Course map

Seven tracks, one homestead

Each lesson takes 8 to 12 minutes and ends with a short check. Each track ends with a planning project. Progress is saved only in this browser.

Beta Lessons are checked against their sources; independent expert review is in progress. What beta means

Track 1

The whole homestead

What self-sufficient really means, the five budgets, climate, your site and phasing.

0 of 6

1. 1 What "self-sufficient" really means 9 min
2. 2 The five budgets 10 min
3. 3 Climate zones and why they change every answer 10 min
4. 4 Reading your site 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
5. 5 Phasing: what to build first 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
6. 6 Project: my homestead brief 12 min · Project

Track 2

The small home

Home types, how buildings stand, the envelope, passive solar, fresh air and permits.

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1. 7 Small-home types compared 11 min ⚠ Pro and permit
2. 8 How a building stays standing 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
3. 9 The building envelope 11 min
4. 10 Windows and passive solar 11 min
5. 11 Ventilation and indoor air 11 min ⚠ Pro and permit
6. 12 Codes, permits and inspections 11 min ⚠ Pro and permit
7. 13 Project: a small floor plan 12 min · Project ⚠ Pro and permit

Track 3

Water

How much you use, where it comes from, catching rain, storage, treatment and greywater.

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1. 14 How much water a household uses 9 min
2. 15 Water sources compared 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
3. 16 Rainwater catchment 10 min
4. 17 Storage and pressure 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
5. 18 Treatment for drinking 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
6. 19 Greywater 9 min ⚠ Pro and permit
7. 20 Project: my water budget 12 min · Project ⚠ Pro and permit

Track 4

Energy

Units, load lists, efficiency, solar, batteries, system types, backup and other sources.

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1. 21 Watts, watt-hours and the electric bill 9 min
2. 22 Load list: what you actually use 10 min
3. 23 Efficiency first 9 min
4. 24 Solar basics 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
5. 25 Storing energy 11 min ⚠ Pro and permit
6. 26 Off-grid, grid-tied and hybrid systems 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
7. 27 Backup power 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
8. 28 Other sources: wind and micro-hydro 9 min ⚠ Pro and permit
9. 29 Project: load list and solar sizing 12 min · Project ⚠ Pro and permit

Track 5

Heat and cooling

How heat moves, heating options, low-power cooling and hot water.

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1. 30 How heat moves 10 min
2. 31 Heating options compared 11 min ⚠ Pro and permit
3. 32 Cooling without much power 9 min
4. 33 Hot water 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit

Track 6

Food

Realistic yields, the kitchen garden, perennials, small livestock, indoor growing and storage.

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1. 34 How much land feeds a person 10 min
2. 35 The kitchen garden 10 min
3. 36 Perennials and food forests 9 min
4. 37 Small livestock: chickens and rabbits 10 min
5. 38 Growing indoors 9 min
6. 39 Storing the harvest 10 min

Track 7

Waste and putting it together

Toilets and septic, compost, buying less, and your year-one plan.

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1. 40 Composting toilets and septic compared 10 min ⚠ Pro and permit
2. 41 Compost and the nutrient loop 9 min
3. 42 Trash, recycling and buying less 8 min
4. 43 Year-one plan and budget 11 min
5. 44 Capstone: my homestead plan 12 min · Project