Homesteading, Where do you start?

I have seen this question asked a million times. To be honest, I have asked this question myself! 2 years later I’m hoping to help others on their own homesteading journey!

All the answers I’ve seen for this question are either very broad like “use what you have” or very restrictive like “get animals/start a garden.” I made this list based on things ANYONE can do! Whether you’re in an apartment, a house, or even still living at home. These 5 tips will help you gain the understanding behind homesteading as well as broaden your knowledge of being self sustaining.

1. LEARN TO COOK! This one is huge when it comes to starting out. Now I’m not saying you have to make gourmet meals everyday but learning how to use food in multiple ways is a HUGE step forward. Turn a simple side dish vegetable like asparagus into a delicious and filling soup! You know what you like best, find different recipes for your favorite food and branch off from it! If you already know how to cook well, then you’re already one step closer!

2. LEARN TO BAKE! This was actually how our homesteading journey began! I fell into the ✨Sourdough✨ trend but turned out to absolutely love it. I’ll let you in on a secret, IM A TERRIBLE BAKER!!! I still over mix and burn things every so often. I was the one to ALWAYS buy box mixes and store-made products because baking was never my strong suit. When I started sourdough, I realized it was so much more than bread. It is such a versatile ingredient that is cheap to make! My starter is now my secret weapon! I personally use it for soups, cakes, waffles, all bread products, crackers and so much more. Learning to bake, whether that be sourdough or not, will lend a huge hand towards being self sustaining. I pre-make hamburger buns, bagels and white bread and pop them in our freezer till we need them!

3. PRESERVE YOUR FOOD! This isn’t just about canning! You can preserve your food in so many different ways and it’s so beneficial for your home. The freezer is the only kitchen appliance you actually need and you probably already have one! Since we began our homesteading journey I’ve been freezing our leftovers. I currently have stews, muffins, smoothies, tomatoes, blueberries, and apples in my freezer ready to go whenever we need! There’s no point in letting food go bad because you don’t know what to use them for. Freeze them and pull them back out when you’re ready! Canning is also doable for most people! All you truly need is glass jars with lids and a stock pot with a rack! Easily can some homemade tomato sauce or blueberry jelly and you know you’ll always have them on hand!

4. UTILIZE YOUR SEASONS! This one was a big one for us. We live on very sandy soil so our garden is a work in progress as we learn how to grow on it. My favorite time of year is fall and that means pumpkin patch’s and apple picking! With today’s store prices, a bag of 5-7 apples can range $5-8🤯 during fall we love stocking up on u-pick apples. I usually can them into apple pie filling, applesauce and homemade apple juice! Pumpkins are great for making pumpkin puree which holds great in the freezer! Late spring we pick blueberries and freeze them for year round fresh smoothies. Knowing what you have around you and being able to pick fresh fruits and vegetables not only saves money but saves so much time for future uses.

5. BUY FARM FRESH! I added this one as most homestead beginners don’t have a garden or are still figuring out how to grow enough crops (like me!😂) You can get farm fresh fruit and veggies from local farmer’s markets or if they have them by you, roadside stands! We also try to buy all our meat from butchers/farmers in bulk as it saves money and it’s better quality than store bought! I do know that sometimes this can be pricey so it depends on the area you are in! The other option, I guess tip 5.1, build a community around you and trade what you have. There are dozens of homesteading groups on Facebook or maybe your community has their own groups. Our neighbor has been amazing with sharing his garden crops with us and we return the favor with canned food and baked bread!

Wherever you choose to start your journey is up to you. Don’t feel pressured to follow the trend if it’s not something that you would actually use! Start with what you use/eat/do daily and see if there’s any ✨homemade✨ version. Remember, homesteading is a long process and it’s a lifestyle. Constantly learning new things and growing as you go! Start small and build your way up to your goal❤️