Homesteading Made Easy: Your Checklist for Starting Out

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Homestead tips that you can use to add better health to your kitchen, home, and lifestyle.

Starting a homestead is an exciting venture whether you are going all in with a new home and property or just looking to add a bit of self-sufficiency to your lifestyle.

Starting something new can also be overwhelming, especially if you jump in without being at least a little prepared for what is coming.

This checklist will help ensure that all your bases are covered so you can begin your homesteading journey on the right track from day one.

What does homesteading mean?

Homesteading means living a life of self-sufficiency and covers three key areas.

#1. Growing and raising as much food as you can so you are less reliant on stores.

#2. Making do with the things you own much longer than normal before heading out to the store.

#3. Living within your means and spending money only when necessary.

slcg quote_ make it, grow it, or raise it so you don't have to buy it.

What you need to do to prepare for a homestead?

Whether you are adding a touch of homesteading or changing your lifestyle entirely, it is still a change in how you live. This means you will want to have a plan so you are slowly adapting to this new way of life without getting overwhelmed.

From preparing your mindset and your approach to what you buy, homesteading is the process of doing more at home in a self-sufficient way.

Checklist for Starting a Homestead

Having a plan will help you transition to self-sufficiency without spending all your money to get there. Before you begin, you will need to have an idea of what your goals are.

This includes big decisions, such as deciding which animals and crops you want to have, and the smaller ones, such as getting a second freezer.

The Dollars and Cents of Starting Your Small Farm or Homestead: A Decision-Making Workbook and Planning Guide The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals: Choose the Best Breeds for Small-Space Farming, Produce Your Own Grass-Fed Meat, Gather Fresh … Rabbits, Goats, Sheep, Pigs, Cattle, & Bees 40 Projects for Building Your Backyard Homestead: A Hands-on, Step-by-Step Sustainable-Living Guide (Creative Homeowner) Fences, Chicken Coops, Sheds, Gardening, and More for Becoming Self-Sufficient

#1. Research Local Laws & Regulations

Make sure you take the time to research your local laws and regulations before getting started with homesteading.

This will ensure that you are compliant with any zoning, building guidelines, or other restrictions in your area.

Even a small homestead needs to be within the laws of where you live, and nothing is more frustrating than getting your first chickens only to find out coops are not allowed.

#2. Set a Budget

As with anything new, there is a cost to get started and the level of homesteading you begin with will determine the investment.

Yes, it can be tempting to do everything when starting out, but before you do, know your budget so you can get to your first goals without depleting your savings early on.

List the amount you are comfortable investing in each area of homesteading.

Gardening – You may need a growing area, gardening tools, compost, fencing, and seeds.
Food preservation – You may need a dehydrator, canner, jars, and lids.
Raising chickens and ducks – You may need shelter, fencing, supplies, and feed.
Raising dairy and/or meat animals – You may need a shelter, a fenced-in area, supplies, vet care and feed.

a pasture fence and a barn along a gravel driveway

More often than not, using the money you have saved will be your only financing for this change in lifestyle.

Borrowing money

If you plan to look for outside help, do research and see if there are any options for loans or grants in your area.

Agricultural Loans: Some banks and credit unions offer loans specifically for agricultural purposes. These might be suitable if your homestead plans include farming or livestock.
USDA Loans: The U.S. Department of Agriculture offers loans and grants for rural development, which might be applicable if your homestead is in a qualifying rural area.

#3. Select a location

Next is the layout of your homestead. Spend time choosing where to start each homesteading area you plan to have. Do not worry if you have enough land for everything you hope to do. With a bit of planning and ingenuity you can fit a pretty extensive homestead on a small parcel of land.

How to Layout a 2-Acre Homestead is a great way to get tips on using your space efficiently.

Start by making a list of the homestead you hope to have along with an overview rough map of your land. Working down the list, mark where you can house each part, keeping in mind the nature in each area.

So, for example, look to put your garden in an area that gets enough sunlight throughout the day, is near a water source, and is free of roots from large trees.

a shadow on grass with words_ find a spot that gets plenty of sunshine a day

#4. Plan Out Buildings & Structures

Design and plan out what types of buildings and structures you will need for your homestead. For each area you hope to have in your layout, list what shelters, if any, you will need.

Here are a few ideas:

Vegetable Garden – You will need an area to keep gardening tools, plant support and protection, and growing containers. This can be a separate shed, or you can designate space in a larger building, such as a barn or garage.
Chickens and Ducks – You will need an enclosed coop and a fenced-in outside area that is big enough for the flock you plan to raise.
Livestock – You will need shelter or a barn, an outside paddock, and enough pasture for everyone to graze on.

#5. Set a Timeline

Timelines are important when starting a new venture because they give you a schedule. Having a schedule will not only keep you on track, but it will also remove some of the pressure of feeling rushed having to get everyone done now.

Have a calendar that you can use to mark down goals for each month. By breaking things down, you will be more productive with your overall goal. Remember to plan things out in the best month.

For example, you will want to start your garden beds in the early spring as soon as you can work the soil. This will give things time to rest before you begin planting.

Gardening Tips:

STarting a Homestead-the first steps

Once you set your budget, planning, and timeline, you can roll up your sleeves and get to work.

#1. Work on shelters and fencing

This step can be the most time-consuming, so starting early or in the off-season can save you time. Start with the most important shelters first and work your way down from there.

SLCG Pro Tip: If you have Amish in your area, you can hire them to build. Their work is not only affordable, but their quality and quickness are unmatched. We have used the Amish both with our barn and our home. For us, the investment was worth the time saved doing it ourselves.

#2. Purchase Necessary Supplies

Make a list of supplies you will need for each area of your homestead. Try to order each list from the most important down. This includes farm equipment, fencing, labor, seeds, tools, etc.

You can start filling your list by looking for deals where you can. This will help you to save money and stay on budget. Consider farm auctions, second-hand stores, and even yard sales.

Another option is to do a barter for larger tools until you can afford them. Find a neighbor to swap out tools with and help each other. For example, you can lend out your rototiller in exchange for using their tractor.

#3. use your calendar for the best timing

An annual plan will help you work on your different areas in the correct season. This will also allow you to spread the work out, so you are not overdoing it.

Here are a few examples:

Summer Garden – Start planting onions in later winter and the rest of your plants in early spring.
Chickens and Ducks – Get chicks/ducklings in late winter for eggs in the mid-summer.
Livestock – Get new livestock after winter so they can graze on pasture and save money on feed.

Knowing you will have chickens in the spring will give you a better idea of when to start building the coop.

chicken coop and chickens in an outside run

#4. Establish a Water Supply

Almost everything on a homestead needs water, including plants, animals, and compost. You will want to be sure you have a reliable water supply for your homestead.

A water source to the barn for watering the livestock and cleaning jobs.
A rain barrel near the garden for watering plants.
A water trough in the pasture for livestock.

Be sure you well can handle the load, if not you will want to find ways to collect water for each area on your homestead.

Good Ideas Rain Wizard 50 Gallon Plastic Rain Barrel for Outdoor Rainwater Collection and Storage Features a Metal Spigot and Flat Back Design, Oak FCMP Outdoor RC45 Rain Barrel (45-Gallon) – Water Rain Catcher Barrel with Flat Back for Watering Outdoor Plants, Gardens, and Landscapes, Black GUGY Rain Water Collection Barrel – 53 Gallon Water Storage Tank with Spigots, Portable Rain Catcher to Collect Rainwater from Gutter, Large Plastic Rain Catchment System with Collapsible Bucket

#5. Create a Waste Management System

Establish a waste management system to keep your homestead clean and efficient. If you are raising animals, manure is something you will need to deal with daily. Having a plan before you get livestock will help.

A dumping area for manure near the barn.
A compost area near the garden.

Composting Resources:

#6. Set Up an Energy System

You may not want a full solar farm on your homestead, but solar power can be helpful on a smaller level.

Solar coop door to let your flock in and out daily.
Solar lights to help light up the barn and other shelters.
Solar floodlights to light up walkways, making chores easier to do in the dark.

Starting a homestead is an exciting journey even if it does seem overwhelming at times. Make a list of the tasks you need to complete in each area so you can better create a setup before you bring any animals home.

With the right preparation, planning, and research, you can get started on your homesteading journey with excitement and confidence.

Checklist for starting a homestead