So, you’ve caught the homesteading bug! Was it an inspiring article, a video, or just the urge to live a more self-reliant, back-to-basics lifestyle? Deciding to start homesteading at any level is exhilarating. But it can also feel overwhelming.

Where do you even begin? 

The reality is that you can start anywhere! Just take the first step. You don’t have to quit your job and spend a fortune getting set up on 40 acres of rural land with no running water. Following this dream isn’t an all-or-nothing deal! You can keep your job, provide for your family, and still take steps that will set you on a path toward greater self-sufficiency, better resilience, and healthier foods. I’ve completely changed my life while working full-time and parenting a young child, and I know you can do it, too.

This guide will walk you through the basics and give you a clear, practical path to homesteading — even if you’re a total beginner.

How can you get started homesteading on your schedule? Keep reading to discover the secrets to a gentle, easy, beginner-friendly beginning.

What Does “Homesteading” Really Mean?

Homesteading isn’t about living in isolation or roughing it. There’s a whole spectrum of possible definitions beyond the legal one. It’s all about creating a lifestyle where you’re less dependent on stores and more connected to your resources. Homesteading can mean growing your own food, preserving that food, raising animals, and even creating an income stream from your resources.

The goal is to become more self-sufficient and feel satisfied with what you create.

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all formula. Some people go all-in with an entire farm, but you can start small in an apartment or in your backyard. It’s about mindset, not acreage!

8 Ways Beginners Can Start Homesteading Now

Start Small and Set Realistic Goals

One of the smartest things you can do as a beginner when it comes to homesteading is to take it slow. Start small, build confidence, and grow from there. Think of three areas you’d like to work on, like growing a few vegetables or herbs, learning to preserve food, starting a compost pile, or keeping chickens. Set goals that feel manageable, and remember: Homesteading is a journey, not a race!

Setting the right goals will keep you motivated without overwhelming you.

The Right Space

Homesteading can look very different depending on the space you have available. You don’t need a sprawling piece of land to get started; even a small backyard or balcony can work. Here’s how to make the most of your space:

• Apartment or small yard: Start with container gardening for herbs or lettuce. You can also grow microgreens indoors and learn about composting with a small worm bin (or a fancier setup if your budget allows).
• Suburban yard: If your area allows it, raise a few chickens for eggs, try a garden bed or two for vegetables, and look into setting up a compost pile and a small rainwater collection system. You may even have space for a fruit tree or two—look into backyard orchard culture for inspiration!
• Rural or more extensive land: If you’re lucky enough to have more space, think about a larger vegetable garden, a few fruit trees, and maybe a small barn or shed for animals.

The key is to adapt to what you have and remember that when you’re starting out, it’s about learning new skills as much as it’s about producing food.

How to Start a Homesteading Garden for Beginners

Growing your own food is a central part of homesteading. Gardening can be an incredibly rewarding experience, and once you get started, you’ll probably want to expand a little each year. Start small; before you know it, you’ll have a beautiful, productive garden to call your own.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Choose the right crops: For beginners, easy-to-grow veggies like lettuce, radishes, carrots, oregano, mint (in a container!) and beans are great choices. Herbs like basil, thyme, and parsley are also very forgiving.
2. Improve your soil: Healthy soil is key to garden success. You might want to test your soil’s pH and learn about natural amendments like compost.
3. Consider companion planting: Some plants grow better when they’re next to each other! Pairing the right plants can actually boost their health and yield. For instance, tomatoes love being planted next to basil, and kale can stunt cucumber growth.
4. Plant with the seasons: Get to know your climate and plan your crops accordingly. Seasonal planting helps ensure your plants thrive and keeps your garden in a productive cycle.

Gardening can feel like an art, but don’t worry if things don’t grow perfectly at first. For beginners, part of the homesteading journey is learning from your mistakes and enjoying the process.

Food Preservation

Once you start growing food, you’ll probably end up with more produce than you can eat at once, and that’s where food preservation comes in. Here are a few beginner-friendly homesteading food preservation skills:

• Canning: Canning involves boiling jars of food to seal them, making them shelf-stable. You can start with simple recipes like canned tomatoes or jams. Canning is a simple idea, but it’s a complicated topic, so if you’re interested in canning (and I hope you are!), start looking into canning food safely.
• Freezing: This is one of the easiest ways to preserve food. You’re just going to freeze excess veggies, fruits, or herbs. Some you can just toss in the freezer, and some will be better if you boil or roast them first. Freezing is great for beginners since it doesn’t require special equipment.
• Drying: Dehydrating fruits, herbs, and even meats can extend their shelf life without refrigeration. You can use a dehydrator, the sun (sometimes), or even dry things in your oven at a low temperature.
• Fermenting: Fermentation is a great way to preserve food, and it’s packed with probiotics. Try making simple sauerkraut, pickles, or kombucha. What fermentation does to food is just fascinating. I’d recommend reading more about it if you have time!

Starting with just one method of food preservation is a great first step. Experiment, have fun, and enjoy the flavors of each season.

Raising Animals

If you have the space and interest, animals can offer an amazing boost to your homestead. They provide food, labor, and companionship, and they can help you achieve greater self-sufficiency. If you’re just getting started, you really want to start small here. Homesteading beginners might consider:

• Chickens: Chickens are often the first animals people add to their homestead. They’re relatively easy to care for, produce eggs, and can help with pest control.
• Rabbits: Rabbits are low-maintenance, and if you’re into it, they’re a sustainable source of high-protein meat. They’re outstanding for producing ready-to-use manure, which will enrich your soil and feed your plants.
• Ducks: I love ducks! I wish I had dozens of them. They’re a messier version of chickens that need constant access to water, and they generally don’t like to put themselves to bed at night, but if you can deal with that, they will happily eat every single slug and snail you have. They also don’t scratch up the roots of your plants and wreak garden havoc the way chickens do.
• Bees: Bees can be a fantastic addition for pollinating your garden and providing honey. They require some specific knowledge, so consider taking a beginner’s course and getting in contact with local beekeepers if you’re interested.

Make sure you start with one type of animal and get comfortable with its care before you add any more. Like gardening, working with animals requires a lot of learning. Don’t rush!

Homesteading skills for beginners

Homesteading is all about building a valuable skillset, and those skills are something that you develop gradually. Here are a few basic homesteading skills that can make life easier for beginners:

• Composting: Composting turns kitchen scraps and garden waste into an incredibly useful resource. It’s a skill that will pay off all year.
• Basic carpentry: Simple carpentry skills can help you build raised beds, animal coops, or storage sheds. It’s also useful for repairs around.
• Natural cleaning: Try making your own cleaning products that use ingredients like salt, vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, herbs and essential oils. It’s cheaper, more eco-friendly, and non-toxic.
• Basic first aid: This is especially important if you’re living in a rural area, but it’s a good skill for anyone to have. Basic first aid skills will help you handle minor cuts, stings, burns, and other little emergencies.

These skills don’t need to be mastered overnight. Take them one at a time, and remember that learning and experimenting are part of the fun.

How to Make Homesteading Sustainable and Budget-Friendly for Beginners

Homesteading doesn’t have to be expensive. You want to learn how you can make the most of what you have. Making homesteading budget-friendly is all about being resourceful and strategic. You just need a little planning and a willingness to reuse, recycle, and DIY.

Here are a few tips to keep costs down:

• DIY when you can: Building things yourself is often cheaper and more satisfying than buying pre-made solutions.
• Trade with neighbors: Many homesteaders build small local networks where they trade goods or services, like eggs for vegetables or jam for honey.
• Reuse and recycle: Look for secondhand items and find creative ways to reuse items like jars, wood pallets, or old fencing.

Living sustainably is at the core of homesteading. When you prioritize local resources and DIY solutions, you’ll find you can do a lot with very little.

Join a Homesteading Community

One of the best parts about homesteading is the community. Look for local gardening clubs, homesteading groups, or online forums. Connecting with others can offer valuable advice, encouragement, and even friendship. Plus, other homesteaders love sharing seeds, plants, and knowledge (we also love sharing things like sourdough and kombucha starters over here), which can help you grow your skills faster.

Enjoy your new life!

No matter how you define it, homesteading will help you learn, grow, and connect with nature and your food in ways many completely miss out on. It’s not always easy, and things won’t always go according to plan. But that’s okay! Homesteading is about building resilience, developing new skills, and celebrating each small victory.

Becoming more self-reliant isn’t a race. Don’t worry about doing everything all at once or giving up the life you have. Every skill you build is one more step toward greater self-sufficiency, so celebrate your wins, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes! You’re building something real and uniquely yours.