How To Start Homesteading in Colorado?

If you have read any of my articles in the past, you’d know that I’m very fond of homesteading in the west. While Colorado isn’t a western beachfront, it still has many great western features.

Aside from its beauty, it offers quite a few places to call home, and for cheap. The inexpensive land will allow you to homestead just about anywhere you’d like. 

The state is also incredibly sunny, making solar panels an excellent option for power. The state does fall a little short in rainfall, though. 

A person who adores mountains, vast flat land, and sun, this is the state for you; it even has a bit of dessert.

To help you along this exciting journey, I have curated a list to help teach you the better ways to approach homesteading in Colorado.

How To Start Homesteading in Colorado?

1: Buy land

The first and most crucial step of homesteading is to look for suitable land to start your journey. The state of Colorado offers agriculture-rich land at a reasonable price. 

According to data from the United states department of agriculture 2019, the cost of farm ice is compared to the price of land. 

Unlike electric connections in other states in the same year, i.e., in Colorado, the rate was $1,570 per acre, compared to the national average of $3,160. 

Because of this, look for a suitable place for yourself that is affordable and not in highly rural areas. Think about hobbies you’ll want to do, like beekeeping.

You should also consider the distances from home to auctions, stores, and hospitals. A snake bite will not wait to prove deadly until you drive 3 hours into town. 

2: Safety measures

The second thing you want to work on is safety measures. In Colorado, landowners have the legal right to put a fence around their land to protect it. 

In other words, if a passerby does any damage to your resource in an open range or unfenced property, you cannot charge them for it. 

Other safety measures include installing security cameras and alarms in entrance points. Moreover, you can keep a guard dog for this purpose. 

Dogs are good at sensing any danger. They not only alert you but also protect the property from intruders. 

Large dogs like the caucasian shepherd are great, but you may want to opt for a better-suited dog for warmer weather. 

3: Food

To start homesteading, look for all the possible sources that can help you grow your garden. That will be a constant source of food. 

In Colorado, the most essential field crops are corn, wheat, and hay. The state’s leading fruit is the apple. After you’ve eaten the food, toss it in the Vermicomposter

Moreover, beans, potatoes, grain, sugar, and beets are also produced in the agricultural land. 

But it is essential to understand what soil you have on your land because a particular type of plant grows better in a certain kind of soil. 

Other than plants, you can look for seafood for your survival. It’s a great idea to have a few weeks’ worths of food cached for when times get slow. 

4: Animals

Animals like chickens, rabbits, ducks, goats, and dogs can be part of your homesteading family. 

Hearing a hen laying eggs and seeing rabbits running on the farm every morning will give your memories to treasure forever. 

Animals like hen are a constant source of egg supply that can be used for breakfast. Similarly, the ducks also lay eggs. 

Moreover, the meat of chicken, duck, and rabbits can be consumed as a proper meal. Goats give milk that can be a source of your income as well. 

In addition, a dog can be kept for safety and hunting purposes.

5: Electric supply

To survive on the grid, you should set up a proper supply of electricity. Like almost every other machine requires current to work, ensure an appropriate supply of electricity. 

If electricity is not readily available, you can install solar plates for this purpose. 

The installation cost of solar plates is high initially, but you do not have to pay bills every month, unlike electric connections. 

In addition to that, power generators can be used to give a power supply to your house. These days, gasoline generators are readily available. 

Gas generators are also an option, as are propane generators and battery banks for smaller devices. Plus, it’s a great way to save money

6: Tool kit

You must possess some essential tools that come in handy while construction or for activities of daily living. 

Gardening tools such as digging forks, soil knives, pitchforks, and round-headed shovels must be in your tool kit. 

Similarly, construction tools like hammers, nails, woodcutter, paint brushes are essentials. 

Instead of making frequent trips to the market, you should keep them in your store, which will save a considerable fuel cost. 

Moreover, electric tools like drill machines, testers, and wires are used every other day. Because of this, keep a toolbox while all the most used tools are in it.

7: Water supply

Water is essential for survival no matter where you live. While homesteading, you are responsible for developing a water source and keeping it flowing. 

The water in the country can be found in rivers, lakes, and springs. You can also collect rainwater and store it for later use. 

This method is doable in Colorado as you will experience rain most of the days. Furthermore, well can be created within your premises. 

It will provide you with fresh and cold water. The traditionally dug wells are made by hand and lined with stones; you can seek the help of a professional as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the weather in Colorado?

Mountainous Colorado has a changing temperature throughout the year. You can enjoy a warm summer; however, the winters get very dry and cold in Colorado. 

Not only the summer and winter seasons, but Colorado also allows you to experience cloudy days. It mostly remains cloudy around the year. 

In short, the temperature in Colorado varies from 20°F to 84°F (-6 to 24 degree Celsius) and rarely goes below 4°F in winters and above 92°F in summers.

Is Colorado a secure state to homestead?

Colorado is a safe place to homestead. The statistics show that Colorado is a safe and secure state of living compared to other states’ national average crime rates in the United States. 

Colorado reports lower violent and property crimes. Because of this, if you are looking for a safe state to homestead, you can consider Colorado without fear. 

Moreover, there are several laws for the protection of your property.

Wildlife in Colorado

Bighorn sheep, mountain lions, moose, and black bears are a few animals you might encounter during your stay in Colorado. 

Mountain lions are very rarely seen, but if you encounter them by chance, do not run away in fear. 

But wave your arms and call for help. Moreover, black bears can be around hiking areas from May to October, so look out for that.

Verdict

Colorado is known for its beautiful mountains and ski slopes. It is also considered to be a safe state for homesteading. 

However, there are a few challenges with farming due to its unique geography. But the agricultural issues are manageable. 

The aspect of not having much rainfall may prove to be a challenge at times. So if you plan on homesteading there, make sure you have a few weeks’ worths of water as a backup at all times. 

Otherwise, this list should be a great starting point. Lastly, make sure you do your homework on the zoning of the land before you purchase it. 

If you are buying land before looking at this, you may discover that digging a well, having cattle, or other homesteading elements to be off-limits, even if you’re outside the city.



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