One of my favorite things about the modern homesteading movement is that it is flexible.
I use to think that the only way a person could ever be considered a farmer or rancher was to have thousands upon thousands of acres and make a full-time living off of their land.
But, definitions are changing…
In the past, I’ve talked about the idea of being a modern-day homesteader, no matter where you may live, and in more recent years so many different aspects of the homesteading lifestyle are being practiced everywhere (I couldn’t be more excited). An apartment, the middle of suburbia, a couple of acres on the outskirts of town; there are options for every type of living situation.
So, you have decided to question society, become more independent and call yourself a homesteader, but what does homesteading in an apartment, a tiny backyard, or on one or two rural acres actually look like? To help answer this and truly bring your unique homestead to life, I have created a mini-series highlighting different options.
This mini-series will explain options on How to be a (Suburban or Urban) Homesteader, How to Be a (Semi-Rural) Homesteader, and of course, this post on how to be an apartment homesteader.
What is an Apartment Homesteader?
Being an apartment homesteader means, you are as “city” as it gets. You are most likely in the very heart of the urban jungle with asphalt as far as the eye can see. If you are lucky, you might have a balcony or access to a rooftop for a bit of fresh air. It is ok if you don’t, there are still many different options and ways to become an apartment homesteader!
10 Ideas to Become an Apartment Homesteader
1. Go Crazy with Window Gardens
You can grow many, many herbs successfully in pots. I have very few sunny windows in my little house, so I had to get creative this spring, but it worked. Don’t be afraid to get creative and think outside the box.
2. Turn a Balcony Into a Jungle of Edibles
I love it when I’m driving through town and see an apartment balcony packed with hanging pots and container gardens. Plus, I can imagine that it provides a “back to nature” feel when you want to sit outside. Or, hydroponics is another exciting option for the apartment dweller.
For supplies and seeds to get you started I highly recommend True Leaf Market. They are a great resource for any garden. They even have their seeds marked as container choices to let you know what will work for your apartment garden.
3. Make Your own Cleaning Supplies
A quick Google search will yield every sort of cleaning recipe you can imagine! Check out my recipes for homemade laundry soap, carpet cleaner, laundry spot remover, and all-purpose orange cleaner.
4. An Apartment Homesteader Can Forget the Clothes Dryer
This is a definite money-saving option, especially if you are having to go to the laundromat. If your apartment regulations allow, install a simple clothesline on your balcony. If not, use a drying rack to air dry those clothes inside.
5. Take part in a Community Supported Agriculture program (CSA)
Pay monthly or yearly fees and have boxes of fresh, local fruits and veggies on a regular basis. Some CSA’s even have a work option where you can go get some dirt under your fingernails to help pay for your produce. More info on CSAs and where to find one in your area can be found here.
6. Visit Local Farms and Farmer’s Markets
Visit Local Farms:
Finding local farms can be a great way to steady sources for farm-fresh eggs, raw milk (if it is legal in your state. If not, check out your cow-share laws), and maybe extra produce. You can even offer to volunteer to learn about different operations on that farm and don’t forget to enjoy getting dirty.
Visit Local Farmer’s Markets:
Local farmer’s markets can be a great resource for farm fresh products. You can usually find eggs, local meat, produce, honey, and maple syrup. A farmer’s market is also a great place to get to know local farmers and like-minded community members.
7. Learn to Preserve Food as An Apartment Homesteader
There are many different ways to preserve the fresh food you have acquired. A few of my favorite methods include freezing, canning, and dehydrating.
Dehydrating
Dehydrating fruits (like bananas) and vegetables (tomato paste) is a great preservation option for those that have limited storage space. When you use the dehydration method you are removing the moisture content causing it to dry out and shrink. You can store the dried-out results as is in an air-tight container or they can be ground into a powder.
Freezing
Freezing is probably the method that takes the least amount of time. It is a great no-hassle way to preserve vegetables and fruits that you may have found at Farmer’s Markets, CSA, or U-Pick farms. Freezing can be a great option for things like green beans, tomatoes, and strawberry freezer jam.
One of the main downsides to using freezing as your main method of food preservation is the lack of space. Freezer space is a limited resource and I usually save the space for meat. Being an apartment homesteader this may be something to take into consideration.
Canning
Learn how to can and fill your pantry with homemade pickles, applesauce, jams, tomato sauce, and more. Canning can seem a bit intimidating at first, but the results are well worth the effort. However, there are some strict safety rules that should be followed because canning safety is no joke!
If you are interested in learning how to can safely and efficiently there are a number of resources available here on The Prarie Homestead Blog.
Start with these helpful articles and tutorials:
- The Ultimate Guide to Canning Safety
- How to Can with a Water Bath Canner
- How to Use a Pressure Canner
If you are ready to learn more about using the canning method to preserve your food then my Canning Made Easy Course is right for you.
->The Canning Made Easy Course contains step-by-step walk-throughs, canning safety information, and some of my favorite canning recipes. This course was created to make preserving easy and give everyone the chance to learn this valuable kitchen skill. To learn more about Canning Made Easy Click Here <-
8. Learn to Cook From Scratch
Ditch the convenience food favorites of many city dwellers and break the mold. Learn how to create homemade breads, get creative with new veggies, and discover how to cook meat to perfection. If you have access to quality milk, learn how to make your own yogurt and cheeses– two time-honored homestead crafts.
Here are some helpful articles and recipes to get you started:
- How to Cook from Scratch When You Have Limited Time
- How to Make Your Own Sourdough Starter
- Slow Cooker Beef Roast with Sweet & Salty Sauce
- The Best Beginner Sourdough Bread Recipe
9. Become a DIY-Genius
You don’t have to be a landowner to become a whiz at making your own candles, creating new soap recipes (dish soap), or formulating non-toxic bug repellents. Honestly, learning how to be a DIY-er has been one of my favorite parts of my homesteading lifestyle–and it hasn’t required a single bit of acreage. 😉
10. Learn to Repurpose What You Have
Old-time homesteaders were brilliant when it came to repurposing common, everyday items–and you can do the same. Repurposing is also a great way to live more sustainably and contribute to a no-waste lifestyle of homesteading. Find creative ways to put common cast-offs like coffee grounds, eggshells, or sour milk to good use.
Can You Be an Apartment Homesteader?
All of these ideas have something in common, they are true homesteading lifestyle changes that will take work and motivation. You will have to be willing to break the mold of the everyday-average-city dweller: Get up, go to work, eat out, come home, watch TV, go to bed, repeat…
Homesteading takes determination, drive, and a little bit of craziness, regardless of whether you are in an apartment or 200 acres. Remember, taking even the smallest steps to change your lifestyle can equal better health, a newfound passion for life, new learning opportunities, and fun. Lots of fun!
Just think, someday if or when you finally move to the country and find that homestead of your dreams, you’ll have the cheesemaking and herb gardening mastered.. 😉
Are you an apartment homesteader? What tips do you have for bringing homesteading alive in the urban jungle?
Listen to the Old Fashioned On Purpose podcast episode #47 on the topic: How to Homestead in Suburbia HERE.
More Homesteading Ideas:
- Tips for Building a Debt-Free Homestead
- How to Make Herbal Vinegar
- How to Preserve Fresh Herbs in Olive Oil
- My Favorite Ways to Preserve Food at Home
Great post, anyone can do it!!!
I’m an apartment homesteader! I share my clothes closet with my canning pantry, my kitchen pantry is full of dried goods I put up and I have a mini chest freezer. Even though I don’t grow anything myself I put up a lot of food to eat throughout the year… it’s so much fun!
~ Nichole from BornintheWrongCentury.com 🙂
Nichole- you are exactly what I’m talkin’ about! Keep up the great work!
Hey Nicole that sounds great. I’m an apartment dweller trying to get a start in homesteading as well. Anyone got any other tips for the apartment homesteader?
This is a great post! There are so many things any of us can do to get a bit closer to that homesteading model. I love the picture of the sheets! 🙂
I too was an apartment dweller some years ago and I got into trouble having a growing container on my balcony. They said it was not for heavy soil etc. I am glad I did not live there for very long. Just wanted to comment in case any of you chose to read and then do this, you might wish to check and see what they have to say. Also in gated communities and others you might have to check with the association as to if you can hang laundry or plant a garden. They often have strict and I think stupid rules. Good luck to all and I hope you can grow all you wish without anyone ruining it.
Good points Rebecca. Some associations are pickier than others regarding laundry lines/ gardens/ etc. It’s always a good idea to double check your rules and regulations. That being said, I agree with you and think the rules are rather stupid, too. 😉
I don’t have any idea of what homesteading is until I found your blog. The way you write in the last part of your post seems to me that you’re having fun with it. Nice post!
-Adrian
I didn’t know I was a homesteader until now reading this entry. 🙂
Living in an apartment has its complications since there are so many regulations you have to follow. I try to make my pots and plants to look nice and aesthetic as possible even when my tomato plants get wild and grow like crazy. Besides different types of herbs, we have peppers and tomatoes. With a great harvest this year, we still have some tomatoes in the vines.
We transformed our laundry room into a laundry/pantry room.
It takes time to prepare you own canning, grinding your own corn for
tortillas but it is very rewarding.
Great post.
Mely
Mely- you rock! And yes, I would definitely consider you a homesteader. 🙂 Keep up the great work!
Do you prune your tomato vines to keep them producing and manage the jungle effect?
They have some nice indoor aquaponics kits if you want to grow any “livestock” along with your crops. For instance this.
Thank you for writing this post. I live in an apartment with my husband and 2 children and no balcony. So I had figured our options were very limited but you have inspired me to learn new skills 🙂
That’s what I love to hear Katrina! It just takes a little bit of a different mindset, but it’s totally do-able. 😉
Concerning neighborhood associations and their rules: talk with your neighbors. Find out how open-minded they are and/or what their interests are. Rules can be changed. The association was set up to serve the neighborhood, not the other way around.
Excellent point AnnDenee- How wonderful would it be to get together with your neighbors to change the “silly” rules. Thanks for the suggestion!
Great ideas! I love how this makes homesteading so accessible to so many people, no matter their circumstance.
Love it.
And, I have a crush on my Dutch Oven.
Last night it was pot roast.
Gotta love one pot wonders!
Thanks for all the inspiration.
I have always dreamed to be a homesteader and live in rural area. That has not happen yet. Besides watching the Little House on the Prairie to comfort myself, I have decided to learn some homesteading skills while I wait. So far, I have learned to make homemade yogurt (although I don’t eat it but my family loves yogurt and my hubby always call it “my huggy’s yogurt.” :))I made my own pizza crust. I tried making pie crust but have not quite mastered it. I made my own laundry detergent and cleaning solution. Baking soda is my new best friend. Oh yes, and we home school.
This coming February will mark our 18th year living in this 800 sqt. condo. I am about to tackle the small side yard soon – that has been my stumbling block of gardening due to the six-foot outside wall being so close to the glass door, I feel closetiphobic sitting out there. One thing at a time. I have so much more to learn (and re-learn)but, life is full, so as my heart.
I live in an apart that is actually in a town of about 600. I am lucky enough to have parents with a large garden (they are part of the local farmer’s market). I have friends who are farmers so I have access to vegetables my parents do not grown. My cousin has chickens so I trade for eggs from her. My oldest will be moving out at the end of the month. I have plans to turn her room into a storage/pantry including adding a 5.0 cubic ft freezer my friend is selling me for $50. Also I am getting shelving to house my canned goods in the closet. My cupboards are overflowing with sale items so much so that I one of my closets in the kitchen has three half shelves on one side full. My friend calls me a food hoarder. I call myself ready. If should run short for the month or something happen where I am able to purchase goods from a store, I will be in good shape for a good, long time.
One cautionary word – fire escapes are not the same as balconies. You can get in a lot if trouble if you start putting things on those, totally aside from the safety risks if there ever is a fire.
Thanks for the great tips. I love reading your blog–so much great inspiration for natural living. This article is particularly applicable since I live in an apartment, and homesteading requires much more creativity.
Indeed it does– but kudos to you for doing it anyway! 🙂
Hi,
From your article I see I’m already a homesteader, yay!
A few years ago, I decided to start growing some veggies on my apartment balcony. The first year, we were overrun with tomatoes! Things are a lot more manageable this year. I’m planting tomatoes, amaranth, beets, salad greens and chili peppers. Just learned to make body butter/cream and toothpaste,wow. One learns new things everyday. Trying to learn how to make laundry soap. Yup, homesteading does take a lot of work but it’s oh so rewarding.
Sounds like you have a wonderful homestead– keep up the great work!
This is a great post! I am just starting out on my homestead journey and my apartment is all I have to work with at the moment. But your blog has many great ideas even for those without acres. I’m hoping next year my boyfriend and I will be buying a house where we hope to raise chickens and a few goats. Your posts are great motivators and reference material. Keep it up, your blog is great!!!
Thanks for the sweet comment Michelle! Sounds like you have a wonderful start to your homestead- keep up the great work!
Hi Jill!
You are very inspiring! I too love Jesus and have homestead dreams.
Right now I live in an apartment. Trying to convince my hubby we should move back to where our parents live and buy his parents land across the street from their old farm house, it would be perfect for a homestead! but alas I married a city boy, tehe, (my prayers and eye batting hasn’t ceased tho, tehe). I have always been a city girl as well, so I can understand his resistance. My mom grew up on a farm and that farm is still ran by her oldest brother. 🙂 i dream of having chickens and a milk cow, and a garden (funny the garden scares me more than the idea of a cow! ha!). 🙂 I am only 24, with no children, so I need to be patient. Trying to do the best I can now, grinding my own flour, trying to buy mostly organic (but it gets pricey), I make my own laundry detergent and toothpaste, homemade bread and tortillas and butter. I would love to learn how to garden and can! I may attempt to garden on our tiny apartment sized porch when it gets warmer…. I attempted some herbs this past year, and I kinda forgot about them :-/ OOPS! But I think fresh veggies will motivate my attention more (I hope!).
i do have a question for you 🙂 I recently found a source for raw milk (not illegal to buy off the farm here), I got excited but then found out the milk is sold to a popular dairy in our area to be pasteurized and homogenized, and I remember reading somewhere on your blog you said you wouldn’t use raw milk from a place where they sell to mainstream milk companies. I was just wondering if you could elaborate on why you said you wouldn’t recommend buying from places that sell to the store bought milk brands? This is a small family farm, the milk is stored in a vat, we fill our own jars and pay using the honor system. the cows are grass fed and the cows freely graze all day, they are only fed grain while milking, they use no hormones, they do use antibiotics when needed but don’t save the milk from those cow/cows. It seems a better option than store bought milk, to me, but I am very new to this and wanted to get your opinion since I had remembered reading somewhere you said it was a no-no.
Thank you for your time,
For His Glory,
Emily L.
Hey Emily!
So happy you are enjoying the blog. 🙂
Many of the BIG commercial dairies cleaniless leaves a lot to be desired, since they expect the pasteurization process to “cover a multitude of sins.”
However, if it is a family farm, and they are selling milk specifically for raw consumption, I’m betting you’ll be ok. 🙂 It’s just when people go grab a glass from a bulk tank at a large-scale commercial dairy that there is a BIG increased risk for sickness.
Hope that makes sense–enjoy that milk!
I am an apartment homesteader! I make my own cleaning supplies, sew my own cloth wipes, and am currently sprouting seeds in eggshells in my bedroom (it’s too cold to move outside yet). I enjoy making my own bread and yogurt and I have finally decided to learn how to can once and for all this year! I enjoy all of these things and CANNOT wait for a place with some land! Soon, I plan to try making my own butter as soon as I can get my hands on some raw milk.
Thank you! I really needed this encouragement. I’m faced with an imminent move into an apartment. I was glad to see the new town has a community garden and there is a Chicken Lady nearby who sells beautiful, fresh eggs.
Dear Jill,
Thanks for your insightful blog.
I trust I’m not taking up too much of your time, since I can see your blog is BUSY! Therefore, let me get to the point.
I’ve been brought up that children have no say, should have no attitude, therefore should next-to-not-exist-because-they’re-useless. Was very reclusive. Unfortunately it seems that this indoctrination has permanently stuck with me and I’m struggling to be a proper “person” who knows how to deal with social issues. (hell – I’m already 44 and still struggling to find the real me!)
Anyway – sob stories apart !! :
1. We bought a piece of earth in a suburb which is large enough to do the homesteading thing. However, how do I address neighbours who looks down on you for being a earth-person? All our neighbours seems to indulge and be totally dependant on materialism, whereas I’m totally the opposite and i’m teaching my children to be the same. (I do have my fair share of basic materialistic needs, but that’s enough for me).
2. Is it possible to leave a job and live of my 1400 square meter land and still living comfortably from that 1400 square meter land? I think so, but how do I convince my husband to try it, since we have 4 children to think of, no surplus funds, and income is low. I’m dying at my deskjob and it feels that I’m neglecting my natural calling to be a mother to my children.
Thank you for sparing the time. Kind regards.
Great check-list! This is exactly what I’m trying to do. Space can definitely be an issue, but the benefit is… the less you have, the less you need. 😉
Hi Jill,
Your readers may not be aware that many towns have properties that have been seized due to tax issues. Some of these are sold very cheap. My wife and I just picked up a little over an acre for $500. This could be one way for people to slowly transition from the apartment life to their very own homestead.
Keep up the great work your doing,
Wayne Martin
Excellent suggestion Wayne! Congrats on your new property too!
I have a east facing balcony that gets direct sunlight. The problem in summer months there is too much sun and the heat kills my plants in the balcony. This has happened to me several times. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks.
Thousands of acres? Oh, my. 🙂 I agree – apartment homesteading is available to anyone. When we started, we were in a dark little basement apartment – didn’t have a balcony or even any natural light.
I think that everything published was very logical. But, what about this?
suppose you typed a catchier post title? I am not suggesting your
information is not solid, but suppose you added a pst title to maybe
get a person’s attention? I meawn How to be an Apartment Homesteader •
The Prairie Homestead is a little vanilla. You oubht to look at Yahoo’s home page and note hhow
hey write posst titles to grab viewers to click.
You might add a video or a picture orr two to get people interested
about what you’ve got to say. Just my opinion, it would bring your website a little livelier.
Every weekend i used to ggo to see this site, because i wish for enjoyment, as this this webb page conations in fact
pleasant funny material too.
I just found your lovely blog today and simply wanted to thank you for the benefit of your experience.