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The word “homesteading” is commonly associated with the opening of the American west, notably, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with the granting of federal land, at little or no cost, to individual families for farming. In the 1960s and 70s, it referred to the back-to-the-land movement. Like the 1960s interpretation, modern day homesteading promotes a move toward self sufficiency. It’s also serves as an excellent family activity, helping to teach kids responsibility and self-reliance, while creating a sense of accomplishment. Popular homesteading practices include growing your own food, and raising your own meat and poultry. 

Growing your own food can be simply done with a raised bed. An efficient use of space, allowing you to grow more in a smaller area, raised beds utilize the same growing methods as square foot gardening. Potatoes and onions are ideal crops that keep through fall and winter in your pantry. Common potato varieties include Kennebec, Yukon Gold, Red Norland, and Fingerlings. Sweet potatoes are also high-yielding and can be available as early as April. Great onion varieties for this area include Stutgarter (good storing onions), Red, White, and shallots.  

Another popular staple is fruit. After all, is there anything better than fresh-picked fruit from your own back yard? Having a variety of fruits, such as apples, peaches, pears, blueberries, and raspberries, along with more unusual varieties such as elderberries, nut trees and nectarines, ensures a bountiful, healthy, and delicious harvest.   

Raising chickens is very common due to their ease of care. They can be utilized for both egg and meat production, and good varieties to start out with include Rhode Island Red, Barred Rock, Leghorn, and Black and Black Star (a cross between Rhode Island Red and Barred Rock). Another trend is raising pigs, due to their social nature (they love to play!), the abundant meat yield, and the flavor, which far exceeds that of store-bought pork. And like raised beds, pigs don’t require a lot of space. 

Achille Agway carries everything you’ll need for growing crops, from GMO-free seeds, to organic soils and soil amendments. They stock hundreds of fruit trees, as well as the tools to care for them. For your backyard flock, they’re currently taking orders for chicks, as well as ready-to-lay pullets. Turkeys and guinea hens (great for tick control) will be available this summer. They also carry conventional and organic fees, along with fencing and other supplies you’ll need to get started.  

Visit their stores in Keene, Peterborough, Walpole, Hillsboro, Milford and Brattleboro, VT.