THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF

BACK TO BASICS
HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Self-Sufficiency
And Sustainable Living

By CLIVE HARRISON
DISCLAIMER OF LIABILITY AND WARRANTY
This publication describes the author’s opinions regarding the subject matter herein. The author
and publisher are not rendering advice or services pertaining to specific individuals or situations.
For specific advice, or if expert assistance is required, the services of a qualified professional
should be obtained.

The author and publisher assume no responsibility whatsoever for the use of the information in this
publication or for decisions made or actions taken based, in whole or in part, on the information
in this publication. The author and publisher make no warranties, express or implied, regarding
the information. Without limiting the foregoing, the author and publisher specifically disclaim and
will not be responsible for any liability, loss, or risk incurred directly, indirectly or incidentally
as a consequence of the use or misuse of any advice or information presented herein. Use
this publication and information with good judgment and do the best you can in your particular
situation.

You agree to indemnify and hold the author and publisher, and their respective officers, directors,
agents, employees, contractors and suppliers, harmless from any claim or demand, including
reasonable attorneys’ fees, related to your use or misuse of this publication or the information
contained therein. You further agree that you will cooperate fully in the defense of any such claims.

Notice: As the purchaser of this electronic document you are permitted to store it and print it for
your own personal use only.

Otherwise, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and publisher. It is illegal to
make a copy of all or part of this publication for someone else, even if you do not charge for the
copy. If you have purchased this book from anywhere other than firstlightsurvival.com, including
eBay, please report it to [email protected] immediately.

COPYRIGHT
Those who have received or purchased the guide are neither authorized nor permitted to transmit
copies of this guide to anyone without written permission. Giving away copies to people who
haven’t paid for them is illegal under international copyright laws and will submit you to possible
legal action. Therefore, the utilization of this file is limited to personal use only.

TERMS AND DISCLAIMER

By using, viewing, and interacting with this guide or the firstlightsurvival.com website, you agree to
all terms of engagement, thus assuming complete responsibility for your own actions.

The authors and publishers will not be held liable or claim accountability for any loss or injuries.
Use, view, and interact with these resources at your own risk.

All products from firstlightsurvival.com and its related companies are strictly for informational
purposes only.

While all attempts have been made to verify the accuracy of information provided on our website
and within the publications, neither the authors nor the publishers are responsible for assuming
liability for possible inaccuracies.

The authors and publishers disclaim any responsibility for the inaccuracy of the content, including
but not limited to errors or omissions. Loss of property, injury to self or others, and even death
could occur as a direct or indirect consequence.
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOMESTEADING INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER 1: FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD 3

FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD 3

SUCCEEDING WHERE OTHERS HAVE FAILED 4
LOCAL LAWS 5
ZONING 7
PLANTING ZONE 8
LOCAL WEATHER AND LIVESTOCK 9
CAN YOU BE A HOMESTEADER? 10
PERSONAL ASSESSMENT 10

CHAPTER 2: HOMESTEAD GOALS 13

HOMESTEAD GOALS 13
HOMESTEAD FOLDER 14
ALL ABOARD 14
SUGGESTED GOALS 15
FOOD 15
LIVESTOCK 15
HOMESTEAD BUSINESS 16
MULTI-GENERATIONAL HOMESTEADS 18
AGING 18
WATER 19
ENERGY 20
TIMELINE 20

CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD 21

PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD 21

LOCATION 22
PROPERTY LINES 23
 EASEMENTS AND LANDLOCKED 24
GOOD FENCES MAKE GREAT NEIGHBORS 25
THE RIGHT SPOT 26

FEMA FLOOD MAP SERVICE CENTER: SEARCH BY ADDRESS

HTTPS://MSC.FEMA.GOV/PORTAL/SEARCH 26
ELEMENTS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR BUILDING PLANS. 29
HOMESTEADS FOR THE AGING 30

CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN 32

GROWING FOOD 32
LOCATION 33
GARDEN PLACEMENT 34
TYPES OF SOIL 36
COMPOSTING 37
GARDEN TOOLS 38
PLANNING YOUR GARDEN 39
WHAT TO PLANT. 41
TREES AND SHRUBS 42
PLANT DIVERSITY 44

CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK 46

RAISING LIVESTOCK 46
GETTING STARTED WITH LIVESTOCK 47
LIVESTOCK LAWS 47
AGAINST THE LAW 48
TIME FOR A CHANGE 48
ALLERGIES 50
PETS VS LIVESTOCK 50
FARM VET AND FIRST AID 52
LIVESTOCK FIRST AID KIT 52
ADDING LIVESTOCK 54
 HONEY BEES 55
CHICKENS 56
GOATS 58
OTHER LIVESTOCK 59
A WELL BALANCED HOMESTEAD 60

FINAL THOUGHTS 61
 HOMESTEADING
INTRODUCTION

This was not part of my upbringing. I didn’t grow up this way, in fact,
no one in my family did.

Sure, I went hunting and fishing as a youth, it was the only thing
to do. Microwaves were invented in my generation. Gone were the
days of TV dinners, slow movement meals, there wasn’t such a thing
as farm-to-table, we wanted our food, and we wanted it at the push
of a button. But at what cost? No-one stopped to think about the
cost. We often think about going back in time, but would you go back
and relive your past, or the life of a pioneer?

The stories of our ancestors have been lost as they have been passed
along have passed away, and along with it any information that
would have been useful in helping us with our future homesteading
success. We never once thought that homesteading knowledge
would ever be useful in our time. We were evolving as a human race
and one day, meals would come from a pill, and robots would be
our maids. We didn’t see any need (or use) to learn how chickens
laid eggs, how much land we needed to produce enough food for
the winter, or how much firewood was required to keep us warm all
season. No sir, we were moving on up with the latest technology and
leaving all that antiquated, and simple living far in the past with the
wagons and telegrams.

We were working every day in the city to come home to children that
are all plugged in. Everything was convenient, fast, and instant. We

1
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

never talked anymore because Google knew everything we wanted

to ask. Although the food didn’t quite come out of a pill, it was close
enough, if you can still call it food. Food now has more ingredients
that I can’t pronounce than it has recognizable food.

I then Woke Up!

We sat down as a family with our then two children, and decided to
make some life-altering little by little, we converted our little beach
home into a coastal homestead. Cooked our meals from scratch,
recycled everything we could, made all of our own products from
cleaners to toothpaste and even got a couple of dwarf goats, some
laying hens, and honeybees.

The locals were impressed with all the changes we were making so
often, that they asked to come by and take tours of our progress.
They asked so many questions that we started offering workshops
and even started a farmer’s market with what we and other local
farmers were able to grow. We were working on a self-sufficient life
right there in the city.

We felt pretty accomplished since everything we were doing was a

first-time experience with no one to ask for guidance. We had it all.

Until they didn’t want us to...

Join me on my journey from city life to homestead, the mistakes and

discoveries myself and my family have made along the way.

2
 CHAPTER 1:

FINDING THE PERFECT

HOMESTEAD

“We are given the illusion of freedom. We are told if we work hard
enough and long enough, we can buy our own land, and pursue
happiness. We can work our land and enjoy it as long as it doesn’t
infringe on the rights of others, doing the same on their land. But
there’s a catch.”

Finding The Perfect Homestead:

Thousands of families all over the country are packing up their city
roots and moving to the country in search of the perfect homestead.
Does such a place exist? If so, where would one find it?

Unfortunately, many people do

not have the luxury of just packing
everything they own and move to
the ‘perfect homestead’ location.
Some families will be restricted to
staying within reach, due to job or
family, whatever the case may be,
the following tips will help you in your
search whether near or far.

In this chapter, we will go over qualities

you should look for in the ‘perfect
homestead’, as well as a checklist to

3
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

help you ask the right questions when looking for a place to settle
down. From the long planting season to local county ordinances,
you will be better equipped with the knowledge you need to find the
place that’s just right for you.

Succeeding Where Others Have Failed:

I’m willing to bet that very few or if any of you were raised on a
homestead. I’m also willing to bet your parents and grandparents
weren’t homesteaders either.

The problem today is many who want to be homesteaders; that are

feeling the call, or the pull
to get back to the land
don’t have anyone they
can call for advice. How
many of you know anyone
that lives off-grid, or
anyone with experience
to sit on the front porch
with, to drink a cold glass
of sweet tea and chew
the fat about the farm,
and homestead life. We
have lost much of the knowledge that should have been passed
down for generations.

Most would-be homesteaders experience the three D’s when

trying to homestead for the very first time. Deflated, Discouraged,
Defeated. More times than not, after experiencing the three D’s they
give up their homesteading dream, head back to the city feeling like
a failure, and never try homesteading again.

I won’t promise, after reading this book that you’ll never experience
the three D’s as a new homesteader, as a matter of fact, I can pretty
much guarantee you will. However, not to the same degree as you
would if you follow my advice, and probably not all, at the same time.

4
CHAPTER 1: FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD

My goal is to give you the knowledge and tools you need to help you
achieve homestead success.

Local Laws:
It’s better to ask for permission
now, than forgiveness later.
Trust me on this! You wouldn’t
believe how many questions
and messages I receive from
people who bought land,
or a home in an area where,
unbeknownst to them, it was
illegal to raise livestock. After
a quick internet search, they
found that I too had the strong arm of the law take away my rights to
raise food for my family. They are all looking to me for advice on how
they can fight, and prevail, over the powers that be.

I will tell you the same thing I tell them, find out the laws first, BEFORE
you: build a barn, buy livestock, plant a garden, or collect rainwater.
You may be thinking ”well that’s absurd, no one can stop me from
collecting water. That’s not against the law”. I wish I could tell you
otherwise, I wish I could say you live in the land of the free, and if you
work hard enough, pay your multitude of taxes, and buy your little
slice of the pie you can be free to homestead on that land the way
you see fit. I wish I could tell you all these things, but unfortunately,
I can’t.

Call the county building and zoning to ask them

the pertinent questions that pertain to your
homestead. Look at the local county tax maps.
Ask for everything in writing and don’t stop
until you get answers. Make sure your potential
homestead location isn’t a part of an H.O.A.
(homeowners association) that regulates and
restricts what you can and can’t do on your land.

5
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Other laws and or rules to inquire about when choosing a homestead

location are:

• Local cottage laws and farm store laws:

Cottage food laws are basically the laws that allow small-
time producers to use certain appliances in their homes to
bake, cook, can, pickle, dry, or candy certain low-risk foods
for sale.

• Homeschool Laws:
Detailed information on how to withdraw from public school,
homeschooling requirements include testing & mandatory
subjects, plus resources and more.

• Farm meat sales and requirements:

Look for regulatory and non-
regulatory meat sales, as well
as, herd sales. In addition to
sales, inquire about processing
on site. Certain areas have
rules and regulations about
discarding the entrails, etc.

• Raw milk sales:

Inquire about the legality of
raw milk sales. Some states allow it, some for animal sales,
others say you can sell it for crafts only, and some states
forbid it altogether.

• Water collection:
Make sure water collection is allowed in your state, county,
and city. Also, inquire about water and irrigation rights.

• Livestock permission and livestock sales:

Some areas may allow chickens but not roosters, or goats
but no pigs, even if zoned for agriculture.

• Outbuildings:
Barns, chicken coops, goat managers, wood sheds, and

6
CHAPTER 1: FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD

more, are all a functional and necessary part of a homestead.

Make sure the building and zoning commission allows
structures on your land outside of your dwelling.

• Agriculture growth and sales:

Growing food should be every man’s right, whether it’s inside
your home or on every inch of land outside. Make sure you
will be allowed to have a garden(s) on your land.

• Fencing:
They say good fences make great neighbors.
Not only will it keep your livestock on your own
land, but it will keep others out. Make sure you
can install fencing on your land and what the
requirements are.

• Alternative energy:
Although most homesteads are connected to public utilities,
you may want to add alternative energy in the future. Contact
the local power company, or zoning commission to see if
your property is allowed to be off-grid, or grid-connected
with alternative energy.

• Timber:
If you want to harvest the timber off your land, check to make
sure it’s legal to cut the trees. It is not uncommon for trees to
be protected from harvest in residential areas.

Zoning:
Once you’ve inquired with
the county, and city about
the laws of your proposed
homestead, check to see
what zone it is in then look at
all the laws associated with
that zone. Also, check with
the planning committee to

7
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

make sure your area isn’t being considered for rezoning.

As an example, we bought the land that is zoned A1; agriculture.

We are well within our right to have and operate a farm in our zone.
Once we registered our farm with the State (I recommend doing this
if you’re planning on having livestock), by law, we had to place a
sign by the road informing others we have a farm.

Because we are zoned properly, have a sign, and are registered with
a State, anyone buying adjacent property cannot complain about
the smell, noise, etc. of operations on our farm. Well, they technically
could complain but the law would certainly be on my side, and they
would be wasting their breath.

Planting Zone:
After you have established
that you can legally grow a
garden on your homestead,
now you need to see if
Mother Nature agrees.
A planting zone is also
referred to as a Hardiness
Zone. A hardiness zone is
a geographic area defined
as having a certain range
of annual minimum temperature, a factor relevant to the survival of
many plants.

If one of your goals on your homestead is to grow and produce food,

you’ll need to know your planting zone or hardiness zone, so you
know the length of your growing season, and the types of crops you
can grow.

For instance, if you really want to grow citrus but your homestead is
located in zone 5, you won’t be able to grow citrus unless you grow
them in a greenhouse with a controlled environment. Citrus grows
better in zones 9-11.

8
CHAPTER 1: FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD

Local Weather and Livestock:

In addition to knowing your hardiness
zone for planting food, it is equally
important to know the local temperatures
and seasons, for the type of livestock
you’ll want to raise.

Some breeds are better suited for warm

climates and vice versa. You won’t want
to pick southern Florida to homestead if
your goal is to raise fiber animals, it’s
too hot and humid for them and their
thick coats. Nor would you want to pick
a homestead in northern Idaho, if you
want to be a commercial beekeeper,
they would never survive the winters.

Knowing what your homestead goals are, and then matching them
with a State, with the ideal climate for your goals, will help you in your
success as a homesteader.

9
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Can You Be A Homesteader?

This is one of those hard questions that we all really need to resonate
on before making any life-altering decisions. We have to be able to
separate desire and want from ability and reality. Although we may
feel the urgency to do it all now, small steps in a forward direction is
the key to success.

Personal Assessment
After reading the information, do some research about your
desired homestead and answer the following questions.

◌ What is your physical ability?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ Do you have any medical issues that would hinder

your ability to homestead?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ Do you have any homestead experience?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ Who will be joining you?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ What is their physical health?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

10
CHAPTER 1: FINDING THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD

◌ Do they have any medical issues that would hinder their

ability to homestead?
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ What State are you wanting to move to?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

Are there any state laws about

◌ Homeschooling
◌ Livestock Sales
◌ Milk Sales
◌ Plant Sales (selling plants you grow)
◌ Cottage Laws (selling products you make at home)
◌ Farm Stands
◌ Rainwater Collection
◌ Out Buildings

◌ City Laws about the same above?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ Is the land you’re looking at zoned for agriculture?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ What is the planting zone?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ How long is the growing season?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

◌ How much rain do they get on average?

_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________

11
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Homesteading is a journey, not a race. Understanding your ability to

physically and financially homestead, the legality of homesteading
in your area, and the practicality of the act of homesteading will help
you with your goals. Flexibility and adaptability are essential.

If you are bound to a specific location to homestead, then find out

after your research you can’t implement your plans, be adaptable
to adjust those plans. After taking a personal physical assessment,
you realize that owning 40 acres of farmland just isn’t practical due
to physical ability, scale it down to one or two acres. Heck, you can
do a lot with even half an acre. Be flexible in your plans and adapt
to the situation.

12
 CHAPTER 2:

HOMESTEAD GOALS

“Moving never was part of the equation for us. I built that home
and a business. All my family was there, my kids, now three of them
were born and raised there, it was our home. But it no longer felt like
home. I no longer felt like a free man, or that I really owned anything.
We could only do what we were ‘allowed’ to do. Eat what we were
allowed to eat. Raise what we were allowed to raise. It didn’t feel free
at all. In fact, it felt like my walls were closing in on me as I lay in my
bed at night.

Then it hit me. A sudden urge to leave. Our home was no longer
home. There had to be something more to life than what we had. We
were alive but we weren’t truly living.”

Homestead Goals:
The best way to get you where you want to be is to have a plan, and
then put that plan into action. In order to create a plan, you need to
know what your goals are for the homestead.

Do you want to just live off the land? How will you make money? If
you want to sell your harvest/homemade goods/livestock and so on,
is there a local market for that?

13
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Homestead Folder:
Any working farm or homestead requires
keeping records, we will discuss this in
further detail, in later chapters, but for
now, you need to establish a homestead
folder.

Include your research for land, copies

of the local zoning laws, and numbers
of contacts such as your city building
inspector, the power company, and so
on, in your homestead folder.

Next, create a section for your goals regarding your homestead.

Check the list provided, and add more goals I may have omitted, or
subtract the ones you don’t want to be included in your homestead.

All Aboard:
Is everyone in your household all on
board with the desire to homestead?
How many people will be helping you?
What are their physical abilities? What
are their disabilities?

One of the hardest things to do is

homestead when no one else wants
to. If you are the only one who wants
chickens, and the only one to take care
of them, what happens when you’re
sick? Working? Out of town? This life is
tough, really tough!

Don’t get me wrong, it’s rewarding and fulfilling, but it’s tough. Too damn
tough to do on your own. You need a support team where everyone is
on the same page, everyone has realistic expectations, and everyone
has a project and responsibility they can be in charge of, or help with.

14
CHAPTER 2: HOMESTEAD GOALS

Have a family meeting and discuss the goals of each family member.
Maybe one person has a passion to work with animals, and another
loves to garden. Is there a doctor in the house? Someone needs to
handle all of the emergencies that happen, whether they be two legs
or four, medical intervention is a necessity. This life isn’t for the faint
of heart or a weak stomach.

Suggested Goals:
As I mentioned earlier, you may want to add to this list of goals or
subtract from it, the main objective is you set goals the whole family
is on board with.

Food:
What is your homestead goal for food? Do you want to grow enough
just to supplement your grocery bill? Would you like to grow/raise as
much of your own food as possible? Do you plan to grow enough to
preserve for the pantry, and emergency
preparedness? Would you like to grow
enough for your family; enough to put
some back for storage, and enough to
give to friends and family? What about
growing enough food to do all the
above, and having enough leftovers to
sell to help monetize, or barter for your
homestead?

Livestock:
Livestock can provide a homestead
with fertilizer for your garden, fiber for
clothes and crafts, pelts for clothes, food for the family and pets,
protection for wildlife or intruders, transportation, lawn maintenance,
and an income from selling surplus. Not to mention they can be
great companions.

15
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Multi-purpose livestock to consider for your homestead are:

• Chickens: fertilizer, eggs, meat, insect and rodent control,

protection, eggs for resale, baby chickens for resale, meat
for resale, feathers for crafts, and tilling of the garden.
• Goats: fertilizer, milk, cheese, and other dairies, meat, fiber,
landscaping and weed control, baby goats for resale, a
hobby for farm shows, 4-H projects, companions.
• Bees. Pollinators for your garden, honey, bee pollen, bees
for
resale, honey for resale.
• Rabbits: Fertilizer, pelts for clothes, meat, pets, baby bunnies
for resale, meat for pet food.

Homestead Business:
Let’s talk about money. Contrary
to popular belief, homesteading
is expensive. It is a rewarding
lifestyle, one that gives you a
sense of accomplishment and
satisfaction at the end of the
day, but that satisfaction doesn’t
come cheaply.

How are you going to fund your

homesteading dream? Do you
plan to work off your homestead
to fund your homestead? Or do you hope to monetize your homestead
to support your family and your homestead?

After you’ve done your due diligence in Chapter One and learned all
about the state, local, and neighborhood laws governing what you
can, and cannot do in your homestead, you can use that knowledge
to assist you in setting some homesteading goals to monetize your
new adventures.

16
CHAPTER 2: HOMESTEAD GOALS

Pretending you can do everything you want, some ways you may be
able to monetize your homestead are:

• Farmstand where you sell produce, jams, jellies, fresh

eggs, and cut flowers.
• Farmers Market. Join a local farmers market to sell your
wares.
• Farm Tours. Build a petting zoo, farm tours, etc. to local
schools, groups, and the public.
• Farm to Table. Host farm-to-table events.
• Livestock. Sell livestock.
• Fibers. Raise fiber animals and sell their fleece to crafters,
online, and specialty shops.
• Dairy. Sell milk, cheese, and dairy products.
• Workshops. Offer workshops teaching others about
homesteading and the skills you offer. Such as rabbit
processing, how to tan hides, canning and preserving
food, how to make soap, bushcrafting, or gardening.
• B&B. Build a couple of campsites, or a small cabin, and
offer a bed and breakfast. People pay good money to stay
at a homestead.

17
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Multi-Generational Homesteads:
Decades ago, the first homesteads were multi-generational and
everyone on the homestead pulled their fair weight. The elders
taught the younger generations and passed down their knowledge.
The workday started before the sun came up, and ended after it
went down.

Fast forward a half-century or so,

and now you see single families
with both parents working off the
homestead, kids all busy with
daily after school activities, and
barely anyone spends any time at
home. These are not ingredients
for a conducive or successful
homestead.

I say it’s high time to bring back the multi-generational homestead.

Instead of placing our elders in senior citizens’ homes, bring them
back and glean from their knowledge. Instead of rushing the kids out
of the nest, and on their way to their own 30 yr mortgage, give them
a slice of the homestead land and help them build their own house
close to the family.

Do you plan on having other family members join your homestead? If

so, do any of them have special skills or talents? Many hands make
light work, and everyone can help pitch in for the common goal.

Aging:
One of the cruel, yet inevitable, side
effects of life is aging. It will happen to us
all, mostly while we least expect it.
Our homesteading dream started when
we were young and spry. In reality, we
are aging and see the clock ticking as we
try to tackle everything on our list, while

18
CHAPTER 2: HOMESTEAD GOALS

our bodies still allow us to. Build a

homestead that can age with you.

For instance, try to build ramps

with handrails instead of stairs.
Make doorways wide enough for
walkers and wheelchairs. Install
raised garden beds that are easy to
reach. Locate the woodshed close
to the house so you don’t have to
haul wood a long way.

When designing your homestead and laying everything out, take into
consideration how you’ll accomplish each task as your body gets
older.

Water:
Water should be a number one
priority when looking for that perfect
homestead. Water is essential for
your homesteading success.

Does your homestead have a water

source? Will you have a well? Connect
to city water? Collect rainwater? (is this
legal in your area?) How much rain
does that area get per year? What
are the water requirements of your
livestock, garden, and home?

Do you plan on having a secondary source for water, should your main
source fail?

What about filtration? What type of filtration system will you have in place?

All of these are thought-provoking questions that you should answer

in your quest in planning a successful homestead.

19
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Energy:
What do you plan on using for your energy? City? Solar? Wind?
Hydro? A combination? Will you
have a backup emergency plan
like a generator?

Decide what source of energy will

be best suited for your homestead
by researching what’s available in
your area, and what will provide for
your electrical needs and budget.

• Contact the local power

company and ask if
they can service your
homestead first.
• How much will the installation cost?
• Recommended licensed electricians.
• What is the cost per kwh?
• Inquire if they offer alternative energy options.

Timeline:
After writing down and evaluating your homesteading goals,
realistically evaluate a reasonable timeline for each project. Don’t
try to do too much at once, or everything all at once, or you will get
overwhelmed and burn out.

Allow for flexibility because life does happen, and often. You may
start the day out planning to chop firewood but then the pigs get out
and your whole day is shot chasing hogs and fixing broken fences.
Flexibility and a little laughter go a long way in maintaining some sort
of sanity on the homestead.

20
 CHAPTER 3:

PLANNING YOUR
HOMESTEAD

“So we did it. We sold everything we owned, closed out our business,
packed up the family, and moved to the mountains of Tennessee on
47 acres in the middle of nowhere.

We now live off-grid, homeschool our youngest, raise a plethora of

livestock, and grow our own food. Although we may not ever be
completely free from the government overlords, we feel as close as
we’ll ever get.”

Planning Your Homestead:

Planning your homestead is one of
the most exciting parts of the process.
Incorporating all the ideas you’ve
researched, and seeing your plans put
into action is the ultimate joy.

Each phase of your homestead

planning is as equally important as
the next. You could have the best
house, the best barn, or even the best
neighbors, but if the laws prevent you
from homesteading, you’re dead in the
water.

21
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Proper research suggested in Chapter One is as essential as the

first step in planning your new homestead. Once you’ve made the
plans, you can now let the fun begin.

The key to designing your homestead is flexibility and patience.

Like anything to do with homesteading, things rarely go as planned.
Being flexible and adaptable will serve you and your family greatly.

Location:
Once you’ve established the
perfect State and Town, the next
step is location. By answering the
questions below, it will help you
pinpoint the exact area you need,
to start looking for available land.

• Do you need to be close to

the schools?
• Does the bus route go down
your road?
• How close do you need to be located to a doctor or VA office?
• Will you rely on city power or alternative energy?
° If relying on city power, do they service the area you
want
to live in?
° If they do service the area where
you want to live, contact the energy
provider and ask them how long
their wait is for new construction.
For instance, the county where
I live isn’t giving out any new
building permits because our
power grid is not large enough to
handle growth in the area.
• Is there water access? If not, how will you supply water to your
homestead?

22
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD

• How close is the nearest fire department?

Our area is prone to wildfires. We called
911 to report a wildfire in the mountains
and it took them 45 minutes to get to us.
A lot of damage can happen in 45 minutes.

Beyond The Location

You’ve found the PERFECT location for your homestead-

congratulations!

Property Lines:
Depending on your area, one of the challenges you may face are;
lack of pin coordinates on the survey that’s registered at the county
courthouse. I HIGHLY recommend investing in a good survey before
signing that dotted line.

Our last survey was performed by a man that passed away in the
1980s who used landmarks such as the big oak tree on the corner
that’s no longer there. Or, 20 paces north from the rock with moss.
For decades this land has been sold and passed on, with nothing
more than a landmark where a tree may have been, as its property
lines?

Keep in mind that after

hiring a land surveyor, the
neighbors who have used
part of your land for many
years to grow their prize-
winning flowers, or raised
their hogs, won’t think too
kindly of you asking for
the land back, that would
rightfully be yours. In
fact, situations like this can get downright ugly, and they are more
common than one would think.

23
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

If you are faced with this problem you have a couple of choices:
1. You can hire an attorney to make the neighbors quit using
your land (NOT RECOMMENDED)
2. You can offer to make a trade with the neighbors, you will
deed them the portion of your land that they are using, and
they will deed you the same equivalent of their land. A TRADE
3. You can walk (run) from the deal, this land is not for you.

Once you’ve established your land markers, I highly recommend

installing a fence to set boundaries. Our land was vacant for years
before we purchased it. Trespassers didn’t know it had been sold,
and we’ve dealt with strangers on our land non-stop because we
don’t have clear and marked boundaries.

Easements and Landlocked:

Easement

A lot of these old country homesteads that are now for sale, were
once part of a much bigger plot.
Family farmland passed down from
generations was split into parcels
and given to family members or sold
off, often in unusual dimensions.

For this reason, the easement was

granted to landowners allowing them
access to their land that was not
accessible from the road.

24
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD

When looking at land, inquire to see if there is an easement that

allows others access to your land, or if the neighboring land has an
easement that belongs to the property you want to buy.

Landlocked

Landlocked is a piece of land that has no easement designated to

it, or attached to the deed. In this situation, you would need to ask
adjoining landowners to give you easement rights on their property.
This is not an easy task, and I would advise against buying any
parcel that is landlocked.

Good Fences Make Great Neighbors:

While we’re on the subject of neighbors, neighbors can make or
break a homestead, literally. A bad neighbor, no matter how much
land, can make your life a living hell. On the contrary, good neighbors
can be a GODsend. Regardless if you have 300+ acres or a postage
stamp, good neighbors are imperative.

In my experience, people don’t like new people moving in on their

turf. They worry about you being a good neighbor, just as much as
you worry about them being a good neighbor. They like to keep to
their own, and fear city slickers moving in and changing all the laws.

Another issue you may bump into is the neighbors using your land.
Either the previous owner used to let them, so they assume those
privileges are transferred with the deed, or they just took over using

25
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

it as their extended property because it was vacant. Either way, they

might not think too kindly of giving up that freedom using land they
didn’t own.

The Right Spot:

Up until now, we’ve been like a
mullet, all business in the front.
But here comes the party in
the back, picking the perfect
spot on your land for your new
homestead!!

Finding the perfect spot on

your new land, and building a
homestead, is definitely a permanent thing, so you want to take your
time planning. Measure twice and cut once.

Some key points to consider when finding the perfect location are:

Flood Zone:

For obvious reasons, no one wants to build in a flood zone, unless

of course, you are building an ark! To
avoid problems in the future, check
the local flood zone map, preferably
before you buy, to ensure your dry land
isn’t in fact in a flood zone. What looks
dry as a bone to you today, could be
several inches underwater during the
rainy season.

FEMA Flood Map Service Center:

Search By Address
https://msc.fema.gov/portal/search

26
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD

Proximity to Water and Electric:

Homesteaders can survive without electricity a lot longer than we

can without water. However, you will need both for a successful
homestead.

Electric:

If you plan on connecting to public utilities, you’ll need to locate your

homestead in an area that can be accessed to public utilities. Keep
in mind that the utility company charges for every light pole they
install, and the further away you are, the more they will charge. The
fees are hefty.

Water:

Not only will you want your

home to be close to water
access but also your barn
or livestock areas. Hauling
water is a daunting task
and physically demanding.
The ideal location of your
homestead is one where
water access is close by.

Accessibility:

We all love our privacy, peace, and quiet. However, we should still
consider accessibility when deciding where to place our homestead.
Although you may not want too many visitors, it is important your
location can be reached. Access for deliveries, emergency vehicles,
or the invited guest.

Terrain:

Our land is over 45 acres but much of it is steep and unbuildable.

27
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Terrain will play a huge role in your homestead placement. Working

off the side of the mountain is hard and presents several issues
when building.

Look at your terrain and pay attention to the flow of water during the
rains. Can you access the build site from all sides? What is the soil
like? How far down can you dig? Will you be able to build on flat land,
or will some of it be suspended?

Septic:

Depending on your County

Building and Zoning laws, your
County may require you to get
a soil test and septic permit
before you cut the first tree. This
is an important first step when
picking the perfect homestead
build site. If you can’t get
approved for septic, you will need to pick a different build site or
consider a composting system.

Property lines:

After your survey is complete and you know where your property lines
are, contact the building and zoning for their setback guidelines, or if
they have any registered easements for your land.

A setback is how far away from the property line you have to build.

28
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD

While your land may not have any easements allowing neighbors to
access it, you could have easements stated for emergency vehicle
access or utility companies.

We have power lines down at the base of our land that goes up the
side of our mountain to provide power to homes on the other side.
We have to allow an easement access of 20 ft on either side of those
power lines.

Orientation:

Would you like to see the rising

sun from your bedroom window?
Then you would want your
bedroom window facing east.
If you’re adding solar panels to
your roof, you’ll want your roofline
facing south.

Typically a south-facing home gets sun for most of the day,

especially at the front of the house, and is, therefore, usually brighter
and warmer. A north-facing home gets sun at the back of the house
and is typically darker and naturally cooler than a south-facing one.

Elements to Include in Your Building Plans

If only I had a chance to build my homestead again, oh the things I
would add. You know what they say about hindsight.

The items listed below are in addition to the typical rooms and
features you would include in a house such as a bathroom,
bedrooms, kitchen, living room, dining room, and garage.

Inside:
• Fireplace
• Cookstove
• Mudroom
• Food pantry

29
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

• Plenty of closets
• Big kitchen for processing food
• Plenty of windows for circulation and light
• Porch

Outside:
• Woodshed for firewood
• Storage shed
• Barn
• Chicken coop
• Other livestock areas
• Butcher area
• Pond
• Hay storage
• Water cistern
• Outdoor kitchen
• Firepit
• Outdoor shower
• Garden area
• Compost area
• Workshop
• Greenhouse
• Root cellar for food storage

Homesteads for the Aging

Although you may be a young whippersnapper now, you will want a
homestead that ages with you.

Incorporating these features now will save you thousands in the

future. Not to mention, you may have the ability to build them now,
and may not be physically capable in the future.

• One story. Stairs are hard to climb when you get older. If
you, or a member of your family, becomes bound to a
walker or wheelchair, stairs would not be possible.
• Ramps. Install ramp access to all buildings. Not only are
ramps necessary for aging, but they also come in handy

30
CHAPTER 3: PLANNING YOUR HOMESTEAD

when you’re carrying a heavy load or wheelbarrow.

• Wide Doors. Doorways
need to be at least 34”
wide for exterior doors
and 32” wide for interior
doors, for wheelchair
access. We like 36” wide
doors to allow room for
maneuvering.
• Walk-in Shower. A walk-
in shower with a shower
bar are a great addition to
any bathroom.
• Main Level Bathroom. If you do build a two-story house,
make sure to include a bathroom with shower access on the
main level.
• Raised Garden Beds. You can grow a lot of food in raised
beds. Place them close to the house for easy access.
• Light and Wall Receptacles. Install light switches and
receptacles at heights that can be accessed by those in a
wheelchair, no higher than 48” off the floor.

It All Comes Together.

Now that you have worked your way through the legalities of planning
a homestead, and building a homestead, you can put your plan into
action. Map your property and work with your design to make the
best homestead for you and your family.

Look at the above suggestion and note which elements you would
like to include in your plan, which ones you would like to omit, and
what ideas you may have that I didn’t include?

31
 CHAPTER 4:

GROWING AND SUSTAINING

A GARDEN

“Although food didn’t quite come out of a pill, it was close enough, if
you can still call it food. Food now has more ingredients that I can’t
pronounce than it has recognizable food.

Here’s the secret, real food doesn’t have ingredients.”

Growing Food.
Growing your own food is one of
the most empowering things you
can do. To watch something grow,
harvest it, and make a meal to feed
yourself and your family, there is a
lot of pride in accomplishing this.
Satisfaction knowing that as long
as you have seeds and soil, you’ll
never starve- food security.

Every homestead has some form

of food production, whether produce or livestock. In this chapter,
we’ll walk you through the steps to help you work towards your very
own food security.

32
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

Location:
I have some funny stories to share about all of the many, many,
mistakes I’ve learned from, in my gardening years, regarding
location, or lack thereof.

One year I planted my entire garden below, a then, bare hickory

tree. As the leaves filled in, they dripped sap on my plants, burning
holes in all the leaves and poisoning them.

In addition to poisoning my beautiful garden, the garden was in

complete shade by the time all the trees filled in.

Then I planted an amazing garden

right next to the chicken coop. Our fine
feathered poop producers destroyed
my entire garden in less than 30
minutes.

Another time, we planted a garden in

sandy soil that couldn’t hold any water,
and everything shriveled up and died.

And my latest garden flop was when we planted my birthday garden,

with all the plants my kids gifted me, right next to the new puppy’s
spot. Once we left the house, the puppy tore up our garden. You!
Yeah, I didn’t harvest anything that year either.

So you see, we all make mistakes

and will continue to do so until the
day we leave this earth. However,
there is a lot to be said for learning
from another’s past.

Another helpful tip for your location

is placing the garden in your path.
If your garden is located along
your daily path, you are more
prone to paying attention to it. You

33
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

will notice if it needs water, if the tomatoes are ripe, or if you’ve had
an unwelcome visitor - such as a deer that ate all your sunflowers.

Garden Placement:
Before you grab that shovel or cultivate that first row, there are some
steps you need to take.

First, observe.

We, as humans, are too quick

to act and too slow to observe.
Watch the sun throughout the
day; where does the light hit
and when? What time of the
year is it? As some time passes,
note how the sun changes,
throughout the seasons.

Sun:

Most garden plants require 6-8 hours of sunlight. Locate the area
that receives 6-8 hours of sunlight, without being in direct sunlight all
day. Find the partly shady places on your land, as well, for the plants
that require more shade.

Trees:

Another lesson to learn from my mistakes

is to observe the trees. Are they fully
grown? Do they cast a shadow on your
garden area? Will the roots be an issue
if you plan on tilling the ground?

Producing chemicals that inhibit the

growth of nearby plants is called
allelopathy. In the case of walnut and

34
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

hickory trees, an allelopathic chemical called juglone causes wilting

of some of your favorite homegrown veggies, including tomatoes.

Water:

Once you’ve located the perfect

spot for sunlight, how close is
your location to a water source?
How do you plan on watering your
garden?

Once you do decide on a water

source, it’s important to have your
water tested. We installed a well
just for our gardens, however,
everything died that year including
our new sod. We later found out that our well wasn’t deep enough
to tap into the freshwater, it was full of saltwater (we lived by the
beach). Saltwater and green things don’t mix.

Contaminated water can cause

ornamentals to discolor, become stunted,
grow irregularly or even die. So water quality
in gardens may be important whether it’s
an edible garden or just ornamental.

Your local extension agency can offer

water testing for you at a minimal cost. The
results will tell you if you need any treatment or a filter system for
your gardens.

Soil:

Unless you plan to grow food using aquaponics or hydroponics, it’s

impossible to grow food without the proper soil. Fortunately, if you
have poor soil, you can fix it by amending it. The first step is to see
what type of soil you have.

35
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Types of soil.
There are three main different
types of soil, Sandy, Clay, and
Silt.
1. Sandy soil is light and dry
soil. Tends to be more acidic
and low in nutrients. It doesn’t
hold moisture well.
2. Clay soil is high in nutrients
but also heavy, compact, and
doesn’t drain well.
3. Silt soil is a light and
moisture-retentive soil type
with a high fertility rating.

Soil PH:

Growing food successfully goes

beyond putting something in dirt and
watering it. The pH of your soil will
determine what plants will grow and
be productive. The pH in the soil can
be acidic or alkaline; 0.0 is acidic and
14.0 is alkaline.

Most plants require a soil range of

pH of 5.5-6.5, so if your soil tests for
ranges outside of those readings, you
will need to amend it.

Soil Test:

Soil tests are available that you can purchase from a garden store
and perform yourself. However, most local extension agencies offer
extensive soil tests with a readout of what amendments your soil
needs. In addition to the test, they have knowledgeable staff that

36
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

can offer advice or helps you troubleshoot any issues you may have.

Composting:
Composting is a mixture of
ingredients used to fertilize and
improve the soil. It is commonly
prepared by decomposing plant
and food waste, and recycling
organic materials. The resulting
mixture is rich in plant nutrients
and beneficial organisms, such
as worms and fungal mycelium.

You can make your own compost

by setting up a composting
system, or area on your homestead. We build our current system out
of wood pallets and have a four bin system which we rotate. We have
also used plastic tumblers in the past that work just as well. (how big
are these tumblers?)

It is key to have a balance of green and brown organic matter in

your compost system. Green matter consists of things like grass
clippings, produce scraps, dead plants, and so on. Brown matter
consists of things such as leaves, sawdust, hay,

Other things that can be added to your compost are ash from the
fireplace, coffee grounds, pasta, and manure from your livestock.

How to Compost.

Once you have a designated area for composting and a nice balance
of green and brown matter, you will want to spray it lightly with water
just to get it moist, but not soaking wet.

Next, use a shovel or pitchfork to stir the compost weekly to introduce

air into it.

37
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

As the compost breaks down,

beneficial microbes and insects
will turn your leftovers and scraps
into beautiful, rich compost for your
lawn and garden. You can use your
compost to help amend your soil or
topdress gardens.

This process causes the compost

pile to heat up, and too much heat will kill the beneficial microbes.
Stirring the compost pile helps prevent it from overheating.

Garden Tools:
An artist is only “as good as his brush” which can be applied to
gardening as well. Proper tools can go a long way in making a
gardener’s job easier.

If you’re just starting out gardening, some of the tools you’ll need are

• Garden gloves
• Rake
• Wheelbarrow
• Shovel, both hand shovel and standard size
• Garden hose and sprayer nozzle
• Sprinklers
• Pruning shears
• Loppers
• Hand Trowel
• Garden fork
• Hoe
• Spade
• Watering can
• Planting pots

In addition to the tools, you’ll need a dry safe place to store them
such as a barn, garage, or storage shed.

38
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

Planning Your Garden:

Aside from the traditional row gardening that we are more familiar
with, there are several ways to grow food.

Personally, we try to use as

many different methods as
possible to increase our food
production. For example, we
have traditional row gardens,
terrace gardens, tower gardens,
planter pots, greenhouses,
indoor gardening, and
hydroponics.

Some of the different gardening methods include (but not limited to):

Raised Beds:

Raised garden beds are a contained area in which you add soil.
They can be made out of pretty much anything from tires, to timber,
to roofing tin, and more. Raised beds are ideal for those with limited
space or mobility. Raised beds allow you to control the soil because
you add it yourself.

Vertical Gardening:

Vertical gardening is growing plants

vertically instead of horizontally. It extends
your growing capability by growing plants
in otherwise unused space. We add cattle
panels to our garden boxes creating a
tunnel to walk through, which we grow food
on.

Vertical gardening is the perfect solution for

39
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

vining plants such as grapes, kiwi, cucumbers, sweet potatoes, and

so much more.

Hydroponics:

Hydroponic gardens are a soilless gardening

system. The systems circulate air and water
around the root system on the plants. You add
the nutrients to the water so the plants have the
proper nutrition.

Aquaponics:

Aquaponics combines hydroponics

and a fish tank. The fish fertilize the
water, the water circulates around the
plant roots and you harvest the plants.
In addition to vegetables, you can also
harvest the fish for an additional protein
source.

Planter Pots:

One of the easiest, and quickest,

ways to garden is in planter pots. The
perfect solution if you are nipping at
the bit to grow something now, but
not ready to plant your main garden.
Anything that can contain soil and
has drain holes, can become a
planter pot.

We have used tires, coffee cans, old boots, sand pail, and even a
feed sack. Get as creative or as whimsical as you like.

40
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

Indoor Gardening:

If you have a sunroom in your new homestead or a sunny window,

this is the perfect place to garden indoors. Another option to growing
food indoors is by growing microgreens, no window is needed. Just
some grow lights and a shelf.

Living Roofs:

I personally love the idea of living roofs.

They are literally a garden on your roof.
Some pre-planning and design is needed
to take place during the construction
process of your homestead, or outbuilding
such as a rubber membrane to prevent
leaking, and safe access to your roof to
name a few. However, living roofs provide extra insulation and wise
use of the unused real estate.

What to Plant.
What you’ll plant, and when, will largely depend on your planting
zone. There are cool weather crops and warm weather crops.

Examples of cool weather crops include lettuce, broccoli, winter

squash, collards, kale, cabbage, and other greens. Warm weather
crops include things like watermelon, cucumbers, zucchini,
tomatoes, and beans.

Continuous Food.

In order to keep your garden in a continuous supply of food, you’ll

need to do succession planting. Succession planting is planting
things either right after you harvest something from that spot, or
plant something a week or so after you’ve done the first planting.

For example, say you plant corn which takes a long time to mature,

41
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

you can use the space in

between to plant a smaller crop
like radishes, bush beans, or
carrots.

Another example of succession

planting is by planting beans
in between your lettuce as
your lettuce is getting ready for
harvest.

A couple of tips to keep in mind when deciding what to plant are:

1. Only plant what you and your family will eat, unless you’re
planning on selling your produce.
2. Only plant what will grow in your hardiness zone. Don’t try to
grow crops that are not designed for your climate. Plants
and seeds list their hardiness zones on their package or
label.
3. Protect your gardens. Livestock, wildlife, and trespassing
humans, all love gardens as much as we do. Protect your
investment by placing fences around your gardens.

Trees and Shrubs

One regret I have that I failed to do when we first moved to our
homestead, is to plant fruit and nut
trees, and fruit shrubs that first year.

Trees take a long time to develop in

order to harvest their fruits, as well as
the fruit bushes. You’re looking at a
minimum of three years before you yield
any type of harvest, depending on the
age of the tree, or shrub you bought.

If you have the opportunity, I would

strongly consider investing in some

42
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

fruit and trees and fruit bushes the first year on your homestead. Of
course, research what types will grow best in your area.

Fruit Trees
• Apple
• Pear
• Mulberry
• Peach
• Persimmon
• Plum
• Nectarine
• Lemon
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Fig
• Cherry
• Loquat

Nut Trees
• Walnut
• Almonds
• Hazelnut
• Pistachio
• Brazil Nuts

Fruit Shrubs
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Huckleberries
• Currants
• Gooseberries
• Elderberry
• Goji Berry

43
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Plant Diversity
A well-balanced system needs diversity. Many years ago we had
all of these lush green plants, beautiful fruiting flowers, but no fruit?
None. Later I discovered we were lacking pollinators, and pollinators
are essential to any garden.

The following season I planted some herbs and flowers that were
known to attract pollinators and walla! Fruiting plants again!

In addition to planting herbs and

flowers to attract insects, we also
invested in a couple of beehives,
and that was the beginning of our
beekeeping adventures (more on
that later).

We became beekeepers not

because we wanted honey, we
became beekeepers because we
wanted a successful garden. Honey is just a happy byproduct.

When planning and designing your garden, make sure to incorporate

some herbs and flowers to attract pollinators and other beneficial
insects.

Herbs for Pollinators (example)

• Anise Hyssop
• Borage
• Bee Balm
• Lavender
• Fennel
• Rosemary
• Chives
• Thyme
• Basil
• Catnip
• Yarrow
• Echinacea

44
CHAPTER 4: GROWING AND SUSTAINING A GARDEN

Flowers for Pollinators and Beneficial Insects

• Nasturtiums
• Sunflowers
• Butterfly Bushes
• Calendula
• Cosmos
• Salvia
• Milkweed
• Zinnia

Gardening is therapy with benefits; time outside in the fresh air and
sun, aesthetically pleasing, AND you get food!!! Growing your own
food means your family won’t go without no matter what this crazy
world throws at you. Peace of mind and a sense of food security.

45
 CHAPTER 5:

LIVESTOCK

“Cooked our meals from scratch, recycled everything we could,

made all of our own products from cleaners to toothpaste, and even
got a couple of dwarf goats, some laying hens, and honeybees.”

Raising Livestock:
Adding livestock to your
homestead feels like the moment
when you’ve finally arrived!
You have your home, gardens,
and barn, all you are missing is
livestock.

To be able to provide for the needs

of your family, and to ensure the
quality of life of the animal from
beginning to end. Connecting with your food source, learning you
don’t need roosters to have eggs, and the sacrifice of what it takes
to really put food on the table. This is what homesteading is all about.
It’s the grit and backbone of the homesteading movement.

46
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

Getting Started With Livestock.

They say chickens are the gateway livestock. Meaning once you get
chickens, you just keep going. Then
you want goats, and next pigs, then
ducks, turkeys, and the madness just
keeps growing.

I believe chickens are considered

the gateway livestock because they
are relatively easy to raise. Chickens
provide you and your family with fresh
eggs daily, and can easily become
an income source by selling the extra
eggs. They require little space and are
full of personality that provide endless
entertainment.

Our livestock journey actually started with goats, then bees, and
later we added chickens. After chickens, we added pigs, turkeys,
guineas, rabbits, and the list goes on. It truly is addicting, mark my
words.

Livestock Laws.
We covered this topic in general for all homesteading-related
laws. However, sometimes there are more specific laws related to
livestock.

For instance, when we were looking

for land, we found five acres in the
country in an unrestricted area,
meaning they didn’t have building
codes. However, the owner of the
land had subdivided a bigger plot
and attached bylaws to them. You
were allowed horses on the land but
no other livestock.

47
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

In the county we lived in back in South

Carolina, they made ALL roosters
illegal in the entire county. Chickens
were allowed in some spot zoning
areas, but roosters were completely
forbidden.

Before you buy that first baby chick or

tiny bee, make sure to check with:

• State Laws
• County Laws
• City Laws
• HOA Laws
• And any restrictions associated with your deed

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Better to check the

law now, and know you’ll be in compliance than to spend thousands
on infrastructure and have to get rid of everything.

Against The Law.

If specific livestock is prohibited where you live, all is not lost, there
are steps you can take that may make it legal again.

Depending on where you live, it is possible to get a ruling, or a law

changed to make livestock ownership legal again, you just need to
get involved.

Time For A Change:

In order to get a law changed, you have to know the legal process
required in order for you to achieve that goal.

1. Who is responsible for the law? What government branch

is in charge of the law you want to change?

48
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

2. Read the laws governing your issue, make sure you have a
full understanding of them.
3. Talk to the group of people that made the change, if they’re
still around.
4. Towns and cities have different governing structures, so if
you’re working on changing a local law, figure out how
yours works. Most have a mayor, and some kind of city
council; some also have other positions within the city
government, including city managers and commissioners.
Some states allow you to file local or state referendums as
a citizen, but many states do not. If you are in a state that
does not, you need to get the city council or mayor to
support your idea and bring it to a vote.
5. Go to community meetings if
you can’t file a referendum. This
is a way for you to bring up your
issue to local lawmakers. Check
your city to see when the meetings
are scheduled for constituents
to bring up issues. You usually
have a limited time to speak, so
be prepared and be professional.
And practice keeping your speech
within the time limits.
6. Changing a law can take a long time, and due process
takes a while. Persevere and be diligent.

Is it an H.O.A. restriction? Consider getting on the board and asking

the board members to change it. Make sure to follow the proper
rules of order and notify all the homeowners of any possible votes
or changes.

Connect with like-minded people and get local support in your

pursuit. Go to the local farm store and farm vets to make your
connections. There is power in numbers.

49
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Allergies:
Allergies to animals are no joke;
from watery eyes to more severe
reactions that cause anaphylactic
shock, and even death. Not only
do you need to be concerned
about allergies in your family but
also anyone that may visit.

We are beekeepers, both my

spouse and I are allergic to bee
stings. We keep epi-pens on hand at all times. We have a sign at the
beginning of our property stating we have farm animals, and bees
so visitors will be informed.

Before adding livestock to your homestead, you may want to

(although not mandatory) get allergy tested, especially if you’re
prone to allergies.

Recently, I was experiencing swollen eyes beyond normal hay

fever. After extensive allergy testing, the results showed I’m allergic
to horses (among a plethora of other things). One of the livestock
breeds we were planning to add to our farm. Thankfully, I found out
before spending thousands on the infrastructure, and a horse.

A nice stocked medicine cabinet is always a good idea whether

you suffer from allergies or not. Consider adding things like allergy
meds, Benadryl, antihistamines, and itch relief cream to your human
first aid kit.

Pets VS Livestock:
We have two pets on our land, two. Everything else serves a greater
purpose for the homestead. Whether that’s providing food for
my family, an income, working on the land or a combination. Our
livestock is an investment of our time and resources. We don’t have
the luxury or the inclination to have a pet production plant. The long-

50
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

term goal is to have a functional,

self-sufficient, and sustainable
homestead.

With that in mind, there are often

hard decisions that must be made
along the way for the greater good
of the homestead.

Decisions like knowing when a

specific breed is no longer cost-
efficient, and it’s time to get rid of
them.

When livestock is not:

1. Feeding the family
2. Making money
3. Working the land

Then it’s time to get rid of them because they are becoming a
financial and physical burden.

Other situations when you should consider getting rid of livestock

are:

• When specific livestock becomes too physically demanding.

• If they become aggressive.
• If they are cost-prohibitive. If livestock costs more to raise
than the return you get from it.
• If they don’t stay contained, escaping all the time causing
issues with neighbors.
• If specific livestock is just burdensome, it’s best for you to
find a new home for them.

As a homesteader, we owe it to our animals to always have their best

interest at heart. To practice good animal husbandry. Good animal
husbandry also means making hard decisions such as rehoming
them or culling when needed.

51
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Farm Vet and First Aid:

Sooner or later, if you have livestock,
you’ll need a farm veterinarian. One
that is trained, and skilled in taking
care of your specific breeds of animal.
Best to find one locally, before you
need one and develop a relationship.

When we were living by the beach,

there wasn’t a vet for two hours, in
any direction, that took care of goats. House calls were not only
extremely expensive but also hard because of the distance and
availability. Generally, when a goat is sick and going down, they go
down fast. Having a local farm vet is imperative.

Farm vets worth their weight in gold usually have a waiting list for
new customers. Best to get on that list before you need them. If you
can’t find a farm vet locally, ask your local Extension Agency, or farm
supply store for a referral.

Livestock First Aid Kit:

Every homesteader will also serve as
a farm vet at some point. It’s best to be
stocked and ready for emergencies.

Each breed of animal has specific ailments

and injuries that are unique to them. Make
sure to study the breed of livestock that you have, and what injury
or sickness they are prone to, in order to customize your first aid kit.

❟ Clippers for hooves, horns, and or spurs

❟ Disposable latex gloves
❟ Disposable razor
❟ Duct tape
❟ Dusting powder (for biting and chewing insects on poultry,

52
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

hogs, sheep, cattle, horses)

❟ Epsom salt
❟ Electrolytes
❟ Eye Wash
❟ First-aid guide
❟ Flashlight with extra batteries
❟ Frothy bloat treatment (for bloat and constipation in ruminants)
❟ Gauze dressing pads
❟ Hoof dressing (for thrush/footrot)
❟ Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol
❟ Lubricant for the thermometer (i.e.,
petroleum jelly)
❟ Milk Replacer and Bottles for babies
❟ Molasses
❟ Needle-Nose Pliers
❟ Nonsteroidal eye ointment
❟ Nutri-Drench
❟ Oral syringe (for dosing medications by mouth)
❟ Paper Towels
❟ Pocket knife
❟ Probiotics
❟ Rectal thermometer
❟ Roll gauze
❟ Safety scissors (for cutting dressings)
❟ Scissors
❟ Self-stick elastic bandages, such as
Vetrap
❟ Sterile saline solution (for rinsing
wounds and removing debris from
eyes)
❟ Stethoscope
❟ Syringe (without the needle, for flushing wounds)
❟ Tweezers
❟ Udder ointment (Check label for use in dairy animals.)
❟ Vet Tape
❟ Wire cutters
❟ Wound ointment/spray (Check the label if you plan to use the
product for meat and dairy animals.) such as VetRex or
BluKote

53
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

In addition to the above list, I like to have a selection of antibiotics

and medicines on hand for the livestock we have. We live in a remote
location far from any city, or veterinarian, and keeping what we need
on hand has saved our animal’s lives in the past.

Adding Livestock:
Now the fun part comes in, adding livestock to your homestead, and
thus helping you achieve self-sufficiency.

If you listen to any of my advice, listen to this, take your time. Start
with one species, one breed, have it on your land for a while, and
learn how to take care of it before you add another.

As new homesteaders, we all

want to do it now. We feel the
urgency pressing on us, almost
to the point of panic, to do as
much as we can now before it’s
too late. Too much, too soon, will
not only be bad for you and your
livestock in the long run, but it
will cause you to get burned out,
and possibly even cause you to
throw in the towel.

Pick one species. Study it, prepare for it by building a proper shelter,
gather the supplies for your first aid kit, purchase the needed food,
and bedding, find a farm vet, purchase the animal, then let the fun,
and work, begin. Once you’ve had the species for a while and you
feel like you’ve become pretty proficient at caring for it, then it’s time
to consider adding more if desired.

54
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

Honey Bees:
I’ve been a beekeeper for a little over
a decade now, and I can honestly say,
I never want to be without a couple of
beehives on my land. With the exception
of monthly inspections, they are pretty
much hands-off livestock. They require
very little human intervention or routine
daily care.

There are three main types of honeybees

that most beekeepers raise in the United States. Russian, Carniolan,
and the Italian Honey Bees.

The Russian Honey Bee is good for colder climates, disease-

resistant, and is a good honey producer. They are prone to swarming
and are a little more aggressive than other breeds.

Carniolan Honey Bees are very docile, like a warmer climate, and
good honey producers. They don’t tend to like the cold and are more
susceptible to disease.

Italian Honey Bees are a favorite

among many beekeeper
associations, largely in part to
their great honey production.
Like the Carniolan, they are
more docile but are also
susceptible to disease.

Beekeeping Supplies:

The initial investment of

beekeeping is not cheap. However, after you make that initial
investment and are all set up, you rarely have to reinvest. Unlike
other livestock where you have recurring costs.

55
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

• Bees 3lbs pack of bees

$75.00- $150.00 or a Nuc $150.00-$350.00
• Hive: Langstroth $100 - $300.00
• Bee Suit $125.00
• Gloves $30.00
• Hive tool $10.00
• Hive Brush $8.00
• Smoker $45.00

Space:

A Langstroth is roughly 16” X

22” and you’ll need at least five
feet of clearance all around the
perimeter. You want to place the
hive out of any walking path and
away from neighbors, pools, or
swing sets.

Chickens:
The gateway livestock of many homesteaders. Listen, chicken math
is a real thing. First, you say just three chickens! Then the next thing
you know is there is a sale on the baby chicks at the feed store, and
50 it is!

Chickens are a widely accepted

backyard livestock in many
urban areas, and they are
gaining in popularity as people
want to learn to become more
self-sufficient.

Chickens are multi-purpose

livestock. You can raise them for
manure, eggs and/or meat, and
generate an income by selling
surplus.

56
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

Best Breeds for Eggs

While all chickens lay eggs, some are better at performing than
others. My three top choices are popular breeds that can be found
easily and lay an average of 200-
300 + eggs per year.

1. Buff Orpington
2. Leghorn
3. Sexlink

Best Breeds for Meat

Meat breeds will grow quicker than

egg breeds and have a better meat-
to-bone ratio. In some cases, like with the Cornish Cross, you can
harvest them in as little as 6-7 weeks for a decent size bird for the
freezer.

1. Cornish Cross
2. Red Rangers
3. Color Yield Broiler

Best Dual-Purpose Breeds

Your dual-purpose breeds are good for

both egg and meat production. They
will be slower growing than your meat
breeds but will still produce a decent
size bird for harvest, as well as provide
a sufficient amount of eggs.

1. Road Island Reds

2. Black Australorp
3. The Speckled Sussex

57
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

Chicken Supplies
• Baby chicks $.50 -$5.00 each
• Chicken Coop $100-$500 +
• Wire for run and/or fenced in yard plus t-posts $150 - $250.00
• Chicken feeder $25.00
• Chicken waterer $20.00
• Bedding for floor $7.00 a bag
• Chicken feed $25.00 50 lb bag

Many items would be a one-time investment like the coop and

fencing, while others like the feed and bedding would be a recurring
cost.

Goats:
Goats have exploded in popularity in
the last decade, especially the smaller
breeds. Their short stature allows
backyard homesteads to have dairy
livestock, which otherwise wouldn’t be
feasible due to limited space. Goats
are raised for manure, dairy, meat, and fiber. They are also a good
market for resale and monetizing your homestead.

Dairy Goat Breeds

Technically, all goat breeds can produce milk. However, if you’re

specifically wanting milk, some breeds
excel above the rest.

1. Saanen 2,765 lbs of milk per

year
2. Alpine 2,620 lbs of milk per
year
3. Sable 2,570 lbs of milk per
year

58
CHAPTER 5: LIVESTOCK

Meat Goat Breeds

1. Boer 230-340 lbs
2. Kiko 150-300 lbs
3. Savanna 125-250 lbs

Fiber Goat Breeds

1. Angora
2. Cashmere
3. Pashmina

Goat Supplies
• Goats $50.00 - $1,200 + each
• Manger or housing $500.00 +
• Fence and t-post $250.00 - $1000.00 +
• Feeder $35.00
• Water Bucket $20.00
• Hay $12.00 per bale
• Feed $19.00 per 50lb bag

The initial startup cost largely

depends on the breed you
buy, how many you buy,
how large an area you
fence in, and your location.
Goats are herd animals
and require another goat
companion. You will need
to buy a minimum of two, no
matter the breed.

Other Livestock.
In addition to the three
livestock I mentioned above,
some other choices you may
want to add are

59
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

• Quail
• Guineas
• Turkeys
• Ducks
• Geese
• Llamas
• Alpacas
• Pigs
• Rabbits
• Donkeys/Mules
• Horses
• Sheep
• Cows
• Buffalo
• Fish

A Well Balanced Homestead:

When deciding on livestock, consider the needs of your homestead.
Think in terms of dual-purpose and multifunctional as well. Livestock
can benefit you, and your family in more than one way.

For instance, goats, you can use their manure in the garden, harvest
the milk for drinking, and cheese, process the meat and use the fiber
for textiles.
In addition to supplying the needs for your own family, you can
generate an income by selling the babies or renting out your goats
for brush cleaning. If milk sales are allowed in your state, you can
sell the milk for animal/human consumption, or for making goat milk
soap.

Assess your land and your needs, figure out what livestock would
work best, and start with one species at a time. Don’t forget to
reevaluate your homestead at least once a season, to confirm it is
still cost-effective, and not a financial or physical burden. Sometimes
we get so wrapped up in the day-to-day chores, we don’t stop to
question if it makes sense to continue.

60
 FINAL THOUGHTS

Homesteading is a way of life for many, but for some of us, it has only
been a dream. It’s time to put action behind that dream and make it
a reality, even if you only take one tiny step at a time.

My goal with this book is to help you lay out your action plan towards
a self-sufficient life of homesteading, from finding the perfect location
to picking what livestock to add. To help you turn your dream into a
viable reality.

Prepping is essential for your

initial survival in any emergency.
However, homesteading takes
you beyond that survival period.
Homesteading ensures you will
thrive for years beyond your
preps.

Homesteading removes the

control from the powers that be,
and places you in control of your
own quality of life. From the quality
of the food you eat, to the ability to
keep your house warm in the winter. When you homestead, you are
in control. That’s a freedom that no man can take away. It’s a lifestyle
worth pursuing, and a lifestyle worth preserving.

61
 THE NEW COMPLETE BOOK OF BACK TO BASICS HOMESTEADING GUIDE

The wonderful thing about homesteaders is, they are not selfish. They
know the value and meaning of community. They also know they can’t
do it all by themselves, so they rely on their fellow homesteaders.
They want to share their knowledge with anyone that wants to learn.
By doing so, they know their skills and knowledge won’t die with
them, but will be passed on for generations.

Plan your homestead, make your mistakes, learn new skills, get
your hands dirty, and share with others. That’s the heart of the
homesteader.

62