When you experience the thrill of running a homestead, you want to show it off to the world. Maybe you just helped with the birth of the first calf on your land or completed your premier harvest season. Enjoy posting pictures and inviting people over to tour the grounds, but be aware that more land means you have more to protect.
Sometimes homesteaders fall victim to people with ill intent because it’s easy to sneak around unlit areas and steal equipment. You shouldn’t have to light up your property like a football field to rest easy while you’re asleep or away from home, but you still need to ensure safety.
Try these easy projects to make your homestead safer. With a little bit of time and effort, you’ll create a protected place to live for you, your family and any animals you raise.
1. Set up Security Cameras
Home security cameras are nothing new. You might already have one of the doorbells that captures video footage whenever someone walks up to drop off a package. They’ve become a standard house feature, so use them around your homestead, too.
Think about strategic areas to place your cameras. Focus them on areas like the entrance to your barn, fences or fields. Use them behind sheds and other places where trespassers might hide. They can also capture video of your chicken coop and alert you whenever they detect the motion of a predator like a fox.
2. Invest in Strong Fencing
It’s almost impossible to have a large homestead and not install a fence. You’ll need it to separate crops or pen in animals, so invest in a durable material to make the project worthwhile. Panicked animals could plow through a cheap fence, endangering anyone nearby. Strong fencing that reaches deep into the ground will hold up well over time.
3. Build a Storage Closet
Storage is essential for a homestead. You’ll always have something to put away, like fertilizers or handheld equipment. Curious kids might reach for things that aren’t safe for them to handle. Instead of risking an accident, build a lockable storage closet that requires a padlock to access. It’s a preventive step that immediately makes your homestead safer, no matter where you put it.
4. Install New Windows
How old is your property? If you moved into an older home or inherited it from the homesteaders before you, consider installing new windows. Old ones will let drafts into the house and become loose. Any interested burglars could easily pry your windows open if they don’t lock up correctly. New versions will have reinforced panes and locks to keep bad weather and thieves out all year.
5. Toss Out Chemical Sprays
Homesteads are a traditional place to settle down and raise a family. Create a safe and welcoming environment for little ones by tossing out chemical sprays. When you start this project, you’ll need to research non-toxic pest control methods and learn how to dispose of the chemicals. The longer you use them on your property, the more you risk harmful side effects like dizziness, nausea and potentially convulsions.
Consider Your Property
Think about the land you own and what you do on your homestead. A security system may seem more worthwhile to someone who wants to monitor their livestock, whereas new windows would be the better option for a family in an older home. Consider which project would help your property the most and use your next free weekend to make your homestead a safer place to live.
Source List:
build a lockable storage closet [https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to-plans/how-to/a7439/how-to-build-a-simple-2-door-wooden-cabinet/]
pry your windows open [https://homespirewindows.com/blog/easy-diys-make-home-safer/]
risk harmful side effects [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5606636/]
