Creating a Survival Homestead: A Comprehensive Guide for the Average Person

Rachel and Deane tending to the girls

In recent years, the idea of creating a survival homestead has moved beyond rural areas to the suburbs and even urban settings. Whether driven by a desire to become more self-sufficient, prepare for potential emergencies, or reduce one’s ecological footprint, homesteading offers a rewarding and practical way to reclaim control over food, water, and basic survival needs. While many people associate survival preparation with firearms and defense, the foundation of a survival homestead is self-reliance and sustainability.

In this guide, we’ll explore how the average person can begin preparing for a variety of situations by learning essential survival homesteading skills—no matter where they live. From learning to plant, grow, and preserve food to capturing rainwater and raising chickens, this blog will cover the basics needed to get started on a journey toward self-reliance.

Table of Contents

1. Why You Should Create a Survival Homestead

2. Assessing Your Space and Resources

3. Growing Your Own Food: What to Plant and How to Plant

   • Companion Planting

   • Trees That Produce Food, Not Just Shade

4. Raising Chickens: Can You Do It in an Urban Setting?

5. Water Management: Capturing Rainwater and Sustainable Irrigation

6. Canning and Food Preservation

7. Medicinal Herbs and Natural Remedies

8. Stockpiling for Emergencies

9. Becoming “One” with the Soil: The Key to Successful Homesteading

10. Conclusion: A Lifestyle of Sustainability and Preparedness

1. Why You Should Create a Survival Homestead

A survival homestead is more than just a hobby farm or garden—it’s a way to prepare for an uncertain future while also creating a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle. There are several reasons why you should consider creating a homestead, even if you live in an urban environment or have limited space:

• Food Security: In the event of supply chain disruptions, having a local source of food can help your family survive.

• Cost Savings: Growing your own food reduces grocery bills and helps avoid price spikes during shortages.

• Health Benefits: Homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs are often more nutritious than store-bought produce.

• Resilience: Preparing for potential disasters or emergencies, such as power outages, storms, or economic instability, gives you peace of mind.

• Sustainability: Homesteading helps you reduce waste, conserve water, and utilize natural resources efficiently.

2. Assessing Your Space and Resources

Before diving into the practical aspects of homesteading, it's important to evaluate what resources you have available. Whether you live on a quarter-acre suburban lot or a small urban property, maximizing your space and understanding local regulations is key.

• Urban Homesteading: Even in a city, you can make a significant impact by utilizing vertical growing systems, container gardening, or community gardens. Research local zoning laws to find out if you're allowed to keep a small number of hens or grow food in a front yard.

• Suburban Homesteading: If you have a backyard, even a small one, you have more options. Start by assessing your soil quality, amount of sunlight, and available space. Think about how you can incorporate raised beds, fruit-bearing trees, and rainwater capture systems.

• Rural Homesteading: With more space comes more options, but also more work. You can implement larger gardens, food forests, and livestock. However, careful planning is necessary to avoid overextending yourself.

3. Growing Your Own Food: What to Plant and How to Plant

Food production is the foundation of any survival homestead. Even if you’re a beginner, you can start small and grow your skills over time. Here are the key aspects to consider when starting your food garden:

Sunflowers 2024

What to Plant

Your garden should include a balance of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that meet your family's nutritional needs. Focus on high-yield, nutrient-dense crops that are relatively easy to grow. Some ideal crops include:

• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, and kale grow quickly and provide essential vitamins and minerals.

• Root Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, beets, and radishes are filling, storable, and easy to grow.

• Beans and Legumes: Beans and peas are protein-rich and fix nitrogen in the soil, which benefits other plants.

• Tomatoes and Peppers: High-yield and versatile in cooking, these are staples in many gardens.

• Fruits: Strawberries, raspberries, and fruit trees like apple and pear can provide sweetness and additional nutrition.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is an essential technique in any survival garden. By planting certain crops together, you can improve soil health, deter pests, and enhance plant growth. Here are some examples of effective companion planting:

• Tomatoes and Basil: Basil repels pests that love tomatoes and enhances their flavor.

• Carrots and Onions: Onions deter carrot flies, while carrots break up the soil for onions to grow.

• Corn, Beans, and Squash (Three Sisters): These plants complement each other: corn provides a structure for beans to climb, beans fix nitrogen in the soil, and squash shades the ground to retain moisture and deter weeds.

Trees That Produce Food, Not Just Shade

Incorporating fruit or nut trees into your homestead is a long-term investment that pays off year after year. While most people plant trees for shade or decoration, fruit-bearing trees can provide an essential source of food. Some excellent options for various climates include:

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• Apple and Pear Trees: These hardy trees grow in many climates and produce an abundance of fruit.

• Peach and Plum Trees: These stone fruits do well in warmer climates and provide quick-growing, high-yield crops.

• Nut Trees: Trees like walnut, almond, chestnut or pecan can provide protein and fats that are crucial in a survival scenario.

How to Plant: Basic Gardening Techniques

When it comes to starting your survival garden, understanding how to plant is just as important as choosing what to plant. Whether you're working with a large backyard or a small balcony garden, these planting techniques will help you maximize your space and ensure your crops thrive.

1. Soil Preparation:
   Before you start planting, it's essential to prepare your soil. Healthy soil is the foundation of a successful garden. Here’s how to get started:

   • Test Your Soil: Get a simple soil test kit to check for pH levels and nutrient content. Most vegetables prefer slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 6.0–7.0).

   • Add Compost: Improve your soil quality by adding organic matter like compost, manure, or leaf mold. This enriches the soil with nutrients and improves its structure.

   • Loosen the Soil: If the soil is compacted, use a garden fork or tiller to break it up and aerate it. This allows roots to grow more easily and helps water drain properly.

2. Seed Starting:
   Whether you’re growing from seeds or seedlings, each approach has specific steps to ensure success:

   • Direct Sowing: Some plants, like beans, radishes, and carrots, grow best when their seeds are sown directly into the soil. Check seed packets for the best planting depth and spacing.

   • Seed Starting Indoors: For plants with a longer growing season (e.g., tomatoes, peppers), start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost date. Use seed trays, good-quality potting mix, and provide plenty of light.

   • Transplanting Seedlings: When your seedlings are ready to move outdoors, “harden them off” by gradually introducing them to outdoor conditions over a week. Transplant them into your garden after the danger of frost has passed.

3. Spacing and Layout:
   Proper plant spacing is essential for healthy growth. Crowded plants compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight, leading to lower yields and increased vulnerability to pests and diseases. Use these guidelines:

   • Follow Plant Spacing Recommendations: Each plant has unique spacing needs. For example, lettuce and spinach can be planted closer together, while plants like zucchini and pumpkins need more room to sprawl.

   • Plan for Vertical Growing: If you're working with limited space, vertical gardening is a great way to maximize your growing area. Use trellises, stakes, or netting to grow vining plants like cucumbers, beans, and peas upwards rather than outwards.

4. Watering Techniques:
   Watering is one of the most crucial aspects of planting, especially in a survival homestead where water conservation is often necessary.

   • Deep Watering: Water less frequently but more deeply to encourage plants to grow strong, deep roots. This helps plants survive dry conditions and makes them more resilient.

   • Use Mulch: Mulching helps retain moisture, reduces the need for frequent watering, and keeps weeds at bay. Organic mulches, like straw, wood chips, or grass clippings, also add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.

   • Drip Irrigation: In areas with limited water resources, drip irrigation systems deliver water directly to the plant roots, reducing evaporation and water waste.

5. Succession Planting:
   To keep your garden productive throughout the growing season, use succession planting. This involves planting new crops as soon as the previous ones are harvested. For example:

   • Early Spring: Start with fast-growing crops like radishes, lettuce, or peas.

   • Mid-Summer: Follow up with warm-weather crops like tomatoes, peppers, and beans.

   • Fall: Plant cool-season crops like spinach, kale, or broccoli for a fall harvest.

6. Companion Planting:
   As discussed earlier, companion planting helps you make the most of your garden space by planting crops that benefit each other. This technique not only saves space but also improves pest control and plant health.

4. Raising Chickens: Can You Do It in an Urban Setting?

One of the other girls

Chickens are an excellent addition to any homestead, providing both eggs and meat. Many urban and suburban areas allow residents to keep a small flock of hens, though you’ll need to check local ordinances to be sure.

Benefits of Raising Chickens

• Egg Production: Fresh eggs are a reliable source of protein, and a small flock can provide enough for a family.

• Pest Control: Chickens eat insects, weeds, and even small rodents, which helps keep your garden healthy.

• Fertilizer: Chicken manure is a valuable addition to compost piles and garden beds.

Things to Consider

• Local Codes and Regulations: Some cities limit the number of chickens you can have, and roosters may be prohibited due to noise concerns.

• Housing: Chickens need a secure coop to protect them from predators, and they also need a fenced-in area to roam during the day.

• Care and Maintenance: Chickens require daily care, including feeding, watering, and cleaning the coop. However, they are relatively low-maintenance once established.

5. Water Management: Capturing Rainwater and Sustainable Irrigation

Water is one of the most critical resources on a homestead, especially in a survival situation. Rainwater harvesting is a simple and effective way to supplement your water needs, particularly for irrigation.

Capturing Rainwater

Rainwater collection involves setting up a system to capture and store water runoff from your roof. You can install rain barrels or larger cisterns to store water for your garden and even your household if filtered properly.

• Legal Considerations: Be sure to check local regulations, as some areas have restrictions on rainwater collection.

• Installation: Install gutters, downspouts, and rain barrels at key points around your home to maximize collection.

• Maintenance: Clean your gutters regularly to prevent blockages and ensure that your water remains uncontaminated.

Sustainable Irrigation

Once you’ve captured your water, use sustainable irrigation methods to make the most of it. Drip irrigation systems and soaker hoses deliver water directly to plant roots, minimizing evaporation and runoff.

6. Canning and Food Preservation

Having a surplus of food is great, but only if you know how to preserve it for the future. Canning is one of the most reliable ways to store your homegrown produce.

Basics of Canning

• Water Bath Canning: Best for high-acid foods like tomatoes, fruits, and pickles. This method involves boiling jars to create a vacuum seal.

• Pressure Canning: Necessary for low-acid foods like meats, beans, and vegetables. This method uses a pressure cooker to achieve higher temperatures, ensuring food safety.

Other Preservation Methods

• Dehydration: Drying fruits, vegetables, and herbs is another long-term storage method that doesn’t require refrigeration.

• Fermentation: Foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and pickles can be fermented for preservation and added health benefits.

• Freezing: While reliant on electricity, freezing is an easy way to store excess produce, especially if you blanch vegetables first to maintain their quality.

7. Medicinal Herbs and Natural Remedies

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In a survival homestead, having access to medicinal herbs is crucial. Many common herbs have healing properties and can be grown easily in most climates. Here are a few must-have medicinal plants:

• Aloe Vera: Excellent for burns, cuts, and skin irritations.

• Echinacea: Boosts the immune system and helps fight off colds and infections.

• Lavender: Calming and anti-inflammatory, lavender can be used in teas or applied topically.

• Peppermint: Aids digestion and relieves headaches and nausea.

• Calendula: Known for its skin-healing properties, it can be made into salves for cuts and rashes.

By planting these and other herbs, you can create a homegrown pharmacy to treat common ailments naturally.

8. Stockpiling for Emergencies

In addition to producing your own food and medicine, it’s important to have a stockpile of essential supplies for emergencies. Here’s what you should consider:

Food Supplies

• Non-perishable Foods: Stock up on canned goods, dry grains, pasta, and beans.

• Water: Store at least one gallon of water per person per day for drinking and sanitation.

• Preserved Foods: Utilize your canned, dehydrated, and frozen foods as part of your emergency stockpile.

Medicine and First Aid

• First Aid Kit: Include bandages, antiseptics, pain relievers, and prescription medications.

• Herbal Remedies: Keep dried medicinal herbs on hand for teas, tinctures, and salves.

Other Supplies

• Tools: Basic hand tools for repairs, gardening, and emergencies.

• Fuel: Propane, wood, or other fuel sources for cooking and heating.

• Lighting: Solar lanterns or battery-powered lights for when the power goes out.

9. Becoming “One” with the Soil: The Key to Successful Homesteading

The most successful homesteaders understand that the health of their soil is the foundation of their success. By nourishing and protecting the soil, you ensure the long-term viability of your homestead.

Composting

Composting is a simple way to recycle organic waste into nutrient-rich fertilizer. Grass clippings, vegetable scraps, leaves, and manure can all be composted. Over time, the organic material breaks down, creating a natural fertilizer that enriches your soil and helps retain moisture.

Mulching

Mulching around plants helps prevent weeds, retains soil moisture, and adds nutrients as it decomposes. Use organic materials like straw, leaves, or wood chips to improve your soil over time.

Crop Rotation

By rotating your crops, you avoid depleting the soil of specific nutrients and reduce the risk of pests and diseases. Rotating between legumes, leafy greens, root vegetables, and fruiting plants is a simple way to ensure healthy soil.

10. Conclusion: A Lifestyle of Sustainability and Preparedness

Creating a survival homestead is about more than just preparing for an emergency—it's about embracing a sustainable lifestyle that benefits you, your family, and the planet. By learning to grow your own food, preserve it, raise animals, and manage natural resources like water, you become less dependent on outside systems and more resilient in the face of challenges.

Start small and build your skills over time. Even if you live in a city or have a small property, there's plenty you can do to prepare for an uncertain future while enjoying the many benefits of homesteading. The path to self-reliance is one that leads to greater security, health, and peace of mind for whatever the future holds.

11. Resources: Books, Authors, and YouTube Channels

To further your homesteading education, here are some excellent books, authors, and YouTube channels that offer practical advice on gardening, animal husbandry, food preservation, and more.

Books and Authors

1. "The Backyard Homestead" by Carleen Madigan
   A beginner-friendly guide on using small spaces for gardening and raising animals.

2. "Gaia’s Garden" by Toby Hemenway
   Focused on permaculture, this book helps readers design sustainable and productive gardens that mimic natural ecosystems.

3. "The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It" by John Seymour
   A comprehensive resource for self-reliance, including gardening, animal care, and DIY skills.

4. "Seed to Seed" by Suzanne Ashworth
   Essential reading for anyone interested in seed-saving, this book covers how to harvest and store seeds for long-term use.

5. "The Medicinal Herb Grower" by Richo Cech
   This book dives into growing medicinal herbs and preparing them for personal use, a key skill for survival homesteading.

YouTube Channels

1. Roots and Refuge Farm
   This channel offers homesteading and gardening advice with a personal touch, perfect for those working with small spaces.

2. Living Traditions Homestead
   A resource for practical homesteading skills, from raising chickens to preserving food.

3. Justin Rhodes
   A channel focused on regenerative agriculture, permaculture, and homesteading.

4. Epic Gardening
   A great channel for urban and small-space gardeners, offering tips for maximizing garden yields.

5. Prepsteaders
   Focused on preparedness and sustainable living, this channel covers everything from food storage to emergency skills.

6. Gardening with James Prigioni
   James Prigioni specializes in food forests and companion planting, making his channel an excellent resource for sustainable gardening techniques.

7. The Honeystead
   This channel covers homesteading with a focus on beekeeping, herbal remedies, and sustainable living.

These resources provide the knowledge and inspiration you need to thrive on your homestead, no matter your location or experience level. Whether you're learning to garden in a small urban space or expanding a larger homestead, these books and channels offer step-by-step guides and expert advice to help you succeed.