215 Homesteading Skills to Learn for the Modern Homestead
Explore homesteading skills to learn for a resilient and sustainable lifestyle. Master gardening, food preservation, animal care, and much more to make your homestead thrive.
Starting a homestead is an exciting adventure, full of opportunities to learn and grow. On my five-acre homestead, I’ve experienced both the joys and challenges of picking up new skills. Planting our permaculture orchard last year was a thrilling milestone we’d dreamed of for years.
On the flip side, learning to neuter my goat bucklings this year (via banding) was quite intimidating, but I’m glad I tackled it and can now check it off my list.
To help you along your homesteading journey, I’ve compiled a list of 215 essential homesteading skills to learn. Not everyone will need every skill on this list, so pick the ones that fit best for you and your homestead.Â
215 Homesteading Skills to Learn
Gardening and Food Production
Let’s talk about some essential gardening and food production homesteading skills to learn. From planning your vegetable garden to mastering the art of composting, these skills will help you produce a bounty of fresh, homegrown goodness.
1. Vegetable Garden Planning
Organize your garden for maximum yield. Use a gardening journal to track your progress.
2. Starting Seeds Indoors
Extend the growing season by starting seeds indoors. Use a seed starting chart to help you keep track of what you’re planting.
3. Companion Planting
Use plants that support each other’s growth.
4. Crop Rotation
Rotate crops each year to reduce pests and maintain soil health.
5. Garden Bed Preparation
Prepare garden beds with appropriate soil amendments and tilling.
6. Fruit Tree Care
Plant, prune, and maintain fruit trees.
7. Berry Bush Cultivation
Grow and maintain berry bushes.
8. Herb Gardening
Grow herbs for culinary and medicinal uses.
9. Build a Greenhouse
Build a greenhouse to extend growing seasons.
10. Building Cold Frames
Construct cold frames to protect plants from frost.
11. Vertical Gardening
Maximize your space by growing plants vertically.
12. Wild Edibles Identification
Identify and harvest wild edible plants.
13. Seed Saving
Save seeds from your best plants for future use.
14. Seed Stratification
Learn techniques for stratifying seeds to improve germination rates for certain plants.
15. Composting
Turn kitchen scraps and other organic waste into nutrient-rich compost.
16. Vermiculture
Use worms to enhance compost quality.
17. Mulching
Conserve moisture and reduce weeds with mulch.
18. Drip Irrigation System Setup
Install and maintain drip irrigation systems for efficient watering.
19. Rainwater Harvesting
Collect and store rainwater for garden use.
20. Pruning
Properly prune plants to promote growth.
21. Grafting
Combine plant parts to propagate new plants.
22. Plant Propagation
Multiply plants using cuttings and divisions.
23. Permaculture Design
Implement sustainable gardening practices.
24. Pest Control
Implement natural methods to manage pests.
25. Cover Cropping
Grow cover crops to improve soil health.
26. No-Dig Gardening
Reduce soil disruption to maintain soil structure.
27. Square Foot Gardening
Optimize small spaces with square-foot gardening.
28. Edible Landscaping
Design landscapes with edible plants.
29. Making Biochar
Create biochar to improve soil fertility.
30. Building Garden Structures
Construct trellises, raised beds, and other garden structures.
31. Hydroponics
Grow plants without soil using a nutrient-rich water solution.
32. Aquaponics
Integrate fish farming with hydroponics for a symbiotic system.
33. Mushroom Cultivation
Grow edible mushrooms in controlled environments.
34. Landscaping
Design and maintain functional and aesthetic outdoor spaces.
35. Soil Testing
Test and amend soil to improve fertility and structure.Â
Food Preservation
Preserving your own food is probably one of the most important homesteading skills to learn. By mastering these food preservation techniques, you can keep your pantry stocked throughout the winter months and even year-round.
For inspiration, check out my picks for the 23 best books on preserving food.
36. Canning
Preserve food using pressure or water bath canning.
37. Freezing
Properly freeze food to extend its shelf life.
38. Drying
Dehydrate food for long-term storage.
39. Fermenting
Ferment vegetables for preservation and health benefits.
40. Vacuum or Heat Sealing
Remove air in packaged goods to extend shelf life.
41. Cold Storage
Store food in a root cellar or other cool environment.
42. Freeze Drying
Use a freeze dryer to preserve a variety of foods, including eggs and milk, for up to 25 years!
43. Waterglass Eggs
Learn to preserve farm-fresh eggs by waterglassing.Â
44. Smoking Meats
Smoke meats to preserve and flavor them.
45. Curing Meats
Use salt and other methods to cure meats.
46. Making Jams and Jellies
Preserve fruits by making jams and jellies.
47. Jerky Making
Dehydrate meat to make jerky.
48. Fruit Leather
Make fruit leather by drying pureed fruit.
49. Making Fruit Preserves
Create preserves from seasonal fruits.
50. Pickling
Preserve vegetables by pickling.
51. Making Dairy Products
Extend the life of your milk by making yogurt, kefir, butter, cheeses, sour cream, and more at home.
52. Wine Making
Turn fruit into wine.
53. Making Beer
Brew beer from grains and hops.
54. Vinegar Making
Produce vinegar from wine or fruit.
55. Mead Making
Brew honey into mead.
56. Kombucha Brewing
Brew kombucha for a probiotic drink.
Kitchen and Cooking
Anyone can live the homesteading lifestyle by starting right in their own kitchen. There are so many kitchen and cooking homesteading skills to learn. That’s where I began, learning to cook from scratch. These skills will help you make the most of your harvest and reduce your grocery bill.
57. From Scratch Cooking
Cook meals from basic ingredients.
58. Sourdough starter
Make your own sourdough starter.
59. Sourdough Bread
Bake sourdough bread from a starter.
60. Mill Your Own Grain
Grind whole grains for baking.
61. Cooking with Cast Iron
Use cast iron or carbon steel cookware.
62. Making Baked Goods
Learn how to make baked goods like scones, muffins, cakes, and more from scratch.
63. Making Natural Food Dyes
Use carrots, beets, and other natural ingredients to make food coloring.
64. Meal Planning
Plan meals to use fresh ingredients.
65. Homemade Pasta
Make pasta from scratch.
66. Use Real Butter
Ditch the seed oils and cook with butter.
67. Buy in Bulk
Purchase supplies in bulk to save money and ensure you have essential items on hand.
68. Making Sausage
Create homemade sausage.
69. Use a Whole Chicken
Learn how to use a whole chicken to make several things.
70. Cooking with Fresh Herbs
Use fresh herbs in your cooking.
71. Making Butter
Use a stand mixer to turn fresh cream into butter.
72. Cooking with Seasonal Produce
Use seasonal produce for freshness.
73. Homemade Soups and Stews
Make soups and stews from scratch.
74. Making Ice Cream
Make homemade ice cream using raw milk, cream, and eggs.
75. Cooking with Edible Flowers
Add edible flowers like nasturtiums to your dishes.
76. Making Nut Butters
Create homemade nut butters like almond and peanut butter.
77. Making Spice/Herb Seasonings
Create your own blends like taco seasoning.
78. Vacuum or Heat Sealing
Remove air to extend shelf life in stored dried goods.
79. Making Homemade Pizza
Create pizza from scratch with homemade dough and toppings.
80. Making Bone Broth
Make nutrient-rich bone broth.
81. Make herbal tea blends
Use dried herbs to make herbal tea blends for making herbal tea at home.
82. Making Sauces and Condiments
Create homemade sauces and condiments like mayonnaise and salad dressing.Â
Animal Husbandry
Raising animals is a key part of many homesteads, providing meat, milk, eggs, and more. These animal husbandry homesteading skills to learn will help you properly care for your livestock and ensure they contribute to your homestead’s self-sufficiency.
​83. General Livestock Care
Understand the basics of caring for livestock. Start with my guide to raising chickens and guide to raising goats naturally.
84. Building Animal Shelters
Build your own chicken coop and other shelters for your livestock animals.
85. Milking Animals
Milk your own cows, goats, or sheep for raw milk.
86. Animal Nutrition
Provide proper nutrition for all types of livestock.
87. Animal Health Care
Recognize and treat common animal illnesses.
88. Breeding Animals
Breed animals for sustainability.
89. Artificial Insemination
Use artificial insemination techniques.
90. Incubating Eggs
Incubate and hatch eggs.
91. Building a brooder
Create a safe space for raising young chicks.
92. Pasture Management
Manage pastures for optimal grazing.
93. Using Animal Manure
Use manure to fertilize your garden.
94. Animal Fencing
Build and maintain fences to keep animals safe.
95. Herding Dogs
Train herding dogs to manage livestock.
96. Guard Animals
Use guard animals like LGDs, geese, or donkeys to protect livestock.
97. Neuter Livestock
Learn different methods for neutering livestock.
98. Trimming Hooves
Maintain hoof health by regular clipping.
99. Shearing Sheep
Shear sheep for wool production.
100. Butchering Livestock
Process livestock for meat.
101. Identifying a Broody Hen
Recognize and manage broody hens.
102. Rotational Grazing
Implement rotational grazing to improve pasture health.
103. Giving Injections
Administer injections for health care.
104. Managing Poultry Health
Keep your poultry flock healthy.
105. Catching and Handling Chickens
Safely catch and handle chickens.
106. Caring for Newborn Animals
Learn how to care for newborn livestock.
107. Feeding Orphaned Animals
Bottle-feed orphaned livestock.
108. Managing Flock Dynamics
Understand and manage flock behavior.
109. Culling Animals
Humanely cull animals when necessary.
110. Identifying Livestock Breeds
Learn about different livestock breeds.
111. Managing Parasites
Control internal and external parasites.
112. Training Pack Animals
Train animals like donkeys and llamas for packing.
Home and Farm Maintenance
Maintaining your homestead requires a range of practical skills. From carpentry to plumbing, these maintenance homesteading skills to learn will help you keep everything running smoothly.
113. Basic Carpentry Skills
Build and repair structures on your homestead.
114. Using Basic Tools
Use basic tools like hammers, saws, and drills.
115. Building Fences
Construct and maintain fences for livestock and garden protection.
116. Roof Repair
Fix and maintain roofs on your buildings.
117. Plumbing Repair
Repair and maintain plumbing systems.
118. Electrical Repair
Perform basic electrical repairs and maintenance.
119. Using a Manual Transmission
Drive vehicles with manual transmissions.
120. Basic Automotive Repair
Perform basic repairs on vehicles.
121. Basic Plumbing Skills
Repair leaks and install new plumbing fixtures.
122. Wood Splitting
Split wood for heating and cooking.
123. Chainsaw Operation
Safely operate a chainsaw for cutting wood.
124. Well Maintenance
Keep your well in good working order.
125. Generator Maintenance
Maintain generators for backup power.
126. Repairing Tools
Sharpen and repair tools to keep them in good condition.
127. Tractor Operation
Operate a tractor for various farm tasks.
128. Managing Septic Systems
Maintain and troubleshoot septic systems.
129. Weatherproofing
Apply weatherproofing techniques to protect buildings from the elements.
130. Snow Removal
Use tools and techniques for efficient snow removal.
131. Building an Outdoor Shower
Construct an outdoor shower for hygiene.
132. Building a Fire Pit
Construct a fire pit for cooking and warmth.
133. Building a Pond
Construct a pond for fish and water storage.
134. Fence Repair
Fix and maintain fences to ensure they remain effective.
135. Painting and Staining
Paint and stain buildings to protect and beautify them.
136. Welding
Use welding skills for repairs and construction.
137. Masonry
Build and repair stone and brick structures.
138. Roofing
Install and repair roofing materials.
139. Drywall Repair
Patch and repair drywall.
140. Tile Work
Install and repair tile in kitchens and bathrooms.
141. Concrete Work
Pour and finish concrete for various projects.
142. Insulation Installation
Install insulation to improve energy efficiency.
143. Siding Installation
Install and repair siding on buildings.
144. Window and Door Installation
Install and maintain windows and doors.
145. Gutter Installation
Install and repair gutters to manage rainwater.
Homemaking & Natural Living
Every homesteader needs a set of basic skills to handle everyday tasks. From sewing to soap making, these practical homesteading skills to learn will support your self-sufficient lifestyle.
146. Laundry Techniques
Hand wash and line dry clothes.
147. Making Laundry Detergent
Create your own laundry detergent.
148. Homemade Cleaning Products
Make cleaning products using natural ingredients.
149. Making skincare products
Make your own skincare products such as salves and balms. Try my Calendula Salve with Shea Butter or Calendula Yarrow Salve Recipe.
150. Natural Air Fresheners
Use indoor plants and a diffuser with essential oils to freshen the air naturally in your home. Check out these spring diffuser blends or summer diffuser blends for inspiration.
151. Homemade Soap
Make your own soap using natural ingredients.
152. Creating an Herbal Apothecary
Stock your home with medicinal herbs for making herbal remedies.
153. Building a Natural Medicine Cabinet
Stock your home with essential oils, tinctures, supplements, and more to treat sicknesses naturally.
154. Making Herbal Tinctures
Create tinctures from herbs for medicinal use.
155. Using Natural Remedies
Incorporate natural remedies for health and wellness.
156. Herbal First Aid Kit
Assemble a first aid kit with herbal remedies.
157. Herbal Infused Oils
Infuse oils with herbs for cooking and skincare. Try my calendula-infused and yarrow-infused recipes, which are perfect for various homemade products and remedies.
158. Natural Fabric Softeners
Make fabric softeners using natural ingredients.
159. Preserving Flowers
Dry or press flowers for decoration and crafts.
160. Natural Pet Care
Make homemade pet food and natural pet care products.
161. Making Bug Repellent
Create natural insect repellents for you and your animals.
162. Making Lip Balm
Create moisturizing lip balms from natural ingredients.
`163. Making Beeswax Products
Create beeswax candles, wraps, and balms.
164. Homemade Deodorant
Make deodorant using natural products.
165. Beeswax Wraps
Create reusable food wraps from beeswax and fabric.
166. Homemade Shampoo and Conditioner
Make hair care products using natural ingredients.
167. Furniture Restoration
Restore old furniture to give it new life.
168. Making Natural Perfumes
Create fragrances using essential oils.
169. Herbal Bath Products
Make bath salts and bath bombs with herbs and essential oils.
170. Homemade Toothpaste
Craft toothpaste using natural ingredients.
171. Home Organization
Implement efficient storage and organization systems for your homestead.
172. Indoor Plant Care
Learn how to care for indoor plants to enhance your living space.
173. Grow an Indoor Herb Garden
Cultivate herbs indoors for year-round fresh herbs. Here’s a list of the 25 best herbs to grow indoors.
174. Candle Making
Create candles for light and decoration.
175. Basic Sewing Skills
Sew by hand for repairs and small projects.
176. Using a Sewing Machine
Operate a sewing machine for larger projects.
177. Making Your Own Clothes
Sew clothes from scratch using patterns and fabric.
178. Knitting and Crocheting
Create items from yarn.
179. Quilting
Make quilts for warmth and decoration.
180. Basket Weaving
Weave baskets for storage and decoration.
181. Leatherworking
Create and repair leather goods.
182. Pottery
Make pottery for functional and decorative use.
183. Wood Carving
Carve wood for tools and decorations.
184. Metalworking
Craft and repair metal items.
185. Stone Carving
Carve stone for decorative purposes.
186. Spinning Yarn
Spin fibers into yarn.
187. Dyeing Fabric
Dye fabric using natural and synthetic dyes.
188. Making Paper
Produce paper from recycled materials.
189. Embroidery
Embellish fabric with decorative stitching.
190. Making Natural Dyes
Create dyes from plants and other natural materials.
191. Rug Making
Make rugs using various techniques.
192. Macrame
Craft decorative items using macrame techniques.Â
Preparedness
These preparedness homesteading skills to learn will help you live more independently by be prepared to handle emergencies and living off grid.
193. Water Purification/Filtration
Get a water purification/filtration system that works for you.
194. Learn CPR
Learn to provide basic emergency medical care.
195. Emergency Medical Skills
Be prepared to handle emergencies with both animals and humans.
196. Use renewable energy sources
Install and maintain solar panels or wind power systems.
197. Starting a Fire
Learn to start a fire for cooking and warmth.
198. Learn to build basic shelters
Construct shelters for emergencies.
199. Hunting and Trapping
Hunt and trap wild game for food.
200. Fishing
Fish for food and recreation.
201. Using Firewood
Cut, split, and store firewood for heating.
202. Building a Smokehouse
Construct a smokehouse to preserve meat.
203. Making Charcoal
Produce charcoal for cooking and heating.
204. Bartering
Trade goods and services with others.
205. Building an Outhouse
Construct an outhouse for sanitation.
206. Composting Toilets
Install and maintain composting toilets.
207. Building a Water Wheel
Use a water wheel for energy production.
208. Making Biofuel
Produce biofuel from waste products.
209. Install a generator
Set up and maintain a generator for backup power.
210. Building a Root Cellar
Store vegetables and fruits in a root cellar.
211. Building a Solar Oven
Cook food using a solar oven.
212. Making Tools
Craft and repair your own tools.
213. Gun Safety/Training
Learn proper gun handling and safety.
214. Making Ammunition
Reload or create your own ammunition.
215. Building a Water Catchment System
Collect and store rainwater.
Wrapping Up 215 Homesteading Skills to Learn
Remember, the homesteading way of life is all about continuous learning and adapting. This list of 215 valuable homesteading skills to learn is a resource to help you grow and thrive on your homestead. Choose the skills that suit your needs and enjoy the journey of becoming more resilient, sustainable, and connected to your land.Â
And for more tips and resources, check out my 101 Homesteading Essentials article. It covers all the tools to help you with these tasks.  Also, don’t miss my list of the 10 best homesteading books for beginners to get even more insights.