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. 

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<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
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<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.
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<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. 
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<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. 
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<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. 
 
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<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!  
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<h2>Check Out My Other Great Content</h2> 
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<b>What is Preparedness?</b>

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

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

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