5 Things You Need to Do BEFORE You Start Homesteading

So many of us dream about being able to have home grown vegetables on our dinner plates and running around in open green pastures with adorable baby goats hoping everywhere. That’s the homesteading dream right? While I wouldn’t say homesteading is popular, it has gotten quite the boost in popularity over the last few years. Many families are spending less money at the grocery store and opting for healthier food they can grow right in their back yard. Unfortunately, contrary to what you see in Instagram or Pinterest, the homesteading life is not glamorous. In fact if you are not planning on having chicken poop on you in some fashion at least 5 days per week, than you haven’t planned correctly.

While Homesteading might not be glamorous, it can be the most rewarding decision you ever make. I know for me, knowing exactly where my food comes from is an amazing feeling! Whether you want to just make a few changes to live more sustainably or you want to jump head first into your homesteading dreams, there are a few things you should consider BEFORE you start homesteading.

(This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure for more info)

Have a Homesteading Plan

The worst thing we did when we started out was to jump in head first without a plan. I tend to be a very futuristic person. I always have a dream of what I want the end result to look like. What I am not so good at is creating a plan to get there. Having a plan is essential because without it, you will be inclined to take on too many projects at once.

That is exactly what happened to us and very quickly we found ourselves in over our heads trying to get everything done at the same time. Getting your homestead fully functional takes time. It has taken us a few years to get the homestead where we want it. Even now, there are still things that we are updating and modifying. It seems to never end, so do yourself a favor, don’t get overwhelmed in your first year. Have a plan and be diligent in checking things off the list. In the end you will be happy you did.

Make a Budget

Most of us start homesteading in order to live more sustainable. Living off the land must be cheaper than buying your food at the grocery store every week, right? Well, yes and no. Once your homestead is established than yes, you will be saving a lot of money growing and raising your own food! But what most people don’t know is that it can take years to fully establish your homestead. Until then, buy things little by-little, look for 2nd hand items, and never live above your means. Create a budget and stick to it. Agreeing to a budget and a time line will help ease the transition for you and your wallet.

Gardening: Understand your Zone

What grows amazing in the spring in Oregon may not grow as well in the spring in Florida. The entire country is divided into plant hardiness zones. Understanding your zone will be essential in knowing what to grow your your garden and when to grow it. Most people know that each type of plant has a particular season in which they grow the best.

What some do not realize is that it further breaks down into zones depending on where you live. For example, tomatoes are popular and grow best in the Spring/summer time. However depending on what zone you are in, the perfect time to start your seeds to transplant starter plants will be different. Timing is one of the most important factors to having a successful garden. If you do not know that zone you live in your can check out the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map here.

Be Prepared for Some Failures

You win some and you loose some. That is the rule of thumb for life in general but the great thing about failures in homesteading is that you learn from your failures. It is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Homesteading is not easy, but if you can learn from your mistakes, you will almost guarantee yourself a successful homestead. There are plenty of ways to do things more efficiently but at the end of the day it takes work. A LOT of work. Not everything will go as planned and you need to be prepared for the pitfalls, pick yourself back up and try again.

Commit to the Lifestyle

If you want your homesteading dreams to come true, you must be 100% committed. As we discussed, it will not be easy and you will see some failures but if you commit to this lifestyle, I promise you will make those homesteading dreams come true. Not matter if you have 200 acres or 1/4 of an acre, if you use your space wisely, you can homestead virtually anywhere. One of my favorite homesteading books is “Mini Farming: Self-Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre” by Brett L. Markham. Brett goes in to detail on how to homestead by totally maximizing your current space, no matter how small it may be.

The homesteading life is not for everyone. There is a reason why most people prefer modern day conveniences like getting anything you want from the grocery store or having time to relax all weekend. Being a homesteader is so much more work than I ever thought it would be. However, I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have my life any other way. Being able to feed my family home grown food and knowing exactly where my food comes from is just the surface. No longer having expensive grocery bills, lowering my carbon footprint on Earth and getting back to our pioneer roots, are just some of the benefits that, for me, are worth every blood, sweat and tear.

What are the reasons why you homestead or are thinking about homesteading? Leave me a comment below. I would love to hear from you!