hopefully gain some inspiration for your own lives.

Whether you live on 100 acres or in a high rise apartment, homesteading is simple to do at any stage. Follow one or all of these tips to not only achieve your goal of homesteading but also to gain lasting benefits for you and your family.

More Homesteading Resources:

• 7 Steps to Take Before Starting a Homestead
• How to Start a Homestead
• Books to Have in your Homesteading Library