Backyard homesteading is just common sense. Sure the term backyard homesteading or urban homesteading has been rising in popularity and Pinterest posts over the last few years; but it isn’t something new. Nowadays the notion of gardening, raising a few hens and maybe a couple of milking goats in a suburban or urban setting seems positively radical! I say is just practical…and for me is it one of the most enjoyable parts of life.
There was a time when just about everyone did some sort of “homesteading” where ever they lived. There was even a time when our governments supported and encouraged us to produce food in our backyards. I love the old wartime posters because I love vintage. But if you really take the time to read them you may be surprised to see the common sense that our government actually had. We were encouraged to be producers: plant a garden, raise animals for eggs, milk and meat and to even feed scraps our animals. We were told to can and preserve. That is still a good practice! But you wouldn’t know it from the laws in most cities and towns that forbid the sort of practicality that was supported less than 100 years ago.
I say – LET’S BE REBELS! Let our rebellion be to bring back common sense. Let our revolution be to share, teach and replicate the vintage skills of backyard homesteading!
Backyard Homesteading is Just Common Sense
Where can you start with your backyard homesteading?
Plant a Garden
Planting a garden is probably the easiest thing you can do to start your backyard homesteading adventure.
- Tips for New Gardener Success
- Raised Garden Benefits
- DIY Soil Mix Recipe
- How To Grow Potatoes Anywhere!
- Maximize Your Garden Space
- 8 Gardening Mistakes You Can Avoid
Start Composting
Waste not, want not… Put yard waste and kitchen scraps to good use by composting!
- How to Compost
- 10 Things You Never Want to Compost
- Cheap & Easy Compost Bin
- Troubleshooting Your Compost
- How to Improve Soil Without a Compost Pile
- Kitchen Composting Tips
Raise Livestock
You might not be able to do it all, but one of these backyard livestock can work for your space.
- Simple Guide to Raising Chicks
- The Nitty Gritty Basics on Raising Quail
- Getting Started with Meat Rabbits
- Best Dairy Goats for Beginners
- 5 Benefits of Raising Meat Goats
- Keeping Secret Backyard Chickens
Take Your Kitchen Skills to the Next Level
Start cooking more from scratch, use wholesome and whole ingredients and make your own.
- Vintage Cooking Skills
- Amazing Reasons to Start Cooking From Scratch
- Cheese Making – Chevre
- Start Canning
- Make Your Own Garlic Powder
- Make Your Own Vanilla Extract
Other Ideas for Upping those Vintage Skills for Backyard Homesteading
- Check out 15 Vintage Skills You Can Learn on YouTube
- Learn to sew and mend
- Learn to quilt, knit and crochet
- Get educated on home remedies and herbal medicines
- Learn how to forage for food
- Get involved in changing the laws in your area that prevent any or all backyard homesteading
Backyard homesteading is just common sense, but maybe common sense is lacking in our modern societies. What do you think?
I call it uncommon sense now because it’s no longer common. We had to move to be able to do everything we want and need to do to be as self-sufficient as possible without zoning laws, rules and asking permission to change something in our house. A lot has changed in that 26 years. At this point I’d be one on of the rebels who did as I please and got into trouble if we still lived in town. Rebels can cause change for the good. We need to make a big change and bring uncommon sense back to common.
Robin – I am with you, we need rebels for good!
With you 100% on this one! I say, do as much as you can where you are and if it turns out that you feel like doing more don’t be afraid to get out of your urban comfort zone and find a place where you are free to do as much as you want!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks for sharing all this great info! I’m hoping to step up a few things this year beyond gardening.