Homesteading Skills to Learn While Waiting on Your Homestead

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Homesteading Skills: Learn 6 key skills like gardening, canning, DIY fixes, and cooking from scratch while you wait to start your dream homestead.

Pretty much anyone can build a homesteading lifestyle, whether you’re out in the quiet countryside or living in the hustle and bustle of a busy city. How do I know this?

Before we lived on our farm, I spent a long time wishing I lived out in the country, growing my own food, riding horses and raising animals. I remember feeling the pain of that vision being so far away at times, seemingly impossible all together because of all the obstacles we would have to overcome to make it happen. 

The moment my “suffering” became more bearable, was when I decided to carry on as if I lived on a homestead already, even though we were cooped up in a tiny city apartment. While there were many things that I obviously couldn’t do, I was surprised at how many things I COULD do, even under my current circumstances. 

When we finally moved onto the farm, it was such a blessing to me, that I didn’t have to figure out how to do EVERYTHING all at one. I already mastered several “homesteading” skills, which gave me a lot more bandwidth to learn the things I did not yet know. 

If you find your heart yearning for a homestead, that may or may not come, begin by learning some of the following homesteading skills right now.

1. Gardening Basics

Gardening is such a rewarding thing to get into, whether you’re growing a couple of herbs on your windowsill or turning your backyard into a mini farm. It’s a great way to save on groceries, feel more connected to what you eat, and live a little more sustainably. You don’t need a ton of space or expensive gear to make it happen. With a few basic tools and a little know-how, you’re all set to start growing your own food and taking a step toward self-sufficiency.

Container gardening

Container gardening is a fantastic way to grow herbs, tomatoes, and peppers even if you live in an apartment. You can set up a bunch of pots on a balcony, patio, or even a windowsill.  Just make sure the containers are big enough and have good drainage.

Composting

Composting is definitely one of the most important skills to learn as a gardener or homesteader. If you’re new to it, don’t stress, as composting is super easy. Besides that, it’s a great way to cut down on food waste while improving the overall quality of your garden soil. 

And no, you don’t need a huge yard to compost. You can start with a little kitchen compost bin to collect scraps like coffee grounds, veggie peels, and eggshells. Over time, those scraps turn into rich compost that’ll make your plants grow healthier. It’s one of those simple habits that can make a huge difference in the long run.

Start with the basics like when to plant and how to start seeds indoors. That’s how to get a head start on the growing season and harvest fresh veggies earlier, especially in colder climates. If you’re working with limited space, try planting things like lettuce, basil, or radishes. Why? Because these are easy to grow, and they don’t take up much room. 

2. Canning, Fermentation, and Dehydration

If you’re looking to build your homestead skills while you wait for that perfect time to get your homestead rolling, learning food preservation is a super important step. Whether you’re on a tight budget, limited by a small space, or just wanting to reduce your dependency on the grocery store, the three skills below will pay off big. With the growing season approaching, there’s no better time to learn or improve these basic skills for the long run.

Canning 

Canning is one of the most traditional ways to preserve food. It’s a fantastic way to put up fruits, jams, and pickles for the future. If you’ve never tried water bath canning, don’t worry. The first time can be a bit of a learning curve, but you’ll soon get the hang of it. 

Start with something simple, like making jams or pickles, which require little more than a pot and some jars. You’d be amazed at how well this works with all the items you grow in your own garden, a community garden, or buy from local farmers. It’s all about making good use of fresh produce while it’s in season, so you can enjoy it in the winter months when fresh food sources are scarce.

Wondering where to start? Read this post on canning cherry tomatoes first. 

Fermentation

 Fermentation is another skill worth mastering. While you might think of it as old-fashioned, it’s a great addition to your self-sufficiency toolkit. Fermenting vegetables, like sauerkraut or kimchi, or even making kombucha, brings probiotics into your everyday life. 

Plus, fermented foods are a good idea for your gut health, which is important when you’re living a more simple life. It might take some time management to start a batch, but it’s a wonderful way to preserve the harvest, and the results are delicious. You can get the instructions for fermenting tomatoes from this resource. 

Dehydration 

Dehydration is an easy way to preserve a variety of foods. Whether you’re drying herbs or fruits, dehydrating is a handy technique for urban homesteaders or anyone grappling with time and space constraints. 

It’s especially practical for when you have a small area and don’t want to waste anything from the garden. The shelf life of dehydrated goods can last a couple years, so it’s an investment that pays off in the long run. What is more, it’s so satisfying to know that your work in the kitchen is putting your traditional skills to good use.

Food preservation is a first start on the journey toward becoming a successful homesteader, even if you’re still working on finding your new location or moving to a new location. It’s how you build your skill sets and really make the most out of what you can grow, whether that’s with a large garden in the backyard or a few raised beds in your small space.

Here’s a post that shows you how to dehydrate strawberries, if you’d like to learn specific stuff about this process. 

Bonus Homesteading Skills: Freezing, Root Cellaring, and Pickling

Food preservation is about more than just canning or freezing your harvest; it’s about extending the life of your food and reducing waste. With some simple tools and techniques, you can preserve food that you grow or buy in bulk, saving money and ensuring you have healthy, homemade options all year round.

Freezing

Freezing is another great way to preserve food. Whether you’re preserving vegetables, fruits, or meats, freezing locks in freshness and nutrients. The key is to blanch (briefly boil and then cool) vegetables like green beans or carrots before freezing them to maintain their flavor and texture. You can also freeze berries and herbs, making it easy to add them to smoothies, baking, or meals when you need them. Freezing is often the simplest and quickest method, especially for fruits and veggies that you just can’t eat fast enough.

Root Cellaring

If you’re lucky enough to have a basement or cool space, you might want to try root cellaring. This age-old preservation method involves storing root vegetables (like carrots, potatoes, and onions) in cool, dark, and humid conditions. A root cellar is like nature’s fridge, allowing you to keep produce fresh without the need for refrigeration. With a little research, you can create a basic root cellar in your home, or even just use a cool closet or space in your basement.

Pickling

Pickling is a fantastic way to preserve not just cucumbers but also a wide variety of vegetables. From green beans to carrots and even beets, you can pickle pretty much about anything. This process involves soaking vegetables in vinegar and spices, which helps them last that much longer. It’s a simple process that doesn’t require much beyond jars, vinegar, salt, and your favorite spices. The whole point of pickling is you’ll get delicious, tangy treats to enjoy all year long.

3. DIY and Repair Skills

Learning basic DIY and repair skills can make a big difference for any homesteader, even if you’re just starting. Knowing how to take care of simple repairs around your home can save you a lot of money and frustration in the long run. Whether you’re trying to fix a leaky faucet, build a small shed, or repair a broken piece of furniture, these skills can come in handy every day.

Basic carpentry 

Learning basic carpentry is an excellent place to start. You don’t need to be a pro right away, but knowing how to fix things around the house, build raised beds, or even complete some small furniture projects can be incredibly satisfying. Not to mention, if you plan to build things on your homestead in the future, a little knowledge now goes a long way.

Plumbing and electrical 

Plumbing and electrical work are essential skills to have, but you don’t need to be a licensed pro to handle the basics. Knowing how to fix a clogged drain or replace a light switch can save you time and hassle when those little problems pop up. And let’s face it, there’s always something electrical or plumbing-related that needs fixing around the house. If you’re on a tight budget or live in a rural area, having these skills can be a real lifesaver.

Plus, we all know that electricians and plumbers charge a small fortune these days, even for the simplest fixes. It’s pretty empowering to know you can take care of the small stuff yourself, saving some money and only calling in the experts for the bigger jobs that need specialized or technical know-how.

Mending and sewing

Mending and sewing are some of the most practical and satisfying DIY skills you can learn. It’s not just about fixing your favorite pair of jeans or patching up a blanket. These skills can save you money and help you make useful things like curtains, pillowcases, and totes. 

There’s something special about taking a torn piece of clothing and giving it new life with just a little time and handy effort. It’s all about creating and fixing things with your own hands, making them work for you. It feels pretty great to know you can handle small repairs on your own without having to toss something out or spend money to replace it.

4. Cooking Delicious Meals And Treats from Scratch

Cooking from scratch is one of the most empowering homesteading skills you can develop, no matter where you live. It connects you to your food and helps you take control of what’s on your plate. From baking your own bread to cooking hearty meals with fresh ingredients, this skill is a cornerstone of self-sufficiency.

Baking Sourdough Bread

Baking sourdough bread at home is a great way to get started with baking. You only need a few basic ingredients you probably already have — flour, salt, sugar, milk, butter, water, and spices. It can be a bit of a learning curve at first, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to bake fresh bread whenever you want. There’s something so rewarding about making it yourself, and the smell of fresh-baked sourdough filling your house is unbeatable.

Not only does this type of bread taste better than store-bought bread, but it also allows you to avoid preservatives and other additives. If you’ve never baked bread before, this is a great time to first start. The satisfaction of pulling a fresh loaf out of the oven is unmatched.

And there are all sorts of sourdough recipes out there waiting for you to try as soon as you grasp the basics of prepping your own active starter at home.

Cooking with Whole Foods

The day you start cooking with whole foods is the day you begin to feel more in control of your meals and your health. It entails preparing meals from scratch using fresh vegetables, fruits, and meats.  You’re not just making healthier choices, you’re also building your self-sufficiency. 

You won’t have to rely on the grocery store for every meal. With just a bit of planning and effort, you can create hearty, delicious dishes with simple healthier ingredients. If you have access to a farmer’s market, that’s a great place to stock up on fresh produce, meats, and dairy to make your meals even better.

Bonus tip: Cooking in Small Spaces

For urban homesteaders, learning how to make meals in a small space can be a challenge, but it’s very doable. Use wall racks for pots and utensils, and stack containers to keep things neat. A pressure cooker or multi-cooker can replace a bunch of other appliances, saving room. 

Batch cooking is a big time-saver, so make a big pot of soup or roast veggies for the week. One-pan meals are perfect for smaller kitchens, and appliances like slow cookers or air fryers don’t take up much space. Stick to versatile ingredients that work in multiple meals, and keep recipes simple. With a little planning, you can still cook up tasty meals from scratch, even in a tiny city kitchen. 

5. Herbalism and Natural Remedies

Learning about herbs and natural remedies can be a game-changer for your homesteading journey. Not only can it help reduce your reliance on modern medicine, but it also gives you the tools to support your health in a more natural, sustainable way. 

Whether it’s growing herbs like lavender for stress relief, or using peppermint for digestive issues, there’s a whole world of healing plants that can offer practical benefits.

Herb Identification

Learning how to identify common medicinal herbs is a handy skill to have. Think about plants like lavender, peppermint, and echinacea — these are full of benefits and can be super useful in your daily life. 

Once you’ve got a handle on identifying them, you can start adding fresh mint to your tea or using lavender to help calm your nerves. The best part is, many of these herbs are easy to grow right in your own backyard or even on your windowsill. 

But knowing what they are and where to find them is just the start. You’ll also want to learn how to harvest and use them to get the most out of their healing properties. 

Basic First Aid with Natural Remedies

Making your own salves, tinctures, and teas from herbs can really come in handy. A simple calendula salve can soothe skin irritation, and elderberry syrup is great for supporting your immune system. These natural remedies are not a replacement for medical care, but they can save you a trip to the drugstore for small stuff. With just a few common herbs and a little research, you can start making your own remedies at home. If you’re interested, here’s a guide to growing some medicinal herbs that are easy to start with.

6. Natural Cleaning and Personal Care

As you dive deeper into homesteading, you might find yourself wanting to switch from commercial cleaning products and personal care items to more natural alternatives. It’s not only healthier for you and your family, but it’s also easier on your wallet and better for the environment. Here are some ideas to get you started. 

Natural Cleaning

Look, you don’t need a bunch of harsh chemicals to clean your home. If you’re willing to learn one more new skill today, you can make most of your own cleaning products with simple ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils. 

These natural options are safe, effective, and won’t leave any harmful residues behind. For an easy all-purpose cleaner, just mix water, vinegar, and a few drops of lemon or lavender oil. This natural cleaning solution works great on countertops, floors, and even glass.

Homemade Soap

You might think making your own soap is complicated, but once you get the basics down, it’s actually a fun and easy process. All you need are oils (like olive oil or coconut oil), lye, and water. You can experiment with different scents by adding essential oils or make moisturizing soaps with ingredients like honey or oats. Not only will you save some money, but you’ll also avoid the harsh chemicals people buy in most store-bought soaps.

Herbal Skin Care

Learn how to make your own herbal skincare products, like salves, lotions, and lip balms. With simple ingredients like coconut oil, beeswax, and dried herbs, you can whip up natural products that are gentle on your skin. For example, you could make a soothing lavender and calendula salve for dry skin or a healing balm for cuts and scrapes. The best part? You’ll know exactly what’s in your products, and you’ll avoid all the potentially harmful stuff found in processed skincare products.

Final Thoughts

No matter where you’re at in your journey, picking up these 7 practical skills for successful homesteading will get you closer to being more self-sufficient and living a more fulfilling, sustainable life. 

Whether you’re just starting out or already working toward your dream homestead, each of these basic homesteading skills will help you feel more confident and independent, even if you’re living in a small apartment right the middle of a busy city. 

So, dive in, take it one valuable skill at a time, and most importantly, enjoy getting more connected to your food, your environment, and your day-to-day life.