Homesteader Depot

Tag: resources

  • Using Rain Catchment Water on Your Homestead

    Using Rain Catchment Water on Your Homestead

    If your homestead is off-grid, then water catchment is essential.  But even if you are connected to the grid, why pay for a resource that you can get for free?  No matter where your homestead is, water catchment is not an option that you should dismiss without consideration.

     

    Why use Water Catchment?

    If your homestead is off-grid then you will either have to haul water, or run a generator to power a pump to get your water.  Both of these options require you to have a steady supply of fuel for either your vehicle, or your generator, and that they are running when you need them to.  Mechanical failure or bad weather can easily have you without water if you don’t have another source.

    For those with a suburban homestead water catchment can still help.  Rainwater is what your garden is expecting in the first place.  It doesn’t contain chlorine or other chemicals found in municipal water.  And though it doesn’t have the mineral content that ground water has it can be used to provide drinking water for your animals, or in an emergency even for you.  Best of all it will cut down on your dependency on outside resources and your water bill.

    How to Catch Water

    To catch water that is suitable for your garden, bathing, washing clothes, or giving to your animals, you will need a clean surface on which to catch the water, and large enough container to collect the water in.  Painted metal is one of the best surfaces.  If you have an asphalt shingled roof, this won’t work, the water will be contaminated with chemicals.  However; you can use an asphalt roof if you have sealed it with several coats of roof sealant.  If your home’s roof won’t work, consider using a tool shed.  You won’t get the same amount of water, because your surface area is lower, but it will still work.

    Install gutters and down spouts on whatever structure’s roof you will use to catch the rain.  You will want to down spouts to end about 4 feet from the ground so that you can place a container under them.  Use any clean container like a new trashcan, or 55-gallon plastic drum.  Cut some black landscaping cloth so that it is large enough to cover the top of the container and overlap the sides by several inches.  Then using a bungee cord secure the landscape cloth over the top of the container.  This will allow the water to flow in, but will not allow debris or bugs like mosquitos to get into your supply.

     

    As with anything these days there are ridiculous laws restricting one’s rights to catch rainwater for their own use.  So be discreet with your catchment system and know your local laws.  But don’t let this free resource go untapped, start you utilizing rainwater on your homestead.

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  • Going From Urban to Country Homesteading: What You Need to Consider

    Going From Urban to Country Homesteading: What You Need to Consider

     

    If you are one of the many people these days considering a transition from urban or suburban life to country homesteading, then you are in for a massive lifestyle change. This will involve things you may have never considered since they might not have had a large impact on you in your current way of life.  Considering what these factors are and preparing for them may just make the difference between living happily ever after in an idyllic setting of your choice, or blowing your savings only to move back to the city with nothing to show for it.  This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just three things that almost everyone in any homesteading situation needs to consider prior to making the move.

    Water

    Water is necessary for life, but many people who live in a city their wholes lives can take this for granted since all they need to do to get water is just turn the sink handle.  When you are considering where you are going to relocate to, consider your access to water.  Are you going to have a stream or a pond on the property?  Or are you going to be on well water?  Or is it an area where you are going to be able to use rain catchment to meet your needs?  Everyone’s budget and situation is going to be different so don’t expect to find absolute perfection, but on the other hand, don’t over look the issue of water because you like something more superficial about the area or property.

    Wood

    Gaining self-reliance includes energy independence.  Most of us are not going to go as far as to run our tractor on wood (fun fact: combustion engines do not operate on liquid fuel but on expanding gas that is heated by any fuel, in WWII during fuel shortages in Europe tractors and boats were converted to run off of wood instead of gas and diesel). But most will want to heat their home and possibly cook from wood fire.  Wood can also be used for construction, though this will require skills and tools that a beginning homesteader might not have.  And sometimes money actually does grow on trees: wood can bring you income if managed properly.

    Neighbors

    One resource that many don’t think of when they are preparing for a life that demands much more self-reliance is the people that will be around them and the potential downside or benefits that these people offer.  There is much to be gained in knowledge and second-hand resources if you move next to a third generation farmer who has been doing what you want to do since he could remember.  On the other hand, you might find a seemingly nice place to live, but find out too late that your neighbors don’t farm at all on their 120 acres but instead be up to no good.  The people around you could be the difference between success or failure.  Know your potential neighbors and weigh them in as a resource or a danger.

     

    If homesteading is something that has been on your mind, then get out there and do it, but don’t make such a drastic decision without thinking it through.  Do it right and enjoy all the benefits.

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