If you’re thinking about growing your own food…

Or leaving the hustle and bustle of the city, or opting for a slower, simpler life, maybe homesteading is for you. While the definition of homesteading can vary among homesteaders, there are some common themes that run through most interpretations of it.

I’ve created this guide to share with you what modern homesteading means to us, its benefits, some misconceptions, and how to get your own homestead started. Who knows, maybe you’re already doing it!

What is modern homesteading?

Before we dive in, let's start with the most basic question, "What is a homestead?"

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the definition of a homestead is:

the home and adjoining land occupied by a family
a tract of land acquired from U.S. public lands by filing a record and living on and cultivating the tract

This definition is based on the The Homestead Act of 1862, signed by President Abraham Lincoln, basically granting all Americans the opportunity to claim 160 acres of public land for a small fee as long as they agreed to build a residence in it, cultivate it, and improve it within 5 years.

This turned out to be a really tough deal to close for the homesteaders of the 1800s. Living conditions were harsh and they lacked the resources to succeed.

Why do people homestead today?

Today, people choose to homestead not because of necessity, but because of the desire to embrace a lifestyle that celebrates traditional skills while living in a modern world. Instead of moving to buy raw land and build everything from ground up, modern homesteaders have the room to choose which homesteading practices fit their family and unique situations.

For some, this might look like keeping a few backyard chickens. For others, this might be growing their favorite veggies on their apartment balconies. And for others, this might mean aiming to raise most of their food while living off-grid.

No matter which route you go, you'll find that there is a common thread among the reasons most people choose to homestead today. Homesteaders today feel the desire to eat nutritious whole foods, claim back control over their health, and live a more self-sufficient lifestyle.

What are the benefits of modern homesteading?

Until homesteading entered the conversations in our home, I never thought twice about buying meat and produce from the grocery store. It probably occurred to me at some point that I didn't know where or what conditions these animals were raised in before they became neatly packaged food items on the shelf. I know that some fruits and veggies are very heavily sprayed, but that's why we wash them before eating, right?

So what's the big deal?

I could say we were pretty healthy—we cooked most of our meals at home, stayed active, didn't eat too much sugar, and rarely got sick. We're doing well considering other possible circumstances, I thought.

And then it happened. Justin asked me if I've seen how chickens are raised in CAFOs (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations), and then proceeded to show me some videos on what goes on in chicken houses and how they process the animals afterwards.

There wasn't an instant switch in my head to go and raise our own chickens. There was definitely an internal struggle—I now knew I did not want to support that industry, but picking a nicely packaged chicken breasts from the store is just so easy…

But what else, I thought, has been so aptly deceiving in the packaging and marketing labels that we read on food products? This was the start of my deep dive into the food industry and what ultimately led us to pursue this modern homesteading lifestyle.

Of course, we didn't have to start from scratch like the early homesteaders did, but building a homestead today still has it's own challenges.

Note: What homesteading is NOT about

It's easy to assume that modern homesteading means moving out into the country and giving up all technology. Before talking about the benefits of homesteading, I just want to briefly share what it is NOT about:

being self-sufficient out of fear
living like a hermit on an island (because community is foundational in this lifestyle)
producing absolutely everything on your own

Ok with that out of the way, let's dive into the benefits of modern homesteading that we’ve experienced!

1. Enriching lifestyle

There is nothing like watching the sun rise over your garden, watching tiny seeds grow into large tomatoes, eating eggs collected right from your backyard, and smoking ribs harvested from pigs that you raised on your own pasture.

When your kids take charge of feeding the chicks and watering their gardens, there is a peace that comes over you in knowing that they are growing up learning how to become stewards of a gift bestowed to them.

When you realize that you're not just a consumer but an active producer and partner in what you eat and what you grow, the homestead can't help but make your life richer in every way.

2. Relearning traditional skills

Our goal in modern homesteading is not to make things more difficult in refusing modern conveniences available to us today. We simply want to have a more wholesome and intentional approach in taking care of ourselves, our families, and our land. In our homestead, we use an electric oven, a stand mixer, a blender and a few other kitchen gadgets to make cooking from scratch easier.

We want to rely less on industrial food systems, eat whole foods, and consume less preservatives and processed foods. In doing so, we choose to trade in the convenience of making a trip to the store with the effort it takes to grow our food and cook from scratch.

I'm not going to sugar coat it—it takes more time, but the trade-off is worth it.

3. Becoming self-sufficient

Earlier this year, we raised and butchered chickens for meat and stocked our deep freezer with enough to last us for a year. This was our first big move towards independence from the food system. A few months later, we sent two of our pigs to get butchered. We got enough delicious meat for us and some more to share. Our garden didn't do as well though. We didn't get a good harvest, but still got a few tomatoes and watermelons to enjoy.

To us, self-sufficiency is not about producing everything we need, by ourselves, with no help from the outside. It's part of the homestead journey to a more sustainable life.

4. Slowing down, living simpler, and reevaluating priorities

We live in a fast-paced world where people are busy, things are changing, and new trends are showing up constantly. We get bombarded with input from social media, the news, and ads everywhere we look. Buy this. Try that. Have you seen this? How does that make you feel?

Since starting our homestead, we have intentionally left that space for more time outside, away from screens, and with less noise from world. We’re in the kitchen preparing homemade meals. The kids are outside making forts. And we’re doing this together as a family. (Choosing to homeschool our kids has also allowed us to gather around the table together without the day rushing us ahead.)

This might sound mundane for some people, but not for us. We have simply reevaluated our priorities and have chosen to enjoy the fruits of our work through the food we eat and the people we share our time with.

5. Reconnecting with our food

Somewhere along the way, our society started preferring convenience over quality. We started taking labels at face value and caring less about the assurance that we're actually getting what we're buying.

Having the chance to grow and raise some of our fruits, veggies, and meat has really shined a light on how disconnected we've become from our food source. Every day, homesteading gives us a deeper appreciation towards raising, growing and eating wholesome foods.

There is something special in taking charge of the nutrition that our garden and animals receive as they grow. Knowing that they were well taken care of before they become food on our plates has been a very enriching experience.

I think I want to try this out…

Now that you understand a bit more about modern homesteading, you might be wondering how you can shift towards this more intentional and simpler lifestyle. Here are a few tips I can share with you that helped us tremendously in our own journey:

1. Be realistic

Sit for a second and dream about how you'd like your homestead to be, then look at where you are right now. Are you currently in an apartment or townhome with limited space? Maybe your first step is to plant a container garden.

What do your finances look like? Maybe your first step is to organize your budget.

Do you have young children? Maybe your first step is to learn how to cook from scratch.

Do you have a backyard? Maybe your first step is to get a flock of egg laying chickens.

Remember that everyone's starting point is different and unique to their living situation. What matters is that you start with what you can do and grow from there.

2. Start small

If you've never grown your vegetables before and decide that you're going to plant an acre to start with, you will quickly reach a point of overwhelm. Instead, ease into the changes so you can get used to the new routine you will have.

If you're not used to cooking from scratch, reserve one day of the week or one meal each day to practice. If you want to have a flock of chickens, start with a small flock of egg layers.

Starting a homestead takes time, consistency and discipline. Start small and learn everything you can in that season. The following year, add a bit more, and so on.

3. Make friends

As I briefly mentioned in the section on what modern homesteading is not about, community is super important in this lifestyle. There will be times when you can't seem to do anything right and your garden is failing. Or when your chickens (in our case, pigs) escape and you need help getting them back in. Having someone who understands why you're pursuing this lifestyle can help you in so many ways.

At the same time, when you have an abundance of tomatoes, it's a wonderful feeling to have someone to share the bounty with. If you are handy with tools, your skillset will be a blessing towards someone who needs help with a project.

4. Learn, learn, learn

And learn some more. The homestead is your classroom. Your plants and animals will always be teaching you something new.

Thankfully, there are a lot of experienced homesteaders who have made their experiences available for us to learn from. There are so many books and videos we can access now that will help in transitioning to a homesteading lifestyle.

If you’re ready to jump in, check out this guide I made where I outline 7 easy steps for you to start building your homestead today. It comes with a free worksheet as well!

Tips for success in starting your homestead

Tip #1: It's all about the mindset

More than anything, adopting a homesteading lifestyle is a mindset shift. It's not about simply doing things the hard, old-fashioned way. It's about intentionally seeking to know and learn more about our land and nutrition.

It's about the joy and pride we get from knowing that the hard work from raising our food responsibly is giving back to the earth what it gave us. It's having the goal of teaching our children and their children how to become stewards of the land.

Tip #2: Don't be afraid of hard work

Every homestead is different, but they all require hands-on work. There is setting up infrastructure and maintenance to do, whether it's building a chicken coop or pulling out weeds. Remember the farm fresh eggs, flavor-rich veggies, and delicious milk that you will get to stay motivated. It's truly worth the effort.

Tip #3: Don't try to do it all

Pace yourself. I promise you, there will be projects to add to your list all the time. Think seasonally and apply that to your schedule. On our homestead, we like to work on outdoor projects in the fall and winter when it's not too hot outside.

Tip #4: Embrace what the modern world can give with discernment

I love having my stand mixer, instant pot, and other kitchen gadgets. They make cooking from scratch more enjoyable and efficient without sacrificing food quality. We use solar chargers for our electric fences to keep our animals in. And I'm sharing our journey with you right now through the internet.

There are many good technological advances that we can embrace as homesteaders. We just have to do our research and decide which ones to support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Nope. You can start in your kitchen, balcony, backyard, or basement (aquaponics, anyone?). Potted herbs are a great way to get used to gardening. You will need more space if you want to raise livestock, but as a beginner, a few hundred square feet plus some deep bedding will allow you to raise a pig or two.
It depends on what your starting out with. If you want to start with a small garden, learn about soil health and seed-starting first. If you're ready for a backyard chickens, learn about the different breeds and which ones are best for your climate and living situation. There isn't one right thing to learn first.
Certainly not. As I've mentioned in Tip #4 to start a successful homestead, there are lot of tools available to us now that we can take advantage of. Unless your goal is to try and live like the homesteaders of the 1800s, you are more than welcome to use whatever you need.
I've put together a basic guide to help you here. The 7 steps I've provided will help ease you into starting your homestead.
I didn't either! It's wonderful and reassuring to know that we can learn and grow with the seasons. If your garden fails to thrive this summer, take note of what you did, learn from your mistakes, and try again next year. Take advantage of the resources that you have and you'll be off before you know it!

Lastly...

Modern homesteading is unique to each family. Ultimately, we all feel the pull to pursue a more active role in our food, health, and family. We adopt the mindset of abundance, always ready to learn and grow. We thrive in learning environments where we can challenge ourselves and we find purpose in creating a lifestyle that produces more than consumes.

Would you like to start your own homestead? If so, what hold-ups do you have? Any stories you’d like to share on your journey so far? Homesteading is full of challenges and wins! Share them in the comments below!

If you’d like some extra direction on how you can start your homestead, check out my guide on The 7 Easy Steps to Start Building Your Homestead Now.

Modern Homesteading: What is it anyway?