Get Started with 10 Beginner Homestead Projects

Starting anything new can be a bit overwhelming, especially with a homestead. Today, we will map out tips you can try out for your beginner homestead projects. You can test-drive this unique way of life and see if it is the right fit for you.

Homesteading tips that you can put into action and transform how you live both inside and outside of the home.

With so much craziness around us, now is a great time to explore living a self-sufficient life. Whether that means growing your own vegetables or setting up a minimalistic pantry – there are many ways for beginners to introduce themselves to this new way of life slowly.

This list of simple ideas anyone can do, such as gardening, raising chickens, using homemade products, or filling your freezer with fresh organic foods.

Homesteading and Better Health

Being more in control of the ingredients you eat and use is a great way to improve overall health. Homesteading does just that. It allows you to focus on ingredients so you can be sure you are only using the healthiest.

Homesteading also encourages a more active lifestyle. The physical activities involved, from planting to harvesting, offer a natural way to stay fit and active.

10 beginner homestead projects

Don’t feel like you must do everything all at once; choose one project to try and see how it goes. Then, you can take on a few projects and gradually build up your homestead.

#1. Start a Garden, Even if It’s Small

One of the first things to try on your beginner homestead is starting a garden. This can be as simple as a container garden on your balcony or a small raised bed in your backyard. You can start with easy-to-grow vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce.

Gardening provides fresh produce for your family, giving you a healthier ingredient supply you can use year-round. The more you grow, the more you can preserve, filling your pantry and freezer with fresh homegrown options.

Easier on You Gardening

#2. Raise Chickens

If you have the space and local laws, allow it; raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience on your homestead. Not only do they provide fresh eggs, but they also eat insects that can damage plants and help fertilize your garden.

Start with a small flock of 4-6 hens and choose breeds known for being good egg layers.

How many hens do I need?

A typical hen lays about 4-5 eggs per week, so a family of four will do well raising three hens. If you raise good egg layers such as Rhode Island Reds, you can expect to get 15 eggs consistently from a three-hen flock.

a small group of chickens eating pieces of fruit in the grass

Beginner Chicken Resources:

#3. Make Homemade Products

Homesteading is all about self-sufficiency meaning making more of what you need and relying on the stores less.

A great place to try this skill out is by making some of your own household products. Using natural ingredients, you can make simple things like laundry detergent, soap, and cleaning products. Not only is it cost-effective, but it’s also better for you as you are no longer using harsh chemicals.

The best part is, over the years, I have found that homemade cleaners work just as well as store-bought. The most cost investment is on the containers. My advice is to invest in good glass bottles with rubber bottoms.

Bontip Glass Spray Bottle with Silicone Sleeve Protection, Empty Clear Bottle Set for Non-toxic Window Cleaners Aromatherapy Facial Hydration Watering Flowers Hair Care (2 Pack/16 oz)DWTS DANWEITESI Glass Spray Bottles for Cleaning,Glass Spray Bottles 16 oz with Silicone Sleeve-Reusable Spray Bottles with Label Sticker,Adjustable Nozzle-Clear Empty Spray Bottle for Hair 4 pcs Rionisor Glass Spray Bottles with Silicone Sleeve Protection, Empty 16 oz Refillable Containers, Reusable Spray Bottles with Adjustable Nozzle for Hair, Cleaning Solutions, 3 Pack Grey&Blue&Pink

#4. Preserve Your Harvest

As your garden grows, you’ll likely have an abundance of produce that you can’t eat all at once. Try learning different preservation methods such as canning, freezing, or drying. This will not only help reduce food waste but also provide you with fresh produce all year round.

There is nothing quite as wonderful as making homemade soup in the dead of winter filled with amazing produce you grew in the summer.

Food Preservation Guides:

Canning Pot with Rack and full Set + ½ Pint ladle Measuring Cups – Supplies Kit for Beginner, Food Grade Stainless Steel Accessories Starter Elite Gourmet EFD319 Food Dehydrator, 5 BPA-Free 11.4 Ziploc Gallon Food Storage Bags, Stay Open Design with Stand-Up Bottom, Easy to Fill, 150 Bags Total

#5. Create a Compost area

Composting is an essential part of homesteading and can greatly benefit all of your gardens. Instead of throwing away kitchen scraps and yard waste, turn them into nutrient-rich compost for your plants. It’s an easy way to reduce waste and improve the health of your soil.

You can use a small indoor composter that you keep under your kitchen sink or a larger tumble bin outside. Even a small composter is helpful on a new homestead.

white compost bucket under a kitchen sink

#6. Practice Sustainable Living

Homesteading is all about living a self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle. This means reducing your reliance on outside resources and finding ways to live using what you already have.

Make it Last Longer:

Add water to hand soap to help it last longer.
Cut open tubes of lotion to get the last bit.
Turn down your water heater to save on your electric bill.
Use draft dodgers to keep cold air out.
Use your bath towel several times before washing.
Hang dry clothes rather than using the dryer.

#7. Learn to Barter and Trade

An old-time tip that is becoming more and more popular is the skill of bartering. Homesteading communities often have a strong sense of community and are willing to help each other out.

Knowing carpentry, gardening, or animal husbandry skills will give you a valuable skill to trade for goods or services. It’s also a great way to build relationships and support each other in living a self-sufficient lifestyle.

#8. Live on Less

Homesteading requires a shift in mindset from quick trips to the store to frugality. By learning to live on less, you can reduce your expenses and have more financial freedom.

This means making things yourself instead of buying them, reducing the amount you use, and finding ways to repurpose items instead of quickly throwing them away.

SLCG Pro Tip: Be careful when saving things for reuse. Hoarding is not practicing being frugal. Keep only what you feel you will use in a reasonable amount of time.

Frugal Tips to Check Out:

#9. Declutter and Simplify

Homesteading also involves decluttering and simplifying learning to embrace minimalism where you are able. By reducing the amount of stuff you have, you can focus on what’s truly important and necessary for your homestead.

Having less also helps with keeping things organized, allowing you to make the most out of your limited space.

#10. Embrace a DIY Mentality

Earlier, we talked about the importance of self-reliance. This means learning to make things yourself instead of buying them. Embrace a DIY mentality and learn skills such as sewing, canning, soap making, and woodworking.

Not only will this save you money, but it will also give you a sense of pride and satisfaction in knowing that you are capable of providing for yourself.

Homesteading may seem like a daunting and overwhelming lifestyle, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. By trying out some or all of these beginner homestead projects and embracing the homesteading mindset, you can create a sustainable and self-sufficient life for yourself and your family.

beginner homestead Projects