So you’re interested in homesteading. But where do you start? Should you buy some land, buy a cow, start a farmstand, build a barn, plant a field of corn; there are too many choices, help! Calm, the key is starting small and then building up as you have time, money, and interest. Chances are you’ve already started down the path of homesteading without even noticing (do you by chance cook from scratch sometimes or visit the farmer’s market), but if you want some direction here is where I’d recommend starting. This is how I started. Any of these three homesteading skills can be done from any location: rural, urban, or somewhere in between.
In the ‘Kitchen’
Make some jam. Jam is easy to make, quick, takes few ingredients, does not require any intimidating equipment such as pressure cookers, looks impressive when you’re done, and makes great gifts to family and friends. I’m serious about the last one. I have never, ever, heard anything but delight from somebody when I gift them with homemade jam. I’m thrilled when people give me jam and I make my own. Homemade jam is tasty! But, I digress. Two other huge benefits of making jam are that in every box of pectin there are a set of basic recipes that are easily followed. So no big deal if you lose a recipe. The last benefit is that it’s pretty hard to mess up jam. One of your jars doesn’t seal, who cares, throw it in the fridge and eat it right away. The jam is slightly runny, again, who cares, it still tastes good. Also, jam is versatile, you can freeze it, can it, or eat it right away. It’s a no-lose situation with jam.
In the ‘Garden’
Lettuce is a great plant to start gardening with. There are a million ways to make a sandwich or a salad and everyone likes lettuce. It’s also easy to grow. A 1’x1’x1′ pot will grow enough baby lettuce for a single person all season. Just for perspective in the picture above, my lettuce bed is about 2’x3′ and it is PLENTY of lettuce. Keep the lettuce pot growing in a partially shady spot so the lettuce won’t bolt in the warm weather, meaning the lettuce will grow flowers, eventually seeds, and basically taste really bitter.
In the ‘Barnyard’
If you are going to pick an animal to start homesteading with, pick chickens, for so many reasons. First and foremost they are allowed everywhere even in urban settings. Second, there is a huge online support network that can supply you with any information you need from chicken houses, chicken tractors, to chicken breeds. Additionally, eggs, yum, eggs. The benefit of laying hens is that you collect the eggs and unlike many other farm animals there is no butchering involved. Laying hens are particularly easy to find as well, any feed store will have them and often you can find older hens for free on Craigslist.
So pick one or all three of these ‘homesteading’ goals to try. See what hooks you and inspires you to try it again. If you need some more simple ideas of how to get further down the path of homesteading read our 25 Ideas to Help you Start Homesteading’.
For those of you already started on your journey, let me know how you started down the path of homesteading and what your recommendations to others are. Also, for those just starting out, let me know how your jam turned out.
