What Is Homesteading?
Homesteading is a way of life focused on sustainability, self-reliance, and living closer to the land. At its core, it means producing much of what you need yourself rather than relying completely on external systems. Homesteading values include resourcefulness, independence, and community-mindedness—key attributes for preparing for uncertain times. While it can involve raising animals and growing crops, homesteading is not just about agriculture. It is also about skills like preserving food, repairing clothes and equipment, collecting rainwater, generating your own energy, and reducing waste. For many, homesteading represents a return to basic, time-tested methods that help buffer families from supply chain issues, economic instability, and even food shortages.
Values at the Heart of Homesteading
- Sustainability: Using resources wisely, reusing and recycling, and minimizing waste.
- Self-sufficiency: Gaining the knowledge and skills to provide for your own needs as much as possible.
- Community: Sharing resources and experiences to help others become more resilient.
- Resilience: Adapting to changing circumstances and being prepared for disruptions.
Homesteading also encourages people to slow down and appreciate the cycles of nature, fostering a deeper sense of peace and well-being in unpredictable times.
Homesteading vs. Farming: Understanding the Difference
While homesteading and farming share similarities, they have distinct purposes and practices. Traditional farming generally involves growing crops or raising animals for profit on a large scale. It usually requires significant land, machinery, and a business-minded approach focused on maximizing production and sales.
Homesteading, on the other hand, is about sustainability and self-sufficiency—even if the space is limited. Homesteaders aim to meet their own needs first, with any surplus shared, bartered, or sold locally. This makes homesteading accessible in a wide range of settings, beyond just rural farmland.
Homesteading Beyond Rural Areas
Today, suburban and urban homesteading is growing rapidly. Families in cities and towns are transforming backyards, patios, and even apartment balconies into mini-gardens. Community gardens, rooftop coops, raised beds, and indoor herb gardens are just a few examples of how homesteading is no longer tied to large acreages. Urban and suburban homesteaders may keep chickens for eggs, grow tomatoes on vertical trellises, preserve food through canning, or capture rainwater to water their plants.
This shift signals that anyone, in nearly any living situation, can adopt the homesteading lifestyle to some degree, making it an empowering option in uncertain times.
Why Homesteading Has Grown in Popularity
The popularity of homesteading has soared in 2025, fueled by growing anxiety about the state of America’s systems. Food shortages, disruptions in supply chains, economic fluctuations, and worries about broader societal tensions have pushed many households to seek greater self-sufficiency and insurance against potential crises.
This surge is not merely about prepping for emergencies. For many, watching empty store shelves and rising food costs has underscored the vulnerability of modern life. Social media, online communities, and accessible educational resources have further fueled this movement, providing tools and support for newcomers.
Key Reasons for the Rise in Homesteading in 2025
- Food Security: Growing your own produce and raising animals helps buffer families from price spikes and shortages.
- Systemic Uncertainty: Concerns about everything from weather events to economic collapse have prompted people to take more control over their day-to-day needs.
- Desire for a Simpler Life: Homesteading offers a hands-on, slower-paced lifestyle that contrasts with the constant stress of modern life.
- Community Resilience: As people connect with neighbors with similar goals, they strengthen local support networks.
All these factors have combined to spur a homesteading revival, with people from all walks of life finding new ways to live sustainably in the face of uncertainty.
How to Start Homesteading—No Matter Where You Live
Homesteading in Rural Areas
If you have access to more land, your homesteading activities might include growing a variety of crops, raising backyard livestock (like chickens, goats, or even cows), beekeeping, and maintaining a large vegetable or fruit garden. Rural homesteaders can more easily set up systems for rainwater harvesting, composting, and renewable energy, such as solar panels or wind turbines.
Homesteading in Suburban Neighborhoods
Suburban families can use raised garden beds, vertical planters, and container gardens to grow vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, and peppers. Many suburbs now allow small flocks of chickens for eggs or rabbits for meat, making animal husbandry accessible on a small scale. Installing a rain barrel under your gutter downspout and compost bins in your backyard are effective ways to embrace sustainability.
Homesteading in Urban Environments
Even apartment dwellers can join the homesteading movement. Start with an indoor herb garden or grow vegetables like peppers or lettuce under grow lights. Participate in or organize a community garden, or join a local food co-op. Raising quail (where permitted), composting with worms (vermiculture), and repurposing food scraps are all possible in city settings. Rainwater collection or solar chargers for electronics are additional entry points.
General Homesteading Skills for Any Setting
- Food Preservation: Learn to can, dehydrate, pickle, or ferment to extend the life of your harvest.
- DIY Repairs: Master simple repairs for clothing, tools, and household items to cut costs and waste.
- Resourcefulness: Commit to recycling, reusing, and making the most of your available resources.
- Emergency Preparation: Keep a stockpile of homegrown or preserved foods and basic tools.
Ultimately, homesteading is about adopting a mindset: no matter where you live, every step toward self-sufficiency increases your resilience and sustainability.
