Its okay if you don’t have land yet!

Homesteading isn’t just about land and livestock—it’s about learning to live more simply, and more intentionally. The best part? You can start right now, no matter where you live. Here are practical, beginner-friendly ways to start preparing for your future homestead even if you’re in a tiny apartment or suburban rental.

We started learning these skills when we lived in a tiny one bedroom apartment, and I know you can too!

Here are some things I did to learn

1. Learn to Cook Your Favorite Meals

Take a favorite dish from your favorite restaurant and look up a few recipes online. Compare ingredients, figure out what’s accessible, and try making it at home. Not only is it budget-friendly—it builds confidence in the kitchen, which is key for homesteading.

2. Learn to Bake

You don’t need to become a pastry chef. Start by baking the basics you actually eat muffins, sandwich bread, pizza dough or sourdough. Bonus points if you try sourdough later on!

3. Read About Gardening

Start learning about what grows in your region and what kind of garden you’d love to have. If you have any outdoor space, even a balcony, try container gardening. No access? Look for community gardens or offer to help a friend with theirs. Recommended reading: Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.

4. Start Your Homestead Library

One of the best ways to learn? Books. A great place to begin is The Encyclopedia of Country Living by Carla Emery. It covers everything from soap-making to chickens to bread baking.

5. Practice Preserving Food

You don’t need a pantry full of mason jars to start learning! Try oven-drying fruit, making fridge jam, or drying herbs from the store. Small-scale preserving teaches you how to reduce waste and use seasonal abundance.

6. Keep a Digital Idea Dump

Create a note on your phone or a Pinterest board just for homestead dreams. Save garden layouts, coop ideas, herbal recipes—whatever inspires you.

7. Audit Your Budget and Start Saving

Take a good look at your subscriptions and memberships. Cut the ones you don’t need. Even small savings add up—especially when you’re dreaming of land, tools, or chickens.

8. Visit Your Local Extension Office Online

Most counties have a Cooperative Extension Office packed with free or low-cost resources. From gardening guides to soil testing to free classes, this is an underrated goldmine of localized info. Many also offer canning safety resources, pest guides, and workshops.

9. Learn a Hands-On Skill

Whether it’s knitting, embroidery, sewing, spinning, or crochet—fiber arts are deeply connected to the homesteading tradition. These skills not only help you create practical items (like dishcloths or clothes) but also offer rhythm, calm, and focus—great traits to nurture as you prepare for a slower lifestyle.

Not into fiber? Try woodworking, spoon carving, soapmaking, painting, pottery or natural dyeing. The point is: learn something you can make with your hands.

10. Find a Hobby That Grounds You

Homesteading isn’t just about utility—it’s also about building a life you love. Try painting, journaling, reading about folk skills, or collecting old cookbooks. Hobbies teach patience, creativity, and attention—skills that help you thrive on the land one day. Plus, they keep you inspired during the waiting season.

You don’t need land to start homesteading. What you need is a willingness to learn and take small steps—right where you are. Start today, and when the time comes, you’ll be more than ready.