Homesteading for Beginners: 25 Simple Ways to Get Started
Updated: Oct 10
When people hear the word homesteading, they often picture a big farmhouse, acres of land, a huge garden, chickens running everywhere, and a barn full of animals.
And yes, that can be homesteading.
But it doesn't have to start that way.
We didn't begin with a large homestead. We started homesteading as beginners with two acres, some chickens, and a pony.
That was it.
Over time, we were thankful to have the opportunity to purchase more land beside us, and our little homestead slowly grew.
nd, a huge garden, chickens running everywhere, and a barn full of animals.
Looking back, I'm actually glad we didn't start with everything we have now. We had to learn as we went, and there was definitely a lot to learn!
That's one of the things I love most about this life. You don't have to have everything figured out before you begin.
Homesteading can be as simple as baking bread, growing a few vegetables, preserving food, caring for animals, learning to mend something, or finding small ways to use what you already have.
You don't need a huge property.
You don't need to do everything at once.
And you certainly don't need to become fully self-sufficient overnight.
At Heritage Drive Homestead, we've found that homesteading is really about slowing down, learning practical skills, making things with your own hands, and enjoying the simple things along the way.
Homesteading can begin with one small, useful corner of home.
Maybe that's a few herbs growing on your windowsill.
Maybe it's a loaf of bread cooling on your counter.
Maybe it's learning how to preserve something from your garden.
Or maybe it's simply learning how to make better use of what you already have.
Whether you're dreaming of your own piece of land or simply want to bring more of this lifestyle into the home you already have, here are 25 simple ways to get started with homesteading.
25 Easy Ways to Start Simple Homesteading
25 Simple Ways to Start Homesteading for beginners
1. Start With One Skill
This is probably on of the most important things I could tell someone who is just beginning.
Start with one thing.
I'm saying that as someone who doesn't always follow my own advice!
Sometimes I get so excited about learning a new skill that I want to try everything. Baking something new, preserving something, working in the garden, making soap, starting another project... before I know it, I've taken on way too much.
And then I'm exhausted.
It is so easy to become in over your head when you're excited about all the things you could learn.
I've learned that I need to slow down and make lists for each day. Writing things down helps me remember what actually needs to be done first instead of trying to do everything at once.
So choose one skill you'd genuinely enjoy learning.
Maybe that's baking bread.
Maybe it's gardening.
Maybe it's making soap.
Maybe you'd like to learn how to preserve food.
Start there.
Once you've learned one skill, you can build on it.
Choose one skill. Learn it well. Then add another.
2. Bake Something From Scratch
Scratch baking is one of the simplest ways to bring homestead living into an ordinary kitchen.
You don't need a farmhouse kitchen or special equipment to get started.
Try something simple:
Homemade bread
Muffins
Pancakes
Cookies
Pie crust
There is something so satisfying about taking a handful of basic ingredients and turning them into something your family can enjoy.
And the more you bake, the more comfortable you become with it.
One of the things we've noticed in our own home is that we've started making so many of our own foods and snacks that the grocery store versions just don't seem to have the same draw anymore.
They are missing that wholesome flavour that comes from the real ingredients we're used to working with.
Now, our girls didn't always feel that way!
They were definitely slower to appreciate some of the homemade snacks than we were. But over time, they've grown to appreciate the difference.
That's one of the little rewards of learning these skills as a family.
You don't have to become an expert baker, either. Start with something your family already enjoys and make it yourself.
Maybe it's a loaf of bread on the weekend.
Maybe it's a batch of muffins for the freezer.
Maybe it's a pie made with something you've grown or preserved yourself.
Start with one recipe, and let your skills grow from there.
3. Grow Something You Can Eat
You don't need a huge garden.
Start with one container of herbs, a few tomato plants, or a small garden bed.
My first favourite herb was mint.
There was something so cozy about making a cup of peppermint tea in the middle of winter and realizing, I grew this.
It doesn't have to be a huge harvest to feel rewarding.
Growing even a little of your own food teaches an important homesteading lesson:
You don't have to produce everything yourself to become more connected to where your food comes from.
Start small.
Grow something you actually enjoy eating.
If you're not sure where to begin, think about what you already use regularly. Herbs, lettuce, tomatoes, or a few favourite vegetables can all be good places to start.
And don't worry if your first garden isnt perfect. You'll lear as you go, just like we did.
There is something special about walking outside and gathering even a small part of the meal you're preparing.
Start with one thing you love to eat, and then see where it takes you.
4. Learn to Preserve Food
Once you're growing or buying seasonal produce, preserving becomes a natural next step.
And I absolutely love soup season.
Our garden planning is often influenced by the ingredients I know we'll want for soups in the fall and winter. I'll think about what vegetables we use regularly and plan the garden around those foods.
Then, when harvest season arrives, I can preserve some of those ingredients to use when winter comes.
Depending on your experience and equipment, food preservation might include:
Freezing
Dehydrating
Making jams
Pickling
Canning using safe, tested methods
You don't have to learn every preservation method at once.
Pick one.
Learn how to do it properly.
Then build from there.
There's something incredibly satisfying about opening something you've preserved yourself in the middle of winter and remembering the garden it came from.
You also don't have to grow everything yourself to start preserving food. Seasonal produce from a farmers' market or local farm can be a great place to begin.
And if you're new to canning, take the time to learn safe, tested methods rather than relying on recipes or techniques that haven't been properly tested.
Preserving food is really about making the most of what you have and carrying a little bit of one season into the next.
5. Learn to Make Your Own Soap
Homemade soap is another traditional skill that can fit beautifully into a modern homestead.
At Heritage Drive Homestead, our goat milk soaps are one example of how traditional, handmade products have become part of our everyday life.
You don't have to make everything yourself.
Sometimes homesteading is simply appreciating handmade goods and learning the skills behind them.
And if you decide you want to learn how to make something yourself, start small and take the time to learn properly. Soap making involves working with lye, so understanding the process and following safe, tested instructions is important.
Once you get comfortable with the basics, there are so many things to learn about oils, scents, colours, milk soaps, and different techniques.
Making something useful with your own hands can be incredibly rewarding.
And there's something special about using a bar of soap that you. made yourself - especially when the ingredients and process are something you've taken the time to understand.
You don't have to make your own soap to live a homesteading lifestyle. But learning a traditional skill like soap making can be a wonderful way to become more self-reliant and creative.
There is always more to learn!
6. Spend Time With Animals
One of my favourite parts of homestead life is simply watching the animals.
We started with chickens and a pony on our original two acres, and over time our little homestead grew.
Our first pony was for our girls, and it was wonderful watching them enjoy that experience.
But if I'm being completely honest, one of my favourite animals for our girls was our silky chicken.
There was something so special about our girls feeling like they were actually contributing to breakfast. Collecting eggs and knowing where their food came from made something as ordinary as breakfast feel a little different.
And then there are the goats, who have a way of turning an ordinary day into something entertaining. 😂🐐
Animals have brought so many lessons into our home.
You don't have to own livestock to enjoy this part of homesteading, either.
Visit a local farm.
Spend time around animals.
Learn about their care.
Let your children observe them.
Homesteading isn't only about what you produce. Sometimes it's about slowing down enough to notice the living things around you.
You don't need a barn full of animals to experience the joy of this part of homesteading. Start by simply spending more time around the animals already in your life.
Homesteading doesn't have to mean filling every minute of your day wiht chores and porjects. There are simple ways to enjoy homestead life while giving yourself - and your kids - a little breathing room. If your're looking for ideas for screen-free quiet time on the homestead, I've got you covered.
7. Teach Children Practical Skills
Homesteading is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn through doing.
Our girls can do all the chores that need to be done around our homestead now.
But it certainly wasn't always that way!
There were a lot of questions.
There were toddler "helpers."
There were probably quite a few jobs that took much longer because little hands wanted to be involved.
But looking back, it was absolutely worth it.
Depending on their age, children can help:
Plant seeds
Count eggs
Sort vegetables
Measure ingredients
Feed animals
Observe weather
Identify plants
Help in the kitchen
Collect eggs
Help with simple chores
Learning doesn't always have to happen at a desk.
Sometimes the best classroom is the farmyard or the kitchen.
And sometimes the best part is simply letting children be involved, even when it would be faster to do the job yourself.
Those everyday moments can teach practical skills, responsibility, patience, and confidence - while giving children a chance to feel like they're an important part of the family.
You don't need a formal homeschool plan or a farm full of animals. Look at the things you're already doing and find small ways for your children to be part of them.
8. Make Something Instead of Buying It.
One of the simplest homesteading questions is:
"Could I make this myself?"
You don't have to answer yes every time.
But occasionally choosing to make something yourself can be incredibly rewarding.
Try making:
Bread
Granola
Jam
Simple cleaners
Decorations
Gifts
Soap
Greeting cards
And don't forget to make use of what you've already made.
We love leftovers around here!
Cooking a little extra can save time later and turn one meal into two.
Homesteading doesn't always mean making something complicated from scratch.
Sometimes it simply means being resourceful with what you already have.
You might discover that making something yourself saves money, gives you a useful new skill, or simply makes you appreciate the finished product a little more.
You don't have to make everthing yourself. Just start noticing the things you could make, repair, reuse, or repurpose instead of automatically buying something new.
9. Learn Where Your Food Comes From
Even if you don't grow your own food, learning about food production can make you more connected to what you eat.
Visit farmers' markets.
Talk to local farmers.
Grow something.
Cook seasonally.
Learn how different foods are produced.
Pay attention to the ingredients you're using.
Homesteading isn't only about producing food.
It's also about understanding it.
The more you learn, the more you begin to appreciate the work, seasons, ingredients, and people behind the food on your table.
You might discover where your favourite vegetables are grown, when they're in season how they're harvested, or what goes into producing the foods your family eats regularly.
That knowledge can change the way you shop, cook, and appreciate what's on your table.
You don't have to grow everything yourself to become more connected to your food. Sometimes, simply learning where it comes from is a great place to start.
10. Use What You Already Have
Homesteading often involves creativity and resourcefulness.
Before buying something new, look around and ask:
Can I repair this? Reuse it? Repurpose it? Make something from it?
An old jar can become storage.
Leftovers can become another meal.
Scraps can sometimes become ingredients for something else.
Wood can become a garden project.
Something that isn't useful for one purpose might be exactly what you need for another.
You might be surprised by how often a little creativity can solve a problem without a trip to the store.
Using what you already have can also help reduce waste and make you more mindful about what you bring into your home in the first place.
You don't have to become an expert at repurposing or start saving every container that come through your kitchen door.
Simple doesn't mean perfect. It means learning to see what you already have with fresh eyes.
11. Start a Small Herb Garden
You don't need a dedicated herb garden to get started.
A few pots on a sunny windowsill can be enough.
Grow herbs you actually use. Basil, parsley, chives, mint, rosemary, or whatever your family enjoys can be a wonderful place to begin.
And don't underestimate how satisfying it is to walk into your kitchen, snip something you've grown yourself, and add it to dinner.
Start with a few herbs rather than trying to grow everything.
Choose herbs you already enjoy using, and let your little herb garden grow from there.
12. Hang laundry to dry
A clothesline or drying rack is a simple homestead habit. It saves energy, helps clothing last longer, and slows the rhythm of the day in a good way.
You don't need a large clothesline, either. A small outdoor line, drying rack, or even a few items hung to dry indoors can be enough to get started.
And there is something peaceful about laundry drying in the breeze and the smell of fresh line-dried sheets.
You. may even find that slowing down enough to hang laundry outside becomes one of those simple routines you genuinely enjoy.
You don't have to dry every load this way. Start with a few items and see if it works for your home.
13. Cook More Meals at Home
One of the easiest ways to bring homesteading into your everyday life is simply to cook more meals at home.
They don't have to be complicated.
A pot of soup, homemade bread, roasted vegetables, or a simple meal made from what you already have can all be part of a homesteading lifestyle.
And when you cook regularly, you naturally become more familiar with your ingredients and more comfortable adapting recipes to what you have available.
You also start to notice how much you can do with simple ingredients.
Maybe you have a few vegetables that need to be used, some leftover chicken in the fridge, or a pantry full of staples. Instead of wondering what you're missing, you start asking, "What can I make with what I already have?"
That's a very useful homesteading skill.
You don't need to make every meal from scratch or spend hours in the kitchen. Start by cooking on more meal at home each week, and let your confidence grow from there.
14. Learn basic food storage
Preserving food is wonderful, but knowing how to store the food you already have is another useful skill.
Learn how to store potatoes, onions, squash, dry goods, herbs, and other foods appropriately for your home.
Good food storage can help reduce waste and make meal planning easier, and help you get the most from the food you've already bought or grown.
It can be as simple as learning which foods belong in the refrigerator, which are better stored in a cool, dark place, and how to keep dry goods organized and protected from moisture and pests.
Sometimes homesteading is less about producing more and more about learning how to make better use of what you've already got.
A useful pantry grows slowly, one practical staple at a time.
Start by learning how to store a few foods you regularly buy or grow, and build your knowledge from there.
15. Make broth from scraps
Making homemade broth is a simple way to make better use of ingredients you already have.
Save chicken bones, vegetable ends, onion skins, carrot peels, and celery leaves in a freezer bag. When the bag is full, simmer them into a flavorful broth.
It is practical, frugal, and deeply satisfying.
Homemade broth can be used in soups, stews, gravies, sauces, and all sorts of other recipes. It can also be a great way to get a little more use from ingredients that might otherwise end up in the compost or garbage.
You don't need to make a huge batch. Start with what you have an see how you like the process.
Learning to make something useful from ingredients you already have is one of those small skills that fits beautifully into simple homesteading.
16. Try making one dairy product
If you are comfortable in the kitchen, try something simple like yoghurt, butter, or ricotta. You do not need a cow or goat to learn these skills.
Start with store-bought milk or cream and enjoy the process.
17. Raise a few backyard chickens if you can
Chickens are often one of the first animals people thingk about when they inagine homesteading. And there's a good reason. They're enjoyable to watch, can provide fresh eggs, and can be a wonderful way to teach children about caring for animals.
But chickens are still a commitment.
Before bringing them home, take some time to learn about local bylaws, predator risks, coop requirements, fencing, feed costs, and the care they'll need throughout the year.
Thank about winter conditions, too. Chickens need appropriate shelter, fresh water, proper nutrition and protection from the weather and predators.
Fresh eggs are lovely, but healthy, well-cared-for animals come first.
If you're ready for the responsibility, starting with a small flock can be a rewarding introduction to keeping livestock.
And if chickens aren't practical for you right now, that's okay too. You can still learn about them, visit a local farm, or simply enjoy watching someone else's flock.
Homesteading isn't about having every animal. It's about learning to care well for the ones you choose.
18. Learn Basic Animal Care
If you decide to add animals to your homestead, take the time to learn about their needs before bringing them home.
Learn about their feed, shelter, water, fencing, health, daily routines, and basic care.
Different animals have different needs, so take the time to learn about the specific animals you're considering.
Animals are a wonderful part of homestead life, but they're also a responsibility.
We've learned plenty along the way, and I'm sure we'll continue learning.
That's part of the process.
You don't have to know everything on day one.
But you do need to be willing to learn and to put the animals' needs first.
One of the best things you can do before bringing an animal home is to talk to people who already care for that type of animal. Ask questions, learn what supplies you'll need, and find out what day-to-day care really looks like. The goal isn't to know everything befor you begin. It's to be prepared to learn and to give the animals in your care what they need to thrive.
19. Make Homemade Gifts
Some of the nicest gifts don't come from a store.
There is something special about giving someone a gift that you've made yourself. It doesn't have to be perfect, and it certainly doesn't have to be complicated.
Sometimes the simplest things are the most meaningful because you took the time to make them.
Try making:
Homemade baked goods
Jams or preserves
Handmade soap
Simple crafts
Recipe mixes
Sewn or knitted items
Something you've grown or preserved
You can also turn things you're already making for your own family into thoughtful gifts for someone else.
A loaf of homemade bread, a jar of jam, a little basket of homemade goodies, or a bar of handmade soap can make a lovely gift.
And don't worry if it doesn't look store-bought.
The time, thought, and care you put into making something are part of the gift.
Some of my favourite things about homesteading are the skills that allow us to make something useful, beautiful, or meaningful with our own hands - and being able to share those things with someone else makes it even more special.
20. Spend More Time Outdoors
You don't have to be working every time you're outside.
Sometimes just sit.
Watch the animals.
Walk through the garden.
Notice what's blooming.
Listen to the birds.
Pay attention to the weather.
One of the things I love about homesteading is how much the seasons become part of your everyday life when you spend more time outside.
You start noticing the little things you might have missed before - the firest flowers of spring, the changing leaves in autumn, the way the garden looks after a rain, or the animals settling into their evening routine.
You don't need a big garden or a farm to enjoy this part of homesteading.
Sometimes, simply slowing down and paying attention to the world around you is a wonderful place to begin.
21. Keep a Garden Journal
A garden journal can become one of your most useful homesteading tools.
You don't need anything fancy, A simple notebook is enough.
Write down thing like:
What you planted
When you planted it
What worked
What didn't
What you harvested
What you want to change next year
What you'd like to grow more of
I especially love this idea because every season teaches you something.
Maybe something you planted didn't grow as well as you hoped. Maybe one variety produced more than you expected. Maybe you discovered that your family loved one vegetable and barely touched another.
Those little observations can make next year's garden easier to plan.
And over time, your garden journal becomes a record of what you've learned - not just a list of what you planted.
Your garden doesn't have to be perfect.
It just needs to teach you something you can use next year.
22. Make Family Traditions Around the Seasons
Some of our favourite parts of homesteading aren't really chores at all.
They're the little traditions that develop around the seasons.
Planting the garden in spring.
Harvesting when the garden is full.
Making soup when the weather turns cool.
Preserving food for the winter.
Spending time with the animals.
Baking something cozy when the weather turns cold.
These ordinary activities can become the memories your children carry with them.
You don't have to create elaborate traditions.
Sometimes doing the same simple things together every year is enough.
23. Reduce Household Waste
Homesteading ofter teaches you to look at everyday things a little differently.
Before throwing something away, ask yourself:
Could I use this another way?
Use leftovers instead of letting them go to waste.
Repurpose containers.
Repair things when possible.
Plan meals around food you already have.
Preserve extra garden produce.
Compost appropriate food scraps.
You don't have to eliminate household waste completely.
Even small changes can help you become more mindful of what you use, what you throw away, and what you bring into your home.
Sometimes reducing waste is as simple as making a little extra soup and freezing it for another day, saving a jar for storage, or finding another use for something you might normally toss.
You don't have to do everything perfectly. Small changes made consistently can make a difference.
24. Create a Simple Homeschool or Farm Learning Activity
Homesteading provides endless opportunities for children to learn.
Count eggs.
Measure ingredients.
Identify plants.
Track the weather.
Watch seeds germinate.
Learn about animal care.
Practice math while cooking.
Keep a garden journal.
There are so many lessons hidden inside everyday homestead activities.
And you don't have to turn every activity into a formal lesson.
Sometimes children learn the most simply by being included.
A child helping measure flour is l earning about numbers and measurement.
A child collecting eggs is learning responsibility and counting.
Planting seeds can become a lesson about nature, patience, and how food grow.
Even something as simple as watching the weather can encourage children to notice patterns and changes throughout the seasons.
Look at what you're already doing around your home or homestead and find a way to let your children learn alongside you.
If you're looking for simple, farm-inspired activities to enjoy with your children, we've been creating resources through Little Homesteaders to make learning from everyday homestead life a little easier.
25. Start Small and Keep Learning
If there is one theme running through everything we've learned on our own homestead, it's this:
Start small and keep learning.
We started with two acres, some chickens, and a pony.
We didn't begin with everything.
Our homestead grew over time, and so did our skills.
There were things we figured out easily. There were projects that worked beautifully and projects that don't quite go according to plan. And there were plenty of things we had to learn the hard way.
And there are still plenty of things we don't know!
That's okay.
You don't have to know everything before you begin.
You don't have to have the perfect plan, the perfect garden, or all the right equipment.
You just have to be willing to learn the next thing.
That's really how homesteading has worked for us. One skill leads to another. One season teaches you something new. One small project gives you the confidence to try the next one.
You don't have to build your dream heomestead all at once. Start with one small thing, learn from it, and keep going.
You Don't Have to Do It All
This might be one of the most important things to remember when starting a homestead.
You don't have to grow all your own food.
You don't have to raise livestock.
You don't have to bake everything from scratch.
You don't have to can 100 jars of vegetables every summer.
And you definitely don't have to turn your life upside down overnight.
I've had to learn this lesson myself.
It is so easy to get excited about a new skill, take on too many projects, and suddenly realize you've created a mountain of work for yourself.
That's why I've learned to make daily lists and focus on what actually needs to happen first.
There will always be another skill to learn.
Another project to start.
Another thing you could make.
Another improvement you could make to the homestead.
But you don't have to do it all today.
Choose the parts of homesteading that fit your family, your property, your budget, and your season of life.
Maybe this year it's a garden.
Next year it might be chickens.
Or perhaps your version of homesteading is simply baking bread on Saturday mornings and growing herbs on your kitchen windowsill.
It all counts.
Start With One Small Thing
If you're wondering where to begin, here's my suggestion:
Pick one thing from this list and try it this week.
Bake something from scratch.
Plant an herb.
Make something instead of buying it.
Spend an afternoon outside.
Teach your children something practical.
Start a little garden.
Try preserving something.
Or simply slow down long enough to notice what is happening around you.
You don't have to transform your entire life to begin homesteading.
Sometimes it starts with a cup of peppermint tea made from mint you grew yourself.
Sometimes it starts with a loaf of bread cooling on the counter.
Sometimes it's collecting eggs with your children.
Sometimes it's a garden planted with the ingredients you'll need for soup in the fall.
And sometimes it's simply realizing that you enjoy making something with your own two hands.
That's really what simple homesteading is about.
Learning. Creating. Growing. And enjoying the life you're building along the way.
Welcome to Heritage Drive Homestead 🐐
Here at Heritage Drive Homestead, we're sharing our real-life version of homesteading.
It's not about having everything figured out.
It's about the goats, the chickens, the garden, the baking, the handmade goat milk soaps, the changing seasons, the projects that work beautifully, the projects that don't quite go according to plan, and all the little lessons we learn along the way.
We started with two acres, some chickens, and a pony.
Our homestead has grown since then, but the heart of it hasn't changed.
We're still learning.
We're still making.
We're still growing.
And we're still finding joy in the simple things.
If you're dreaming about your own homestead, or simply want to bring a little more of that lifestyle into the home you already have, we'd love for you to come along.
Welcome to Heritage Drive Homestead.
Looking for More Ways to Enjoy Homestead Life?
Homesteading isn't just about growing food and caring for animals. It's also about creating a slower, simpler way of life - and sometimes that means finding ways to keep little hands busy without handing them a screen.
Comments