The Seven-Step Homestead: A Guide for Creating the Backyard Microfarm of Your Dreams

by Leah M. Webb

Perfect for any aspiring backyard gardeners, this book offers a doable, incremental program for turning any yard into a primary food source with vegetables, fruits, chickens, pollinator plants, and medicinal herbs.

Today’s gardeners want a bit of everything—vegetables, fruit, medicinal herbs, flowers for pollinators, and even chickens for eggs. The dream is to build a diverse landscape that serves multiple functions, but achieving that goal can be intimidating and overwhelming. Homesteader Leah M. Webb shares her strategy for implementing a homestead plan in seven stages by starting small and gradually adding more features each year.
 
The Seven-Step Homestead takes readers through the process with a series of doable steps, beginning with establishing one or two raised beds of the easiest vegetables to grow, and gradually building up to the addition of fruit trees and berry bushes on hugelkulture mounds, a coop full of chickens, and a winter’s worth of storage crops. Step-by-step photos from the author’s own homestead, accompanied by her hard-earned advice and instruction, make this a one-of-a-kind guide for anyone who aspires to grow more of their own food.
 

Genres: Gardening, Nonfiction

232 pages, Paperback

Published April 4, 2023

Reviews

[Jaimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was pretty much everything I needed and more!

I was looking for a really good book that had everything I needed to start living off the land when we buy a new house. We are looking for one with a great backyard for this purpose. I wanted to start reading and planning before we actually moved though so I've been reading quite a few how to books. This one is by far the best. It is chalk full of all the information you need and didn't know you needed!

As someone is a huge beginner on all of this, I found this book to be absolutely wonderful and really helpful! I have an ebook but definitely plan to buy a physical so I can tab and make notes in it to reference!

Thank you Netgalley and Storey Publishing for an ARC. All opinions are mine and mine alone. :)

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seven-Step Homestead 232 pages and available in paperback. What I think I liked best about this is how the author explained things and wasn’t so strict about “the rules”. She talks about what she does, which was similar to my methods. I loved the Cattle Panel Greenhouse and plan on making one this year. The illustrations and pictures are very helpful and I loved the layout of the homestead. If you’re interested in homesteading I think this was a great resource.
Thanks Storey Publishing via NetGalley.

[Aeromama · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining: 5/10
Transformational: 7/10

Some good ideas for establishing our food forest, simply. Mid and understory plant lists were good.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is EXACTLY what any new or potential homesteader needs in their life. Filled with how-tos and impeccable advice from basic gardening to detailed planning. An added bonus is the book is designed around smaller spaces so not only is this beneficial to small land owners, BYT it can be adapted to larger properties as well.

What I really appreciated about this informative book was the no nonsense tone and respect. The author understands that some people may not know anything about gardening and instead of assuming they do, she takes the time to explain even the simplest tasks.

If you’re new to homesteading or in the process of researching, this book NEEDS to be in your arsenal of knowledge.

[Syn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me so many ideas for what I want to do with the backyard.

Really easy to consume, clear ideas, the layout it shows you and all the different ways to make your bakcyard into a microfarm. I can't wait to implement some of the stuff I learned in here!

[Breann Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful and practical. I intend to implement many of the tips presented during this year’s garden!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book teaches that Rome wasn't built in a day and your garden, food forest, or permaculture design won't be either. Instead, this book prioritizes starting small, learning and adjusting as you go, and building on in a smart fashion. Most helpful to me was colorful garden design and layouts, both of garden beds and of the entire garden, complete with perennials, fruit plants, and, of course, chickens! This book will be most helpful to beginners or anyone starting from scratch on a blank canvas.

[Kiley Gallentine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the last several years we have all experienced supply shortages that has led to the return of growing food in our own backyard. Even those of us who never considered it before are now looking for help on getting started. The Seven-Step Homestead meets anyone at any level (even if you are a prebeginner like me), acts as a guide, and helps you get your outdoor space growing healthy food for you this season and the years to come.

My favorite part of the book was seeing the chapters are actually the seven steps! This makes the book feel not overwhelming. I have tried to use other material to learn how to start a garden and quickly got discouraged when the information was too much. The layout of this book is the exact opposite. You'll see tips located on the bottom of many pages. These tips are really helpful and ended up answering questions I had while reading that part of the book.

The pictures were beautiful and useful. They showed exactly what a person should expect to see when following the directions. The structure of the chapters have an intuitive flow. The second step builds on the first step and so on. However, if you want to skip a step and learn about growing something specific, the book is laid out in a format that makes it easy to go to that information. As the steps progress, other aspects of gardening (growing in all seasons, preserving seeds for next spring, and adding in chickens) are discussed.

Because this guide is so comprehensive, I would have liked a glossary of terms in the back for a quick reference to prevent me from having to flip through pages to find a word or phrase I needed.

I can picture The Seven-Step Homestead sitting on an easily accessible shelf in my home and reaching for it a lot to use as a reference. The information is practical and won't ever become outdated. This means, I could start step one and spend years there and when I was ready for step two, I could still pick up this guide, without having to buy a more current book, and jump right in to implementing what's written.

Thank you NetGalley and Storey Publishing for sending this electronic book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seven-Step Homestead contains seven annual steps to making yourself and your family less dependent on expensive grocery stories by growing, and later raising, your own food. We are not talking about a full-blown farm with pigs and cows. However eventually, if you follow the plan, you will have fun, eat the ultimate in locally grown produce, and save some money.

Beginning with a simple one or two bed edible garden and expanding into an entire yard with chickens for eggs, The Seven-Step Homestead covers all your beginning homesteading needs. The details within this book are awesome. The author has done a lot of the hard planning work for you with gardening charts and step by step lists to begin your homesteading odyssey. What’s nice is that the book allows people who are already finished with some of the steps to jump in where they need to advance. It is clearly and concisely organized and can serve as both a workbook and a reference book for any level of gardener.

I also appreciate the honest advice from someone who seems like a knowledgeable friend like chickens don’t save you money and they are very demanding. However, who can pass up a chicken breed named Deathlayer (for its ability to never retire from egg laying until, well death, I guess).

Overall, The Seven-Step Homestead is a great resource for would be homesteaders and just simple gardeners who want to avoid all the hassle of garden planning. 5 stars and a favorite!

Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

[Ru · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of book I've been looking for - as an extreme novice to gardens who has only just got the opportunity to grow things, I've been looking for a book that would help explain, encourage, and help me organise my very haphazard ideas into something feasible, and this really looks to fit the bill.

Some of the things that really appeal to me include the way that the author gives simple and clear how tos for what are basic things, but basic things that I don't know how to do! I actually feel like it is plausible to grow things myself now. Also the organisation of the book, the way that she gives a gentle buildup is a lot more appealing for me than many of the books I've seen which went for fill kn kitchen gardens from the off.

I will note that the book is obviously directed to readers from the US so I've made notes to check and adapt things like growing conditions and suitable crops for a different climate, but st least the things I've read from this book made me feel that I know what to look for.

I'm really looking forward to putting the things I've read in this book into action, and am very grateful for the confidence I have to do so.


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC*

[Macaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading garden books. Many times, I get the same information from one book to another. But there is usually something for me to learn. And in this book, I learned about taking plants started indoors outdoors. If you start plants indoors than you can’t just put them out in the sun or it can kill them. I haven’t started plants indoors yet, so it’s never been something I’ve thought about. Each step gets your space larger and larger. I recommend having the space already for this. Step one starts you off with one or two beds. And step two takes you up to 400 square feet. Step three brings in fruit trees and shrubs, definitely need the space for those. And then we get to edible perennials, followed by four season growing. Step six is larger scale storage crops and step seven is fresh eggs. Each chapter walks you through what you need to know and has sections for building what you need; trellises, chicken coops, and green houses. I wish I had the space to do this.

Thanks to Storey Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Carey’s Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5-5 Stars! So much information! If you’re looking to set up a backyard homestead, THIS is where you want to start. It can feel a tad overwhelming while reading but if you’re serious about starting a backyard micro farm/homestead, this has everything you need to know, and more! Plus the author breaks it down into stages, making it easier to get started and add on. Great guide with plenty of photos and every step is broken done to the smallest detail. This is a great reference book, even if you just want to start a garden or only want to have chickens. I’d definitely recommend this book. I’ve been wanting to start a homestead and have chickens but didn’t know anything about it so I didn’t know where to start. This book really has everything you need to know.
*I received this at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

[Pauline Knox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely brimming with information for anyone who is interested in starting out homesteading.
Filled with pictures to demonstrate what is being spoken about, it tell and shows you how to make your plan for your space so that you know what your end goal is that you want to achieve.
I really liked that it really took the time to show how to start small and not try to set yourself up to fail by taking on too much in the first year.
The author makes every effort to answer the main questions that you may have, offering advice on tools, maintenance, planting, composting and a multitude of other things.
This book is well laid out and well written. I would definitely recommend it.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive overview of setting up a "homestead." I appreciated the overview of how to plant seeds, how to start a compost pile, and all the other tidbits to help make your gardening and chicken raising successful.

I especially liked how the author was realistic about people's skills utilizing this book, telling us to start small, and add things as you become more proficient at planting, as not to get discouraged or overwhelmed.

With lovely pictures accompanying the chapters, this is a great book to add to your collection!

Thank you Netgalley and Storey Publishing for the ARC!

[Kris Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the approach she took with this book! There are a hundred different homesteading books out there, and this one really puts the “why” and “how” of tiny homesteading into words. As the very front page says, “it’s more than just growing food.” She focuses on the process/development of a microfarm and breaks it down into digestible, actionable steps. I LOVE that there is a whole section on perennials. Such an overlooked option for having food abundance every year with a lot less work. By the end of her seven steps, you will have a fully functioning sustainable food system including fruit trees and some chickens. Sustainability and ATTAINABILITY.

Thank you, NetGalley!

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

We just bought 35 acres, built a new house, and I’m now ready to get a few chickens, plant some herbs and fruit trees, and create some raised planters so I can do some small-scale gardening.

A few of the topics that are covered are soil, mulching, fruit trees, edible perennials, and even a section on raising chickens.

The book has fun facts, colorful pictures, diagrams, and easy-to-follow instructions. However, the main thing to remember is that you don’t have to own acres and acres. You can start these fun projects with very little space.

[Jess Combs]

The Seven Step Homestead is packed full of information for people wanting a step by step guide to staying and growing a Homestead. I liked that it didn’t just have information for the very beginner but was also helpful for people like me, who are somewhere between the beginner and intermediate phase of homesteading. I’ve had a hard time finding books that fit my stage and was pleased to see this works for us! Still, I’d recommend picking it up for those looking to begin their homestead or those who aren’t too far in and those who aren’t sure exactly what to do next.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Seven-Step Homestead is a great resource for people that are just starting their homesteading journey. Leah Webb breaks down the chapters in such a easy to follow, succinct way that makes it very managable for a new homesteader. I particularly liked the section on raising chickens since that is the next step that my family is taking in our homesteading journey, so it was very good information to get us started.

The pictures in this book are also very beautiful and add something special to it.

[Ren Wren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully and clearly put together! This may be one of my top 3 favorites I've found in the past months of digging (about 30 books). Everything is clearly organized and breaks the garden into zones that wonderfully explain them. Fantastic introductory book I am very glad I picked up from the library and on my very short list of books to buy!

Highly recommend!

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I currently live in an apartment, but enjoyed reading through his book. They include great illustrations and photos , and cover everything from your first bed (start small!) to fruit trees, flowers, greenhouse, and chickens.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very unique in the way that it starts smaller, for beginners, then builds on itself, with a bigger and more varied homestead by the end. I really enjoyed reading this and it contains a lot of useful information! Highly recommend!

[Jodi Ferguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of information and step by step pictures. It’s really good starter book.

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with tons to think about. An enjoyable read for new or established homesteaders.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, basic overview to give someone an idea of steps to take, but not enough information to make it a long-term reference book. Inspiring, but not foundational.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on gardening! I'll have to buy this one!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome guide, very easy to understand

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a book I would reference again.

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Question the value of an author oushing carbon footprint hoax in the first few oages of her book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and comprehend, good and useful ideas, inspirational and instructive photos - this book seems like a great guide for suburban homesteaders. I look forward to trying out some of this!