Homestead Planning Inspiration

I will admit I’m a little overwhelmed with the idea of designing and planning a homestead or mini farm from scratch. I know I want the design to be practical, sustainable, but also beautiful at the same time.

 © Copyright Jim Champion and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

As if the design of the farmhouse itself isn’t enough of a job, we must also have carefully planned spaces for various animals should we choose to keep them in the future. Of course you know this girl will be keeping her chickens!  😉

 The placement of the gardens and orchard will be critical, and we can’t forget outbuildings and other features such as proper water drainage, sunlight and permaculture design.

For our homestead, we hope to carve out areas for several functions–I’ve made a list below:

• main house
• barn or tool shed
• small greenhouse or cold frames
• kitchen garden
• row crops
• chicken coop and pen
• composting
• orchard and berry bushes
• pasture areas
• honeybees
• possibly pig and goat shelters?
• fire pit
• perennial beds for flowers and medicinal herbs
• rain barrels, swales to control rainwater runoff
• play area for the girls with a swingset and a sandbox
• wooded acreage for timber, foraging, and wildlife

I’ve started sketching out some rough drafts of a homestead design situated on our acreage.  I’m definitely no expert in this…..but I’m enjoying playing around with the design. I can’t wait to share it with you!