I wasn’t really interested in learning how to garden, preserve my own food, or compost prior to purchasing our urban homestead. Oh, how I wish I would have used that time to learn the homesteading skills I need now!
Now, I’m trying to manage 2.5 acres, care for my baby and toddler, and acquire a bunch of homesteading skills all at once! It’s still do-able and I am enjoying it, but I really wish I would have learned skills like baking bread, canning, or gardening before I had as much to tend to and care for.
This post may contain affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I would use myself. I hope that these resources are beneficial to you on your sewing journey.
So, whether you have dreams of owning land or just want to pursue a more sustainable lifestyle… keep reading to learn 15 homesteading skills that require little to no land.
What Is Homesteading?
Homesteading is a lifestyle that revolves around self-sufficiency, sustainability, and living off the land. Essentially, it involves living a simpler and more self-reliant lifestyle by growing your own food, raising animals for meat and dairy, and using natural resources to meet your basic needs.
What Is Urban Homesteading?
Urban homesteading, on the other hand, is a modern twist on traditional homesteading that takes place in an urban or suburban setting. While it may be more challenging to live off the land in a city, urban homesteaders still prioritize sustainability and self-sufficiency by growing their own food in small spaces, raising backyard chickens or bees, and practicing various forms of eco-friendly living.
Overall, urban homesteading is a way to bring the principles of traditional homesteading into the city, and it’s a great way to live a more sustainable and self-sufficient lifestyle no matter where you call home.
How Much Land Do You Need for an Urban Homestead?
The amount of land on an urban homestead can vary widely depending on the size of the property and the specific practices of the homesteader. In general, an urban homestead can be as small as a few hundred square feet, such as a small backyard or balcony, or as large as several acres in some cases.
I consider our home an urban homestead because even though we have a few acres, we are within city limits and are in the middle of a traditional neighborhood. You can read more about my thoughts about the pros and cons about buying land in the city HERE.
The amount of land needed for an urban homestead largely depends on what the homesteader wants to accomplish. For example, if the goal is to grow a significant portion of their own food, they may need more space for a vegetable garden, fruit trees, and potentially even livestock like chickens or rabbits. On the other hand, if they primarily want to focus on smaller-scale practices like container gardening and composting, a smaller plot of land may be sufficient.
The Benefits of Urban Homesteading
One of the benefits of urban homesteading is that it can be done on a small scale, even in densely populated areas. Many urban homesteaders make use of small spaces like balconies, rooftops, or community gardens to grow food and practice other forms of self-sufficiency. So, the amount of land needed for an urban homestead really depends on the specific goals and practices of the homesteader.
We live in a society that is constantly telling us we need to buy more and do more to be happy. So, if you have dreams of homesteading someday, I highly recommend starting with what you have right in front of you! Whether you are living in an apartment, the suburbs, or on a few acres–there is so much that you can do to live more sustainably… right where you are!
Homesteading Skills that Don’t Require a Lot of Land
As I mentioned above, I wish I would have started learning some of these skills prior to buying our homestead. It’s difficult, albeit not impossible, to care for land and acquire these skills simultaneously. Here are some homesteading skills that require little to no land to begin learning today!
1. Canning and Food Preservation
Learning how to can and preserve food is a great way to make the most of seasonal produce and reduce food waste. You can do this in your own kitchen with relatively little space. I recently started learning how to water bath can, and I’m learning more from the Ball Home Preserving Book. Click HERE to get a FREE list of the supplies I use for water bath canning.
2. Baking Bread
Making your own bread from scratch is a rewarding and fulfilling skill that doesn’t require much space or equipment. I really like THIS Crusty Bread recipe. Furthermore, I’m hoping to learn how to make sourdough this summer.
3. Sewing and Mending Clothes
Learning how to sew and mend clothing, blankets, and other textiles is a valuable skill that can help you reduce waste and save money on new purchases. If you don’t have a sewing machine, I recommend shopping for one secondhand or even asking people you know if they have one they no longer use. Click HERE to get a list of my favorite FREE sewing patterns for babies and kids.
If you’re new to sewing, THIS POST talks about the basic supplies you need for sewing your own clothes.
If you’re an experienced sewist and want to sew a capsule wardrobe, you can get my Sew Your Own Capsule Wardrobe Planner HERE.
4. Soap Making
Making your own soap is a fun and creative skill that can be done in a small space. I made soap with a friend a few years ago. We are hoping to get milk goats in the future, and I would love to learn how to make our own goats milk soap.
THESE SOAP MOLDS are highly rated for getting started with making your own soap.
5. Herbal Remedies
Learning about how to make your own herbal remedies can be done with just a few basic tools and a small collection of herbs. I personally know very little about making herbal remedies and how to use them, but I’m hoping to learn more about uses for herbs as I add them to my own garden this spring!
True Leaf Market offers affordable seed bundles to get started with growing your own herbs at home. (This is not intended as medical advice. Always do your own research or discuss with a professional prior to trying your own remedies.)
6. Fermenting
Fermenting foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kefir is a great way to preserve food and improve gut health, and it can be done in a small kitchen. I have struggled with IBS and digestive health in the past. I’m hoping to ferment some of our cabbage and make kimchi this summer to support my gut health.
There are affordable fermenting kits like THIS ONE available online to help you get started.
7. Knitting or Crocheting
Knitting or crocheting your own clothing, blankets, and other items is a great way to create something handmade and reduce your reliance on store-bought goods. Additionally, they make beautiful, meaningful gifts! My neighbor is incredibly skilled at crocheting, and she made my daughter a gorgeous blanket when she was born. I’d love to learn how to knit sweaters for myself and my kids.
8. Sewing Reusable Bags and Cloth Napkins
Reducing your use of disposable items is an important part of living a sustainable lifestyle. Sewing your own bags and napkins is a great way to do that. Both of these projects are incredible ways to get started with sewing! Here are some free patterns you could try for reusable bags using scrap fabric and cloth napkins.
9. Making Natural Cleaning Products
Learning how to make your own cleaning products from natural ingredients like vinegar and baking soda is a simple and effective way to reduce your use of harsh chemicals and save money. You could also mix up your own from a cleaning concentrate. I personally like THIS cleaner. Although it’s not 100% homemade, but it is a natural solution that I mix with water and use as a multipurpose cleaner.
10. Composting
Even if you don’t have a garden or outdoor space, you can still compost kitchen scraps and other organic materials using a small indoor compost bin or vermiculture system. Carson built a compost bin for us outside using three free wood pallets. We are hoping to expand it this summer because it fills up so quickly now that we have chickens and a garden.
11. Foraging
Foraging for food in your local area is a rewarding way to connect with nature and save money on food. It is important to research and make sure that what you forage for is edible and safe. A month ago, we made dandelion jelly this year using THIS recipe. It was delicious and hardly cost us a thing!
12. Beekeeping
While keeping bees does require a little bit of land, it is possible to keep bees in urban or suburban areas with the right setup. One of my friends kept bees in her backyard in a suburban neighborhood.
Carson and I don’t have the best track record with bees. One time, we walked through a hive. Unfortunately, I got stung 13 times, and he got stung 18 times! Thankfully, neither of us were allergic. Even with our negative history with bees, I’d love to eventually get a hive to have our own honey and to help pollinate our flowers and trees.
13. Candle-Making
Making your own candles from beeswax or soy wax is a creative skill that can also help you reduce your reliance on store-bought candles. I personally love the look of beeswax candles, but they are expensive! I have thought about buying some candle making kits like THIS one, or eventually making them from scratch if we get our own bees.
14. Chicken Keeping
We got our own backyard chickens this year! They have been a fun and rewarding addition to our little homestead. First, we bought 6 laying hens so that we would have eggs immediately. Then, we got 6 chicks to experience a variety of breeds and raise them from babies. If your neighborhood doesn’t have regulations on chicken keeping, they do well in backyards as long as they have some space and a secure coop.
15. Woodworking
When we first bought our fixer-upper farmhouse, Carson had very little experience woodworking and had none of the tools required. Since closing on our house, he has built fences, a gate, a door, a closet, a bed, and several other things for our home. Additionally, he has acquired quite the collection of tools! He told me that THIS tool, a Ryobi impact driver, is his favorite for getting started with basic woodworking projects around the house.
In conclusion, these are just a few examples of homesteading skills that don’t require land. I am currently working through this list and hope to continue to acquire more homesteading skills. So, whether you have plans to move to land or not, there is so much you can do with what you have right in front of you.
What are some old-fashioned skills that you enjoy or want to learn?
Starting an Urban Homestead: 12 Pros and Cons of Buying Land in the City
Balancing Homesteading, Homeschooling, + Entrepreneurship as a Mom of Four: An Interview with Glynne Bliss of Glynne Ashley Photography
Seeds I Ordered for My No-Till Garden in 2023 (Non-GMO, Heirloom, + Organic Varieties)
Our Budgeting Plan that is Helping Us Save for Both Present and Future Goals
Great
Great ideas for starting to live a more sustainable lifestyle, no matter where you live! These homesteading skills are perfect for those who have little to no land, and are a great way to reduce waste and save money.
Eamon O’Keeffe
Live Free Offgrid
Thank you so much for reading, Eamon! Yes, homesteading doesn’t have to be expensive or require a lot of land.