What Is Homesteading in Canada All About?

If you’ve checked out shows like Homestead Rescue, Unplugged Nation or Alaska: The Last Frontier, you may be wondering, what is homesteading, and what is a homesteader? You may be surprised to learn that the homestead market isn’t just for people who move off the grid! Read on to learn about the homesteading practices you can try. 

What is Homesteading?

Homesteading used to be a very specific lifestyle, but the definition has evolved and broadened in recent years. A common thread is a commitment to living in a self-sufficient way.

So, what is homesteading, traditionally? It’s living self-sufficiently and sustainably. Often, traditional homesteaders live on a farm, possibly off the grid and isolated, or with a family group in a few homes on a property. Homesteaders typically plant a garden, keep animals, and hunt. They may generate their own electricity by harnessing solar, wind or water energy. Some avoid using money and try to either generate what they need or barter for it; others might make money by selling extra produce and using the income to purchase necessities.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the answer to “what is homesteading” is much less specific. Think of it as keeping homesteading practices that are manageable and sustainable, such as having a garden and preserving food while continuing to use modern technology and buying most of the things you need.

Why Do People Choose a Homestead Lifestyle?

No two homesteaders are the same, and the reasons for homesteading vary widely.

Many people are drawn to homesteading because they are interested in leading a more sustainable, environmentally friendly life. They love being able to produce their own food, generate their own energy, and earn a living with their own two hands. Others are disillusioned with urban life and want to live more slowly and mindfully, caring for their own livestock. A few may choose to homestead for financial reasons, opting for this lower-cost lifestyle, in whole or in part.

Given these varied reasons, what is a homesteader? Homesteaders come from all kinds of backgrounds. Some may have lived out in the country from a young age and grew up with homesteading practices. Others may have children in whom they want to instill eco-conscious values. Others may be retiring and want to live quietly, supporting themselves on the land. All these groups crave a return to the land for their sustenance and livelihood.

Can I Have an Urban or Suburban Homestead?

If you don’t want to live off the grid, you may be wondering, “What is a homestead in a populated area”?

Homesteading has so many approaches that it is absolutely possible to adopt certain practices to create your own urban homestead. In fact, Ontario homesteading has become increasingly popular since 2020, even in urban centres.

Start by living simply and mindfully. This can mean different things for different people. Perhaps this means cutting back on unnecessary purchases like dining out or shopping for leisure. It may involve decluttering your house and selling or donating extras like clothes, entertainment products or decorative items. Don’t forget your digital clutter!

Once you’ve created a simple environment, there are a number of homesteading practices that you can try:

• Start a small garden with vegetables that you know you’ll eat. If you don’t have a lot of space, even an herb garden in your kitchen window is a great option.
• If you have fruit trees in your backyard, harvest the fruit and learn to preserve it through freezing and canning.
• Learn to make foods from scratch. Food costs have been much higher recently, so what better time to learn to grow produce and to make your own bread? There are tons of recipes online that you can check out for ideas.
• Hang your clothes outside to dry instead of using the machine. In the winter, set up a folding rack somewhere in your house.
• Make and mend your own clothes instead of buying new ones.
• Consider raising backyard chickens for meat and eggs if your local bylaws allow it.

There are endless opportunities for people to adopt a homesteading lifestyle without leaving their property. If your current home isn’t right for the homesteading practices you want to adopt, search for “homestead house for sale” or “small homesteads for sale.”

What is Homesteading Law in Canada?

Homesteading may sound like a dream lifestyle that entails total freedom, but there are still some laws you should pay attention to.

Zoning Matters

Even if properties are advertised as rural homesteads for sale or abandoned homesteads for sale, you may not be able to start a farm there. Check the zoning regulations in the area where you plan to live or where you live now to see what you are and aren’t allowed to have on the property.

Local Regulations

Regulations around land use can be very localized. For example, you can’t keep backyard chickens in Toronto, but in Kitchener, you can have up to 4 hens with neighbour consent, and in Chatham-Kent, you can only have them if your property is zoned agricultural. In still other places, there are pilot programs in place, but these may not be permanent. Be meticulous when checking the rules.

Selling Food Products

What is homesteading if you’re not sharing or selling your produce to others? Investigate the rules around the specific produce, animal products, and prepared foods you want to offer for sale. Regulations around food safety can be very specific!

Laws That May Not Apply

Note that the word “homestead” is used in a lot of different contexts, and not all will apply to homesteading the way we’re talking about it here. For example, the Homestead Act of Saskatchewan (or the Saskatchewan Homesteads Act of 1989) has to do with the property rights of non-owning spouses. It refers to the family home as a “homestead,” whether that home is a city condo or a rural farm.

Homesteading in Canada

Hopefully, you’ve gotten an answer to the question “What is homesteading,” and you’re ready to start a few homesteading practices yourself! Do plenty of research before you get started so you don’t make costly mistakes, but once you’ve done that, have yourself some sustainable fun!