Homesteading at Home

With the advent of today's modern green movement, many of us have found that living "green" and living "frugally" go hand in hand. It is easy to dream of owning a few acres, having some livestock and living off of the land. But you don't have to own any acres to homestead. In fact, urban and city dwellers can homestead almost as easily as anyone with just a few acres of land.

Homesteading is the art of applying yourself to the land; and getting results. Gardening, livestock, sustainable living, free-energy production and self reliance are all many of the benefits of homesteading. Gardening and farming are just the tip of the iceberg for homesteading and what can be done in small and large spaces alike.

In fact, many homesteading practices can be applied anywhere you live on this great blue planet. Harvesting sustainable wood, gardening and using renewable energy like solar power have already been used far and wide throughout the urban centers and cities of our planet with great successes.

Doing the correct research for your area is the first step in homesteading at home. What is available to your area? Is solar power the best option or wind? Can chickens be raised in your area? What vegetables grow best in your climate? Doing your homework prior to buying the farm might seem like common sense, but each homesteading activity can require different tools, skills and budgets for each project relative to your local environment, economy and neighborhood.

Another good beginning to homesteading at home is starting small and working your way to larger projects. Start with a few simple home renovations or repairs long before you plan on building your own home from scratch. Attending seminars for straw bale building can get you started in sustainable building practices which can lead to you constructing your own straw bale home.

Many renewable energy, homesteading and gardening workshops are available from Habitat for Humanity, 4H and other local homesteading initiatives. Online resources abound (including this authors) on homesteading, using renewable resources and gardening/farming.

From rainwater collection to organic farming to sustainable energy consumption, homesteading is a great way to go green. Best of all, you don't need to own a farm, learn vast amounts of farming knowledge or be able to drive a tractor. We can all homestead at home by using the practices and arts of our ancestors as well as the most recent additions of our newest homesteader's ideas and advices.