Homesteader Depot

Tag: Technology

  • 7 More High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    7 More High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    Modern homesteaders can take advantage of a number of different high tech tricks and tools in order to make their lives easier. Technology has changed quite a bit since the original homesteaders claimed parcels of land back in the 1800s. Just because you’re trying to recreate that lifestyle, doesn’t mean that you need to utilize their old technology, like pot-bellied coal stoves and outdoor bathrooms. Instead, use these seven tools in order to make your modern homestead run much more smoothly. You’ll be glad that you did!

    1) 3D Printers

    When something breaks, it can be hard to run out and get a part, especially if you’re located hundreds of miles from the latest town or store. For example, if a crucial part of your tractor breaks, you could be stuck without one for quite some time. This is where a 3D printer comes into play. These printers make three-dimensional objects out of sturdy plastic. While the part that they make may not hold up for years, it should do the job well enough to keep the tractor running until a proper replacement can be procured.

    2) Grafting Plants and Other Gardening Techniques

    Did you know that you can graft plants together in order to create a kind of hybrid? For example, if you graft branches of one apple tree to another, you’ll end up with a tree that produces two different types of apples. This is quite a space saver! On top of this, you can also create your own plant hybrids by using cuttings and breeding them together. This is a less expensive option than purchasing new plants and seeds every year, plus you’ll end up with a plant that will thrive on your specific plot of land.

    3) Canners and Dehydrators

    Saving every last bit of the fruits and vegetables that you grow is a crucial part of homesteading. You don’t want to waste anything. Since you’ll inevitably grow more crops than you can eat fresh, you’ll need to rely on canning and dehydrating in order to save them for later. Modern canning devices are very easy to use and heat the jar’s contents to safe levels. Dehydrators are another simple tool that can help you waste less food.

    This guy shows us clear as day how anyone can power (with ZERO cost any) light bulb in their homes.

    4) The Internet

    This one seems obvious since you’re reading this article online. However, you need to keep in mind that the internet is a huge resource for things like recipes, instructions, and more. Everything that you need in order to be a great homesteader is right at your fingertips, through your WiFi connection.

    5) Electric Bikes

    These bikes have a power source, so they move faster than a standard bicycle. They charge themselves as well when you use them to travel from one spot on your land to another. Why do you want an electric bike on your homestead? They are cheaper to maintain, store and insure than a regular vehicle, and they have a smaller environmental footprint.

    6) Drones

    Drones are more than those tools that the military uses in order to shoot at and keep an eye on enemies. You can purchase a non-military drone and use it to watch everything that takes place on your land. This will save you time and energy since you won’t have to walk your land yourself.

    7) Micro-Electric Power

    Harnessing nature to create power for your homestead is always a great idea. You can use these micro-electric generators in order to gather power from a local stream or other water sources. While they won’t be able to generate enough electricity to run your entire home, they can be good for smaller things, like the electric pumps on your well or even the lights in your livestock barn.

  • 7 High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    7 High Tech Tools and Tricks for Modern Homesteading

    Homesteading is the basic art of living off of the land. Homesteaders get their inspiration from the settlers who moved out west during the 1800s. They had to do things themselves because there were no cities, town, or even villages yet. Everything had to be transported out there by the homesteaders, from the livestock that they raised to the plant seeds that they used to grow food. Thankfully, some things have changed over the centuries, and modern homesteaders are no longer limited by the constraints of the past. There are plenty of high tech tools that they can take advantage of. Here are seven of them

    1) Rain Barrels

    Water is very important. Every homesteader needs access to plenty of uncontaminated water for a number of different purposes. Rain barrels are one great tool that can help. While the wells on a homesteader’s land can produce drinking water, what about the plants? Rather than waste drinking water on them, set up some rain barrels and collect the water as it falls from the sky. Place rain barrels around your house, near your gutters, so that the water flows into them during a storm. This is a great way to collect water for various non-consumption purposes.

    Related Article: DIY Rain Barrel System

    2) Install Solar Panels

    If you want to live off of the grid as much as possible, then you’ll need to take advantage of alternative ways to produce electricity. Solar panels are just one of the many options. These panels are placed on your house and they collect and store energy produced by the sun. The system connected to them switches the current from direct to alternating, and then it flows into your home’s electric panel where it powers everything within it.

    Related Article: Solar Energy Options for Homesteaders

    3) Wind Turbines

    Speaking of alternative ways to produce electricity, wind turbines are a great option. The only issue is that you need to live in an area that has enough wind for them to work properly. Otherwise, you’ll have spent a lot of money on wind turbines that don’t do what you want them to. The best thing to do here is to have a company come out to check to see if your homestead is a good candidate. If it is, then you’ll be able to save even more money in the long run by taking advantage of alternative energy producing methods.

    NEVER BUY NEW BATTERIES AGAIN…DO THIS>>>

    4) Cell Phones

    Your cell phone is a very useful high tech tool that can help you quite a bit on your homestead. For example, you can set up a security system and monitor it from your phone. If your livestock manages to get out, an alert will sound on your smartphone, and you’ll know right away that you need to get your cattle or pigs back into the pen.

    5) Solar Ovens

    We’ve already discussed solar panels in general, but what about solar ovens? These ovens sit outdoors and aren’t connected to your electrical system at all. Instead, they receive their power from the sun, thanks to their built-in solar panels. If you really want to cook off the grid, then this a very useful option. You’ll find that they work just as well as standard ovens.

    6) Aquatic Livestock

    This is one thing that many homesteaders don’t think about. Aquatic livestock, like fish that are essentially raised in tanks on a farm, plays a crucial role in an aquaponic system. They purify the water that standard livestock drink, and so on. The entire plan here is symbiosis.

    Suggested: DIY Aquaponics… “Break-through Organic Garden Secret”

    7) Yurts and Instant Homes

    If you truly want to create a homestead in a quick manner, then consider purchasing an “instant home.” These homes are compact and easy to set up, as they contain everything that you need, except for furniture. You can even make an instant home out of an old shipping container if you’re feeling particularly creative.

    PORTABLE SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEM (SUPER EASY SETUP)>>>