I heard the term postage stamp homestead from Joel Salatin. If you don’t know Joel I encourage you to stop now and google or YouTube him. Trust me. You’ll be inspired.
So what is Postage Stamp Homesteading?
What is it postage Stamp Homesteading?
postage Stamp homesteading Explained
Quite frankly the definition is up for interpretation. Some would say if you have less than 10 acres you are postage stamp homesteading. Some would say less than 1 acre.
In my eyes it is less than 1 acre and out of agriculture zoning.
If this is you then…
Welcome to the club!
how to have a successful postage stamp Homestead
Small plots of land come with significant challenges if you are striving for self sufficiency. However, it is not impossible to homestead in town. Do not let others discourage you in your journey.
Nothing is more satisfying than harvesting something you tended to and cared for.
And the taste…
Not like anything from the grocery store.
Get curious
My husband and I live on 0.10 acres. Your read that right. We are on a corner lot smack dab in the middle of town.
We are constantly trying to learn to work with what we have and maximize our space.
Although we dream of Instagram-worthy pastures filled with cows, sheep, and chickens.
Ponds and rolling hills sunset.
Sourdough loafs at farmers markets.
Chicken tractors.
Orchards filled with a dozen different fruit trees.
(I have had a ton of time to dream.)
It is not in the cards at the moment but we the silver-lining is people learn from small spaces. It is a trail process for the real thing. You get the opportunity to learn and grow.
We read books regarding permaculture, preserving, vertical gardening, and more. While we dream and wait for God’s plan to unravel.
Get creative
We are aware our situation is not ideal for mass food production but it surely gets our creative juices flowing.
Herbs do not have to grow in the garden bed.
Blueberries can be in flower beds with other landscaping elements.
Grapes can grow on pergolas to provide shade.
Fruit trees can go in your front yard or make beautiful living fences.
Far too often we think we have to have a designated garden for food but that simply is not true. Mother natures doesn’t roll that way. We don’t have to either.
It is your home.
Your rules.
Understand your familY's needs
Only grow and raise what your family needs or likes. I know this sounds basic but I cannot stress this enough.
Does your family like tomatoes?
Will you eat them? If not, don’t grow them.
Homesteading is challenging. It should be rewarding at the end of it all. Nothing is more frustrating than getting a squash bug infestation on your zucchini plants and fighting the good fight. Only to be resentful because hell you don’t even like zucchini.
Do it for you and you family not the likes.
Find inspiration and don't be afraid to fail
There are so many amazing people to learn from and they are happy to share their knowledge.
Social Media
YouTube is always a fun and easy way to expose yourself to homesteaders however it is social media. Please be kind to yourself someone else’s journey is not yours. Comparison will hinder production.
Read Books!
Depending on your interest you can find so much. Plus, you will always have that info with or without your phone.
Try books on food preservation, permaculture, vertical gardening, and herbalism.
Find a Tribe
My husband I and went to a Homesteading Conference in Idaho last summer. We were greeted with kindness and like-minded people.
The knowledge we learned, the connections we made, and new resources we found are irreplaceable. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try to learn from strangers.
Who knows they may become friends.
Go to Your Local Farmers Market
Farmers markets are such a fun experience for you and your family. It is also a place where you can go to support local farms.
You can learn so much from the power of observation.
Throughout the growing season, you will learn what plants do well in your area. When things are in season. You may find it would be more cost-effective to buy certain produce instead of growing it since it is so abundant in your area.
For example, we are located in Eastern Washington where apples, potatoes, and onions are plentiful. Instead of growing these items we will purchase them from local farmers and preserve them during harvest. We will focus our energy on other items we love that seem to be more expensive.
The other day I saw a heirloom tomato for sale for $6 each at the store.
WHAT?!
Ask Your Grandma or Neighbor
If we turn back the clock a few decades the “luxury” of store-bought goods was not affordable for many people. They simply had to grow it, can it, make it, or barter for it.
You will be surprised by what you will learn when you ask.
I had a client at work tell me that local potato farmers can not get the equipment close enough to the edge of the fields to harvest.
If you ask they let you go get what’s left for no cost. It is called gleaning. Who knew?
Other farmers will be happy to let you collect fruit that they were unable to harvest. Sometimes after a bad season they will let the harvest fruit that had to stay on the tree because the crop wasn’t full enough and it was more profitable to collect crop insurance.
Don’t let the knowledge of those who lived through hard times pass you by. I can not think of know better way to honor our elders than to pass on their wisdom.
Where to start?
Where should you start on your journey?
Depends on what is important to you.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
Get Chickens
Why chickens? They are multi-purpose. You can feed them your home food scrapes and leftovers which will reduce your waste.
They provide eggs for your meals. If your area permits it you could raise some for butcher.
You can use their manure for your garden. Please make sure you let their manure degrade as it is “too hot” for immediate use in your garden bed.
Last, they do wonders to clean out the garden at the end of the year. Let them loose when the harvest is done and watch them do their magic.
Can’t have chickens? Hop over to this post about quail. They may be a good fit for your homestead.
Grow Herbs
Herbs are a wonderful gateway garden plant.
They are readily available at any garden center.
Easy to grow and use in cooking.
Plus, holy moly can use save money not buy herbs from the store.
At the end of the season if they do not winter over dry them for the winter months or infuse them in oils or butter. You could look at the medicinal plant and make tinctures or salves. The possibilities are endless.
Good Starter Herbs:
- Basil
- Rosemary
- Parsley
- Mint
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Lavender
Make Bread
There is no better smell than freshly baked bread. Trust me it is easier than you think.
Honestly, the hardest part is patience. Do not rush the process. I will typically make 2 loaves at a time. Slice them up and freeze them for future use. As I need it, I take it from the freezer.
You can do the same for pizza dough, french bread, rolls, and biscuits.
I LOVE this bread recipe from Julia Child’s Blog. I cannot recommend it enough:
https://www.dinnerwithjulie.com/2012/03/04/julia-childs-white-sandwich-bread/
Try Canning
The world of canning can be really intimidating. I promise it does not have to be! Try water-bath canning. Look for those easy wins like pickles, salsa, tomato sauce, jellies, etc. Dip your toes in before you make the investment on a pressure canner.
You can use your harvest from your garden, the farmers market or even produce from the store to learn.
Focus on one or two things you want to eliminate from you grocery list. Then think of ways you can make that happen. You don’t have to do it all.
We hope you found inspiration in this post.
Go out and begin your small homestead even if space is working against you.
You are in good company and right where you should be.
The minimal resources require you to think and consider what you are doing before you do it.
Make mindful investments in farm infrastructure.
It is easy to build fences and throw animals out on pasture.
It is a whole other game to marry town and farm together.
Remember your postage stamp homestead gives hope and inspiration to those doubting they can do it.