r/Homesteading101

I recently bought a house built sometime in the 60s, and while the exterior doors themselves seem decent enough, the frames feel weak and drafty. You can literally see light around parts of the door when it’s shut, and during colder mornings, there’s a noticeable temperature difference near both entrances. At first I planned on replacing everything completely with metal framed security doors because in my head that sounded stronger and longer lasting. Then I started reading more posts from homeowners saying reinforced wood frames with longer screws and upgraded strike plates already make a huge difference without replacing the whole setup. Now I’m stuck between fully upgrading or simply reinforcing what I already have. The existing doors are metal, so maybe the frames are the main issue. I’ve also learned there are tons of manufacturers producing similar jamb systems and hardware. One supplier explained that many metal frame components originate from Alibaba manufacturing networks before reaching local distributors and installers. For homeowners who upgraded frames instead of entire doors, did it solve your security and insulation problems?

I've been researching this a lot lately. Some people say 1-2 acres is enough with the right setup, others say you need 5+ for real food independence. What's your experience? Does it depend more on the land or the person?

Hello! So right now I have 3 whole chickens that have been butchered. The insides and everything are already taken out and I've rinsed them out really good. They've also already sat in the fridge for 24 hours. I'm trying to figure out where to start next. I know I need to section it and store it away and everything but I've never done it before so does anyone have any tips? I know I want to make stock at the end with what's left. Any specific recipes that y'all use??

When you start a DIY/home project, what is the most challenging part for you?

For me, the buying part can be the most frustrating: tools, materials, fixtures, lighting, flooring, appliances, hardware - I go into a loophole of comparing reviews, specs, prices, shipping, return policies, and wondering if it will actually work for the project.

How do you usually figure out what to buy?

What would make that part easier?

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

A lot of homestead plans sound great on paper: bigger garden, more fruit trees, more animals, maybe a pond someday, maybe expanding the pasture.

But this spring has me wondering how many of those plans quietly depend on one thing we don’t control at all:

Reliable water.

Not just “can I water my tomatoes,” but:

Can I keep a larger garden alive through a brutal dry stretch?
Can I justify planting more trees if I’m already hauling water?
Can I add animals if pasture recovery gets weaker every summer?
Can I build for abundance when the basics feel less predictable?

I’m not giving up on anything, but I am starting to think more in terms of resilience over expansion.

More mulch.
More drought-tolerant planting.
More rain capture.
Maybe fewer projects at once.

Has anyone else had to rethink their homestead plans because water feels less dependable than it used to?

Not sure if this is precisely the right sub, but I'm looking for a book about homesteading that goes into the science behind different practices and techniques.

My friend's family is becoming increasingly unhinged. Recently they've decided they don't believe in soap. I'm not expecting to be able to change their minds on anything, but if they're going to go with diy alternatives then I would at least like the peace of mind knowing what they diy isn't going to kill them. I do not trust them to do their own research.

Any suggestions would be helpful.

I recently went down a rabbit hole researching hantavirus and rodent exposure risks after reading about cases linked to cabins, sheds, and camping areas.

One thing I didn’t know:

Sweeping or vacuuming mouse droppings can actually push contaminated particles into the air.

The CDC instead recommends a “wet method”:

• Spray disinfectant first
• Let it sit for 5 minutes
• Wipe using paper towels
• Seal waste in a bag

I also learned rodents can enter through gaps as small as 1/4 inch, which honestly made me check my garage immediately.

Sharing this because a lot of people in homesteading/cabin/off-grid setups probably deal with this regularly and may not know the safest cleanup approach.

If anyone wants the visual checklist/guide I compiled while researching this stuff, comment and I’ll send it over.