Backyard Homesteading

A simple guide to growing fruits, vegetables, nuts & berries, raising chickens, goats, & bees, and making beer, wine, & cider from your backyard.

If you want to take control of the food you eat and the products you use, Backyard Homesteading will help you learn how to do it—even if you live in an urban or suburban house on a typical-size lot.


Inside, you'll discover how to turn a yard into a productive and wholesome "homestead" that allows you to grow your own fruits and vegetables and raise farm animals, including chickens and goats. You'll also find the laws and regulations of raising livestock in populated areas, as well as ways to use and preserve the bounty your land produces.

GETTING STARTEDBenefits of pure foodFamily recreationLocal regulationsPotential yields and savings
RAISING VEGETABLES AND HERBSGarden planning/layoutStructures/irrigationVegetable profilesPlanting techniquesComposting/healthy soilSeasonal gardening
GROWING FRUITS, BERRIES, AND NUTSPlanting fruit trees and bushesFruit profilesOrganic pest controlGrafting and pruningHarvesting methods
RAISING CHICKENSThe joy of chickensCollecting eggsCare and feeding tipsOther small animals
RAISING GOATSBenefits of goat milkStructures/fencingCare and feeding tipsOther large animals
BEEKEEPINGBenefits of beekeepingCare and harvestingBuilding hivesCollecting honey
HARVEST HOMECanning/drying/freezingMaking beer, wine, ciderMaking jerky, sausageMaking jams, jelliesPickling/salting/smokingBuilding root cellars