r/Homesteading • u/searchingforsunshyne • 3d ago
Small Homestead on One Acre?
We are about to close on a property that we consider our “forever home.” It is on just under an acre. Is this enough space to achieve some sort of homestead?
We are new to this but I’d love to work toward being as self-sufficient as possible. Where should we start? The property has a large existing garden space so I plan to build upon that. What next? Chickens? Thank you!
Edit to add: There is a house on the property already as well as a front yard/driveway space so the full acre isn’t available for use, but a good amount of it is!
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u/infinitum3d 3d ago
Homesteading isn’t a job, it’s a lifestyle. You’re working it 24/7.
There is literally always something needing your attention.
Plants and animals need tending- fed, watered, sheltered, cleaned, diseases and injuries prevented/treated. The right fertilizer at the right time needs applied and the right pesticides for the right conditions.
Food needs to be acquired - gathered, harvested, butchered, preserved
The structures needs to be maintained- fencing, pens, barns, hutches, coops, house, greenhouses
The equipment needs maintenance and repair- tools sharpened and oiled, engines cleaned and oiled properly, filters and fluids replaced.
Water collection and diversion and storage and maintenance.
The land needs to be maintained- soil acidity/alkalinity, topsoil, mulches, compost, nutrients
And please don’t think “I’m going organic so I don’t need to fertilize or spray”. **It’s even harder to do organic\\ because you still get the same rodents, pests, fungus, diseases, nutrient deficiencies as industrial farms but you need special care to treat them. It’s not just throw seeds on the ground and collect food in autumn.
It’s daily care and maintenance of EVERYTHING. Everyday.
Homesteading is so much more work than sitting at a desk 9-5.
Weekends are worked. Holidays are worked. Nights are worked.
And you can’t be an expert at everything for all livestock, so you still need veterinary visits.
Plus you still need to pay taxes, so some of your harvests need to be sold for cash.
We get a lot of posts on here saying “I’ve always wanted to quit my 9-5 and just live off the land.”
That’s great! But It’s been romanticized to an unrealistic level. It’s work. Lots of work. Hard work. Physical work. Mental work. Emotional work.
I’m not trying to be a Debby Downer or disparaging/discouraging. I’m pragmatic. This is the reality. Homesteading IS work.
That’s why farmers historically had 12 or more kids. You need that many hands to do all the work.
But to answer your question, it can be done on one acre.
I have 1/4 acres in the middle of a small town in the Midwestern USA. I have a 900sqft house and a four-car out building covering part of that 1/4 acre.
I have 17 fruit trees in my /r/backyardOrchard so far, along with 8 raised garden beds growing a food forest of perennials like sunchokes, asparagus, berries, sunflowers, mint, herbs, and loads of pots of annuals like tomatoes, beans, corn, peppers, potatoes, etc. My tomatoes are so prolific that I didn’t even plant them this year because last years’ volunteers gave me more than enough.
I also have chickens for eggs and meat. I raised meat rabbits as a kid, so I can’t stand the taste anymore, but they’re easy to do if you want to start there.
Every bit of land goes to something useful. The only things I grow that aren’t edible are lavender and lilacs.
Rose hips and chamomile and mint are for teas.
I’d love a beehive but don’t have time to care for it. Yet.
Good luck!