10 Homesteading Skills to Learn Today

Learning homesteading skills is something you can take with you no matter where you live (whether it's in the countryside or the city).

For me, it’s more like survival skills that everyone (especially beginners) should learn if you want to build a more self-sufficient, sustainable life.

These skills can definitely help you become less dependent on others and more in control of your day-to-day life.

If you're just getting started with homesteading, our homesteading for beginners guide can help you get going, no matter where you’re located.

It covers the basics, so you don’t feel overwhelmed and can start with confidence.

In this article, I’ll share a few homesteading skills that could be useful as you begin and maybe even help you make a little extra money along the way. 

Why Do Homesteading Skills Matter?

If you're serious about homesteading, being self-reliant is really important. By that, I mean being able to handle the basics of life on your own, without always depending on others or constantly running to the store.

When you know how to take care of things yourself, life becomes a bit simpler. You save money, reduce waste, and don’t have to rely on others for every little thing.

These are just a few reasons why learning skills in homesteading is so valuable.

Trust me, the more skills you learn, the easier it becomes to manage your day-to-day life.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, don’t worry. You don’t have to learn everything at once.

Start small—maybe by learning how to grow your own food—and then move on to figuring out how to preserve your harvest.

It’s simple, but effective, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make.

As you get more comfortable, you might even start thinking about ways to turn your homesteading skills into an income source.

10 Practical Homesteading Skills You Should Learn

If you're looking to live more self-sufficiently and take control of your daily life, these 10 practical homesteading skills are a great place to start.

Some of these skills are easy to start with, whether you have a large garden or just a small-scale homesteading space to work with. 

1. Growing Your Own Food

I think this is the most fulfilling skill you can learn, and why?

The idea that you can grow your own food is by far the most skillful thing you can achieve. Imagine, you won’t need to rely on others (like grocery stores or markets) to buy vegetables and fruits.

Even if you were the last person in the world, you could definitely live on because you know how to make your own food.

Just by knowing, for example, how to grow specific plants like eggplants, troubleshooting problems that might arise—like if your tomato leaves start turning yellow—and taking good care of them, such as preventing weeds from coming up, you’ll be all set.

Gardening doesn't also have to be complicated.

Start by figuring out which vegetables, herbs, and fruits work best for your climate and the space you have available. Not all plants thrive in every region, so it's smart to choose ones that will grow well where you live.

You don’t need a huge yard to get started either. Even if you’ve got just a small space, like a balcony or a small-sized raised beds, you can still grow veggies and herbs.

If you're a new homesteader, you can also plant tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, and herbs like basil and mint that do well in containers or small gardens.

My advice would be just start simple. You don’t have to plant a huge garden all at once. Just pick a few things to try, and you’ll figure it out as you go.

2. Preserving Food

If you can grow your own food, you should also learn how to preserve it. That way, you won’t end up with extra veggies and fruits going to waste when they start to spoil.

After putting in all the effort to grow them, it’s important to make sure they last as long as possible.

There are actually a few easy ways to preserve your harvest, like canning, freezing, drying, or even fermenting, depending on what you’ve grown.

Canning

Canning is a great way to store your fruits, tomatoes, or even pickles. You can preserve them in jars that will last for few months (sometimes even longer). It might sound complicated at first but once you've used to it, it's pretty simple.

You just need to follow some basic steps to make sure everything's sealed properly, so you can store it safely.

Freezing

If you have lots of vegetables or fruits, you might want to freeze them.

Veggies like peas, beans, corn, spinach, and peppers do freeze well. Just boil them for a few minutes to stop them from spoiling, then cool them down quickly. After that, put them in a freezer bag or container.

You can also freeze fruits, like berries or chopped-up peaches, to use later in smoothies or baking.

Drying

Drying is another simple way to preserve your food, especially herbs, fruits, and some veggies. You can use a dehydrator, or even your oven at a low setting, to dry things out. Once dried, they can last for months.

This is great for making your own dried tomatoes, apples, or even herbs like basil or oregano.

Fermenting

Fermenting might sound a bit unusual, but it’s actually quite simple, and it can really extend the shelf life of your food.

All you need to do is chop up your veggies, add salt (about 2 tablespoons per quart of water), and pack them into a clean jar. Cover them with the salty water and let the jar sit at room temperature for 3 to 7 days. Make sure to check on them daily.

You can ferment foods like cabbage (for sauerkraut), cucumbers (for pickles), or even carrots.

If you’re looking to mix things up and add some variety to your meals, why not give fermenting a try?

The great thing about these methods is that they don’t have to be perfect. You can start with just a few ingredients and experiment to find out what works best for you.

Over time, you’ll get more comfortable with each process and find what you like.

3. Raising Poultry Animals

Raising poultry like chickens, ducks, or turkeys is one of the most practical skills you can learn if you’re aiming to be more self-sufficient.

Not only can you collect fresh eggs, but if you raise the right breed, you can also have your own source of meat. If you’re interested in that, you may want to read raising chickens for meat to help you get started.

Not sure where to begin?

I personally recommend starting with chickens.

Chickens are usually the easiest to raise because they don’t require much space and are fairly low maintenance. All they need is a small coop to sleep in, a run to roam around, and basic essentials like feed and water.

That’s pretty much it. They’re easy to care for, so you don’t need to be an expert to get started.

To help with the basics, check out this guide on raising chickens for beginners. It covers everything you need to know to get started.

4. Making Simple Repairs

Learning how to fix things around your homestead is one of those skills that can definitely save you a lot of time and money.

Growing up, I always noticed how my mom would figure out how to fix things around the house herself.

Whether it was an electric fan that stopped working or a leaky faucet, she’d take the time to troubleshoot and get it running again. She was so resourceful, and it made a big difference. She didn’t want to waste money on calling someone when she knew she could handle it herself.

The point is, instead of calling someone every time something breaks, you can take on simple repairs yourself (as long as you’re open to learning).

If you can fix a leaky faucet, repair appliances, or handle small electrical tasks, it makes taking care of your home so much easier.

5. Sewing and Mending Clothes

I learned how to sew and mend clothes from watching my mom over the years, and it’s honestly one of the most practical skills I’ve picked up.

Growing up in a low-income family, my mom would repair everything, from a torn shirt to a broken zipper, using just a simple sewing kit. It was her way of saving money instead of buying new clothes or paying someone to fix them.

I’d watch her sew on buttons, patch up holes, and make clothes last far longer than most people would expect. It was impressive to see how she could take something that seemed ready for the trash and bring it back to life with just a needle and thread.

For most small repairs, basic hand stitching is all you really need. But if you want to speed things up, a sewing machine can make the job much easier.

What you’ll truly appreciate is how much money you’ll save and how much waste you’ll prevent by simply mending things yourself.

6. Composting

Got a lot of kitchen scraps or yard waste piling up in your bin or backyard?

You can actually turn that waste into something incredibly useful for your garden.

Just collect organic materials like vegetable scraps, fruit peels, coffee grounds, eggshells, grass clippings, leaves, and even items like cardboard. Over time, all that waste will break down into dark, crumbly compost that's perfect for enriching your soil.

Even if you don’t have a large garden, you can still compost in a small bin or even a kitchen compost container.

I recommend balancing “green” materials (like food scraps) with “brown” materials (like leaves or paper) to help everything break down properly. You can also use these same materials in a lasagna garden, where you layer them directly on the ground to create rich, fertile soil.

If you're interested in learning more about turning organic waste into nutrient-rich soil, check out guide on composting, especially the Berkeley Method for quick results.

This skill not only reduces waste but also helps you use less store-bought fertilizer, saving you money in the long run.

7. Basic Carpentry

I think this is one of those practical skills that really comes in handy, especially if you’re into homesteading.

Knowing how to build things yourself means you don’t have to rely on anyone else when you need something—whether it’s a simple shelf, a chair, a table, a wooden cage, or even a chicken coop. You can handle it all on your own.

What’s great about carpentry is the freedom to customize your projects. For instance, when building raised garden beds, you can adjust the size, shape, and height to perfectly fit your space and needs.

If you have a small yard or need easier access for planting, carpentry allows you to create garden beds tailored to your setup.

Do you see how useful this skill is?

It lets you craft practical items for your garden or homestead, all based on your personal style and preferences.

8. Homemade Cleaning Products

Did you know you can actually clean your entire house using just a few simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen?

Instead of buying chemical-laden cleaners, you can easily mix up your own using natural ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, and essential oils.

If you are willing to learn this skill, by making your own cleaning products, you won’t have to worry about running out of supplies or spending money on expensive store-bought options filled with chemicals.

You’ll also have the peace of mind knowing exactly what you’re using to clean your home—especially important if you have kids or pets that are sensitive to harsh substances.

On top of that, you're also helping the environment by reducing chemical waste and living more sustainably.

9. Beekeeping

If you have a small yard and think a couple of hives could fit comfortably, why not give beekeeping a try?

Getting started is easier than you might think, though it does require a bit of research. You’ll need some basic equipment, like a hive, smoker, and protective gear (such as a bee suit and gloves, since bees might sting if they feel threatened).

But once you’ve got the basics, you’ll find the process manageable.

While beekeeping does require some maintenance, it’s not overly time-consuming. Typically, weekly or bi-weekly visits are enough to ensure everything is running smoothly.

What’s great about beekeeping is that, beyond the honey, you also get beeswax, which can be used to make candles, lip balm, and other natural beauty products.

If you have a garden, your bees will also help pollinate it, which is beneficial to your garden as well.

There are actually a lot of benefits in beekeeping, as long as you're open to learning how to do it.

10. Cooking from Scratch

I truly believe homesteading can start right in your kitchen.

Cooking from scratch is a simple way to bring that self-sufficient mindset into your daily routine. All it takes are some quality ingredients (maybe even from your own garden), a bit of time, and some basic cooking skills.

The great thing about making your own meals is that you have complete control over what goes into your food. You can skip the preservatives and additives, creating healthier dishes exactly the way you like them.

It also saves you money in the long run since fresh ingredients are usually cheaper than pre-packaged meals, and if you grow some of your own produce, it's even better.

How to Make Money Using Homestead Skills?

The great thing about homesteading skills is that you can actually turn them into extra income, if you know how to turn them into a business.

If you’re interested in making money from your homesteading skills, check out our guide with over 20 profitable business ideas to help you earn extra income while sustaining your homestead.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)