The Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Homesteading

S tarting a homestead is exciting, but it’s important to lay some groundwork before you jump in. This chapter helps you create a plan for your property so you can visualize your projects and determine the most efficient use of your space. You’ll also learn about soil type, growing zones, and seasons, all of which affect what you can raise on your homestead. These strategies and tips will help you make the most of what your backyard has to offer, and they will help you customize a plan to fit your needs.

Planning your homestead on paper can help you prevent costly mistakes. If you map out your existing property features and growing conditions, it will be easier to determine which projects will fit. First, draw your property on graph paper. Check online for an aerial view or request a copy of your plat map, which shows the size and shape of your land, from the county assessor’s office. If you can’t find this information, measure your lot lines, mark the direction of north, note the scale, and sketch out the following features:

Once your map is complete, lay a sheet of tracing paper on top. Sketch out projects that interest you, taking care to plan around utility lines and septic fields. Make several drawings, moving features around to see how well the layout works.

Your homestead plans may change significantly as you read through the rest of the book. It’s better to start out small and add more features later, but the map will give you a much better idea of what will fit on your land.

Before you start planting crops, it’s important to learn about your soil, which has a significant impact on crop growth. You need to understand your soil’s health, texture, and pH to ensure successful harvests, particularly if you’re thinking about investing in picky crops like blueberries and cherries. It’s common to find several soil conditions on your property. Note the soil types on your homestead map for future reference.

Soil Texture

To start, dig a hole in each garden area that’s 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Examine the soil for worm tunnels and rotting plants. Soil that contains signs of life is healthiest for plant growth. There are three main types of soil: clay, silt, and sand. Soil texture affects water drainage and available nutrients. Follow these steps to determine your soil texture:

1. Gather a handful of soil a few inches below the turf.

2. Remove any stones or debris.

3. Add some water and work the soil until it sticks to your hands.

4. Try to roll the soil into a ball. Sandy soil won’t form a ball easily, whereas clay rolls into a smooth ball. Press the soil between your fingers and assess whether it is sticky (clay), silky (silt), or gritty (sandy).

Troubleshooting Tip: Sandy soil doesn’t hold nutrients or moisture, and heavy clay soil retains water too long. To find out how well your soil drains, fill the hole with water. Allow it to drain overnight, then fill with water again. Use a yardstick to check the water levels every hour. If the water drains at a rate of 1 to 3 inches per hour, most plants will grow well. If the water drains faster or slower, you will need to amend the soil with compost.

On the pH scale, 0.0 is acid, 14.0 is alkaline, and 7.0 is neutral. Most plants need soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5, which is slightly acidic. If your soil has a pH outside this range, you will need to amend it. You can purchase a reusable pH meter or a soil test kit from a garden center or online. The kit should contain tables for lime and sulfur application rates. Alternatively, your local Cooperative Extension Service office will likely perform a pH test for a minimal fee. Expect your pH test to run between $7 and $14, or you can pay a bit more for the reusable meter.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with your climate and conditions. Your growing zone and seasons will determine which crops will survive and produce a harvest on your homestead, as well as the best times for seeding and harvesting. You’re probably aware that citrus fruits won’t survive in northern climates and apple trees won’t fruit without cold weather. Additionally, the average date of your last frost in spring will guide your planting dates for a successful harvest.

Take a look at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for more information about your growing zone. It outlines the 26 growing zones in the United States and notes each zone’s average minimum temperatures. Use the map to guide your choice of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

When planning for fruit trees, berry bushes, and other perennial plants, look for varieties that thrive in your area. Reputable nurseries list the hardiness zones for each plant they sell. Don’t try to cheat a plant’s requirements. If you live in zone 4, a tree hardy to zone 5 won’t survive a hard winter.

It’s important to know the average date of your last frost in spring and first frost in autumn. Use an online frost date search, such as freeze/frost data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration climate normals. This information will help you decide when to plant tender crops and gives you an idea of how long your growing season lasts. Keep in mind these dates are averages, and you could experience frosts later or earlier than those listed.

Check for microclimates, that is, places on your property where conditions are warmer or colder than normal. Tender plants may grow well along south-facing walls, so note these areas on your map. Also mark any low-lying or exposed areas where hardier plants will survive best.

Seasonal changes in temperature and rainfall can be challenging for gardeners. In southern areas, summer heat presents problems, just as cold winters do in the north. Southern gardeners may plant cool-season crops in fall and main crops in late winter to harvest before summer heat sets in. In northern zones, cool-season crops are planted early and main crops go in the ground after the frosts.

Plan to extend your harvests with cold frames in the north and shade in southern summers. Chapter 9 discusses methods for extending your growing season. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Service office for a wealth of information on common pests and diseases, as well as the best crops and varieties for your area.

It’s exciting to dream about raising your own vegetables, fruits, and laying hens. You probably want to dig right in and grow all of your own food. But just how much can you produce on your homestead?

There’s no easy answer to this question. Your projects depend on your local ordinances, growing conditions, time constraints, and budget. But there are a variety of ways to increase the abundance from your land. As you gain experience, you’ll find that each year brings new challenges and opportunities on your homestead.

Let’s get a general idea of what’s possible. Your projects will depend on the nuances of your property. An average lot in the United States is about a quarter acre, and the home, driveway, and patio take up 2,200 to 3,000 square feet. This leaves roughly 8,000 square feet for raising crops and livestock, although you have to account for paths, play areas, and utilities.

With an average backyard on a quarter acre, you have the potential to raise quite a few fruits, vegetables, and herbs, as well as chickens for meat and eggs, bees for honey, goats for milk, grains for flour and livestock feed, and a couple of turkeys for the holidays.

Each chapter gets into more depth concerning the average harvest size and space needed. For the purpose of estimating your potential homestead projects on a sunny quarter-acre lot with decent soil, take a look at our sample harvest plan.

Of course, each property is unique. For example, urban homesteaders might raise bees on a rooftop, keep two or three hens, and grow vegetables and herbs in containers on a balcony. Prioritize the most productive projects and add others as you gain experience. In rural areas, you might raise pigs, scale up your grain plantings, and tend a market garden. Read through the rest of the book to get a feel for what you can grow.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you estimate the size of your potential harvest:

Local ordinances. Check these before you begin. Some areas allow chickens and gardens but prohibit larger animals, even on rural properties. Activities such as processing meat animals or composting may be restricted.

Your property’s limitations. Shade, lack of irrigation, poor soil, and short seasons can impact your growing space. Keep in mind that growing intensively creates the potential for disease and pest problems. For each action plan you create, take the time to research potential issues and plan for treatments.

Labor. Be mindful of the labor necessary for each homesteading project. Take advantage of time-saving methods in the garden, such as mulching and drip irrigation. Remember that livestock require daily care. Feeding, cleaning stalls, and milking regularly is crucial for the health of the animals.

Financial investment. Almost every project you undertake will also require an initial cash investment. A few chicks are cheap, but the cost of caring for them adds up. And, of course, the larger the livestock, the more food they consume. It can be expensive to invest in livestock, pay vet bills, and provide grain, hay, and bedding.

Read through the chapter on each homestead feature for cost estimates and payback on your investment. Chapter 2 walks you through making realistic plans to avoid the pitfalls of homesteading.

1. 6 TO 12 EGG-LAYING HENS , 42 to 120 sq. ft. minimum, 1,200 to 3,600 eggs per year.

4. 2 BEEHIVES , 4 sq. ft. (plus room to access the hive), 80 to 120 pounds of honey per year.

With careful planning and efficient use of space, you can raise a great deal of food from your homestead. Each chapter helps you choose the crops and animals that produce the best harvests for your space and needs. Maximize harvests on your homestead with these techniques:

Use raised beds. Growing vegetables, herbs, and small fruits in raised beds allows you to get a jump start in spring and raise crops in areas with poor drainage. Learn more in chapter 3 .

Use square-foot gardening. Grow up to twice the harvest with a square-foot garden instead of a traditional row garden.

Use succession planting. Sow seeds in succession to harvest up to three times the amount of food from one bed. Early greens may be harvested in a month or so. As you harvest spring salads, replace these crops with peppers, tomatoes, or basil. As fall draws near, plant another round of cool-season vegetables. Learn more in chapter 3 .

Grow vertically and in containers. Use a trellis to grow vines, such as cucumbers, in less than half the space. Container growing allows you to raise food on a patio or even a balcony.

Improve your soil with composting. Set up a composting system to create rich, black soil for improved soil health and plant growth. With increased nutrients in the soil, you can plant vegetables intensively to crowd out weeds.

Consider raising small livestock. Chickens, rabbits, dwarf goats, and bees may be great choices for homesteaders in a small space. A variety of small livestock can increase your land’s production with milk, eggs, honey, and meat while increasing soil fertility with composted manure. Learn more in chapter 6 , chapter 7 , and chapter 8 .

As you develop your homestead plans, allow space for rotating crops and pastures to reduce parasites, disease, and pests. After you harvest, allow chickens or pigs to forage for pests while turning and fertilizing the soil.

Whether you’re looking to increase self-reliance or make a side income from your homestead, it’s crucial to diversify your harvests. This ensures you’ll have food or income even if one project fails.

As you choose your crops, livestock, and products, think about the seasons in which they’ll produce and how long the harvest will last. Plan for production over an extended period of time. Consider how to extend your season or preserve extras for later. Select plants and livestock that supply food or sales all year.

Here are some common crops and livestock and when they produce food in a temperate growing zone:

Cool-season vegetables. Peas, lettuce, broccoli, and other crops are harvested in spring and fall. Use cold frames to extend the season into winter.

Warm-season vegetables. Tomatoes, beans, sweet corn, and many other crops are harvested in summer and fall. Plant after all chance of frost.

Herbs. Plant basil, savory, and sage in the garden for summer harvest or indoors in containers for winter use.

Grains. Oats, wheat, and field corn are harvested in summer and fall and store well for winter use.

Roots and storage crops. Plant carrots, potatoes, winter squash, and other good keepers for fall harvest and winter storage in a root cellar.

Poultry for meat and eggs. Hens will lay eggs all year with supplemental light in winter. Harvest old hens and raise broilers for meat all year.

Goats. You can breed two goats at different times for year-round milk production.

Fruits and nuts. Raise these for summer and fall harvests and preserve for winter.

Spring through fall are the most productive seasons on a homestead, but you can extend your seasons and preserve the harvest to last all year with planning.