When people think of homesteading, they usually think of a big piece of land out in the country, a large pasture with grazing cows, a huge garden with row after row of crops, a barn filled with livestock and chickens, or something along those lines. This is a misconception. Although that description could certainly be of a homestead, the term … [Read more...]
Baking Soda Trick To Fix Almost Anything
Do you buy baking soda in those tiny little boxes they sell at the grocery store? Not me. I buy huge 20-pound bags from Sam's Club. Sometimes people look at me weird when they see the big bag of baking soda on my kitchen floor. My friend once asked if I was starting a bakery. The truth is, I don't use baking soda for food very often. Rather, I … [Read more...]
15 Pioneer Skills You Must Learn Today
I don't like doom and gloom. Talking about how the economy is going to crash again (as it does every decade or so) and how life is continuing to get more difficult for the average worker (regardless of which party is in power) is depressing. Still, we need to talk about it occasionally. Why? Well for one, it can be very motivating. When my … [Read more...]
3 Things To Know Before Going Off The Grid
When people hear the words "off the grid", they usually think about a nice little cabin in the woods or a homestead out in the open country. What they often don't think about is no power, no cable, no water, no sewer, no garbage pickup, and all the other things we take for granted every day. It's not so bad once you get used to it, but if … [Read more...]
7 Homesteading Myths That Aren’t True At All
Are you considering a life on the homestead? When you're stuck in your cubicle after lunch, are dreams of goats and chickens clouding your mind? Maybe you would have taken the leap already if not for something terrible you heard about homesteading. In this article, we are going to look at 7 homesteading myths that aren’t true at all. 1. You Have … [Read more...]
17 Off Grid Tools and Supplies to Search for at Flea Markets
If you want to get some great bargains for your homestead, it’s time to start visiting flea markets. Flea markets get their name from “marché aux puces,” a French phrase that literally translates to “market of fleas.” The name comes from the fact that the first outdoor bargain markets in Paris often included items that were old and worn and … [Read more...]
20 Things We Wish We’d Known Before We Went Off Grid
For the past several years, Nick and Esther of Fouch Family Off Grid have been living off the grid in a yurt while building their off grid timber frame dream home. In that time, they've learned some valuable lessons about living off the grid. In this video, they share those lessons. I typed them up for you, but it's worth watching the video as … [Read more...]
5 Free Things You Need to Live Off the Grid
I found this video very interesting and inspiring, so I want to share it with you guys. It's by Off Grid With Doug & Stacy and it covers some of the traits you need to have if you want to live off the grid. Here are the 5 free things they're talking about: 1. Patience - If you're expecting great results from, say, your garden right away, … [Read more...]
7 Harsh Truths About Homesteading
If you are thinking of homesteading or are just starting out, you may be seeking a way out of the typical consumer-driven lifestyle of the 21st century. You are willing to put your time, effort and money into a simpler, more self-sustaining way of life. However, in order to be successful as a homesteader, you need to take off your rose-colored … [Read more...]
1 Way Poor People Can Buy Land With No Money
I know what you're thinking: "It's too good to be true." In this video, Becky from Becky's Homestead explains how people with very little money can get themselves a small plot of land. To be clear, she doesn't mean literally no money. But as you'll see, owning a piece of land in the countryside is not a pipe dream. In fact, it is very doable. … [Read more...]
9 Key Differences Between Preppers & Homesteaders
Are you a homesteader or a prepper? Both lifestyles are linked by their focus on self-sufficiency, but there are some key differences when it comes to motivation, food storage, water storage, shelter, skills, off-the-grid living, security, medical needs, and lifestyle. Let’s examine them so that you can see where you fit into the spectrum. 1. … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Make Your Homestead More Productive This Year
You’ve moved off the grid--away from the traffic, pollution, and politics. Now you can sit back and enjoy the rest of your years in nature, right? Wrong, my friend. Homesteading is a lifestyle that takes a lot of work (and also reaps massive rewards). As with any productive project on the homestead, first you must be clear about your goals and … [Read more...]
13 Self-Reliance Skills The Pioneers Needed to Survive their Journey West
Between 1840 and 1860, more than 400,000 men, women, and children set out on the overland journey across the American West which became known as the Oregon Trail. Heading out from departure points in Missouri, these pioneers desired a new life, one that offered more freedom, more opportunity, and more space. In some ways, these Americans are not … [Read more...]
5 Big Reasons You Should Teach Your Kids to Homestead
Raising kids in a homesteading environment is one of the best ways to give them a great start in life. The skills and values they learn can help them be successful at whatever they choose to do later in life. Whether they take over the farm and follow in your footsteps or decide to travel a different path, life skills taught on the homestead will … [Read more...]
9 Tips for New Homesteaders
If you are thinking of homesteading or are just starting out, you probably have been immersing yourself in tons of information and advice. Maybe some of it is helpful; maybe some it is confusing. And just maybe, you are feeling overwhelmed. Yes, there is a lot to learn, but no, you don’t have to learn it all at once. You couldn’t even if you … [Read more...]
Can You Homestead When You’re Broke?
Do you keep putting off your dream of homesteading while you try to save up enough money to get started? With the cost of everyday living, that can be a frustrating and never-ending experience. How would it change things if you made the decision to begin homesteading with what you already have? You can, you know. It may not look like the … [Read more...]
7 Ways to Protect Your Homestead
According to FBI statistics, “A burglary occurs nearly every 15 seconds in the United States”. Even more alarming, “A majority of home intruders gain access forcibly through a 'locked' door.” Now imagine an intruder gained forcible entry to your house on the homestead, a location far away from authorities. This is a nightmare scenario that could be … [Read more...]
