Last Updated on April 8, 2025 by Alice Benny
If you’re serious about becoming self-sufficient, homesteading skills are a must. Prepping isn’t just about stockpiling food and water. It’s about knowing how to live without relying on all the modern conveniences we’ve come to rely on.
Whether you’re preparing for economic downturns and instability, natural disasters, want to reduce utility bills, or just want to be more independent, these skills will help you survive and thrive.
Making prepping a part of daily life takes place with each change you make away from daily conveniences.
Top 5 Homesteading Skills to Learn
Growing Your Own Food & Foraging
Stocking up on canned foods is one part of the plan but what happens when you run out? To be truly self-sufficient, you’ll need to be able to grow food. It’s the best way to ensure long-term survival.
Gardening
You don’t need an acre of land to grow food. You can take advantage of any space you have, from a small backyard to a container garden on the porch. Take advantage of vertical gardening to maximize space. A greenhouse will be helpful in cooler climates.
If you are a beginner gardener, you’ll need to learn your USDA hardiness zone. This will help you know what month to plant each crop for your climate. Also plant a winter garden.
Best crops for self-sufficiency
- Potatoes – High in calories and easy to store. You can grow potatoes in 5 gallon buckets
- Beans – Great source of protein and helps enrich the soil.
- Kale & Spinach – Hardy greens packed with nutrients. Leafy greens extend your growing season because they are cool weather crops.
- Peppers – Versatile and easy to preserve.
- Tomatoes – Plant indeterminate tomatoes to enjoy fresh tomatoes throughout the season. Determinate tomatoes ripen all at once, which is better for preserving and canning.
- Grow turnips & other root vegetables – Have a longer shelf life; can be stored in root cellar with potatoes and other crops
Learn to forage safely
Foraging is a way to accumulate foods without having to buy them. They include nutrient-rich plants, berries, and even mushrooms. When I lived in Washington state, blackberries were abundant. We could pick them in certain areas and knew they were safe to eat.
The above bay leaf is from a tree in my friend’s yard. It was there when she moved to her rural property, and she learned she could use the leaves for cooking. She dries them and also gives some to me.
Things to learn:
- What edible food grows natively in your area
- How to identify edible wild plants (dandelion, puslane, chickweed)
- Take a class on what mushrooms are safe to eat. Only forage if you had proper training!
Local resources, such as a university’s extension program, gardening groups, library, etc., can be helpful. Check online.
Safety tip: Always cross-check wild plants with a reliable guide before eating. One mistake could be deadly.
Food Preservation
Nothing should go to waste, and you’ll want reserves. There are different methods, depending on how you want to preserve food.
- Canning – Perfect for vegetables, fruits, and meats.
- Dehydrating – Great for making lightweight, long-lasting snacks.
- Fermenting – A natural way to preserve food while adding probiotics.
- Using a root cellar – No electricity needed for storing apples, root vegetables, and more
Raising Livestock
With enough space and other resources, raising animals means you can produce eggs, milk, and/or meat.
IMPORTANT: Research before bringing animals home. They require continuous care and have expenses to maintain them.
Start small with poultry
There are upfront costs and ongoing costs when raising chickens. Be sure to consider space and fresh air so they will stay healthy and provide quality eggs and meat.
Start small to see if this is something you are committed to, especially if you are new to raising animals.
- Research costs in advance
- Begin with 4 – 6 chickens
- Choose friendly breeds that are good egg layers
- No roosters
- Choose eggs over meat breeds when starting
Woodworking & Carpentry
Before beginning or handling tools, learning how to operate woodworking tools safely is essential. With basic skills, you can make furniture, repair fences, shore up a chicken coop, or put together a simple shelter.
In addition, learning how to handle basic repairs can prevent small problems from turning into big ones. Being able to build and fix things will help you on your homestead.
Start with simple projects and build up your skills over time. Rent or borrow tools when starting out.
Property Maintenance
Maintaining your property is just as important as growing food and raising animals. The right tools make a big difference, and knowing how to use them safely and maintain them properly will keep your homestead running smoothly.
Some equipment to consider, depending on your land: Lawn mower, chainsaw, weed trimmer, and tiller (can help with heavier work)
Learning maintenance skills: Keeping blades sharp, engines running, generator stored property, and tools clean will extend their lifespan
Acquiring skills as you go
Homesteading isn’t just about preparing for the worst—it’s about creating a life where you’re more in control of your own needs. The more skills you develop, the less you have to rely on outside resources.
Whether you’re growing your own food, preserving what you have, raising animals, or building what you need, each step you take toward self-sufficiency strengthens your ability to thrive, no matter what comes your way.
Start small, build your knowledge, and take pride in skills you learn. Self-sufficiency isn’t only a goal, it’s a lifestyle.