Want to start homesteading but feel overwhelmed by lack of time, space, or money? Here are 4 simple ways to live more self-sufficiently—right where you are.
Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about a garden bursting with food, chickens roaming freely, or baking everything from scratch… only to feel completely stuck by real life? Whether it’s your budget, your backyard (or lack of one), or just the season of life you’re in—homesteading doesn’t have to be all or nothing.
Here are four small, meaningful ways to start living more self-sufficiently, even if your situation isn’t ideal.
1. Try Vertical Gardening
If you’re short on space, vertical gardening is an amazing way to grow food without taking over your yard (or patio!). Crops like cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, green beans, zucchini, and even loofah thrive on trellises or garden fences. A single vertical garden can feed your family and bring beauty to a small space.
2. Start with Just 3 Chickens
If raising a big flock feels out of reach, try starting with just three hens. A small coop is much more affordable, easier to clean, and still provides 2–3 eggs per day, depending on the breed. Feed costs are lower, and it’s a manageable first step into backyard chicken keeping.
3. Swap One Store-Bought Item for Homemade
Baking from scratch doesn’t have to mean everything, all at once. Pick one thing—maybe cookies, muffins, or brownies—and try making it yourself instead of buying it. Not only is it more wholesome, it’s rewarding and surprisingly fun once you get into a rhythm.
4. Save Your Scraps for Stock
Instead of tossing veggie scraps, keep a Ziploc bag in your freezer. Add carrot peels, onion ends, celery leaves—anything fresh and clean. Once full, simmer it all in water to make your own vegetable stock. You’ll stretch your grocery budget, waste less, and have something nourishing for soups, rice, or gravy. You can even freeze herbs like parsley to toss in later.
You don’t need a homestead to start homesteading. Small changes matter. The most important thing is to start—imperfectly, creatively, and with what you already have.
P.S. if your first year of trying something new doesn’t go well, that is okay. It took me two summers, and a lot of dead vegetables before I started seeing success!
Julia