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Top 10 beginner homestead mistakes and how to avoid them

homesteading animals -3

Starting a beginner homestead is an exciting step toward a self-sufficient lifestyle, but making a few beginner mistakes along the way is easy. Many new homesteaders dream of raising animals, growing their own food, and learning homesteading skills like preserving food and raising livestock. 

Not sure what Homesteading is? Read our blog, “What is Homesteading” to learn more about this lifestyle!

Homesteading involves a lot of planning, hard work, and constant learning—skipping the basics can lead to costly and time-consuming setbacks.

Whether you’re building a little homestead to grow a large garden, raise chickens, or transition to living completely off-grid, this beginner’s guide highlights the top 10 homestead mistakes many people make and how to avoid them. 

From buying too many animals too fast to skipping essential steps like soil testing and homestead layout planning, these errors can slow progress, drain money, and create unnecessary stress.

The good news? With careful planning, new skills, and the right mindset, you can start small, make steady progress, and enjoy the homesteading life you’ve always dreamed of. 

Whether you want to eat healthier, preserve extra produce, or build an off-grid lifestyle with your family, this guide will help you stay on track and avoid common pitfalls.

Let’s dive in and explore these common mistakes—and how to build your homestead journey the right way!

1. Not Planting Fruit and Nut Trees Early

homestead fruit orchard

One of the most common mistakes beginner homesteaders make is waiting too long to plant fruit and nut trees. While it’s tempting to focus on building chicken coops, raising livestock, or starting a large garden, planting trees should be a priority in your homestead planning.

Why This Mistake Happens

Many people starting their homesteading journey get caught up in short-term projects, like growing vegetables or learning how to preserve food. However, Fruit and nut trees take several years to mature and produce a harvest. 

The later you plant them, the longer you will wait to enjoy the benefits of growing your own food in your yard.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Building a homestead means planning for long-term food sources. Fruit and nut trees provide good food year after year and allow you to preserve extra produce for the winter months through canning, drying, and cold storage. We are planning out our own fruit and nut tree orchard on our expanded land and plan on incorporating our apiary within the orchard. Bees love fruit trees and fruit trees love bees!

In addition, these trees can feed family members and livestock and even be sold or traded within the homesteading community for added income. 

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Plant Early – As soon as you move onto your new homestead, plant fruit trees like apple, pear, and plum, along with nut trees like walnut and pecan.
  • Choose Hardy Varieties – Research climate-appropriate varieties for your region to ensure success. Connect with local farmers or other homesteaders to learn what grows best in your area.
  • Plan the Layout – Make sure your trees are placed where they’ll receive plenty of sunlight and won’t interfere with structures, gardens, or livestock areas as your homestead grows.
  • Gradually add trees – Start small if needed, and plant a few trees each season to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

You’re investing in your future homestead by planting fruit and nut trees early. Not only do they provide food, shade, and beauty, but they also support wildlife, improve soil health, and contribute to self-sufficiency over time. Years later, you’ll be glad you didn’t delay this critical step in creating an off-grid lifestyle.

2. Not Buying Enough Land

beginner homestead

Another common mistake beginner homesteaders make is buying too little land to support their homesteading lifestyle and future goals. While we were shopping for our new homestead in Maine, it was a challenge to find a home that would work for our family as well as land, but it was well worth the patience!

While a small lifestyle on a little homestead may seem manageable initially, many quickly outgrow their space as they expand into gardening, raising animals, and learning to preserve food.

Why This Mistake Happens

Many people starting their homesteading journey underestimate how much land they’ll actually need. It’s easy to focus on what seems practical or affordable without considering long-term plans. 

Others may be drawn to smaller properties because of their proximity to local farmers, schools, or jobs, sacrificing space for convenience.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

To achieve self-sufficiency, you need room to grow your own food, raise livestock, and install systems like solar panels, cold storage, and chicken coops. Limited land can make it difficult to expand or add new projects, like planting a large garden or building animal shelters.

How to Avoid This Homestead Mistake

  • Plan for Growth – Consider your future homestead goals, not just what works for today. Account for space to raise animals, plant fruit trees, and build structures like greenhouses or barns.
  • Evaluate Land Features – Look for property with good soil, access to water, and natural windbreaks. Avoid areas prone to flooding or poor drainage.
  • Talk to Other Homesteaders – Learn from examples of other homesteaders who underestimated their land needs and how it impacted their lifestyle.
  • Prioritize Needs Over Wants – Focus on what makes sense for your homesteading life. While more land is helpful, it also means more maintenance and physical labor, so balance your effort with your long-term vision.

Buying enough land from the start allows you to expand gradually as your homestead life evolves. It ensures you won’t feel crowded or limited as you raise chickens, plant gardens, and add livestock. Plus, the extra space can allow for off-grid systems, more skills development, and the homestead lifestyle you’re working toward.

3. Buying Too Many Animals Too Fast

beginner homestead
Baby chicks at Dragon's Hearth Homestead in 2024.

For many beginner homesteaders, the idea of a fully stocked homestead with chickens, goats, cows, and other livestock is incredibly appealing and exciting. However, buying too many animals too fast often leads to overwhelm, stress, and costly mistakes. This is a VERY common mistake I see people talking about in Facebook homestead groups and Reddit threads all the time! 

Why This Mistake Happens

Getting excited about raising animals is easy without fully understanding the time commitment, physical labor, and homesteading skills required. 

Many new homesteaders also assume animals will pay for themselves through eggs, milk, and meat—only to discover that feed costs, shelters, and veterinary care quickly add up.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

While raising livestock can be an important part of self-sufficiency, having too many animals too soon can create chaos and financial strain. 

Inadequate housing, fencing, and feed storage can lead to escapes, injuries, and wasted food scraps. It can also take time to learn new skills like milking goats, hatching chicks, or dealing with livestock health issues.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Start Small – Begin with chickens or rabbits, which are easier to manage and teach essential homesteading skills. Gradually add more animals as your confidence grows.
  • Focus on Infrastructure First – Build chicken coops, fencing, and animal shelters before purchasing livestock. Make sure the structures are secure, weatherproof, and ready for the winter months.
  • Plan Feed and Water Systems – Ensure you have access to water and a plan for storing feed during the year-round care of animals.
  • Raise Animals That Make Sense – Choose livestock that fits your land size, climate, and personal goals. If you’re starting a small homestead, avoid animals that require large grazing areas unless you plan to buy more land later.
 

By starting small, you’ll constantly learn how to manage animals without feeling overwhelmed. Taking time to build proper systems will ensure your livestock stays healthy and productive, contributing to your self-sufficient lifestyle in a sustainable way. 

Are you a beginner to homesteading and not sure what animals to start with? We wrote a blog just for you! Read, “The Best Homestead Animals for beginners” to learn more. 

4. Not Homesteading with the Right Partner or Spouse

building a chicken coop for our backyard chickens
Bryan is an amazing husband and homestead partner! He helps build all the animal homes for our homestead all while teaching our kids about building and wood working.

Starting a homestead is not just a lifestyle change—it’s a commitment that requires teamwork, hard work, and shared goals. Not homesteading with the right partner or ensuring your family members are on board can lead to burnout, resentment, and failure.

Bryan and I were both dreaming about homesteading and living off-grid long before we even met each other. We discussed this dream with one another while dating. I was thrilled to find out this amazing man I was falling head over heels for was ALSO into off grid living and wanted to share the adventure with me!

Why This Mistake Happens

Many homesteaders pursue their dreams without discussing the physical labor, time commitment, and money required. Partners may agree in theory but struggle with the effort needed to keep a homestead life running day-to-day.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Without shared goals, one person may feel overworked while the other feels disconnected. This imbalance can lead to incomplete projects, abandoned gardens, and livestock not getting the care they need.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Discuss Expectations Early – Talk openly about roles, chores, and responsibilities. Make sure everyone understands that homesteading involves long hours and constant learning.
  • Start Small and Test the Waters – Begin with a small garden, chickens, or canning project to see how well you work together before making larger investments.
  • Divide the Work – Assign tasks based on strengths, such as building a chicken coop, caring for livestock, or handling food preservation.
  • Get the Family Involved – Include family members in chores and celebrate successes to keep morale high.

A partner who shares your vision can turn your homesteading life into a rewarding journey. Together, you’ll develop new skills, tackle challenges, and build a self-sufficient life that strengthens your family bond and provides a sustainable future. Bryan and I have the best time imagining new projects for our own homestead and the adventure has brought us closer together. 

5. Buying Animals Before Building Structures and Fencing

homestead animals goats

One of beginner homesteaders’ biggest mistakes is purchasing livestock before building proper structures and fencing. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of owning chickens, goats, or even larger livestock, but bringing animals home without prepared shelters often leads to chaos and costly fixes.

I learned not to make this mistake before buying homestead animals by watching the Roots and Refuge YouTube channel. Jess was always adamant about not buying animals before having infrastructure for them and I am so glad she shared this advice so we could avoid making this big mistake. 

Why This Mistake Happens

Many new homesteaders underestimate the time and effort required to build chicken coops, barns, and secure fencing. Excitement often leads to impulse purchases of animals without having adequate housing or protection in place. 

Some assume they can construct enclosures quickly, not realizing that suitable structures take time, money, and planning.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Without proper fencing and shelters, livestock can escape, damage your garden, or become vulnerable to predators. Unsecured chickens might roam into gardens, destroying crops, while goats without fencing can wreak havoc on newly planted fruit trees. 

Improper housing can also expose animals to harsh weather, especially during the winter months, leading to health problems and added costs.

How to Avoid This Homestead Mistake

  • Build First, Buy Later – Focus on constructing secure chicken coops, barns, and fencing before bringing in any livestock.
  • Plan for Growth – Design enclosures with future expansion in mind. If you plan to raise animals long-term, ensure your structures can support more livestock as your homestead grows.
  • Test Fencing – Make sure fences are tall and sturdy enough to contain animals like goats and strong enough to keep out predators.
  • Provide Shelter – Include cold storage areas for feed, insulated spaces for winter months, and adequate ventilation for summer heat.

Having structures in place before bringing home animals creates a smoother transition to homestead life. It ensures your livestock are safe, comfortable, and easy to manage while giving you time to develop the skills needed for animal care and maintenance. 

This approach also supports self-sufficiency, as your animals will be productive sooner without added stress or setbacks.

Read our blog, “Raising Homestead Animals for Food and Fiber” to learn more about the homestead lifestyle’s use of livestock. 

6. Not Getting Soil Tested Before Buying Land

soil test

Another mistake beginner homesteaders make is failing to test the soil before buying land. While the house, location, or price might seem perfect, soil quality is critical for growing your own food and maintaining a large garden. Poor soil can quickly derail plans to start gardening, leading to frustration and unexpected costs.

We have seen a lot of families on the Homestead Rescue show make this mistake! 

Why This Mistake Happens

New homesteaders often focus on the house or acreage without considering the soil’s health. They assume land can easily be amended, overlooking other factors like drainage, pH levels, and contamination. Others may not even realize soil testing is essential to homestead planning.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Without fertile soil, it isn’t easy to grow a large garden or produce enough extra food to preserve for the winter months. Poor soil quality can lead to crop failures, wasting time, money, and effort. It also impacts the ability to raise livestock, as pastures may not provide adequate nutrition without heavy fertilization.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Test Before You Buy – Have the soil tested for pH, nutrients, and drainage before purchasing land. Testing kits are inexpensive and available at most garden centers.
  • Evaluate Water Access – Ensure the property has reliable access to water for irrigation and livestock. If needed, consider adding rainwater collection systems.
  • Improve soil Gradually – If you’ve already purchased land with poor soil, focus on composting, adding manure, and using cover crops to rebuild fertility.
  • Consult Local Farmers – Connect with local farmers or other homesteaders to learn about common soil challenges in your area and how to improve them.

Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive homestead. Taking the time to test and improve soil quality early ensures you can start gardening, grow good food, and support livestock grazing areas without costly amendments. It also supports self-sufficiency, allowing you to produce year-round food and preserve extras for leaner seasons.

7. Buying Machines Without Proper Research

farm machinery

New homesteaders often rush into buying large equipment, like tractors and lawnmowers, without understanding whether those tools are necessary—or practical—for their property. They also will buy machines without checking to make sure someone in their area can service them which is a huge headache if and when something breaks. 

While equipment can make homesteading life easier, the wrong purchases can lead to wasted money and underused tools. 

Why This Mistake Happens

It’s easy to assume that owning a homestead requires big machines to manage the land and perform physical labor. Many beginners focus on what they think they’ll need rather than evaluating their actual homesteading skills or property size.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Overinvesting in machinery can limit self-sufficiency by consuming funds that could be better spent on animals, gardens, or growing food. Large machines may also require expensive maintenance, making them impractical for small lifestyle homesteads.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Assess Needs First – Determine whether manual tools or smaller machines can handle the job before investing in large equipment.
  • Buy Used or Borrow – Consider buying used equipment or renting tools until you know what makes sense for your property.
  • Talk to Other Homesteaders – Learn from personal examples to see what equipment works best for similar-sized properties.
  • Focus on Multi-Purpose Tools – Choose tools that can handle multiple tasks to maximize efficiency and space.

Doing your research before buying machines ensures you only invest in tools that genuinely support your homesteading lifestyle. This approach helps you save money, reduces clutter, and keeps your focus on building skills that lead to greater self-sufficiency.

8. Not Buying a Home with a Well on the Property

farm well beginner mistakes

Water is one of the most important resources for any homestead, yet many beginner homesteaders overlook this detail when purchasing their future homestead.  When searching for our homestead in Maine, having our own private well was on the top of our priority list for a property. 

Relying on city water or hauling water can limit your ability to achieve self-sufficiency and drastically increase your effort and costs.

Why This Mistake Happens

Many new homesteaders prioritize the house, land size, or location without considering water sources. Others assume they can install a well later, only to discover it’s prohibitively expensive or the property isn’t suitable for well drilling.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

A well provides year-round water for gardens, livestock, and household needs without reliance on municipal systems. Without a well, homesteaders often face:

  • High water bills for gardens and livestock.
  • Limited ability to go off the grid or become self-sufficient.
  • Challenges during winter months if water needs to be hauled in.
  • Reduced resilience during droughts or emergencies.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Prioritize Water Access – Look for properties with an existing well or natural water sources, such as springs, ponds, or creeks.
  • Test Well Quality – Ensure the water supply is clean, reliable, and sufficient for gardening, livestock, and daily use.
  • Budget for Alternatives – If no well is present, factor the cost of drilling one or installing rainwater collection systems into your plans.
  • Plan for Backup Water Storage – Set up cold storage tanks or rain barrels to collect emergency water.

A well ensures a reliable water supply and supports self-sufficiency and off-grid living. With the ability to irrigate a large garden, water livestock, and provide for your family, having your own water source is a cornerstone of the homestead lifestyle.

9. Not Investing in Solar Energy Sooner

solar power on a farm

Many beginner homesteaders overlook the value of solar energy, assuming it’s too expensive or unnecessary early in their homesteading journey. However, solar power can significantly reduce reliance on the grid and lower utility costs.

Why This Mistake Happens

New homesteaders often prioritize immediate needs like gardens, livestock, and growing food, leaving energy solutions for later. Others assume they’ll always have access to grid power, overlooking the potential for outages or rising costs.

The Impact on Self-Sufficiency

Delaying the transition to solar energy can leave homesteaders dependent on grid power and vulnerable during emergencies. 

A lack of renewable energy can also make it harder to go completely off the grid and increase utility bills over time.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Start Small – Install solar panels to power chicken coops, outbuildings, or cold storage areas before upgrading to a full system.
  • Budget Early – Include solar energy in your initial homestead plans to spread costs over time.
  • Consult Experts – Work with professionals to determine the best solar setup for your property and energy needs.
  • Gradually Add Panels – You don’t need to go off grid all at once—build your system over time as your homesteading skills and resources grow.

Solar energy investments support a self-sufficient lifestyle by reducing reliance on outside utilities. They also add resilience during power outages, provide energy for food preservation and livestock care, and lower long-term costs, freeing up money for other homesteading projects.

10. Not Planning the Homestead Layout Before Building Structures

planning a farm layout

Poor homestead layout planning is one of the most common and frustrating mistakes beginner homesteaders make. Without a clear plan, buildings, gardens, and animal shelters may end up poorly placed, leading to inefficiency, extra work, and wasted money.

Why This Mistake Happens

New homesteaders are often eager to start homesteading and focus on immediate needs—like building a chicken coopand planting a garden—without considering other factors like workflow, expansion, or water access.

An inefficient layout can make daily tasks more time-consuming and physically demanding, reducing productivity. 

Poor placement of animal pens or gardens can also lead to drainage problems, wasted space, and difficulty expanding the homestead later.

How to Avoid This Mistake

  • Map It Out First – Create a homestead design considering future growth, gardens, livestock, and structures.
  • Position Structures Thoughtfully – Place barns, coops, and gardens close enough for easy access but far enough to allow expansion.
  • Consider Water Access – Ensure water sources are convenient for gardens and livestock, reducing the need for manual hauling.
  • Think About Seasons – Plan for winter months by placing structures to block wind and capture sunlight for warmth.
  • Get Input from Other Homesteaders – Learn from personal examples of what worked—or didn’t—on similar properties.

A well-planned homestead layout saves time, money, and effort, allowing you to focus on growing food, raising animals, and developing homesteading skills. It also makes your property more organized, productive, and better equipped to handle future expansions without starting over.

Conclusion

homesteading lifestyle

Starting a homestead is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it’s also one that requires careful planning, hard work, and a willingness to be constantly learning. By understanding and avoiding these beginner homestead mistakes, you can save time, money, and effort, setting yourself up for long-term success and self sufficiency. Whether you’re building a small lifestyle homestead to raise chickens and grow your own food, or dreaming of living completely off-grid, every decision you make in the early stages will impact the future of your homesteading life.

The key to building a thriving homestead is to start small, focus on practical goals, and gradually add to your homesteading skills. Planting fruit trees early, investing in a well and solar energy, and carefully planning your homestead layout are all steps that make a big difference in creating a self-sufficient lifestyle. As you raise animals, preserve food, and develop new skills, you’ll not only become more independent but also more connected to the earthand the rhythms of nature.

It’s important to remember that homesteading involves more than just learning how to start gardening or build a chicken coop—it’s about embracing a lifestyle of constant growth and resilience. You’ll encounter challenges along the way, but each mistake is an opportunity to learn and become more self sufficient. The effort you put in today will pay off in the form of good food, financial savings, and a sense of accomplishment that few other lifestyles can offer.

Whether you’re just starting your future homestead or are already knee-deep in the physical labor of building fences, raising livestock, and preserving extra produce, this guide is here to help you avoid the most common pitfalls and keep moving forward. The beauty of homesteading is that it doesn’t have to happen all at once. You can gradually add to your homestead, gain more skills, and slowly build the life you’ve always dreamed of.

So take a step back, plan carefully, and let this beginner’s guide remind you that even seasoned homesteaders were once beginners too. Every season, project, and challenge brings valuable lessons and pushes you closer to a self-sufficient lifestyle that allows you to eat healthier, preserve food, and enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

Ready to start homesteading? Read more of our blogs on homesteading animals and homesteading. 

Raising Homestead Animals for Food and Fiber

The Best Homestead Animals for Beginners

The Best Gifts for Homesteaders

What Is Homesteading and How to Start

The 5 Best Chicken Breeds

The Dragon’s Guide to Backyard Chickens

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Jenni Sekine

Mother of Dragons

Hey there! I'm Jenni, a homeschooling, home birthing, and home growing mama of four little dragons, and I run Dragon's Hearth Homestead with my husband, Bryan Sekine. We are all about teaching others about the things we are passionate about. Come learn with us!

🌿 home grown 🌿 🍁 homeschool 🍁 🐓 home raised 🐇 🚗 travel ✈️

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