Looking for inspiration to get started or set up your own homestead? Whether you are planning a sprawling homestead in the country or a small suburban homestead on just 1/4 acre, we’ve got 15 homestead layout ideas to get you started. We’ll also share what to consider when laying out and designing your homestead.
We’ve set up 3 homesteading, first in a suburban setting in North Carolina, second on about 2 acres in upstate New York, and finally our 5 acre homestead in New Hampshire. You can read more about the steps to take to assess your land and create a thriving homestead in some of these articles below or check out some of our favorite garden plans.
- How to Start Backyard Farming
- Planning a Homestead Garden
- Achieve Your Homesteading Dreams
- Free Planning Resources: Planning a Homestead
Contents
Homestead Layout Ideas for your Backyard Farm
Cozy Gardens and Chickens
This compact homestead has fruit trees and a home completely surrounded by gardens. Several small outbuildings are for storing gardening gear and housing chickens. You can also find composting ideas and water storage. I like how the garden includes some pots and a variety of gardens including raised beds and raised rows.
Country Homestead
This large homestead includes plenty of garden space for grains and larger animals like goats and cows. Barns give space for storing equipment like tractors as well as housing animals. Here are some of the top tips for homesteading on a larger property:
- Use Proper Equipment: Invest in tools like tractors and mowers for efficiency.
- Water Management: Collect rainwater, create ponds, and use drip irrigation.
- Practice Rotational Grazing: Rotate animals to keep pastures healthy.
- Zone for Efficiency: Group frequently-used areas closer to the house.
- Diversify Crops: Grow a mix of annuals and perennials for year-round food.
- Animal Area Organization: Set up accessible shelters and equipment storage.
- Utilize Wooded Areas: For firewood, foraging, beekeeping, or mushroom growing.
- Implement Renewable Energy: Consider solar or wind for remote areas.
- Control Erosion and Enrich Soil: Use cover crops, mulching, and contour planting.
- Add Storage/Preservation Space: Build a cellar or shed for food storage.
- Track and Record: Keep records of plantings, harvests, and maintenance tasks.
- Set Up Windbreaks: Plant trees for protection and habitat creation.
- Create a Firewood System: Sustainably harvest and plant fast-growing trees.
- Build a Network: Connect with other homesteaders for shared resources.
All Raised Bed Homestead
This homestead has a basic design with all raised beds making it easier to layout. I love the small design of chickens in the garden and with raised beds you can work your chickens into the garden by fencing off some basic areas. Top tips for gardening in raised beds include:
- Optimize Layout: Arrange beds with enough space for easy access and airflow.
- Use Quality Soil and Compost: Start with nutrient-rich soil and refresh with compost each season.
- Plan for Crop Rotation: Rotate plant families each season to maintain soil health.
- Add Mulch: Mulch around plants to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
- Implement Companion Planting: Pair compatible plants to boost growth and deter pests.
Compact Garden Design
This garden plan includes a number of raised beds with some space for vertical gardening. Choose you favorite crops and grow them in compact gardens. You can maximize your garden space by using square foot gardening methods and growing in pots. Use this entire garden plan or just a section.
Simple Garden Layout
This is my favorite way to plan out my garden – with some simple drawing on a paper. Keep you garden space flexible as you will likely change you plans and your mind several times over the years.
Go Vertical in this Small Garden
This raised bed garden also includes several options for vertical gardening. Here are our top tips for growing vertically.
- Choose Space-Saving Structures: Use trellises, poles, and wall-mounted planters to maximize space.
- Select Vertical-Friendly Plants: Grow climbing plants like tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, or beans that thrive on supports.
- Use Hanging Containers and Towers: Stack or hang containers for herbs, strawberries, or small veggies to use vertical space.
- Implement Strong Supports: Anchor trellises or frames securely to support the weight of mature plants.
- Ensure Consistent Watering: Vertical gardens can dry out quickly, so use drip irrigation or regular watering.
Gorgeous Homestead in the Country
I love this homestead design. Surround the home with fruit trees and garden space and throw in a few chickens. Consider growing the food closest to your house that you eat the most, like herbs and lettuce greens. The easier you make your harvesting, the more likely you will eat the food you are actually growing.
Strong Soil Homestead
This homestead took year to build and started off with strong soil. One of the secrets to having a strong and sustainable homestead is a strong base and that starts with good soil. When you are first starting out, you may need to bring in compost for a few years to get you started.
Suburban Homestead on 1/4 acre
Who says you need acres to grow your homestead, this 1/4 acre homestead in a city in the perfect example of how to maximize your backyard farm. Here are a few tips for homesteading in a small space.
- Maximize Space with Raised Beds and Vertical Gardens: Use compact layouts to grow a variety of vegetables and herbs.
- Choose Dual-Purpose Plants and Animals: Opt for plants and animals that offer multiple benefits, like chickens for eggs and pest control.
- Compost Efficiently: Set up a small compost bin to recycle food scraps and enrich soil for gardening.
- Prioritize Small Livestock: Consider chickens or rabbits, which are manageable and productive in limited space.
- Grow Perennials and Small Fruit Trees: Blueberries, strawberries, and dwarf fruit trees provide a lasting harvest without taking up too much space.
Garden Space Surrounded by a Fence
Protecting your garden from pests is a constant challenging whether those pests are deer or groundhogs. It’s helpful to plan your garden space around these ideas. It’s often helpful to keep all your garden space in one place and surround it with a fence.
Create a Permaculture Plan
Designing a permaculture homestead focuses on creating a sustainable, self-sufficient system where each element supports others, minimizing waste and maximizing productivity. By integrating natural processes, you can create a balanced, low-maintenance homestead that works harmoniously with the environment.
Key Tips for Designing a Permaculture Homestead:
- Zone Planning: Arrange areas based on frequency of use, keeping high-maintenance areas (like vegetable gardens) close to the home and less-intensive areas (like orchards) further out.
- Diverse Plantings: Use a mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals to create a layered, resilient ecosystem that supports pollinators, improves soil, and provides food year-round.
- Water Management: Collect and store rainwater, set up swales or ponds for passive irrigation, and use mulch to retain soil moisture and reduce water needs.
- Integrate Animals Thoughtfully: Animals like chickens, bees, or goats contribute to pest control, pollination, and soil fertility, while providing food and materials.
- Natural Fertilizers and Soil Building: Use compost, green manure, and crop rotation to enhance soil health without chemical inputs.