Homesteading must-haves can include supplies for the tool shed, wardrobe, garden, barn, office, etc. Whether you are new to homesteading, a seasoned homesteader, or looking for a gift for the homestead minded, this list covers the top items under $100 to make life easier on the farm.
Why We Love These Tools
Homesteading can mean so many things to different people, but those active in the homesteading community agree it is a lifestyle chosen to increase self-sufficiency.
When we first started a homestead, we lacked many tools and resources.
This experience has given us respect for the amount of time it takes to accumulate a complete working homestead.
To start with, a fully comprehensive list can feel overwhelming and impossible to achieve. For this reason, we identified simple homesteading must-haves that we use regularly.
These are not your typical recommendations for cast iron or Mason jars, but these items have proven to be used just as often and make the work here on the farm more manageable and more enjoyable.
Our Homestead Must Haves
Some tools are a good idea to have when working in the pastures, in the garden beds, with fruit trees, or with animals, and you might be surprised at tools you thought you would use daily just to find they collect dust.
There are other items you would never guess how often you would use or how much time they save. It has taken a few years and a lot of experience to know what our go-to equipment would be.
To help save you some time on that trial and error, here are our must-haves for under $100 that have made our homestead run smoother.
Gate Latch
Our first must-have is this two-way gate latch. This latch works fantastic on our gates. They’re easy to open and close while keeping the entrance secure. Over time, we’ve replaced all the latches on our gates with these two-way gate latches.
It is always a pain to open a chain fence and close it with your hands full of feed or while wrangling a goat into a new pasture. All you need is one free finger to unlatch the gate and a foot to push the gate shut. The two-way gate latch has definitely made life easier on our farm.
Chainsaw
When we started our homestead, we didn’t have a lot of fancy farm equipment, but the chainsaw was a game changer.
We got our chainsaw used for $75, and I had to change the carburetor hose for $5 and sharpen the teeth of the chain. I realize that most new chainsaws are above $200, but I highly recommend finding a deal on one for your farm.
A chainsaw comes in handy for all kinds of chores. It can clear trees from roadways, cut up large wood debris around the homestead, and even assist me in capturing a bee swarm. Our chainsaw is a critical tool in filling our woodshed with firewood to burn in our wood stove in the winter.
Be sure to properly maintain your chainsaw per the manufacturer’s recommendation to get the best use out of your chainsaw.
5 Gallon Bucket
I have found that a 5-gallon bucket is one of the most versatile homesteading must-haves.
They can be used to carry feed, store supplies, and even used as a chair. You can get a 5-gallon bucket cheap at any tractor supply store or free from your local schools. We got most of our buckets from our local school cafeteria.
Cordless Impact Driver
A cordless variable speed impact driver is one of the best tools around the homestead. Impact drivers will drill or torque at different speeds. You can purchase this handheld power tool for around $95. Additional separate attachments can be purchased when you need them.
This versatile tool has many attachments like screwdriver bits, drill bits, torque heads, and sockets. The cordless driver can help with many tasks, like building a chicken coop or fixing a fence.
I will never go without a cordless impact driver on my farm. I wish I had a second one to keep in my truck.
Automatic Water Valve
An automatic water valve allows you to leave the farm knowing that your animals will always have water. The automatic water valve fastens to a water faucet. There is a float in a water trough; when the float reaches the desired level, the water will automatically turn off.
Having the automatic water valve is one of my favorite homesteading must-haves. We can focus on many other tasks without worrying about the animals running out of water.
