Homesteading isn’t like going back to the stone age; it is just a different way of living. It comes with unique challenges that require you to handle them with a unique strategy.
Whether you’re building a cabin, gardening, cleaning, or repairing something, you will always need some kind of help.
There are plenty of tools to make off-grid living relatively easy and possible. This could be gardening tools, knives, generators, or a tractor.
To ensure you understand the proper tools needed to homestead, or at least tools that’d make life ten times easier, we’ve made a top ten list.
In this list, you’ll see tools like air compressors, wheelbarrows, and more which will each accommodate you in one way or another.
Top 10 Best Tool for Homesteading
1: Gardening Tools
Every homesteader needs gardening tools to weed the garden and water the plants.
For example, round-headed shovels are very important for digging and if you want to cut the grass or make the land weed free then weed eaters are a must-have.
Rototiller, digging fork, hand cultivators, and soil knives are also helpful for growing food and maintaining your garden.
Without these, you’ll be stuck doing everything with your bare hands, which is possible but much more difficult.
2: Carpentry Tools
A handsaw, chisel, and screwdriver are extremely helpful for many wood-related projects in homesteading, like building a wood barn, livestock pen, or fencing around pieces of land.
A hammer is still the best for driving in nails or stakes, building or repairing material around the home.
These kinds of tools are undoubtedly going to be some of the most used, especially during the building stages of the homestead. You certainly don’t want to be homesteading without them!
3: Mechanic Tool Set
A set of good pliers will help out with all the bending, cutting, and wire-wrangling you’ll be doing. Needle-nose pliers, for example, are best for repositioning and snipping wires.
From home to garden sheds, compost bin to raised garden beds and fences, nails will be required every step of the way.
Imagine needing a toolset and not having it during a generator breakdown in the dead of winter if it’s used for heating. That would not be fun, would it?
4: Tractor
As a homesteader, you will be hauling around things all the time; because of this, working on your tractor is a force multiplier.
You’ll find it extremely useful for carrying soil, compost, or compost materials.
From moving heavy materials and lifting heavy objects to moving rock through your driveway and moving compost to your garden, it reduces the tremendous amount of labor.
Not to mention the obvious; it can be used to disc the garden, bush hog, snow plow, and much more.
5: Saw & Knives
Depending on how frequently one utilizes wood around their homestead, the necessity of a sawmill may prove very useful.
While a knife can be used for self-defense, a homesteader can also take other advantages from a pocket knife.
It is compact and can be used for multiple purposes, such as cutting ropes or opening up different packages, and cutting small branches or trees.
A machete, small hand saw, and snippers are my most used tools on a homestead by a long shot.
6: Tape Measure & Rope
In most homestead projects, a tape measure will be needed. It’s essential for accuracy in your projects. Homesteaders will also find rope extremely useful for many purposes.
You can use it to pull, hang, and tie up work and get creative with it as an easy decor solution.
It’s also great when used for measuring pens and building the homestead. The last thing you want is a structure that isn’t straight.
7: Electrical Tools
This should consist of a simple volt/ammeter, fasteners, wires, and good pliers. For instance: while setting your electricity, you should have a meter to measure the current strength.
You’ll want to keep all the supplies in your tool kit so it’s available whenever it’s needed. It may also prove helpful for any equipment that fails electricity.
If you’re going to opt for solar, a meter can help you ensure you’re getting the correct voltage.
8: Air Compressor
First, get the most capable compressor that you can afford. Always check the airflow requirements and operating pressure, don’t get one that’s too low.
Then gather the essential air tools like a spray gun, socket wrench, blower, die tool, and a tire inflator. The compressor will power the air tools like a flat tire of your truck.
It can also power an air-hungry impact to remove rust from an old tractor, acting as a sandblaster.
9: A Veterinary Manual
If you are planning for homesteading, you must keep livestock to keep the cycle of life running.
Before you plan to keep the livestock, you should be familiar with the basics of the veterinary catalog.
Antibiotics, syringes, needles, calf pullers, and simple surgical instruments should be available at your stead.
Moreover, stock up the medicated petroleum ointment and antifungal wound dressing. Know what you have before you call a doctor for emergencies.
10: Wheelbarrow
Technically, it’s not a hand tool but one of the most valuable objects for homesteading. So do yourself a big one and buy a metal wheelbarrow.
It can be used to move different objects like firewood, manure, mulch, or even your small kids looking to take a ride across the yard; it’s genuinely a great idea to have one.
Buy one with a solid tire to avoid punctured tires. Fiberglass wheelbarrows are good as well but can be more expensive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s Homesteading Like?
Little do they know that homesteaders have a house, power, and food to eat, but it is all organic.
The point is to rely on only yourself. So the food, water, herbs, and vegetables, the basics should all be sourced from the homestead property.
Why Should I Homestead?
You’ll no longer have crazy electric bills, honks or sirens on public streets, and the other annoying aspects of city life.
Plus, if SHTF, you’ll be much more prepared than if you’d choose to remain amid the suburbs or skyscrapers.
What about Satellite TV and The Internet?
The sound of birds chirping in nature’s live concert has undoubtedly got its perks. Not to mention, you’ll be replacing Netflix time with gardening time and other homestead elements.
You’re definitely going to sacrifice some entertainment. However, satellite TV and internet such as HughesNet or Dish is just fine.
Verdict
Homesteaders are self-reliant, and they know how to be creative at the time of challenges. But sometimes, they need a little help or assistance to save time and energy.
At this time, these tools come in handy to get the job done in less time and more efficiently.
If you are off the grid, the tools mentioned above should be in your shed and must be readily available at the time of need.
I’ve seen many homesteaders build incredibly large caches of tools because they really do prove very useful.
