Because homesteading isn’t about the size of your backyard—it’s about the way you live.
Welcome to the art of urban homesteading—right where you are, with whatever you already have. You don’t need rolling acres or a flock of chickens to join the movement of self-sufficiency and simple living, with a touch of charm if you choose. Sure, social media loves to paint a dreamy picture of gathering fresh eggs at sunrise and wandering through a lush backyard food forest—and that can be dreamy in real life. But at its heart, homesteading isn’t about how much land you have. It’s about how you live with what you have. Homesteading loses its true essence when it turns into a competition for more—more land, more livestock, more stuff. At its heart, it’s about living with intention, not keeping score.
The homestead spirit calls us to live intentionally, create a home that nourishes both body and spirit, and embrace rhythms that slow you down enough to actually enjoy your life with the people you love.
Think of urban homesteading as slow living with a modern twist—intentional cooking, preserving lives and the earth, cozy vibes, and a little DIY magic to make your home feel like a sanctuary (even if you can hear your neighbor’s movie from your couch).
So, if you’re staring out the window of your apartment, wondering how on earth you can “homestead” when the closest thing to a pasture is your neighbor’s astroturf-covered balcony—take heart. You’re in the right place.
What is Urban Homesteading?
Urban homesteading begins in the home with the atmosphere you create for your family- bringing self-sufficiency, sustainability, and a deep sense of home into whatever space you have. It lives in cooking like your great-grandmother, making your home a place of warmth and rest, and reconnecting with the things that actually matter. No chickens required (unless you want one… and if so, please check your city ordinances first).
How to Homestead Without a Farm
1. Turn Your Home into a Haven
Cultivate a home that welcomes and nourishes souls. Light the beeswax candles. Drape a quilt over the couch that tells a story of your heritage. Let your kitchen table be a place of real conversation, deep laughter, and the kind of meals that linger long after the plates are empty.
2. Cultivate Simple Rituals
Brew your morning coffee like it’s a sacred ceremony. Take five minutes to journal by candlelight before the chaos of the day begins. Pour tea for your children and sit together without distractions. Homesteading is about honoring the slow, sacred moments that ground us. Establish screen-free evenings with candlelight, books, or simple handwork like embroidery (Yes, embroidery is cool again.)
3. Preserve the Old Ways
Maybe you don’t have a root cellar, but you do have a freezer and a shelf that can hold a few jars of homemade jam. Canning, fermenting, and freezing seasonal foods connects you to the natural rhythms of the year and gives you the satisfaction of saying, “Oh yeah, I made that.” Dehydrating can also become a joyful part of your homestead rhythm.
4. Gather & Share
Connection with our community strengthens our roots in simple living. You don’t need a large garden or livestock to nurture friendships. If you can’t grow your own food, you can support local farms and eat what’s in season. (Pro tip: Anything roasted with olive oil and garlic tastes extra.)
Barter Like a Pro– trade homemade bread for a hand-sewn apron or swap your pet-sitting skills for fresh eggs from a friend’s backyard chickens. Make an extra batch of soup, trade it with a friend, and boom—you’ve got variety without extra work.
Gather People, Not Just Stuff- Host a potluck where everyone brings a homemade dish. Create a place where people feel welcome, fed, and at peace. Open your home to friends for a simple soup or board game night. Hospitality never goes out of style.
5. Cook Like You Mean It
I like to say that the kitchen is the cornerstone of homesteading because so much profound impact can be made through sharing a meal together. The more you make from scratch, the more connected you’ll feel to the work of your hands— your taste buds will thank you.
Bake bread that makes your home smell like heaven. Learn how to make a slow-simmered broth that feels like a hug in a bowl. Preserve seasonal foods so that even in the dead of winter, you can open a jar of summer love.
Then gather with someone you love to enjoy them together.
6. Live Sustainably Below Your Means
Our spirits whisper to us to do more with less, repurpose what you have, make things last, preserve the earth… embrace a more sustainable lifestyle.
Stock a Simple Pantry that transforms everyday ingredients into feast-worthy meals. Build up a stash of solid staples like beans, rice, grains, herbs plus some fun extras like raw honey or homemade spice blends. Learn how to replace store-bought items with homemade alternatives, such as bread, condiments, and yogurt. Bonus: It makes you feel like you have your life together. (also, it’s only a good pantry stock if you like what’s in it.)
Use cleaning products without harmful ingredients. Vinegar, baking soda, and lemon will clean many areas of our home well. Plus, you’ll feel like you’re brewing your own cottage-core magic.
Mend and repair your clothes. It’s giving pioneer-core.
Reduce your waste. Compost if you can (hello, countertop compost bins), thrift before buying new, and find creative ways to reuse things before tossing them.
Remember safety first: Make sure you have a fire extinguisher, working smoke alarms, a well-stocked first aid kit, and go bags packed and ready for emergencies. A little preparedness goes a long way in keeping your homestead running smoothly.
The Urban Homesteader’s Mindset
You don’t have to live on a farm to live like a homesteader- this is about presence.
Slow down long enough to cherish your family, to taste your food, to find joy in the daily rhythms that make life feel full. Trade convenience for something deeper, richer, and infinitely more satisfying.
Every small step- whether you’re eating your homemade granola for snack with your kids in a high-rise apartment or fermenting pickles to trade with a friend- brings you closer to a slower, more intentional life.
So start where you are, savor the process, and remember: you, my friend, are a homesteader. And this is yours to savor.
If you do end up with backyard chickens someday? Well, that’s a lovely bonus.
