Welcome to the next article of my ‘Survivalism Meets Homesteading’ series where we will be tackling the essentials for every homesteader! Let’s quickly go over what I’ve covered so far. In my first article, Why Every Survivalist Should Be Homesteading, I talked about the importance of learning lifelong survival skills you and your family can use on your homestead.
Essentials For Every Homesteader
In my second article, Survivalism Meets Homesteading: The To-Do List, I covered the basics of homesteading to get you started. I covered different options for food, water, cleaning products, and clothing for rural and urban homesteaders.
In my third article, Survivalism Meets Homesteading: Things To Consider Before Purchasing A Homestead, I covered things such as zoning ordinances, electricity, water, and road access among other things to be considered in the process of purchasing land.
The next step most new homesteaders take, after purchasing land, is to make a solid list of every essential item they will need to make the next step of the process easier – creating their dream homestead lifestyle!
This list of essentials will also include all you future urban homesteaders out there! Urban homesteading is a fast growing trend. Of course, you won’t be able to have cattle or a large crop but, there are other ways to make any home a great homestead.
Let’s begin!
Essentials For Every Homesteader
Grab a notepad, a pen, and a comfortable seat! Here are some great essentials to consider to get your rural or urban homestead off to a great start!
A Pickup
If you do not have a pickup truck, it might be a good idea to purchase one. Pickups are extremely useful and well worth the investment. They are great for the bigger projects such as hauling large bags of feed, bales of hay, and any other large essential items needed for your homestead.
This also goes for urban homesteaders as well. Granted, you may not need to haul feed or bales of hay but, you will discover over time that a pickup is much needed and appreciated.
A Composter
Composting is a great way to naturally fertilize your crops and other vegetable plants. If you are new to the world of composting check out my article, Composting For Beginners | The Building Blocks To A Better Harvest.
And for all the urban homesteaders out there, check out my article, 10 Simple Tips Every Urban Homesteader Needs to See. Included in this article is a detailed instructional infographic to get you well on your way to urban style composting.
Outdoor Clothing
A rural homestead is a tough job, at times, due to the elements such as rain, mud, or snow. Investing in clothing items such as a pair of overalls or jeans, a durable pair of mud boots or hiking boots, a durable weather resistant coat, and a weather resistant hat, gloves, and scarf. Buying clothing that you won’t mind getting a little roughed up or dirty is a must on a homestead.
Urban homesteaders could benefit from these clothing items as well. Homesteading is a rewarding experience but, at times, a messy one!
Tools
A homestead isn’t complete without tools! Over time you will realize the tools that you’ll need for all your homesteading needs but, here a good list to start off with: a hammer, nails, tape measure, a level, a shovel, a power drill, and an air compressor. This list goes for rural and urban homesteaders alike.
Weather Radio
This must have essential, I believe, should be in EVERY home – especially the homesteaders who have chosen to live without access to internet or cable. When bad weather is on its way, it is so important to stay informed of what may be coming your way. Preparations for bad weather are crucial for every homesteader. Also, consider stocking up on extra batteries, just in case.
First Aid
This is must have knowledge for EVERY household. Rural homesteads are often times in a remote location far away from the nearest hospital. So, having a thorough first aid kit and knowledge is imperative! Check out our article, The Homesteader’s Guide to First Aid and CPR, for an in depth look into first aid for the homesteading lifestyle.
Instructions in this must-read article include:
How to build a first aid kit for your homestead
Step by step first aid instructions on choking, poisoning, burns, bleeding wounds, sprains/strains, broken bones, heat stroke, snake bites, bug bites, nosebleeds, and CPR.
For first aid care for someone who may be in a hypothermic state, check out my article, Surviving Hypothermia: What To Do Until Medical Help Arrives.
Outside Structures
This is an important part of rural homestead planning. Outside structures such as barns, sheds, and fencing all play a part in having a successful rural homestead. Whether you want to build these structures yourself or hire a contractor is the first decision to make. If you decide to build these structures yourself, you will save money. But, if you hire a contractor, you will save yourself time which will be valuable in the long run when it comes to planning other areas of your homestead. Give these options some serious thought so you know for certain that you’re making the right choice. Like I’ve said before, do not become stressed in the process. Building a homesteading lifestyle takes time.
Sheds and structures such as a chicken coop (for example) will be essentials to consider for the urban homesteading lifestyle.
Vegetable Crops and Gardens
For rural homesteaders, you can plant a large vegetable crop or a vegetable garden – or both! Either way, make a list of the vegetables you wish to grow and be sure to map out your land accordingly.
For urban homesteaders, check out my article, Container Gardening for Your Patio or Balcony. This a great read for those who live in an apartment, townhome, or those who have limited outside space.
If you are new to gardening, check out my article, 12 Budget Friendly Must-Haves For Every Beginner Gardener, for the tools you’ll need to get you started.
Livestock Options
This is another important consideration for rural homesteaders. You don’t have to make an immediate decision. Take your time with this one.
To make things easier here are some great articles to read to help the decision-making process go a little more smoothly.
- 10 Tips for Raising Healthy Cattle
- 9 Tips for Raising Healthy Pigs
- 16 Tips for Raising Goats
- A Beginner’s Guide to Raising Sheep
- Hen Pecked: An In-Depth Interview On Raising Chickens (backyard chickens is a great option for urban homesteaders)
- How to Raise Quail for Eggs and Meat (great option for urban homesteaders)
- Raising Rabbits (great option for urban homesteaders)
In closing, I would like to take a moment to congratulate our readers if you have recently started a homestead. It’s such a rewarding part of life and something we can teach future generations to appreciate. We are here to get you through every single step in the process of building a homestead.
CopingWithTheTimes shows us essential tools every homesteader should have:
My whole purpose behind this series is to teach sustainable living as a survival tool in the case of an emergency where you and your family are bound to your home for any reason. Always remember…survival begins at home.
If you run a rural or urban homestead and have some advice for the newcomers, please feel free to share in the comment section below.
Want to learn how you can grow your food in your own backyard? Check out helpful tips on how to grow all the food you need in your backyard and start growing your own food today!
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Featured image by KY Metro via wikimedia
“Love this! We started raising chickens last year and it’s been such a rewarding experience for the whole family. My kids are obsessed with collecting the eggs and watching the chicks grow.”