Have you always dreamed of Homesteading and learning all the homesteading skills it would take to make that dream happen? Great news, you can build your homesteading skills anywhere you live while saving to buy the perfect piece of property to suit your family’s needs.
It takes a long time to build the skills you will need to be self sufficient, here is a list to get you started.
Homesteading is not for the faint of heart, it is more of a lifestyle than anything. As long as you treat it like it is a way of life you are likely to get much more out of it than you can ever imagine.
Homesteading is more about being able to be self-supporting, self-reliant and not being beholden to anyone are several of things that draw people to homesteading.
The idea of being totally responsible for tending to all of many aspects of life on a homestead means that you need to be able to be handy enough to perform a wide range of tasks.
To be successful at homesteading you have to possess the skills to carry out a wide range of tasks including; planting, raising and harvesting crops, raising and tending to herds and flocks of livestock. You also need to be handy with hand and power tools, farm machinery (trucks, tractors and hay balers and a wide variety of other farm equipment.
You will also need to brush up on many domestic types skills as well including food storage, cooking, making homemade household cleaners and personal hygiene products. The more you are able to do for yourself, the less you have to rely on outside help and you are able to keep your household expenses lower.
Don’t get discouraged, you will have to go outside your comfort zone but it will be worth tackling every challenging task.
JUST CLICK ON THE TITLE OF EACH ITEM
It will take you to an article teaching you how to learn the skill.
- Embrace the motto “Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, or Do Without”
- How to build a triple compost bin
- Compost kitchen scraps and livestock manure to create an all natural fertilizer for soil
- Properly take care of and work a water well
- How to build a garden trellis obelisk
- How to make the greatest gardening tool ever invented “The Dibbler” – You can not buy it!
- Caring for and how to empty a septic tank
- Deal with unwanted people on your property
- Learn how to use a ham radio, CB radio or FRS/GMRS Radios
- How to ride a dirt bike, quad or a horse
- Grow a vegetable garden for at least 2 seasons of the year (spring,summer,fall,winter)
- How to prune a tree
- Build an outhouse
- Learn the art of bartering
- Learn how to bake bread
- How to safely use a chainsaw and bow saw.
- How to make your own natural weed killer recipe
- Learn how to cook only from scratch
- How to graft fruit trees
- How to prevent plumbing pipes from freezing and how to thaw them out
- Learning the skill of welding
- How to go to a country auction and not pay too much by determining an animal’s age by its teeth and art of haggling.
- First-aid and CPR for humans and livestock animals including injections and stitches.
- How use a wash tub, hand-wringer, washboard and a clothesline
- Learn how to make your own laundry detergent from scratch
- Dehydrate foods to preserve for food storage
- How to smoke meat to give it flavor and preserve it
- Basics of animal breeding and how to assist your livestock animals in giving birth
- Learn how to grow a year round herb garden
- Learn how to safely cut down a tree
- How to plan and plant an fruit and nut orchard
- How to shear a sheep
- Learn how to make perfect country gravy from scratch.
- How to drive a manual transmission.
- How to use a convert an electric sewing machine into a treadle sewing machine as a back up.
- How to properly use a handsaw, hammer, nails, screw driver, wire cutters and measuring tape. (Measure twice, cut once)
- Learn how to drive a tractor.
- Learn basic mechanic skills so you can fix your vehicles. Change a tire, oil and transmission fluid.
- How to properly handle, shoot, clean a gun. Store under lock and key.
- How to hunt wild game with a variety of methods. (Bow & Arrow, Sling, Gun, Traps)
- How to humanely kill and clean an animal.
- How to butcher an animal. Use every part of the animal so nothing goes to waste.
- Learning Masonry skills
- Milk a cow and goat
- Learn how to harvest rainwater and store it.
- How to fish and clean a fish
- Learn how to build a fire in the rain
- Learn how to cook over an open fire with or without cast iron pans
- Learn how to make cheese: soft and hard cheeses
- Learn the skill of a black smith
- Learn how to make yogurt, sour cream and butter at home
- Learn about Permaculture
- Learn how to make sourdough bread and a basic yeast dough
- Learn the art of beekeeping, how to harvest honey and beeswax
- Learn how to build a home or/and maintain one
- Learn how to create wattle fences – weaving green branches together
- How to incubate fertilized eggs and hatch your own chicks, ducks and geese
- Learn how to cut, bale and stack hay. Use a scythe
- Learn the art of alternating grazing and ground covers so you can better manage your pastures.
- Learn how to reload ammunition
- Learn how to make your own liquid and bar soaps
- How to make soap from wood ashes and animal fat
- How to make soap from plants
- Learn how to make your own candles
- How to use a wood stove and how to bank a fire
- Learn how to mend damaged clothes so they don’t have to be thrown away. Darn a sock
- Learn how to sew clothing from scratch or refashion thrift store finds.
- Learn how to knit, crochet, weave on a loom and quilt
- Learn how to make all of your own baking mixes from scratch
- Learn how to candle poultry eggs so you can tell if they are fertilized
- Learn how to cook with a dutch oven
- How to heat your home with wood
- Teach chickens to return to their coop upon command
- Kill, pluck and cook a chicken
- Learn to raise rabbits
- Learn how to trim the feet of your hoofed livestock
- Learn how to build and fix fence.
- Learn basic carpentry skills – your going to need them.
- Learn how to tan a hide.
- Learn how to save seeds so you can replant your garden each year for free.
- How to use a water bath canner and pressure /canner.
- Learn how to lacto ferment foods to preserve them.
- How to make sauerkraut
- How to forage for wild food edibles in your area.
- Learn how to forage for wild herbal plants for medicine.
- Learn how to identify the difference between edible and poisonous mushrooms.
- Learn how to identify the difference between harmless and venomous snakes and spiders in your area.
- Learn how to grind your own wheat, corn or beans.
- How to sprout beans for winter time fresh salad ingredients
- Learn how to re purpose everyday items. Waste not – Want not.
- Learn how to make your own pet food
- Create your own cookbook including meals made from food storage
- Learn how to make jams, jellies, salsas, chutneys, sauces
- Learn how to render lard or tallow
- Learn how to sharpen knife, ax and shovels
- Learn a variety of primitive skills
- Learn how to prepare for homestead for bad weather or natural disasters.
- Learn how to halter break livestock
- Learn how to split, stack and season firewood.
- Learn how to use essential oils and herbal medicine
- Learn how to make herbal extracts, infusions, poultices, and tinctures.
- How to build a greenhouse or cold frame to extend a garden growing season
- Learn how to start seeds indoors and then transplant into a garden
- Learn how to store food in a root cellar or in a cool basement
- How to make vinegar from apple scraps
- Learn how to make your own natural beauty products.
- Learn how to make your own natural home cleaning supplies
- Learn how to purify water at least 3 different ways
- Have at least 100 gallons of stored water.
- Learn how to make and apply whitewash
- How to make and extinguish a burn pile safely.
- Practice backing up a trailer and going around corners smoothly
- Learn how to tap trees for maple syrup
- How to repair a roof on a home, barn, shed or animal housing
- Learn how to humanely euthanize an animal.
- Learn how to make and can bone broth.
- Learn how to use alternative off the grid power (Solar,Wind,Water,Wood)
- Learn how to create a 72-hour kit for emergencies and Bug Out Bags for each family member and pets.
- Build a fully stocked food pantry for at least 3 months.
- Make your own livestock feed.
- Smoke bacon and cure hams.
- Protect your livestock from predators.
- Live within your means and get out of debt.
- Learning how to keep the pest population under control.
- Learn more than one spoken language so your family can speak to each other without most people understanding