We have been running our beginner suburban homestead for at least fourteen years. Chickens were the first animal that we started with and then moved on to ducks. Fresh, healthy eggs was the reason that I wanted to obtain chickens. After finding out that eggs in the store were almost three months old by the time we are able to buy them, and they are filled with chemicals made it necessary to switch. My children’s health is number one priority.
After securing a good source of protein, gardening was next on the list. I had grown up with a garden, so I knew that fresh food that we could eat in the summer and preserve for winter was important. thus started my journey into gardening and canning. Canning is a hobby that I enjoy once a year in the fall. We can what we eat for chili and soups. In addition to canning I also freeze a lot of our fresh vegetables. I do not use any chemicals in our garden. Here are ways to start your own suburban homestead.
Gardening
As I mentioned earlier it was important to me that we have fresh food free of chemicals. I love to garden and that is the best way to save money on food. Our summer garden saves us so much money on our winter grocery bill. When you set your mind to saving money, there are so many doors that open up. None of them are easy, and especially not gardening.
The best part of gardening is reaping the harvest. Yes, it takes work all summer long. The weeding is not easy, planting is tedious, planning the garden is important, but harvesting is fun. Each day I wake up and go check my garden. Nothing is more fulfilling that seeing vegetables grow that you seeded into the ground. That is why it was the first thing we started as a beginner suburban homestead.
Composting for Beginners
Composting is important on a beginner homestead. There are so many great benefits that come from composting such as good soil health and nutrients. Composting is good for our flowers. It gives me a place to place all of our cardboard and leaves that get raked. After having chickens I did not begin a compost pile for several years’. We have red wiggler worms that the kids help me with each year. This turned out to be a great homeschool projects as the kids’ learn about gardening, composting, chickens and more.
Unbelievably they are able to learn about nature while we are using it. It is amazing how God created all things to work together. My beginner suburban homestead compost pile gets added to each time we clean the chicken pen, goat pen and duck pen. None of it is easy work, and you really have to love gardening to scoop poop for the nutrient benefit.
Growing Perennials
Next, after securing a garden, and starting a compost bin is growing perennials. In 2020 during covid I decided it was best for us to not only grow our own vegetables, but also our own fruit. So, we purchased a few apple trees, a pear tree, plum tree, and a cherry tree. In addition to those, we applied on a state site for some free seedlings they were giving away. Our homestead now has two persimmon trees.
Growing herbs, fruits and berries is important because then you are not reliant on any food system. If you need something it is in your backyard and free of chemicals. My garden also holds several grape vines. For me it is a joy to see them go out back in the summer and pick fresh raspberries, grapes, blackberries, blueberries or strawberries.
Each season I plant something new, learn something new, and grow something new.
Raise Suburban Homestead Livestock
Finally, I want to talk about livestock. It is important to note that each city is different. Please check your guidelines to see what is allowable. We are able to have goats in our city. Not big ones, but small nigerian dwarf goats. So I followed the amount allowed and all of the regulations so that we can have goats. My children will be using them for 4h also and that is a great program. Owning livestock and enough acreage to sustain them is beneficial. My kids’ are able to learn how to take care of animals, but not only that they can see a food source. Our goats will supply us with milk eventually.
Setting up a suburban homestead is not for a person who wishes to live an easy life. Much care and dedication is necessary to keep the homestead growing and operable. All of this to say that saving money happens when you make your own, bake your own, grow your own and educate your own.
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