what is homesteading & how to get started

Homesteading has been around for hundreds of years and can be broadly defined as a lifestyle that is based around the idea of complete self-sufficiency.  I used to always think you had to have a large farm and tons of animals to have a homestead, but I was so wrong! In fact, you can begin homesteading today without a farm or a single animal.

Even if you do not have access to acres and acres of land. Many people have started homesteads in very small spaces. It does not matter if you live in a city with very little space, or you are considering moving to the country to homestead a large farm, full time. You can do it!

THE HISTORY OF HOMESTEADING?

The use of the term homesteading in the US dates back to the creation of The Homestead Act in 1862. This act provided adult citizens with public land grants of 160 acres, in exchange for living on the land continuously for 5 years and paying a small registration fee.

In the 1930s, the scope of homesteading expanded beyond the rich and to the poor when President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the Subsistence Homesteads Division.

MODERN HOMESTEADING

Modern homesteading is not based on Government acts or location but is based instead around becoming more self-sufficient in any capacity. The list below outlines some of the main principles of modern homesteading:

HOMESTEADING TODAY

Urban homesteading means you can live the homesteaders’ lifestyle no matter where your address is. You can get started simply by growing a few vegetables, rearing some chickens or producing your own homemade natural cleaning products.

if a self-sustaining lifestyle sounds appealing to you, take a look at the principles of modern homesteading below and see which ones you can start implementing today.

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