How to Start a Homestead: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Sufficient Living

A couple of summers back, I decided to build a raised garden bed with my oldest daughter. I’d just watched a YouTube video on companion planting and figured I had it mostly figured out. We hauled in bags of soil, sketched out neat little rows on a scrap of cardboard, and planted tomatoes next to basil because, according to the guide, they were supposed to be “best friends.”

By the second week, she'd turned the bed into her own art project. She made stick signs for each row to show what we planted there and tucked a painted rock in the corner to mark it as ‘our garden’. It looked kind of messy. But, a few weeks later, tomatoes showed up.

That’s when it clicked for me.

Homesteading isn’t about perfection. It’s about participation. Getting your hands in the dirt and learning what works.

Since then, we’ve added compost bins, started a better backyard garden, and we’re now working on turning a raw piece of land into Mission Farmstead. The farm isn’t running yet. We don’t live there full time. But the foundation is being built—one compost pile, one seed tray, one decision at a time. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to start a homestead or live a little closer to your food, this guide will give you a down-to-earth look at what it takes to begin, even in a backyard.

What Is a Homestead?

Homesteading is about building a life where more of what you need comes from your own hands, your own land, or your local community. It can look like a backyard garden in the suburbs, a chicken coop next to the garage, or a full small farm setup on a few acres. It’s less about size and more about mindset.

At its core, homesteading means learning how to provide for yourself. That might include growing your own vegetables, keeping backyard chickens for eggs, preserving food, composting, or harvesting rainwater. For some, it leads to full off grid living. For others, it’s just about finding simple living tips that bring more independence and connection to daily life.

Why Homesteading Matters

I remember my daughter picking a cherry tomato straight off the vine and popping it in her mouth like a snack. It stuck with me. Not just because we grew it, but because she knew we grew it. That knowing is the part that mattered.

Homesteading has changed how I pay attention. I notice things now I didn’t used to. Weather patterns. What’s in season. How much we throw away. It’s shaped the way I shop, cook, and raise my kids.

If you're wondering what the benefits of homesteading are, here’s what I’ve seen:

• You get to eat fresh, healthy food.
• You cut out the middlemen.
• You reduce waste.
• You pick up skills that matter.
• You get more connected to your home and community.

How to Start a Homestead: What You Need

You don’t need 77 acres to start homesteading. A backyard garden and a compost bin can go a long way. Here’s how to begin, whether you’re in the city or countryside:

1. Start With a Backyard Garden

You don’t need a big yard. Just sunlight and decent soil. Raised beds or grow bags can work on patios or small lots. Tomatoes, greens, herbs, and peppers are great for beginners. A backyard garden is one of the best entry points into the homestead life.

It’s also a good way to get kids involved. Let them plant, water, and harvest. Ours like building stick signs and turning compost almost more than eating the vegetables.

2. Try Composting

My kids and I compost at home. We use a rotating bin and throw in food scraps, leaves, and shredded cardboard. It’s simple, but it’s one of the most important things we do. Compost feeds your soil, cuts waste, and keeps the cycle going.

Check out my blog on Composting on the Farm to get started.

3. Add Backyard Chickens (When Ready)

We don’t have chickens yet, but it’s something we plan to add once we move onto the land. If your town allows it, backyard chickens are one of the best ways to produce your own food. Fresh eggs. Natural fertilizer. Built-in composters. They’re a good first step into animal care. Start with a small coop, a few hens, and a fenced area for foraging.

4. Learn to Cook and Preserve

Homesteading isn’t just about growing. It’s about using what you grow. Learn to can, ferment, or freeze your harvest. These skills turn seasonal produce into year-round meals. You don’t need to learn it all at once. Pick one new skill each season and stack them from there.

5. Think Local

Homesteading ties directly into the local food movement. Start shopping at a nearby farm market. Talk to local farmers. Learn how small farm setups work. You’ll pick up a lot just by asking questions and paying attention.

See more on this in  The Future of Small Farms: Why Buying Local Food Matters and Farm-to-Table Explained: Eat Local, Eat Fresh.

Can You Homestead in the City?

Yes. Urban homesteading is real. If you’ve got a balcony, windowsill, or shared green space, you can start a garden. If you’ve got a roof, you might be able to collect rainwater. Community gardens and shared chicken coops are more common than you think.

The key is starting where you are. Homestead life isn’t a checklist. It’s a mindset.

Homesteading Tools and Skills to Build

People often ask what tools they need to get started with beginner homesteading. Here are some basics that go a long way:

Tools:

• Raised beds or garden containers
• Compost bin or tumbler
• Hand tools (shovel, hoe, clippers)
• Rain barrels (for off grid living or water conservation)
• Canning jars, dehydrator, or a pressure cooker

Skills:

• Growing food from seed
• Composting kitchen and yard waste
• Basic carpentry or DIY repairs
• Cooking from scratch
• Understanding soil and natural cycles

I’ve put together some recommendations here:  Essential Tools for Homesteaders.

How Homesteading Connects to Mission Farmstead

Mission Farmstead is being built with the same mindset that drives homesteaders. We’re early in the process. This is our first season working the soil, setting up infrastructure, and preparing to raise animals.

But the goal is clear. A working farmstead built around local food, backyard farming principles, and a small farm setup that invites others to learn, grow, and take part.

Even our Farm School for Homeschool Kids will follow the same approach. Kids will get hands-on experience with gardening, composting, and real farm work. We want them to understand where their food comes from and what it takes to grow it.

Homesteading doesn’t just teach skills. It builds perspective. And we believe there’s room for everyone—backyard farmers, weekend growers, full-time homesteaders. Each one plays a part in building a better food system.

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about starting a homestead, you don’t need the perfect setup or a big piece of land. Just start. Grow something. Fix something. Learn something new. Make it part of your routine.

Our farm started with a small raised bed and a handful of cherry tomatoes. It started with painted rocks and messy garden signs. It started with a simple question: what can we do with what we already have?

If you’re wondering how to homestead, the best place to start is right where you are.

Grow something small. Build something simple. Learn something new. Then do it again.