create account

Building Your Own Small Homestead by tincanjunction

View this thread on: hive.blogpeakd.comecency.com
· @tincanjunction · (edited)
$13.91
Building Your Own Small Homestead
Many people these days are moving to the homesteading lifestyle. Unlike our grandparents, people today are starting a homestead with small plots of land of 5 acres or less. In this article, we are going to discuss some of the best ways to take a small parcel of land and turn it into the homestead of your dreams. 

![sm_homestead.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSHKs54zXA2DA4F4k7kwyRCmiGYcMt6vLmH466fDrULpD/sm_homestead.jpg)
<i>image source: PIXELS</i>

To get started, let's define a couple of terms that will give context to this article. 

<b>What is a homestead? </b>
According to the dictionary, homestead means.. 
<i>A person's or family's residence, which comprises the land, house, and outbuildings.</i>

<b>What is homesteading? </b>
According to Wikipedia, homesteading is.. 
<i>A lifestyle of self-sufficiency. It is characterized by subsistence agriculture, home preservation of food, and it may or may not also involve the small-scale production of textiles, clothing, and craftwork for household use or sale. </i> 

Now, that we have defined both <b>Homestead</b> and <b>Homesteading</b> lets discuss how you can start building your homestead. 

Building a homestead will differ from person to person. How much or how little is up to you. The general purpose of building your homestead is to be more self-sufficient and less reliant on the modern ways of life. Some people will embrace the full independence of this lifestyle, while others may just want to supplement their food supply with healthier homegrown food. The following items should help you start planning and building your homesstead. 

<hr>
<h3>Create a Garden</h3>

A successful homestead will have some type of garden. Building a garden allows you to grow your own food. The food you grow at home is generally healthier and more nutritious. The size of your garden will depend on your goals. People who want to feed their entire family for as long as possible will have larger gardens. While others may just want some fresh veggies in the summer. You should plan your garden appropriately for your needs. 

Gardening techniques have improved so much over the last few years. Today many small gardens can produce hundreds of pound of food, using very little land. Do your research and figure out what is the best way for you to get the most out of your garden. A garden can be composed of many different plants, some good ideas are:  
- Herbs 
- Vegetables, like tomatoes, greens, and beans
- Root vegetables, like potatoes and carrots

Here are a couple of resources that will help you get started: 
- Book: All New Square Foot Gardening II: The Revolutionary Way to Grow More in Less Space 
- Companion Planting Online Guide: https://www.almanac.com/content/companion-planting-guide 
- Garden Planning: http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com
<hr>

<h3>Plant Food Trees and Bushes</h3>Planting food-producing trees and bushes is an excellent way to be more self-sufficient. These plants have a long life and can produce an ongoing source of food year after year. 

Food producing trees include fruit and nut trees. Your geographic location will determine the types of trees you can plant, but most places can grow at least some type of food producing trees. Not only will the trees provide a food source, but also can be used for shade in the hot months. 

There are many types of bushes that can be planted on your homestead. Many produce berries that can be used for food. There are also a lot of different types of herbs that grow as a bush, that can be used for seasoning and to make herbal remedies.
<hr>
<h3>Raise Livestock</h3>
When building your small homestead, you can look at raising some livestock. Remember, you have a limited amount of land, so plan your animals appropriately, The best animals to raise on a small homestead include: 
- Chickens: These animals require little land to be healthy and happy. Chickens can provide eggs and meat. 
- Rabbits: Rabbits are a perfect addition to a small homestead. They require little space and can be raised for meat and fur. Did you know that 2 females and 1 male rabbit, can produce up to 600 lbs of meat per year?
- Goats: Goats require little land to prosper. Goats can be raised for meat or milk. Goat's milk is one of the healthiest types of milk and is the most commonly consumed milk in the world. Goats can also be used to help get rid of weeds around your homestead. 
- Fish: You can build a small fish pond on your property. Fish reproduce quickly and are an excellent source of meat. 
- Alpaca: Alpacas are gentle, pleasant animals. Alpaca do not require much space. Alpaca don't destroy your pasture land, they clip grass and do not pull it up by the roots like horses or cows. Alpaca's produce a great wool, that can be made into textiles. 
- Quail: Quail is another great addition to a homestead. They require little land and breed quickly. They produce eggs and can be used as a source of meat. 
<hr> 

<h3>Do DIY Projects</h3> One of the best thing about having a homestead is the ability to try all those DIY projects. If you can think it, you can do it. Many people preserve food, build livestock pins, build garden beds and much more. You are only limited by your imagination. 
<hr>
<h3>Conclusion</h3>

I hope this article provided you with some useful information. You can build the homestead of your dreams on a small piece of land. With planning and hard work, you can build a sustainable lifestyle for you and your family. 
 
<hr>
<h3>Want to Learn More!</h3>
In the future, I will be providing a lot more information on homesteading and sustainable living. Check back often!  
<hr>
<h2>Check Out My Other Great Content</h2> 
<hr>
<b>What is Preparedness?</b>

https://steemit.com/preparedness/@tincanjunction/what-does-preparedness-mean
<hr>
<b>A Modern Look at Sustainable Living</b>

https://steemit.com/homesteading/@tincanjunction/a-modern-look-at-sustainable-living

<hr>
<b>If you like my content, please consider giving me an #upvote!</b>
<hr>
<b>Follow Me:</b>

- Steemit - @tincanjunction
- Twitter - https://twitter.com/TC_Junction
👍  , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 42 others
properties (23)
authortincanjunction
permlinkbuilding-your-own-small-homestead
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog","homesteading","sustainable","life","gardening"],"users":["tincanjunction"],"image":["https://steemitimages.com/DQmSHKs54zXA2DA4F4k7kwyRCmiGYcMt6vLmH466fDrULpD/sm_homestead.jpg"],"links":["https://www.almanac.com/content/companion-planting-guide","http://www.vegetable-gardening-online.com","https://steemit.com/preparedness/@tincanjunction/what-does-preparedness-mean","https://steemit.com/homesteading/@tincanjunction/a-modern-look-at-sustainable-living","https://twitter.com/TC_Junction"],"app":"steemit/0.1","format":"markdown"}
created2018-02-09 21:19:21
last_update2018-02-10 02:50:06
depth0
children11
last_payout2018-02-16 21:19:21
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value10.912 HBD
curator_payout_value2.996 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.100 HBD
body_length6,110
author_reputation1,132,074,533,400
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,257,668
net_rshares1,936,140,851,200
author_curate_reward""
vote details (106)
@atherz ·
Can one grow berry bushes in a container, or would they have to find an area to drop seeds around?
👍  
properties (23)
authoratherz
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t043553395z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-10 04:35:54
last_update2018-02-10 04:35:54
depth1
children1
last_payout2018-02-17 04:35:54
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length98
author_reputation895,362,037,265
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,325,623
net_rshares894,106,338
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)
@tincanjunction ·
Containers are great. The whole idea is to have some berry bushes to produce food. 
Thanks for the reply 
@tincanjunction
properties (22)
authortincanjunction
permlinkre-atherz-re-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t053244566z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"users":["tincanjunction"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-10 05:32:45
last_update2018-02-10 05:32:45
depth2
children0
last_payout2018-02-17 05:32:45
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length121
author_reputation1,132,074,533,400
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,334,800
net_rshares0
@debbey ·
In addition, Modern homesteading is all about living a more self-reliant lifestyle. Your homestead can be big or small, rural or urban – some folks even homestead in apartments or on rented land
👍  , ,
properties (23)
authordebbey
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180209t224127458z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-09 22:41:30
last_update2018-02-09 22:41:30
depth1
children1
last_payout2018-02-16 22:41:30
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length194
author_reputation-507,950,158,052
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,270,272
net_rshares2,366,368,666
author_curate_reward""
vote details (3)
@tincanjunction ·
Great points. Thanks for your reply.
properties (22)
authortincanjunction
permlinkre-debbey-re-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180209t225811937z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-09 22:58:12
last_update2018-02-09 22:58:12
depth2
children0
last_payout2018-02-16 22:58:12
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length36
author_reputation1,132,074,533,400
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,272,765
net_rshares0
@ipromote ·
re-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t040030277z
You got a 10.55% upvote from @ipromote courtesy of @tincanjunction!
If you believe this post is spam or abuse, please report it to our [Discord](https://discord.gg/yv2TMPu) #abuse channel.

If you want to support our [Curation Digest](https://steemit.com/curation/@buildawhale/buildawhale-curation-digest-02-06-18) or our Spam & Abuse prevention efforts, please vote [@themarkymark](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=themarkymark&approve=1) as witness.
properties (22)
authoripromote
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t040030277z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"app":"postpromoter/1.8.4"}
created2018-02-10 04:00:30
last_update2018-02-10 04:00:30
depth1
children0
last_payout2018-02-17 04:00:30
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length481
author_reputation24,181,015,740,233
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,320,138
net_rshares0
@lacostas ·
Nice post thanks
👍  
properties (23)
authorlacostas
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t032028373z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-10 03:20:48
last_update2018-02-10 03:20:48
depth1
children1
last_payout2018-02-17 03:20:48
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length16
author_reputation25,664,146,663
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,313,650
net_rshares783,108,123
author_curate_reward""
vote details (1)
@tincanjunction ·
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. 
@tincanjunction
properties (22)
authortincanjunction
permlinkre-lacostas-re-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180213t055935557z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":["blog"],"users":["tincanjunction"],"app":"steemit/0.1"}
created2018-02-13 05:59:36
last_update2018-02-13 05:59:36
depth2
children0
last_payout2018-02-20 05:59:36
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length48
author_reputation1,132,074,533,400
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id37,129,134
net_rshares0
@pushup ·
re-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t024455661z
4.19% @pushup from @tincanjunction
properties (22)
authorpushup
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t024455661z
categoryblog
json_metadata{"app":"postpromoter/1.8.1"}
created2018-02-10 02:44:57
last_update2018-02-10 02:44:57
depth1
children0
last_payout2018-02-17 02:44:57
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length34
author_reputation799,420,452,881
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,307,801
net_rshares0
@resteemable ·
**Your Post Has Been Featured on @Resteemable!** <br> Feature any Steemit post using resteemit.com! <br> **How It Works:** <br> 1. Take Any Steemit URL <br> 2. Erase `https://` <br> 3. Type `re`<br> Get Featured Instantly � Featured Posts are voted every 2.4hrs <br>[Join the Curation Team Here](https://goo.gl/forms/4sr0InoTxcyPRQSj2) | [Vote Resteemable for Witness](https://v2.steemconnect.com/sign/account-witness-vote?witness=resteemable&approve=1)
properties (22)
authorresteemable
permlinkre-resteemable-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t002023821z
categoryblog
json_metadata""
created2018-02-10 00:20:24
last_update2018-02-10 00:20:24
depth1
children0
last_payout2018-02-17 00:20:24
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length453
author_reputation711,299,530,826
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,285,561
net_rshares0
@resteembot ·
Resteemed by @resteembot! Good Luck!
Curious? Read @resteembot's [introduction post](https://steemit.com/resteembot/@resteembot/how-to-use-resteembot-updated-2017824t202525149z)
Check out the great posts I already resteemed.

[RESTEEMBOT IS FOR SALE](https://steemit.com/resteembot/@resteembot/auction-resteembot-is-for-sale)
[I COULD WRITE CODE FOR YOU](https://steemit.com/resteembot/@resteembot/hire-me-i-ll-code-for-crypto)
properties (22)
authorresteembot
permlinkre-tincanjunction-building-your-own-small-homestead-20180210t040110470z
categoryblog
json_metadata""
created2018-02-10 04:01:12
last_update2018-02-10 04:01:12
depth1
children0
last_payout2018-02-17 04:01:12
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length427
author_reputation454,519,749,949
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,320,248
net_rshares0
@steemvote ·
This post was resteemed by @steemvote and received a 31.6% Upvote
👎  ,
properties (23)
authorsteemvote
permlinkbuilding-your-own-small-homestead2018-02-09
categoryblog
json_metadata{"tags":[""],"app":"steemjs/steemvote"}
created2018-02-09 22:30:18
last_update2018-02-09 22:30:18
depth1
children0
last_payout2018-02-16 22:30:18
cashout_time1969-12-31 23:59:59
total_payout_value0.000 HBD
curator_payout_value0.000 HBD
pending_payout_value0.000 HBD
promoted0.000 HBD
body_length65
author_reputation1,560,643,521,824
root_title"Building Your Own Small Homestead"
beneficiaries[]
max_accepted_payout1,000,000.000 HBD
percent_hbd10,000
post_id36,268,608
net_rshares-3,392,488,842
author_curate_reward""
vote details (2)