Modern-day homesteading generally focuses on natural, sustainable living.
Homesteaders tend to aim for increasing self-sufficiency. They value producing much of their own food and goods at home. Therefore, they generally work closely with the land.
Homesteading traces back to the Homestead Act of 1862. The Homestead Act was put in place by Abraham Lincoln. This important piece of historic legislation was a means of distributing public land to Americans. 10% of American land (270 million acres) was distributed and settled to Americans under the Homestead Act.
Here are some simple, first steps that many people take to get started with homesteading. Most of these don’t require much space or investment. If you want to gradually enter the world of homesteading, you can choose one or two aspects of the homestead life to start, and then grow from there!
1. Chickens (meat birds or layers)
2. Gardening – large-scale or small-scale
3. Freezing, canning, and dehydrating food
4. Honeybees
5. Sewing, knitting, or weaving
6. Composting
7. Using herbs for both cooking and medicine