Do you live where you feel like you can’t live the homestead lifestyle you want?
I did.
I lived in an HOA when I decided the homestead lifestyle was for me. But all I saw were roadblocks:
- The rules were clear and strict.
- There was a list of plants that we were “permitted” to have.
- I could only have a small raised bed garden in my backyard that wasn’t visible to the golf course.
- I couldn’t even think about chickens.
I felt defeated. How could I live this homestead lifestyle I now longed for? I thought I was stuck waiting until we moved to a different property. I was wrong.
I wish I had found this advice earlier. I wasted so much time thinking my dream lifestyle was only for the future. I could have developed many skills while in my “waiting room.”
So, if you are in your waiting room, this letter is for you.
I want to show you it is possible to live a full homesteading lifestyle no matter where you live. This letter gives you ideas for practical skills and shows you how to create your personalized project list you can start today.
Homesteading Skills
In the homesteading lifestyle, there are two main areas of skills:
- Practical Skills
- Learning Skills
We can break these down further:
Practical Skills
- Family and Consumer Science
- Home Food Production
- Building and Repair
These skills help you care for yourself, your family, and your home. Schools used to teach many of these skills, but they have removed them over time.
Learning Skills
Devon Eriksen has a great list of learning skills that are perfect for homesteaders.
I love how Devon has updated the 7 classical liberal arts for today. My rural public school education didn’t cover these. My engineering education covered some, but not all.
To keep this letter focused, I am sharing practical skills for you to consider. These are the skills that let you start living the homestead lifestyle today.
Practical Homesteading Skills
Family and Consumer Science
- Cooking and Baking
- Food Preservation
- Homemade Products
- Pantry Planning and Management
- Financial Management
- Time Management
- Project Management
Home Food Production
- Growing Food
- Composting
- Plant Care & Environment
- Microgreens & Sprouting
- Seed Starting
- Pest & Disease Management
Repair & DIY Skills
- Basic Repairs
- DIY Projects
Let’s take these practical skills and create your own Homestead Anywhere Blueprint so you can start living your homestead lifestyle today.
How to Create Your Personal Homestead Anywhere Blueprint
1. Assess Your Living Situation
What space do you have available? Look at your kitchen, outdoor, and living spaces to determine what projects you can fit into the space.
2. Define Your Restrictions
Understand any limits set by an HOA, landlord, or any other governing body. Read the documents – don’t assume you know or think you can because a neighbor does.
When I was living in an HOA, I could have a small raised bed garden, but it couldn’t be visible from the golf course next to my backyard. They also allowed a small list of fruit trees, but only in the backyard.
3. Identify Interests and Needs
What excites you most about the homesteading lifestyle? Is it cooking, growing food, or DIY projects?
Write down the projects that you are most passionate about.
4. Set Short-Term and Long-Term Goals
Set small goals you can achieve within a few weeks or months.
For example:
- Grow my own herbs within 3 months
- Cook one meal from scratch this week
- Build a 1-month supply of pantry staples in 3 months
Define long-term goals that focus on more significant projects. Use your short-term list to build out a long-term goal.
For Example:
- Preserve enough food to last through winter
- Build a functional container garden in 1 year
- Cook 5 meals a week from scratch this year
5. List Your Project Options
Consider your limitations, interests, needs, and goals and list your project options.
Start with the ones that excite you the most. Think about how you can combine short-term goals that lead to long-term goals.
Let’s say your long-term goal is to cut your grocery bill by 25% in 1 year.
Short-term projects to meet that goal could be:
- start meal planning
- build a pantry of ingredients
- learn to cook from scratch
- learn to make your own pantry staples
- grow herbs for recipes
- preserve food on sale
- prepare freezer meals for convenience
- monthly shopping vs weekly
You now have a list of projects that is your personal Homestead Anywhere Blueprint.
Your waiting room has now become your classroom. Pick a project and get started!
