Homestead Anywhere! Even In Small And Rented Spaces
You can begin your homesteading journey wherever you are. You don’t have to have access to land or livestock to begin your homesteading journey. My homesteading journey began with a small patio garden. Even if growing plants isn’t for you, there are so many different ways to get closer to the homesteading life style. I hope the information below will inspire you to begin your homesteading journey today!
What is homesteading? Homesteading is working to meet the needs of your family by your own efforts by producing food and other goods. As a mindset, homesteading is working to make more earth aligned choices that bring you closer to nature and traditional styles of living. Try not to view homesteading as a lifestyle inspired by fear. When you are led by fear you can make decisions you regret. Instead, view homesteading as a chance to be closer to nature, to do more things independently, to create goods with a level of quality you will not find in mass production. I’m not a homesteader because I think the world is ending. I am a homesteader because I think our world is worth saving!
Before you begin your homesteading journey, make sure you get a copy of your lease, HOA, or property agreement so you can see what you are allowed to do in your space. Knowing the laws where you live helps you make choices that are right for your space and your area. Many spaces have regulations for what you can do on your balcony or in your backyard so be sure you know the rules before buying equipment, supplies, plants, or before adopting any animals.
Look at the space you will be working with. Customize your homesteading goals to match the needs of your family. Consider tracking your family eating and spending for a month. What is one thing you could possibly replace or begin to do yourself to embrace your new homesteading lifestyle? Pick homesteading projects, processes, products, and goals that make the most sense for you and your family. Don’t be afraid to start small! You can always take on more goals as your skills, funds, time, and space increase. Pick homesteading goals that would be fun, enjoyable, obtainable for you considering your current lifestyle and time availability.
Even if you are very busy there are ways to put many of the systems needed to homestead on automatic. You can utilize things like automatic watering systems, timers, and grow lights to help you homestead in your spare time while still working full time.
Here are some ways to get started today!
Container gardening is a fantastic way to start your homesteading journey. Many plants like herbs, micro greens, cherry and determinate tomatoes can all grow in small containers and in small spaces. There are stacking plant containers and you can even recreate this space-saver by placing plants inside stacked milk crates or homemade shelves. Even if you only have access to a small porch, balcony, window box, or even just a sunny window sill you can start growing today!
Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Milk jugs can be repurposed to be great plant starters. Take-out containers with plastic lids can be repurposed as seed starters. If it holds soil, you can grow in it, while some containers are obviously better for long-term use and re-use than others. They even make cloth planter bags! You can shop at your local thrift or consignment store to find and interesting objects to use as your planters (just make sure they have good drainage!). Buy local when possible to reduce the carbon impact of your purchases. Support local producers of homemade, fair trade, and organic goods when possible. Supporting businesses practicing earth aligned methods is a way to get closer to the homesteading lifestyle!
Learn to preserve your own food. Small batch canning is a great way to take charge of your pantry, make custom food tailored to your taste, and reduce the presence of chemicals in your food. Even if you aren’t gardening yourself buying and preserving bulk food items or food from your local farmer’s market is a great way to start homesteading today! Other ways of preserving your food include air drying, fermenting, freezing, and dehydration. Preserving in season and bulk food items is a great way to bulk up your pantry and learn new skills.
Learn to cook from scratch. Cooking allows you to customize your food to your preferences and to cook in ways that are healthier for you and your family. Instead of relying on a stranger to assemble your food you can take part in each part of the process, include your family to help, and pick ingredients that are of the quality you prefer. There are multitudes of cooking shows to watch for free online. Your local library has a wealth of cook books and other amazing free resources. If cooking totally from scratch is intimidating consider a meal service where you can assemble your own meals with instructions or buying a box meal kit to begin your cooking journey. Try recreating your favorite take out item at home!
Learn to sew. Basic sewing and clothing repair can save you money as well as add a wonderful skill to your homesteading tool kit. Work with online tutorials, local clubs, and written resources to learn things like sewing on a button, hemming a dress or pants, and minor clothing repair.
Read as many books as you can about urban homesteading, homesteading in small spaces, and container gardening! Many of these resources are available at your local library for free.
Join a club and connect with local homesteaders near you! You are not alone. You are part of a great awakening of people who are craving more earth aligned living and a desire to be closer to nature through more traditional living. These clubs are a great way to connect with others who share your values as well as share resources!
Keep harmony in mind. Homesteading is about bringing more harmony into the world. Work with your neighbors whenever possible. Be sure to thoughtfully place things like a compost pile or bucket. Be mindful of the run off from your patio garden onto your neighbor’s deck below. Develop your homestead thinking about how you will impact all of the space around you including the people in it as well.
Get close to nature however you can. Utilize your local parks for meditation, journaling, and a quiet peaceful walk in nature. Connect with foraging and adventure clubs that put you in touch with others eager to experience nature.
Every small step takes you closer to your goals. I hope I’ve helped give you some new ideas about how you can get started on your homesteading journey today! Check out Chuck’s YouTube channel for more content about homesteading and backyard chickens.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6CjdDVs4qN1xxxJXAH6sOg?sub_confirmation=1
Chuck and the Chicks 