GARDENING & HOMESTEADING

        As uncertainty grows in our everyday supply chain, as well as the quality of the food in our stores, many folks are turning back to a level of self sufficiency that lost it's prominence decades ago. For many folks, taking on the task of a home garden or livestock can seem very intimidating, so we are here to provide you with some basic ideas and guidelines to get you started. 
 

Where to Start?

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Deciding where and how to start is the most challenging part to overcome. So let's discuss the "why" first:

Healthier Diet: Many people begin this journey in pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, where they can see where the food comes from, how its raised/grown and how it's procced on it's journey to the table. 

 

Hobby: Some folks have no deeper meaning for starting a garden or getting a flock of chickens. Some people simply find the tasks of maintaining a garden or taking care of animals a fun way to spend their free time!

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Self Sufficiency: As the world has changed over the past several years, many folks have seen the fragility of our supply chain and want to help secure the future provisions of their loved ones through a more self managed production system. 

 

Lifestyle: For others, there is a deeper meaning behind spending time in the garden, collecting eggs or throwing some horses hay. Many folks wish to have something "simpler" and "deeper" to enjoy with their families and pass down to their children. There can be something deeply spiritual and connecting about watching something grow from nothing, to the very food the nourishes your family. 

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Another thing to identify early on is what is a realistic goal for you to set based on space and time available? This will vary based many factors, even ones you may not think of. Let's say you have a very large backyard, but only a 1/4 of it gets regular sun light? You have space, but not all of it is useable space for typical garden plants! (Don't worry, there are still plenty of plants that like the shade!)

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Simple ways to get planting!

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Raised Beds: Raised beds come in many different forms!

Plastic Tubs, Steel Troths, Custom wood frame, the list goes on.

These are traditionally filled with a mix of Organic Material,

Compost, Organic Soil, etc. Raised beds provide a lot of opportunity 

to grow a diverse garden!

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Till & No Till: For those with more space available, preparing a large 

area by either tilling the land, or brining in soil/compost for a no till

garden serves as a great way to give your plants all of the space 

and nutrients they want! There are almost no limitations as to what

you can plant here!

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Pots & Containers: Some folks may have limited space, or are not

ready to make the larger leap to bringing in large raised beds or

tilling up their yard. This is where Pots and other smaller containers

come in! While you may not be providing the same nutritional value

and space to your plants, they can still thrive with a good selection

of organic soil! Strawberries, Peppers, Tomatoes, Potatoes and 

other small herbs are a great fit for this!

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Regardless of your planting method, you'll also need the plant itself! For beginners, going to your local plant nursery and getting transplants (young plants that are already developing in the early stages) can be the easiest way to do this. For more experienced gardeners looking for a new challenge, start your plants from seed either inside under grow lights, or direct sowing!

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10 Easy Fruits & Vegetables to get you started!

• Tomatoes 

• Peppers

• Green Beans

• Potatoes

• Pumpkins

• Corn

• Garlic

• Watermelon 

• Basil

• Squash

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Livestock

 

Livestock are another huge step in the homesteading journey!

However, they are a much bigger responsibility and are much more

space dependent. Animals due provide a lot to the homestead

though! Both in byproducts, as well a way to create more of a bond

with your family and little farm! Of course, we always recommend folks

start with chickens, as they are commonly referred to as the gateway

animal! However, there are many other great animals that bring a lot to

your home, such as goats, pigs, quail, meet rabbits, sheep and more!