Homestead Skills
Homestead Skills
The hands-on skills. Building and DIY, working with wood and fibre, keeping your tools sharp, mending what you own and foraging the hedgerows.
Start here
New to this? These come first.
Explore by area
Everything, sorted into areas.
- 5 guides
Building & fencing
Practical building and fencing skills for a smallholding: stock fencing for sheep, cattle, pigs, goats and poultry, and more.
- 4 guides
Woodland & firewood
Managing a small woodland: coppicing for firewood, seasoning wood properly, and working within the tree and felling rules.
- 4 guides
Tool care & repair
Sharpening and caring for garden and hand tools so they cut clean, last for years and spread less disease.
- 6 guides
Wool & fibre crafts
Turning your own fleece into yarn: skirting, washing, carding and spinning wool, the traditional way.
- 4 guides
Mending & repair
Practical repair and thrift skills for UK homesteaders: mending clothes, darning, patching, sharpening tools and fixing things so they last far longer.
- 2 guides
Foraging
Start foraging wild food in Britain the safe way. Beginner-friendly guides to the law, the deadly lookalikes to avoid, and the wild foods worth picking.
Building & fencing
Practical building and fencing skills for a smallholding: stock fencing for sheep, cattle, pigs, goats and poultry, and more.
Woodland & firewood
Managing a small woodland: coppicing for firewood, seasoning wood properly, and working within the tree and felling rules.
Tool care & repair
Sharpening and caring for garden and hand tools so they cut clean, last for years and spread less disease.
Wool & fibre crafts
Turning your own fleece into yarn: skirting, washing, carding and spinning wool, the traditional way.
Mending & repair
Practical repair and thrift skills for UK homesteaders: mending clothes, darning, patching, sharpening tools and fixing things so they last far longer.
Kit we rate
The tools and equipment we'd actually buy ourselves. No sponsored placements, no filler. This shelf is being stocked.
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Sunday letter
Every step out of the system
One short email, weekly. The week's best guides, what to do on your patch, and the next small step out of the system.