Self-Sufficient Gardening How To Grow More!
There’s something magical about stepping outside in the morning with a cup of coffee and seeing what has bloomed. Picking crisp cucumbers and tomatoes for home salads or canned salsa lining your shelves, a self-sufficient garden is more than just a hobby — it’s a way of life.
When I first started dreaming of growing most of our food, I had no clue where to begin. Raised beds? Companion planting? What even is soil pH? I just knew I wanted to rely less on the grocery store and more on the dirt right outside my back door. If that sounds like you, you’re in exactly the right place.
This page is your go-to guide for building a self-sufficient garden. Whether you’ve got acres on a homestead or just a few raised beds in the backyard. I’ve rounded up all my best posts, tips, and lessons (including the mistakes I learned the hard way!) to help you grow smarter, harvest more, and keep your pantry stocked year-round.
So grab your garden gloves, pour a cup of coffee, and let’s dig in.
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Getting Started: Your Self-Sufficient Garden Basics
Every great garden starts with a plan — and a little know-how. These beginner-friendly guides will help you lay the groundwork for a productive, low-waste garden that works with your space, your climate, and your family’s needs.
- How to Start Your First Self-Sufficient Garden: A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide
- Understanding Your Soil: Testing, Amending & Building Healthy Soil for Life
Planning for Success: What, When & Where to Plant
A productive garden doesn’t just happen — it’s planned with purpose. These posts will help you map out your space, time your plantings, and choose crops that feed your family year-round.
- 12 Month Planting Guide For Easy Garden Planning!
- The Best Crops for Small Spaces: How to Grow More Food in Raised Beds & Containers
- Companion Planting 101: What to Grow Together for Healthier Plants & Bigger Harvests
Natural Pest Control & Garden Care
Gardening isn’t just planting seeds and walking away. These posts cover the real-life stuff — dealing with pests, preserving soil health, and keeping your garden thriving without toxic chemicals.
- Natural Pest Control: How to Protect Your Garden Without Chemicals
- Year-Round Garden Care: Seasonal Checklists for a Healthy, Productive Garden

Growing for the Pantry: Storage & Preservation
Fresh veggies are amazing, but a truly self-sufficient garden feeds you long after the last tomato is picked. These posts will help you grow with preservation in mind, so your pantry stays stocked all year.
- Preservation Planner: What to Can, Freeze, Ferment & Dry from Your Garden
- The Self-Sufficient Gardener’s Guide to Saving Seeds
- How to Plan a Garden That Feeds Your Family Year-Round
Special Focus: Berries, Herbs & Perennials
A self-sufficient garden isn’t just vegetables. I started with blueberry bushes creating a positive ROI-(return on investment) with perennials, herbs, and berries very low-maintenance crops that keep on giving. Just keep an eye out for the birds.
Get Your Free Self-Sufficient Garden Planner!
Feeling inspired? Ready to take all these tips and turn them into your own garden plan? I’ve put together a free printable Self-Sufficient Garden Planner just for you — it’s got everything you need to map out your garden, track your crops, and plan for preserving your harvest.
Grab Your Free Garden Planner Here
(And when you download it, you’ll also get my free weekly homestead newsletter — packed with seasonal tips, garden reminders, and the occasional funny story about life with chickens and kids.)
Growing this dream together!
Linnea


Hi there, I’m Linnea,
A crunchy homestead mama on a journey to wholesome pantry staples that the whole family will love.
Join me on the journey to a sustainable farm with homemade easy recipes from scratch.
Reader Favorites

Grow Bags vs Raised Beds: Which One Should You Buy?
So let’s break it down. Here’s everything I wish I knew when I started growing food in my backyard—from someone who’s planted tomatoes in totes, herbs in grow bags, and root veggies in raised beds made from scrap wood

The Ultimate Vegetable Companion Planting Guide: What to Grow Together for Bigger Harvests
When I first started gardening, I planted everything in neat little rows like I’d seen…

CAN YOU COMPOST EGGSHELLS FOR GARDENING? 10 PLANTS THAT LOVE THEM!
YES! When you add eggshells to your compost pile it can enrich your soil with…

How to Start Water Bath Canning Without Fear (Beginner’s Guide)
Water bath canning is a method of preserving food by sealing it in jars and boiling them to kill bacteria, yeasts, and molds. It creates a vacuum seal that keeps your food shelf-stable for up to a year or more.
It’s best used for high-acid foods, like fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, and tomatoes (with added lemon juice).
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