Whether you are new to homesteading or are a master at the craft this list has you covered with the basic skills every homesteader should master. Start with what is most important to you and your family and begin researching, books are an amazing resource and there are so many out there to choose from. It can take months to years to fully develop a skill so don’t rush the learning process and burn yourself out. In this post I will break down all the skills into categories and share with you a brief list of supplies you may need to get started as well as books and resources you may find useful. Let’s dive in!
Gardening
Gardening is the most important homesteading skill there is in my opinion. It saves your family money and provides you with fresh produce year-round. Even with a minimal amount of space, you can still garden. If you are crunched for space, I highly recommend getting a tiered garden bed. If you plan to seed save, you will need to purchase heirloom seeds. If you are able to purchase local heirloom seeds this is even better as these seeds have adapted to your climate and will be the most resilient seeds you can find for your space. If you are completely new to gardening, I have included a list of items that you may need to get started.
- Seed Starting
- Seed Saving
- Composting
- Growing Food from Kitchen Scraps
- Propagating
Raising Chickens
Raising chickens for eggs and/or meat can be very rewarding. If you have never owned chickens, I suggest reading more here on different chicken breeds and things to consider when choosing your flock.
- Chicken Care
- Building Your Own Coop
- Harvesting Chickens for Meat
- Chicken Food
- Chicken Feeders and Waters
- Bedding
- Chicken Run
Food Preservation
In my opinion, preserving food is probably one of the most challenging things to master out of all the homesteading skills included in this post. Even if you have done ample amounts of research, it is expected to have some trial and error. Practice makes perfect though, learn from your mistakes and keep trying until you find the methods that work best for you.
- Canning
- Preserving Eggs
- Dehydrating
- Freezing
- Vacuum Sealing
- Fermenting
- Pickling
Baking & Cooking
Sourdough is something that is still relatively new to me but I am learning more and more with each passing day and hope to soon be able to write a post on my experience with it. There is a lot to learn when it comes to creating, maintaing, and using a sourdough starter but it is so rewarding and provides your family with cheaper and healthier bread products that are good for gut health. If you are someone who struggles with a gluten intolerance, sourdough is a lot easier for our bodies to digest than regular bread which is why I highly recommend it over traditional yeast breads. I will include a basic supply list of things you will need if you would like to start learning.
- Creating a Sourdough Starter from Scratch
- Maintaining your Sourdough Starter
- Baking with Sourdough Starter
- Baking with Yeast
- Cooking
Handiness & DIY
The main reason most people decide to homestead is to be self sufficient and the easiest way to accomplish this is to make and repair as much on your own as possible. I have chose to not include a supply list for this section as there would be way too many items to include and instead have included some books.
- Make your own cleaning supplies and household essentials
- Sewing and Mending
- Carpentry
- Home Repair
- Auto Maintenance
- Leather work
- Metal Work
- Blacksmithing
- First Time Sewing: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide
- The Complete Book of Woodworking
- Ultimate Guide to Home Repair and Improvement 3rd Edition
- Auto Repair for Beginners: The Complete Guide to Solving Your Car’s Common Problems on Your Own to Save Money
- Leather Crafting Book – 101
- Blacksmithing Made Easy
- The Big Book of Homemade Products for your Skin, Health, and Home
Other Skills
- Thrifting and Shopping Second Hand
- Homeschooling
- Foraging
- Herbalism
- Harvesting Firewood
- Hunting and Fishing
- Raising Livestock
- Beekeeping
Contact Us
*This post contains affiliate links that I may earn a small commission off of at no additional expense to you.*