Often, people ask “What should I do first? How can I learn what I need to know?” To answer these questions, we’ve gathered advice from people with decades of experience with different kinds of homestead living.
Although many people dream of buying several acres in the country, you can start homesteading wherever you are. Heidi Hunt, an assistant editor at Mother Earth News, frequently talks to readers who are considering buying land in the country. Hunt homesteaded on a farm in northeastern Washington, where she built a cabin, gardened and spent many hours chopping wood. She says she always recommends learning as many homesteading skills as possible before moving. “Planting, harvesting and preserving food are skills that can be practiced almost anywhere,” Hunt says.
In fact, many aspects of homesteading work as well in the city or suburbs as in the country. Solar panels, straw bale building, wood heat and collecting rainwater are all possible in the city or suburbs, and even raising chickens is allowed in many cities. Just be careful to check all relevant zoning and local ordinances before you get started.
By John Stuart, Carol Mack and Megan Phelps
Suggested minimum space
Type for one animal Types of food Benefits
Bees One hive, or wooden beekeeping box Pollen, nectar Honey, wax, pollination for (Average 20,000 bees/colony) garden and orchard
Chickens Housing: 3 to 4 square feet/bird Pasture, greens, insects, cracked Eggs, meat, pest control
corn, a balanced poultry ration
Ducks Housing: 5 to 6 square feet/bird Pasture, greens, snails, insects, Eggs, meat, pest control
Pond access optional cracked corn, supplemental pellets
Goats Housing: 20 to 25 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure,
Pasture area: 0.2 to 6 acres supplemental grain in the winter; salt control of brush
and mineral mix
Sheep Housing: 15 to 20 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure,
Pasture area: 0.2 to 8 acres supplemental grain in the winter; wool, “mowing” grass,
trace-mineralized salt at all times weed control
Pigs Housing: 48 square feet Pasture, corn and soybean Meat, manure,
with exercise yard meal, small grains (wheat, oats, barley, etc.) “tilling” garden spaces
Cattle Housing: 50 to 75 square feet Pasture, supplemental feeds such as Meat, milk, manure
Pasture area: 1 to 40 acres shelled corn, soybean meal, molasses
and rice bran, crop residues, hay
The acreage and feed requirements above are general guides. The lower ends of the pasture suggestions are for rainy areas, the higher figures are for arid regions. The types of food that animals need can vary widely depending on the farming methods being used.
Livestock Basics
Whatever your homesteading plans, Hunt says it’s important to focus on your priorities. Decide which parts of the dream are most important to you. “Then, do your research,” she says.
“Learn the skills and find out what’s involved. Each new homesteading activity requires new tools and skills, as well as a certain amount of money and energy.”
Tatjana Alvegaard
www.MotherEarthNews.commodern homesteading
Recommended BOOOOKS
Country Skills
The Encyclopedia of Country Living,
by Carla Emery
The Have-More Plan, by Ed and Carolyn Robinson
Living on an Acre, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Home and Energy
The Natural House, by Dan Chiras
Renovation: A Complete Guide
by Michael Litchfield
The Solar-Electric House, by Steve Strong
Wind Energy Basics, by Paul Gipe
Personal Accounts
The Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing
Just the Greatest Life, by David Schafer
Rural Renaissance, By John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
Food and Farming
All Flesh is Grass, by Gene Logsdon
Homesteading Resources
Barnyard in your Backyard by Gail Damerow
The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol W. Costenbader
Four Season Harvest, by Eliot Coleman
Vegetable Gardener's Bible, by Ed Smith
You Can Farm, by Joel Salatin
WEB RESOURCES
Mother's Homesteading Articles. Search morethan 30 years of articles on homesteading at
www.MotherEarthNews.com.
ATTRA: The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
www.attra.org
Cooperative Extension Offices
www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
U.S. Department of Energy
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/
renewable_energy
USDA Summary of Land Prices
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/
nassr/other/plr-bb/land0805.pdf
PLAN THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD
Some of these activities require more money and time than others — another reason why it’s a good idea to start with smaller projects, such as learning to garden before buying farmland, or doing some basic home repairs before deciding to build your own home. If you pursue larger projects, there are many ways to learn more about your interests. For potential farmers, apprenticeships and volunteer opportunities on organic farms can be invaluable. Renewable energy workshops around the country help people learn about small-scale solar or wind power. To learn about building, options range from volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to attending straw-bale building parties and natural building workshops.
www.MotherEarthNews.com
Although many people dream of buying several acres in the country, you can start homesteading wherever you are. Heidi Hunt, an assistant editor at Mother Earth News, frequently talks to readers who are considering buying land in the country. Hunt homesteaded on a farm in northeastern Washington, where she built a cabin, gardened and spent many hours chopping wood. She says she always recommends learning as many homesteading skills as possible before moving. “Planting, harvesting and preserving food are skills that can be practiced almost anywhere,” Hunt says.
In fact, many aspects of homesteading work as well in the city or suburbs as in the country. Solar panels, straw bale building, wood heat and collecting rainwater are all possible in the city or suburbs, and even raising chickens is allowed in many cities. Just be careful to check all relevant zoning and local ordinances before you get started.
By John Stuart, Carol Mack and Megan Phelps
Suggested minimum space
Type for one animal Types of food Benefits
Bees One hive, or wooden beekeeping box Pollen, nectar Honey, wax, pollination for (Average 20,000 bees/colony) garden and orchard
Chickens Housing: 3 to 4 square feet/bird Pasture, greens, insects, cracked Eggs, meat, pest control
corn, a balanced poultry ration
Ducks Housing: 5 to 6 square feet/bird Pasture, greens, snails, insects, Eggs, meat, pest control
Pond access optional cracked corn, supplemental pellets
Goats Housing: 20 to 25 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure,
Pasture area: 0.2 to 6 acres supplemental grain in the winter; salt control of brush
and mineral mix
Sheep Housing: 15 to 20 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure,
Pasture area: 0.2 to 8 acres supplemental grain in the winter; wool, “mowing” grass,
trace-mineralized salt at all times weed control
Pigs Housing: 48 square feet Pasture, corn and soybean Meat, manure,
with exercise yard meal, small grains (wheat, oats, barley, etc.) “tilling” garden spaces
Cattle Housing: 50 to 75 square feet Pasture, supplemental feeds such as Meat, milk, manure
Pasture area: 1 to 40 acres shelled corn, soybean meal, molasses
and rice bran, crop residues, hay
The acreage and feed requirements above are general guides. The lower ends of the pasture suggestions are for rainy areas, the higher figures are for arid regions. The types of food that animals need can vary widely depending on the farming methods being used.
Livestock Basics
Whatever your homesteading plans, Hunt says it’s important to focus on your priorities. Decide which parts of the dream are most important to you. “Then, do your research,” she says.
“Learn the skills and find out what’s involved. Each new homesteading activity requires new tools and skills, as well as a certain amount of money and energy.”
Tatjana Alvegaard
www.MotherEarthNews.commodern homesteading
Recommended BOOOOKS
Country Skills
The Encyclopedia of Country Living,
by Carla Emery
The Have-More Plan, by Ed and Carolyn Robinson
Living on an Acre, by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Home and Energy
The Natural House, by Dan Chiras
Renovation: A Complete Guide
by Michael Litchfield
The Solar-Electric House, by Steve Strong
Wind Energy Basics, by Paul Gipe
Personal Accounts
The Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing
Just the Greatest Life, by David Schafer
Rural Renaissance, By John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist
Food and Farming
All Flesh is Grass, by Gene Logsdon
Homesteading Resources
Barnyard in your Backyard by Gail Damerow
The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carol W. Costenbader
Four Season Harvest, by Eliot Coleman
Vegetable Gardener's Bible, by Ed Smith
You Can Farm, by Joel Salatin
WEB RESOURCES
Mother's Homesteading Articles. Search morethan 30 years of articles on homesteading at
www.MotherEarthNews.com.
ATTRA: The National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
www.attra.org
Cooperative Extension Offices
www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
U.S. Department of Energy
www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/
renewable_energy
USDA Summary of Land Prices
usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/
nassr/other/plr-bb/land0805.pdf
PLAN THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD
Some of these activities require more money and time than others — another reason why it’s a good idea to start with smaller projects, such as learning to garden before buying farmland, or doing some basic home repairs before deciding to build your own home. If you pursue larger projects, there are many ways to learn more about your interests. For potential farmers, apprenticeships and volunteer opportunities on organic farms can be invaluable. Renewable energy workshops around the country help people learn about small-scale solar or wind power. To learn about building, options range from volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to attending straw-bale building parties and natural building workshops.
www.MotherEarthNews.com
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