Want to know how to feed a family on less than an acre of land? If you need some homesteading tips when dealing with a small patch of land or plenty of space, then this is for you!
How To Feed Your Family On Less Than an Acre of Land
My high school friend and her family drop by every several years to see how I'm doing. This last time when I showed them around they were surprised about how much food I was able to grow on less than half an acre of land. I hadn't really thought about it, but when she told me how surprised she was, I thought: “Yeah… This is pretty cool, how I feed my family on only half an acre of land.” So anyway, I wrote a little article summarizing how I manage a homestead on such a small amount of land. And how you can do it too.
Here's how I feed my family on less than an acre of land:
- Eggs
- Milk
- Garden tower
- Containers
- No flowers
- Using my indoor space
- Community garden
1. Eggs
When you think of eggs, you probably picture a chicken's egg, right? Well, not for me! As I know that chickens are pretty big birds, and require a lot of space, I decided chickens aren't what I need. What I wanted were quails. They're awesome! My kids play with them as if they're dogs. They're also friendlier and some people agree that quail's eggs are more nutritious and healthy for you.
So, considering all those facts above, I bought quails, and in no time (and practically no space) they started producing eggs! Yes, quite small ones, but just as healthy and delicious! All these little birds need is a rabbit hutch, and it'll fit up to 3 quails!
2. Milk
Picture a cow. Big animal. Now picture where it has to live. Big stable, and big field. If you're about saving space, skip the cow.
Try a goat for example. I have one beautiful goat, she produces lots of milk for our family. And she doesn't need much space either. She mainly eats vegetable and fruit scraps from the kitchen, and once a day we let her trim our backyard lawn. For her shelter, we built a small 5 ft by 5ft stable where she rests during the night.
Goat milk has way more benefits than cow milk, it's probably more nutritious and can be made into soap, too! Check out all these goat milk recipes.
3. Garden Tower
This invention is a big lifesaver. It's definitely worth the 700 bucks. This “tower” requires no soil, and the plants growing in it require minimal care. I've grown tomatoes, snap peas, lettuce and cukes in this tower, and I've noticed that veggies growing in it grow faster than those in the soil.
Also See: 27 Amazing Tower Gardens For Your Homestead
4. Containers
Containers are a big plus when it comes to homesteading with very little space. Plain planters aren't always so good, as they do take up lots of space, but hanging planters such as Topsy-turvy are awesome! Multiple tiered planters are also very efficient. Give it a go!
5. Forget the Flowers
When saving space for beneficial stuff such as tomatoes or cabbage, you sometimes have to get rid of stuff that you don't need that much…say the lilac tree. I know lilac trees are the most beautiful trees, but if you're serious about homesteading with a small amount of space, you gotta swap it for an apple tree, for example.
6. The Indoors Can Be Land Too
When I said that I feed my family from half an acre of land, I meant indoor land, too! My living room is part of my little farm. Here are some vegetables that grow well in pots indoors:
7. Community Gardens
If you live in a medium-sized city, chances are you've got a community garden in your neighborhood. Most ask for a small yearly fee of $80 for a garden of about 6 ft x 6 ft. And I think it's a great deal! Most community gardens get lots of sunlight, so if your homestead is behind lots of tall hedges and always shady, rent a community garden.
Want more thoughts on small scale farming? Check out this video from Claire Vasquez:
Are you ready to try feeding your family on less than an acre of land? Let us know in the comments how it goes!
LIKE this? I'm sure you'll LOVE:
- Living Off the Grid: How Much Land Do You Need?
- Homesteading For Beginners | Your Homestead Quick Start Guide
- 27 Tower Garden Ideas For Your Homestead
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This post was originally published in March 2016 and has been updated for quality and relevancy.
I may have missed it, but where are you raising all this? What is the average rainfall in that area? If you have to do supplemental irrigation, what is your water quality and available quantity?
Thanks
Love all of these ideas! We are just starting out so it this is a great resource.
How do you have only one goat and milk??