Modern Homesteading Lifestyle: How to do this Anywhere

When you think of a homesteading lifestyle, you probably picture acres of farmland, chickens clucking around, cattle doing their thing, and a giant garden bursting with tomatoes. But what if you don’t have property, a herd of animals, or even a backyard big enough for a raised garden bed? You still can live the homesteader’s dream! Homesteading isn’t just about off-grid living and owning livestock—it’s a mindset. And the best part?  Whether in a tiny apartment or a house in the middle of a city, this lifestyle can still be yours. Let’s talk about how to live a homesteader’s lifestyle no matter where you live.

For me, the homesteading mindset started years before we ever owned property and livestock.  The more complicated my life got, the more I longed to step back and live a simple life.  I have used the phrase “simpler lifestyle” for a long time, but I mean a more old-fashioned way of life.  Homesteading is not always simpler in terms of being easier; it can be hard work.  It is simple being a consumer, never growing a tomato, never reusing or recycling… never living a hands-on life. 

You never have to have a piece of land or animals to live a modern homesteading lifestyle.

My own homesteading journey started in small ways: I began by growing tomato plants and herbs in containers long before I had a large vegetable garden. I also bought fresh eggs from my sister’s neighbor before raising my own chicks. My fitness routine began with walks in the park next to my condo before we eventually owned acreage and cleared pastureland for exercise. I learned food preservation by buying seasonal produce from my local farmers’ market long before I grew my own vegetables. From these beginnings, my homesteading journey has evolved—and will continue to evolve.

Today, homesteading is about becoming more self-sufficient and taking charge of your path in life.  There is no right or wrong way to be a modern homesteader.  

How did homesteading begin in the US?

The Homestead Act of 1862 was an act to help populate and develop the western frontier. President Abraham Lincoln signed it into law, formalizing homesteading. It was a way of giving opportunities for individuals and families to earn ownership of 160 acres of government land. They had to live on the land, build a home, and grow crops for 5 years. Over 270 million acres of land were homesteaded by hardworking individuals enduring harsh conditions, crop failures, and dealing with Native American conflicts. 

By the 20th century, homesteading for land ended as most of the land available had been claimed.  The Homestead Act was repealed in 1976, except for Alaska, where it was repealed in 1986.

Here is how the form of the modern homesteading lifestyle has evolved over the years

1940s-1950s was a time for Victory Gardens when home gardening became a patriotic duty during and after WWII. To learn more about these gardens, read my post, Now is the Time to Plant a Victory Garden.

1960s-1970s was the rise of organic farming after the industrialization of our foods. The Whole Earth Catalog was published in 1968. It provided information on tools and ways to live a self-sufficient lifestyle and live off the grid.

1980s-1990s started the rise of off-the-grid living with the availability of solar and wind power.  With the start of the internet, the exchange of information started the rise of the DIY culture. Concerns about climate change, eco-friendliness, and self-sufficiency grew. 

2000 to Present created online communities of modern homesteaders sharing information and inspiration. More and more individuals in suburban and urban areas started growing goods and raising chickens, especially with the growing dissatisfaction of consumerism and relying on goods and supplies from industrial suppliers.  The COVID-19 pandemic boosted interest in home cooking, growing food, and general self-reliance.

Here are some of the qualities of a modern homesteader:

1. Growing Food: Gardening, orchards, and even small-scale farming.
2. DIY Practices: Cooking meals from scratch. Canning, baking, sewing, or making soap.
3. Intentional Living:  Making choices in all parts of life, from how your time is spent to what you bring into your life. Living in the present.
4. Minimalism:  Focusing on quality instead of quantity.  Getting rid of things that clutter your life.
5. Raising Animals: Chickens for eggs or bees for honey.  If living on acreage, then raising goats for milk and cattle for beef.
6. Sustainability: Minimizing waste. Composting, conserving resources, and using renewable energy. Being mindful of the impact we have on the environment. Using items that can be reused instead of disposable things.
7. Financial Freedom: Reducing unnecessary expenses. Buying the things you need, not just what you want. Living within your means.
8. Community: Sharing knowledge and resources with like-minded individuals

These qualities listed above are learned and done slowly.  Don’t expect to change overnight. We are all learning and taking small steps to keep improving in all aspects of living.

Here is a beginner’s guide to homestead living

1. Grow your own food

Urban homesteaders can grow produce by starting a container garden; it is a wonderful way to start for anyone.  You don’t need a lot of space. Even in small spaces like a balcony, you can have a container with tomatoes, herbs, and leafy greens.

If you live in an apartment, you may only have space for window boxes or a few pots with grow lights. Start with herbs, microgreens and sprouts, they don’t need a lot of space.

When you are ready to start a larger garden, read my post, Ten Gardening Secrets to Success.

Community Gardens

Check into community gardens, they are a great way to connect with others that are limited in space. Here are some ways to find community gardens in your area:

Online: The American Community Gardening Association (ACGA) often has directories to locate gardens by city or region. 

Facebook or Google searches will also help you find them.  

Check your local parks and recreation websites for community gardens.

Local gardening centers may also be a good place to check.

Farmers markets are a great source of information for local gardening communities.

If none of the above works for you, then support your local farmers’ market or CSA (Community-supported agriculture) to get fresh local produce and goods.  If you are not familiar with CSAs, here is a little information about them.

CSA – Community Supported Agriculture

A CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) is a way that connects farmers directly with consumers by offering a subscription or membership to a farm’s produce.  Each CSA is a little different but they work as follows: 

Customers sign up or become members at the beginning of the growing season.  Usually during the winter or in early spring.  

Payment may be required upfront to help the farmer with the cost of seeds, equipment, and labor for the growing season.  

As the growing season begins, members receive shares of the farmers’ harvest. This commonly happens weekly.  The member will receive items such as vegetables, fruits, herbs, eggs, dairy, flowers, and eggs, depending on what the farmer produces.

Some CSAs have home delivery, and some set up pick-up locations.

Every CSA is different, and some will customize their items.

There can be a shared reward and risk.  If the farmer has a great harvest, the members may receive extra produce, but if there are crop failures, then members may get smaller amounts of certain items.

To find a CSA near you, check the following resources:

The Local Harvest website is a good source for local CSAs, farms, and farmers markets.

Social media such as Facebook and Instagram.

Local gardening groups are also a good source to be able to find CSAs in your area.

2. DIY Practices

Homesteaders are DIY champions at heart.  They will try anything once, sometimes with success and other times, it will have a “rustic charm” to it. There is pride in knowing how to do things on your own. Whether growing your own produce or buying it at your local farmers market, home preservation is a great first step into self-sufficiency. 

Here are some good ways to start:

Canning

Making and canning your own tomatoes, jams, pickles and salsas is so satisfying. There are two types of canning: water bath canning and pressure canning. Water bath canning is one of the basic skills that anyone can learn and does not require expensive equipment. Many people start by preserving by water bath canning, which is perfect for high-acid foods like fruits and pickles. Read my post Water Bath Canning: Step-by-Step How to Guide to learn more. Pressure canning allows you to canned low-acid foods such as vegetables, beans, and even meats. A pressure canner is required to preserve these items.

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Freezing

Freezing food is hands-down the easiest way to preserve your harvest. You don’t need a giant freezer to get started, even small things like herbs or that one bell pepper that you don’t want to go to waste. Let’s not forget the magic of doubling recipes when making home-cooked meals—make two casseroles or pots of soup now and freeze one. There are many nights I don’t want to cook so, trust me, I do this all the time!

Dehydrating

Dehydrating foods is a great way to preserve things like veggies, fruits, herbs, and meat. Who does not love good jerky? You can buy a dehydrator, but an oven will also do the job, although it may take a little longer.

Make cleaning supplies 

The more we learn about all those nasty toxins in everyday products, the more we should make our own with ingredients we know and trust.

All-purpose cleaners can be made with water, vinegar, and drops of essential oils such as lemon and lavender.

Glass cleaner is simple to make out of water, vinegar, and a little rubbing alcohol. It is practically cheating how easy some of these items are to make.

Make natural beauty products

So many beauty products can be made at home. Making soaps, creams, and lip balms will make you feel like a true homesteader. Homemade beauty products are not only great for your skin but also make wonderful gifts.

Clothes and other Textiles

A large part of many homesteading lifestyles is being able to knit, crochet, repair clothing, and quilt. Living on land can be rough on clothing, so repairing that rip in a jacket or pair of jeans is a good practical skill.

3. Intentional Living

Intentional living is about taking control of your life and doing what truly matters for your values, goals, and priorities. If there is something you don’t enjoy or it does not serve a purpose in your life – it’s out! It is about not letting your life run on autopilot. It’s about simplifying, decluttering, and giving your time and energy to the things that genuinely make your heart happy. Reduce the clutter and cut out habits you don’t enjoy. Intentional living clears the junk and time to focus on things you have been dreaming of doing. Time for things like baking bread, reading a book or learning new skills you have been wanting to do.

4. Minimalism

Minimalism is all about getting rid of the stuff you don’t need and making room for the things that bring you joy. This past year, I started this journey myself, and it will be a long, slow one. It is not fun to do the dirty work of getting rid of the things you don’t need or want. It can also be overwhelming to know where to start. As we said to our daughter as she was in college feeling overwhelmed – how do you eat an elephant?…one bite at a time.😂 She always hated that saying since she loves elephants. I am reminded of that saying when I am overwhelmed with the process of minimalizing the things in my life…..one small bite at a time!

5. Raising Animals

Animal husbandry is all about caring for, breeding, and managing the animals that provide food, labor, and resources. The first step often begins with baby chicks or honeybees, which I like to call “gateway” animals.  It always starts small; if you have the space, you will be looking to raise goats, pigs, and cattle before you know it. Read my post, The Best Cattle Breeds for Hobby Farms or Homesteads.

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6. Sustainability 

Sustainability in homesteading is about ensuring a lifestyle doesn’t just drain the planet. It is about trying to live in harmony with nature, taking care of the land so it can keep taking care of us. It is about taking piles of cow poo and making compost to improve the soil we have to grow better crops. I talk about this in my post, Raising Cattle: Become an Expert on Mud, Manure, and Fencing. It is about using that old woodpile to build something useful instead of burning it. I like to tell my husband this when he is trying to burn wood scraps that I want him to save for a potential project….wait a minute, that brings me back to decluttering my life.  Okay, it is a balancing act!😂

7. Financial Freedom 

Well, this a tough one. Homesteading and financial freedom go together, but homesteading is not always inexpensive. I have reminded myself many times that I could have bought eggs for 10 years for the amount of money we have spent on building a chicken coop, chickens, and chicken feed. At the same time, we are growing our organic vegetables and cattle for beef, where we save a lot of money.  Financial freedom for homesteaders isn’t just about saving money; it’s about living on their terms.

8. Community 

Homesteaders and community go together. We learn from each other through our successes and failures. You can share resources, swap skills, and learn from others who are also living the homesteading life.

Maybe you don’t have a tractor, but someone down the street does. By sharing your resources and skills, you can create a network of support that helps everyone succeed.

So, there you have it! You can live your own homesteading lifestyle without land or farm animals.

It is more than that. The beauty of homesteading is that it is a state of mind adaptable to many situations, whether you live in an apartment, in the middle of a city, or have a small piece of land. It is about living a “hands-on life” no matter your location and in different ways to make your life more rewarding.

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