When we talk about a homestead shelter you must first consider the regulations that affect homes in your area. Some places have a minimum limit of square feet. What you must do is make sure it is sturdy and safely built and that it is legal. This is one of your most important needs. Without shelter, you will be exposed to any number of weather or natural phenomenon.
The size of your human shelter or home is very important. You do not want to try and heat or cool a mansion on a homestead. You want a smaller easier to maintain, heat, and cool living area. But you have to consider local ordinances that are multiplying everywhere in America. Small or tiny homes are going the way of the Dodo. Even though for the first 200 plus years of American history this was the average size of a home. Click on the link below find an article on small homes and the reasons they are being regulated out of existence. The site also provides a list of places and their regulations regarding small homes.
Shelter
Tiny House State Regulations
Shelter & Land
Shelter and land are both needed when homesteading. You need land to build a shelter. remember even though small homes of less than 300 sq feet are desirable, they are illegal in some places. When thinking about shelter make sure it is in a good spot on your land. You may be able to put up solar heating or electrical panels. Make sure you have all your permits and your home is legally built. You do not want issues down the road.
Build a Log Cabin by Hand
Shelter & Heat
Shelter in any climate requires some source of heat/cooling. You can use natural sources like underground or man-made like air conditioning. Solar heating is inexpensive to maintain. it is more expensive to install. Whatever you decide to use make sure it is first of all legal, and second that you get all required permits first.
Follow the links to the right to see ways to heat your home without electricity. Wood is always a viable option but there are many other ways to do this as well.
Heat With the Sun
Cook without Electricity
You must keep in mind that you need tools to build a shelter for anyone. You can use all hand tools if that is what you desire. At a minimum, you need a hammer, nails, saw, level, and measuring tape. That is the very least of tools you will need.
Power tools that are run by batteries save a lot of time and effort. These can be useful if your time and energy are limited. They can be recharged by plugging them into solar power or other places that have power. Maybe even when you stop by Starbucks or McDonalds for that rare treat, take your battery and charger with. Sometimes you can even plug them into your car.
Shelter & Tools
Power Tools for
the Homestead