Ok, we should probably square up right off the bat with what micro homesteading is. To be clear, I don’t think there is any formal definition. The term itself is fairly recent. We like to think of micro homesteading as the process of cultivating one’s own food on whatever scale his or her property allows. Was that long-winded enough for you? In more simple terms, this form of mini-homesteading is growing your own food to whatever extent that your experience and living situation allows. It’s probably safe to say that most micro homesteaders ultimately have the goal of expanding their micro homesteading operation. Even if not expanding physical property, the goal is to increase productivity, efficiency, and sustainability as we learn more.
As with any industry, there are sure to be homesteading elitists and purists who will call micro homesteading a hoax. I say phooey. You don’t need acreage to be part of the modern homesteading community. There is a beautiful, growing movement of humans who are beginning to demand more quality food and a more fulfilling lifestyle. Since these desire can come at a premium, many are opting to exchange a little free time in exchange for big savings. As an added bonus, those who learn to produce their own food gain a whole new skill set and library of knowledge. As with any hobby, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the plethora of information on the internet. We’re here to share with you our beginner micro homesteading projects, to help kick the brainstorming into gear.
Beginner Micro Homesteading Projects
Vegetable Gardening
Many full-time homesteaders began their operation as experimenting vegetable gardeners. Vegetable gardens are considered the gateway drug to farming, and micro homesteading often serves as a midway point. Even for those who don’t take their vegetable production to a larger scale still find it rewarding. Most vegetable gardeners will start out buying too wide a variety of plants. And I’m going to sound crazy here — but that’s okay! While many believe this is a mistake, I see it as an important part of the micro homesteading process.
Like most suburban homesteaders, I began my operation experimenting with way too many plants. (And in a container garden, too!) Although my harvest for the first couple years was less productive than an organized operation, I learned some valuable lessons. I learned which plants I actually ate, and which ones went to waste. I learned which crops were worth the labor, and which ones I now consider way too labor intensive. For example, now I grow kale instead of lettuce, so I don’t deal with bolting issues and short harvest windows. I no longer grow cilantro, because I found the bolting too hard to manage. However, I plant even more parsley in its place, because we eat it a ton! You will discover which crops you prefer to grow, so don’t be afraid to experiment.
Backyard Chickens
In the same way that vegetable gardens are considered an addictive process to future homesteaders, backyard chickens are the gateway drug to micro homesteading livestock. Here’s the kicker: they’reso easy to care for. Most of us grow up with dogs, which are a relatively high maintenance animal. (Albeit, totally worth it!) But should you choose to embark on the micro homesteading process, you will likely find that livestock tend to be much more self-reliant than most pets. (Guinea pigs, parakeets, and fish tanks included.)
Chickens are the masters of self care. The more opportunity you provide them to take care of themselves, the more they thrive. Chickens with free range time to forage for their own food are healthier and produce better tasting eggs. My coop is set up so that I can leave for days at a time without anyone having to come care for them. In the same way that growing your own vegetables is so rewarding, collecting farm-fresh eggs brings a smile to my face every single time. Even better, you get to know the fun, quirky little spirits that are chickens, and will quickly bond to them if you allow yourself to. When I go outside to just de-stress, I love watching “chicken tv”. They’re total goof balls, and will mellow out even the craziest of days. The Backyard Chickens forum is an awesome micro homesteading resource… but don’t feel like you have to take it all as seriously as some other users do. 😉
Fruiting Plants
Although fruiting plants aren’t as popular as vegetable gardens, many experienced gardeners argue that they’re much more beneficial. A micro homesteading operation that utilizes just vegetable gardens will have to re-plant from scratch every year. Although fruit trees and bushes take a year or two to fruit, they will continue to produce year after year. Think of it as a micro homesteading investment. Although the gratification isn’t as instant with fruiting plants, crops like pears, apples, raspberries, blueberries, and so many more, will pay for themselves with much less work than a vegetable garden.
Indoor Gardening
Micro homesteading isn’t limited to the outdoors. Even those living in small city apartments can produce a surprising amount of fresh food from indoor micro homesteading. Crops like micro greens are especially popular for indoor gardening because they take up little space, and because the plant-to-harvest time is extremely short. (Think 7-10 days!) Not only that, but micro greens are more nutrient dense than their full-grown counterparts, making them the perfect crop for micro homesteading in the city.
For those with a bit more ambition, hydroponic and aquaponic systems can produce even higher crop yields than those planted in the soil. These systems allow plants to grow without soil, using only water to deliver the exact nutrients the plant needs. Investment for professional grade equipment can be steep, so most micro homesteading operations would do best to start out with DIY home systems. We are eager to start our own aquaponic garden, and though I’m sure it will be much trial and error, it is the perfect solution for our current suburban micro homesteading hobby.
Anyone Can Begin Micro Homesteading
With so much free advice on the internet, it’s easy to become apprehensive about trying your own hand at micro homesteading. Everyone seems like an expert. We, however, are most definitelynot experts. But we can tell you that we have learned the most about micro homesteading by simply getting our hands dirty and jumping into the game. Our hopeful five-year plan involves purchasing more land to expand our micro homesteading operation. Rather than jumping the gun to make this happen sooner, we’re devoting as much time as we can to developing highly efficient and cost-effective micro homesteading operations. When we’re limited on space, we’re forced to learn how to homestead with less waste. You can do exactly the same. The lessons we learn at our current properties will undoubtedly serve us better whether we expand our micro homesteading operations or not.
Disclaimer: We’re not professionals or experts on this topic, so all we can do is share our own personal experience in hopes that it helps you in your journey! We always recommend consulting with the pros directly.
