You’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to buy all these things.” Homesteading is awesome and provides you with a better quality of life. All these tools make the process easier and are worth investing in. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself using them on a daily basis!
This handy guide will outline all the farm equipment that’s necessary for homesteading. From sewing machines to buck saws, we’ll cover everything that will help you get started today!
- Gloves
As a homesteader, garden gloves and work gloves are necessary. On the farm, these are used to:
Handle livestock and animals such as cows and horses.
Crop harvesting.
Farm tasks such as weeding, planting seedlings, and harvesting crops (such as vegetables).
Feeding animals (poultry, hogs, sheep).
Gloves are essential for any homesteading project for a number of reasons: They protect your hands from dirt and bacteria; they offer a barrier between your skin and harsh weather; they keep hands warmer in cold weather; they prevent blisters from raw cuts; gloves help prevent pruning blisters in the spring.
Using gloves will increase your overall safety when doing outdoor projects.
- Work Pants or Jeans
When you think about it, most of the time you’ll be wearing them, so they’re a good investment. However, work pants or jeans can be pricey. You can go to thrift stores and pick up an extra pair of jeans for under $10. If you have to buy new, try to find used clothing at secondhand stores which are often cheaper than buying them new!
- Long Sleeved Clothing
Long sleeves are essential for winter weather as they keep your arms warm from the cool wind. They also protect your arms from bug bites and sun burns. Be sure to keep plenty of long sleeved t-shirts and sweaters on hand for every season!
- Overalls
Overalls are handy for several reasons:
Protection from the dirt and dust. They keep your clothes clean when working in the garden or barn. They prevent getting splinters from prickly plants and thistles. If you get a splinter, it’ll be easier to pull out with an overall! Protection from animal attacks as you tend to livestock. Overalls offer protection against animals’ claws, teeth, hooves, and horns. Overalls protect your skin from sun burns and insect bites (most insects have a preference of warm blooded animals). Some overall brands allow for ventilation so that you can keep yourself cool during hot weather.
- Shoes or Boots
There are plenty of options out there for shoes and boots! The type of footwear that you purchase will depend on your lifestyle as a homesteader. Let’s take a closer look at the types that you have to choose from…
- Farm shoes : This is a general term for footwear that you can use all year long. They’re designed to withstand the rigors of working with livestock, travel, and going outside for hours at a time. The rubber soles protect your shoes from mud, dirt, rocks, and thorns.
This is a general term for footwear that you can use all year long. They’re designed to withstand the rigors of working with livestock, travel, and going outside for hours at a time. The rubber soles protect your shoes from mud, dirt, rocks, and thorns.
- Work boots : These boots are better for winter usage and are more rugged than shoes. They’re considered to be “very good” for those who do heavy work on the farm. They’re built with insulation to keep your feet warm in winter.
These boots are better for winter usage and are more rugged than shoes. They’re considered to be “very good” for those who do heavy work on the farm. They’re built with insulation to keep your feet warm in winter.
- Safety boots : Are for safety reasons and are only used when needed. They will protect your feet from injuries from any of the protective gear you may use such as goggles, safety helmets, or knee pads.
- Rain boots: These boots are only used on rainy days and are made to protect your feet from the cold and wet.
Homesteading Essential Tools
- Machete : This tool is used for cutting a wide variety of materials. It’s easier to control and gives a better result when using it compared to a hatchet.
- Spade : Is used for digging holes, turning over large rocks, and starting fire pits.. It’s also useful in construction projects as it can be used as a shovel and as pry bars to lever timber. Some machete brands also contain a spade on the opposite side of the blade. For example, an axe will have the blade opposite of the handle (handle down). A spade will have the handle up, so you can easily hold both tools in one hand at once!
- Pulaski: An axe with a steel handle instead of wood. It has the same functions as an axe but with a better grip.
- Pulley : A pulley is useful for lifting supplies up into the loft or upper deck of a barn, while also allowing you to move tools from one location to another. It can also be used when you need to get something up on the roof (such as rakes or any gardening tools). A pulley is used in conjunction with two carabiners and two ropes which will help lift heavy objects.
- Ax : Some people prefer to use an ax rather than a hatchet. They’re often used in conjunction with a wedge which can be placed on the log and hammered down to split them apart.
- Level : This is a tool used for checking the horizontals of a wall, or for leveling something that you’re building (such as laying out stones for a patio). It’s also useful when constructing fences as you can fetch the right measurement before hitting the string line with your post hole digger.
- Post hole digger: Used to dig holes for posts when building fences or structures. This tool has a sharp point which you can hammer into the ground before twisting it around to loosen up the dirt.
- Barbed wire: Is used for preventing certain animals from getting into an area you don’t want them to get in or, as a method of protection while out in the wilds. It’s also made to keep them from escaping once they’re trapped.
- Butchering knife: This is your standard all-purpose kitchen knife that is used for cutting, deboning, skinning, and cleaning (for example fish). It’s particularly useful when butchering animals as you’ll need one in order to remove the hide and cut meat off the bones.
- Watering can: A watering can is used for filling up a watering hole with water (a faucet or hose with a hose connection). It’s generally used for watering plants and lawns, but also useful in many other ways (such as helping you to clean off dirty dishes).
- Buckets: These are generally used for lifting water, but can also be filled up with solid objects to bring them to a particular location. For instance, in order to fetch water from a nearby river you’ll need buckets for transporting the water.
- Shovels: Used for digging and moving solid material (dirty or otherwise). It’s a multi-purpose tool that is very useful in many different situations.
- Plier Set: Used for bending and straightening non-metallic materials such as rubber, plastic, wire, and other flexible materials. This is one of the most useful parts of any toolkit.
- Tape Measure: Used for measuring long distances and can also be used to make a variety of measurements within a short space of time (for example you’d use it to measure the circumference of something).
- Fire Extinguisher: Used when working near an open flame or in the event that you accidentally set something on fire. It’s generally used in the home or work environment to prevent fires from occurring.
- Ladder: ladder can be used when moving hay bales around or climbing into the loft of the barn to rake hay out of the lower level. It’s also useful for getting into small areas where you may not have easy access to a ladder.
- Rope: a very handy tool that can be used for everything from tying up hay to fixing a broken fence. You can use it to pull things, tie things up, or just prop heavy items like bales of straw against the side of the barn until you have time to put them away properly.
- Brace: another really versatile tool that is very easy to use and extremely durable. You can use them with fencing, troughs or buckets as well as a temporary brace if you are working on building something that is very unstable.
- Pocket Knife: I have what most people would consider to be an old pocket knife. It has a wooden handle and a blade that was very sharp when it was new. I particularly like this pocket knife because I don’t have to worry about the blade breaking when using it all the time (and I do use it all the time!).
- Scissors: These are an essential tool for harvesting, sewing, and cooking (cutting off unwanted pieces of food). They can be used for many things around the homestead from cutting sheets or fabrics, butchering animals, or trimming plants or shrubs.
- Bottle Opener: A very handy tool to have in any man’s pocket at all times! It’s especially useful when you come across a cold beer after a hard day’s work or when you need to crack open a couple of bottles of water.
- Shovel with Pick: A versatile tool that can be used as both a shovel and a pick. It has a pointed steel end for picking along the ground, and an attached handle with a sharp end for digging.
- Sledge Hammer: A hammer is the perfect tool for breaking rocks and can also be used on nails and boards if necessary (such as nailing something into place or removing nails from wood).
- Feed Pans: Used for holding food or water for livestock.
- Hammer: Used when building things with nails such as making a wooden fence or putting up a trellis. It can also be used as a weapon to keep away wild animals (such as dogs, bears, and raccoons) if they get too close to your homestead. It’s also useful if you need to remove stubborn nails from wood (just be sure not to hit your fingers!)
- Dehydrator: A dehydrator is a useful piece of equipment for preserving food. It’s used to dry out food such as fruit, vegetables, meat, rice, and more. It works by exposing the food to a negative pressure (a vacuum) which dries out the food and removes moisture from it.
- Rubber Mallet: This is an essential tool that can be used for many different things around the homestead. In gardening you can use it to knock off stubborn weeds or in building projects such as nailing together wood and cement blocks or even driving nails into studs when hanging a curtain rod on your home’s interior wall.
- Solar Oven: A solar oven can be a useful addition to any homestead. It’s used to cook food without using heat from the stove/oven by using indirect sunlight. You can either use it on a hot plate or even in an open fire pit (for a small fire).
- Weed Whacking Tool: Is used for removing weeds and other unwanted plants from your garden or around the homestead. They’re also very useful for weeding in between rows of crops when harvesting plants, such as carrots and potatoes.
- Shovel with Tongs: A smaller shovel that has a tool attached to the end.
- Cast Iron Cookware: Used for heating food on the stove or in the oven. It’s a very versatile and durable tool that not only works well but also looks good on the shelf.
- Butcher Knife: Also known as a cleaver, it’s used for cutting meat, bones, and other food into pieces when butchering your own animals (such as chickens or hogs). It’s particularly useful for getting at frozen meat inside of a freezer without having to defrost it first!
- Measuring cup: Used for measuring specific measurements of liquid (such as measuring out flour or sugar into a bowl) and is an essential part of any homestead kitchen!
- Loaf Pans: Used for baking bread or any other baked goods.
- Nail Removers: These are used for removing nails that have been stuck in wood. This tool is very useful when you need to remove a nail (which can be hard to pull out with your bare hands). You cup one end over the head of the nail which is stuck in the wood and then hit it with a hammer until you’ve broken off the head of the nail.
- Three-pronged rake: Is used for raking leaves, hay, firewood, and garden soil after they’ve been dug or tilled into place.
- Mason Jars: These are used for storing things such as water, molasses, and other foodstuffs. They’re also useful for preserving food in the event of a natural disaster or power outage.
- Drill: Used for drilling holes into objects (such as wood) using a hammer and a metal bit. It’s also useful for putting up new fencing or posts on your homestead or repairing damaged portions of your fencing.
- Garden Hose: A very handy tool that is used for rinsing off plants after you’ve watered them and to beat down small weeds when tilling the soil around them. It’s also useful when watering plants around the homestead or in your garden.
- Hay Hooks: These are used to move bales of straw around, such as in feeding livestock, or when stacking them up on top of each other.
- Deep Freezer: Is used to store items that are meant to stay frozen for a long period of time (especially meat and fish). It’s also useful for storing canned goods.
- Peavey Pipe: Used as an attachment for running water from a tap into the garden, it’s ideal for watering plants (which saves water), washing, and cleaning dishes and pots without tipping them over or spilling water everywhere!
- Distilled White Vinegar: Is used for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces around the homestead (such as cutting boards). It’s primarily used for keeping your kitchen in tip-top shape.
- Grease Gun: This is generally used for lubricating things that need to run smoothly or are in need of some lubrication (for example, door hinges or gates that need to move more freely).
- Socket Wrench Set: A very useful tool set that is very handy when working with nuts and bolts and other metal fasteners. You can use them to remove old parts on machinery or tighten/loosen up bolts on pieces of equipment.
- Buckets with Handles: Used for lifting and moving water.
- Oil lamps: Are used to light things up, such as a workbench or sitting area in your barn or home.
- Compost Pile: This is used for composting leaves, grass clippings, and other organic waste so that it can be made into rich soil for plants and animals to flourish in. It’s also useful when planting crops so that you can make sure the soil is fertile enough to sustain itself as well as the intended crop.
- Utility Knife: Used for cutting things such as cardboard boxes, plastic containers (such as those from food storage), or even a small tree branch that’s in your way.
- Oil: Used to preserve machinery and other equipment. It’s generally used on things like hinges, gate locks, lawnmowers, and other machinery that may be made from metal (for example a generator should be lubricated every year to reduce the friction between moving surfaces).
- Crowbar: This is used for prying things open without damaging them (such as removing nails from wood). It’s also useful when you need to remove stubborn nails when fixing something or putting up a fence/post up along the sides of your property or in your yard.
- Wheelbarrow: Used for moving things around the homestead. It’s also handy for moving compost from one place to another (when you’re harvesting it from your compost pile).
- Chain Saw: This is used for cutting up trees and logs. It’s a handy tool when you’re clearing trees off of your property or in the forest, and is very useful if you have animals that need to be fed (such as chickens or pigs).
- Weed Shears: Used for removing stubborn weeds from around bushes and trees as well as cutting off unwanted plants from existing plants. They can also be used for making hedges out of small branches, twigs, or even ivy!
- Circular Saw: This is used for cutting logs and pieces of wood into smaller parts. It can be very useful when you need to cut a log into shorter pieces for animal feed (such as chickens or pigs).
- Hand Trowel: Used for transplanting seedlings or small plants by hand into the ground (like potatoes, carrots, lettuce, etc.). You can also use it in gardening to turn over the soil and then transplant new seedlings.
- Hammer Drill: While you can use a regular hammer drill for drilling holes, this is generally reserved for drilling larger holes (up to three inches) without damaging much of the surrounding material.
- Screwdrivers: This is used for putting in more screws into objects. It can be particularly useful when you’re building things, such as a fence or even a chicken coop, and need to put in more screws into the structure.
- Nails: These are used for putting your wood structures together in your yard (or on your homestead) such as fences or walls around your home and property.
- Shovel with Handle: This is used for digging holes for plants or seedlings that need to be planted in the ground (like potatoes, carrots, etc.). You can also use it to harvest crops from your garden by digging up necessary crops and pulling them out from the soil by hand.
- Extension Cords: Used for powering up devices such as your television or computer if you need to access a place that doesn’t have an outlet nearby (such as your homestead or your truck during travel).
- Hand Saw: Used for cutting wood with a saw blade. It’s particularly useful when you need to cut wood for building more barns, sheds, furniture, etc. It’s also useful when harvesting food from trees and larger bushes by cutting branches off of them and pulling them off (similar to how you would cut an apple off of the tree and take it with you).
- Clippers: Used for cutting hair on animals that need grooming (or hair on people if they want it trimmed).
- Garden Hose: Used for rinsing your plants off after watering them (since it’s easier and less time consuming to hose your plants off rather than hand-wring the water off of them).
- Watering Can: Used for watering your plants during a drought, particularly if your water supply is low. It’s also very useful when doing landscaping around the homestead or around a garden or yard.
- Weed Whacker: This is used for removing weeds from around bushes and trees in the yard as well as around the home. It can also be used to remove weeds that have grown up through grass in the area surrounding an area that has been recently paved or graded (to prevent future weeds from growing up through it).
- Safety Glasses: Used for keeping your eyes safe from debris (such as pieces of wood, dirt, or small stones) that fly up when you’re using a saw or hammer drill. It can also be used as eye protection when you’re raking leaves that have fallen off of a tree.
- Mop: Used for removing the dust and dirt accumulated on floors over time (particularly in older buildings and homes). It’s very useful when you’ve just installed new hardwood flooring in your home and want to ensure it stays clean and spotless until it’s been worn in by foot traffic for quite some time.
- Generator: Can be used for running a generator to power up your appliances and lighting in the event of a natural disaster such as tornadoes or other severe storms.
- Trailer: Used for moving things around the homestead, such as firewood, livestock, or other large pieces of machinery. It’s also useful for moving and hauling large appliances and furniture inside your home when you move into a new place.
- Animal Crate: Used for moving and stowing large animals, such as a pig or cow. It’s also useful when you want to transport items (such as furniture) from your car to another location.
- Hacksaw: Used for cutting wood into manageable parts (such as pieces for furniture). It’s particularly handy when you need to cut lumber up to a given length (for example, when you’re building a fixed-length bench in your barn).
- Tool Bag: Used for storing your tools in (particularly if you have a lot of tools and need to keep them organized).
- Sawhorses: Used for supporting heavy items so they don’t fall over, particularly when you’re working on something that needs to be stable. In particular, you can use this tool outside when you’re cutting up logs into pieces or on the inside of your home when you need something held up while nailing it into the floor or another piece of furniture. It’s very handy for building furniture as well as building structures around the homestead.
- Work Gloves: Used for protecting your hands from injuries if they come into contact with sharp objects (such as nails or saw blades).