Want to begin a homestead but feel overwhelmed? Beginning with small, manageable projects like gardening and raising leafcutter bees can help you get started and build your skills over time!
Here are a few tips for starting a beginner-friendly homestead from your friends at Kind Bee Farms:
Start with a Vegetable Garden
Grocery shopping for vegetables may be more convenient in the short term, but imagine your garden having everythingyou need to cook a nutritious meal. Learning how to garden is one of the cornerstones of a successful homestead, and vegetables are a great place to start!
Not only will you be able to feed your family from scratch over the summer, but learning how to can and preserve your vegetables will keep your shelves stocked all year round.
Low-growing vegetables like tomatoes, carrots, peas, beans, peppers, and squash do well in many soil types in Canada and the US.
They also attract pollinators like leafcutter bees, who prefer low-growing plants, increasing the chance of a healthy and bountiful yield!
Bring Fruit Trees and Bushes Into the Mix
If you have an acre or more of land to work with, you can try raising fruit trees and bushes. With your own fruit, you can make homemade jams, syrups, and preserves—you will never go back to the store-bought kind!
Raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are accessible varieties for berry bushes, and several apple tree varieties work in different climates.
Berry bushes are particularly great for pollinators like our kind leafcutter bees, as they are low-growing and easier for the bees to access.
The right level of pollination will result in big, juicy, flavourful berries that you will not be able to resist snacking on throughout the summer!
Raise Backyard Chickens
Adding animals to your property can be intimidating, so start small! Chickens are great for learning the ins and outs of raising animals, as they are quite easy to look after once you establish a good daily routine.
You can say goodbye to the hefty supermarket prices of eggs, and hello to fresh, organic eggs from your own backyard!
Chickens are also great for pest control, as they love to search for slugs, insects, and weeds. But do not worry about the safety of your super pollinators—chickens won’t harm live, active bees!
Introduce Leafcutter Bees to Enhance Your Garden’s Growth
If you want to see your vegetable garden, berry bushes, and other plants thrive this summer, add a leafcutter bee house to your property!
Leafcutter bees are ideal additions to any hobby farm or homestead due to their impressive pollinating abilities. Known as “super-pollinators,” the work of one leafcutter is equivalent to twenty honey bees!
Our kind bees are also known for their gentle, docile nature. You can work alongside them in your garden without the fear of being stung or bitten!
Leafcutters are summer bees, so make sure your plants are already blooming before introducing these hardworking bees to your homestead. Within weeks of installing your bee house, you will start to see abundant growth in your crops!
Pro Tip: Plan Your Garden Around Plants Leafcutter Bees Love!
Planning your homestead garden around the preferences of leafcutter bees will increase the chances of them visiting your plants.
Here are a few things you can plant on your homestead to get our kind bees buzzing:
Low-growing fruits and vegetables:
- Blueberries
- Strawberries
- Melons
- Squash
- Peppers
- Carrots
- Beans
- Tomatoes
- Peas
- Alfalfa
- Cucumber
Low-growing flowers and plants:
- Perennials
- Pansies
- Blue Stars
- Violets
- Bee Balm
- Borage
- Lavender
- Clover
Kick-Off Your Homestead with Kind Bee Farms
Homesteading has its ups and downs, especially for beginners. With the help of our super pollinators, you can create a flourishing, sustainable, and harmonious hobby farm that will have people asking how you did it!
Visit our Shop to order your very own bee house, and check out our Blog to learn more about leafcutter bees!