Homesteading 101: Top 5 Tools You Didn’t Know You Needed

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When starting to think about creating your own homestead, there are a few obvious things that come to mind as far as tools to help get started. If you’re starting with a garden, obviously you’re going to need some basic long-handled tools such as a shovel, rake, and a hoe. If you’re starting by adding livestock to your property, you’ll need basic fencing supplies. But those items are all fairly job specific, meaning that you don’t really need them for anything other than gardening and fencing. And on a homestead, you will quickly find out there is a whole lot more going on than gardening and fencing. Keep reading to learn about 5 items you should keep handy on your homestead. A few of them probably aren’t what you expected.

1. Drill and Impact set

The two tools that we probably use more than anything else around here are a drill and impact. As a matter of fact, we have multiple sets. One set is kept in the house, one set is kept in the shop, and then of course my husband has another set that he uses at work. We use these tools when fencing, making repairs, building shelters, remodeling projects. I’m honestly not sure there isn’t a job these tools couldn’t be adapted to do. That is why they are so handy to have around. Also, not a tool but something to keep with your drill is an assortment of screws. We always keep a stockpile 3-inch wood screws and 1 1/2 inch wood screws as well as some longer, heavier duty screws. You will be surprised how often you reach for these when it comes to maintaining your homestead.

2. Battery powered saws

Whether it’s a circular saw or a sawzall, getting a battery powered option makes life so much easier. Corded options are great, and if you’re always close to an electrical source, they make sense. But on a homestead, a lot of the work that needs to be done isn’t close to the house or the shop where the electricity is. Dragging extension cords out is not only a pain in the rear, but really impractical over long distances. When it comes to working and maintaining the homestead, simplicity and ease of use are key in getting projects completed quickly and efficiently. Battery powered tools are about as quick and efficient as you can get.

3. Headlamps

I can’t tell you how many times my husband and I have been caught in the dark making a repair or tending to a farm emergency. If something is going to go wrong, it’s almost never going to be in the daylight. Or at least that’s how it seems to happen around here. That’s why headlamps are a necessity for us. Headlamps allow you to see the area you are trying to work on while keeping your hands free. It also allows one person to do a job instead of needing a second person to hold a light.

Actually, the headlamps came in handy just a couple weeks ago. We had been gone and it was almost dark when we got home. My husband noticed one of our mares had run through the fence and gotten into the paddock with our gelding. Of course, when she did this, she took the top row of wire down on one side of the paddock and broke off all the t-post insulators that were holding it on. The first thing we reached for were our headlamps. It allowed us to be able to see what we were doing and get the fence fixed in a timely manner. Talk about a life saver!

4. Knife/Multitool

A few years ago for Christmas, my husband got me a multitool to keep in my purse as a stocking stuffer. At first, I thought when am I ever going to use this? What I quickly found out is that I use it all. the. time. He carries one in his pocket and has for years. This means between the two of us we are never without scissors, a screwdriver, or a pair a pliers. And let me tell you, you will need those when you’re out and about on the farm far more than you think. Putting out a new bale of hay? Use the knife to cut the baling twine. Need to open a can of paint but didn’t think to grab a can opener from the store? Use the flathead attachment on your multitool. The situations that they can be used in are almost endless and I promise you won’t regret purchasing one.

5. Zip ties

Last but not least, you need to keep some zip ties stockpiled. This one may be a little unexpected, but you can use zip ties to hold just about anything together. You can also use them when organizing. They are great for keeping an extension cord coiled up or for hanging tools. They are great for temporarily keeping a gate shut if your latch breaks until you get to install a new one. We keep zip ties in the truck, in the shop, in the house, just about everywhere. And we also keep multiple sizes on hand because you never know how big or small of one you might need. Zip ties have saved us more times than I can count until we were able to come up with a more permanent solution.

Farm life is always exciting, and you never know what is going to happen next. That’s why preparedness is key, and having the right tools and materials on hand ensures that you are ready for whatever your homestead throws at you next. Homesteading is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Much love and happy homesteading!