NAVIGATION
Homestead Layout
Homestead Size
Designing Layout
Animals To Raise
What Can Grow
Be Self-Sufficient
Hi, I’m Ryan
There are few things I love more than gardening, cooking, and learning skills like cheesemaking and food preserving — skills that keep me stocked with whole foods and make me more self-sufficient. I’ve used what I’ve learned over the years to work on many different-sized properties, and this 9-acre homestead layout can help you do the same on your own land.
When I worked a large homestead, I created a design almost identical to this 9 acre homestead layout, and it yielded large harvests of fruits, veggies, meats, and milk that were perfect for pantry-stocking skills like dehydrating, canning, and fermenting. On my own land, I put these skills into practice, designing a small farm that met my needs during both warm and cold seasons of the year, helping me live self-sufficiently.
9 Acre Homestead Layout
If you’re living on a 9 acre homestead (or are considering purchasing a farm around this size), the blueprint I’ve drawn up will enable you to reap harvests large enough to feed you even through the winter months, with enough left over to sell to local markets and experiment with food preservation. If you’re anything like me, adding life skills like this to your toolbox will not only better you as a person, but you’ll also be cultivating and bettering your homestead.
Nine acres of usable farmland will be enough for you to raise several types of small to medium livestock. I recommend chickens, ducks, bees, goats, and pigs. This amount of acreage will give you room for about as many beehives as you can support, 60 or more chickens, 50 or more ducks, 60 goats, and 40 to 45 pigs. You’ve got a whole lot of land to work with here, so remember to keep it manageable at the start — you can always grow as you go.
If you’re just starting out, you might want to limit your gardens to what you can comfortably maintain during the learning process. Eventually, you will have room to expand to nine to 10 ground-level 10’x10’ gardens, 40 raised 4’x8’ gardens, and an orchard of 60 to 80 fruit trees.
If you’re planning on using solar power, you’ll have room left over for around 28 solar panels, as well as a large compost bin, a good-sized barn, and a woodshed.
Designing Your Homestead Layout
How Much Will A 9 Acre Homestead Produce?
A 9 acre homestead design could easily produce 35,000 pounds of produce in a good year. To wrap your head around that volume, consider that this amount could feed about 17 people. Here’s a more detailed breakdown.
Production Projections for 9 Acres
- Main HouseYou have enough land for a roomy home with a two-car garage and long privacy driveway. I recommend having an enclosed sunroom of sorts for growing herbs and enjoying a view of your property.
- Solar ArrayTwenty-eight solar panels can power a decent amount, but if your home, garage, and workspace combine to over 2,800 square feet, you may need a few more panels depending on your level of power usage.
- WoodshedIf you’re planning on using wood for a firepit or as a heat source, a woodshed can shelter your firewood from the elements. You’ll want to build your woodshed within easy walking distance of your home or firepit.
- CompostYour compost bin can help feed your garden, chickens, and pigs to keep your homestead self-sufficient, but the output will depend on the size of your household and your fresh food consumption.
- Orchard And BeehivesEach beehive will be able to produce an average of 60 to 100 pounds of honey per year. With 80 fruit trees, you could harvest anywhere from 12,000 to 24,000 pounds of fruit in a year.
- Pig PenPigs don’t move around a lot, so they don’t require a lot of space — you can own as many as you’re willing to feed and care for. For reference, 40 pigs that weigh around 250 pounds each would yield just under 5,000 pounds of meat.
- BarnA barn is a homesteading necessity that can store your feed, hay, maintenance tools, and farm equipment to keep everything safe from animals and weather. The size barn you choose to build will vary depending on your long-term goals for working the homestead.
- Goat PenThe amount of milk your goats will produce in a year will depend on their number and breeds, but you should be able to count on an average of 200 gallons of milk per goat every year.
- CropsNine to ten 10’x10’ ground-level gardens can easily produce around 900 to 2,000 pounds of vegetables in a year.
- Raised GardensForty raised 4’x8’ beds will produce around one to two pounds per square foot for a harvest of 1,280 to 2,560 pounds of produce in a year.
- Chicken CoopSixty chickens could produce over 1,200 cartons of eggs in a year if you have the right breeds and conditions.
- Duck PondRaising around 50 ducks could get you around 1,200 cartons of duck eggs per year.
Why 9 Acres Is The Perfect Size For Your Homestead
Growing your own vegetable gardens and raising your own farm animals just makes sense on a property of 9 acres. A layout like the one I’ve provided can help you get the most out of your land, enabling you to work it efficiently and strategically for maximum results. Using a plan to systematically lay out your farm will help you play the long game of homesteading, leaving space for future growth while enjoying smaller harvests at the start.
Is 9 Acres Enough For A Farm?
Becoming completely independent in your food production is a big deal for anyone, but it does take some knowledge and creativity. I’ve learned skills like dehydrating to preserve my fresh ingredients for off-season months, and I know other homesteaders who have made the most of their goat milk supply by becoming cheesemakers. You can expand on this by making jerky, canning goods, learning to make your own bread, and even using your goats’ milk to make things like soap and lotion.
What Are The Dimensions Of 9 Acres?
When you’re laying out your homestead, you’ll have roughly 392,040 square feet of space to divvy up — about 443’x886’. You’ll have room to dream big, and if you follow this layout diagram, you’ll have a thriving, multipurpose farm.
How Do You Lay Out A 9 Acre Homestead?
My design proposal is just that — a proposal. This diagram will give you a great idea of how to set up your land in order to have room for each aspect of your homestead, but you will need to tweak it to fit your particular goals, needs, and landscape.
Use some string and stakes to section off your property to give you a visual representation of what you’re aiming for, and then get to work making it happen.
Here’s What I’ve Done
- A large driveway for guests and long enough for privacy
- A compost bin with worms
- Chicken coop and run with 20 chickens
- Lots of fruit trees with apples that go right into my baking
- Maple, oak, and dogwood trees for shade and shelter
- 10 solar panels to power my tiny home
- Predominantly raised 4’x8’ garden beds
- A sunroom off my home to grow herbs
How Big Should A Homestead Garden Be?
On a homestead layout for 9 acres, you will have room for a garden of around 2,300 to 2,500 square feet. When you’re designating growing space for your ground-level and raised gardens, you’ll want to have a general idea of how many vegetables and melons you’re looking to produce. Depending on the market for your excess produce, you might want more or less garden space and more or less of something else like fruit trees.
How Many Fruit Trees Should You Plant On 9 Acres?
You’ll have room for a comfortably sized orchard of around 80 fruit trees. There are pros and cons to different types of trees (pear, apple, peach, etc.) depending on where you live — you’ll want to research what grows best near you. Pear trees are known for being the easiest to grow and maintain, so if you’re new to fruit trees, they might be a good choice to start with.
How Many Berry Bushes Should You Plant On 9 Acres?
If you want to plant berry bushes instead of fruit trees, you should be able to fit anywhere from 80 to 100 on your 9-acre spread. Or, if you’re just wanting to add a few in to supply your household with variety, 2 to 3 bushes per family member is a good standard. Keep in mind that most berries need at least partial shade to thrive, and some vining berries like blueberries might grow well along your fence.
Fencing Your 9 Acres
If you’re serious about keeping your gardens, livestock, and trees safe from outside predators (as you should be), you’ll want to build a sturdy homestead fence. I personally like solid-treated wood fencing, but your soil and climate might lead you to choose other materials that are better suited for your land.
What Animals Can You Have On a 9 Acre Hobby Farm?
As I mentioned earlier, a hobby farm of 9 acres will give you room for several small- to medium-sized animals. I always recommend starting with chickens and, depending on your goals, adding ducks, bees, goats, and pigs as you feel comfortable.
Invest In Chickens First
Chickens are easy starter livestock because they’re low-cost, low-maintenance, and multipurpose. They’ll supply you with eggs, diminish your bug populations, help till and fertilize your garden, and keep you company as you undertake the rest of your homesteading goals.
Try Ducks As Well
Ducks are amazing birds that produce more eggs than chickens do, on average, and pretty much just mind their own business. Duck eggs are also 50% to 100% larger than chicken eggs, with a much stronger flavor that some people prefer. Keep in mind that you’ll need a body of water large enough to keep your flock happy, so wait on adding these quackers to your farm until you’ve added a pond. The upside of putting in a pond is added beauty, increased property value, and varied creatures in your property’s ecosystem.
The Surprising Benefits Of Raising Bees
Beehives take up little space, and your bees can produce a good quantity of honey while also pollinating your fruit trees and flowers. It’s a win-win, but I’d recommend starting with a couple of hives and adding more when you’ve grown accustomed to the work and maintenance involved. I know some people that take it to the next level of creating, selling, or trading bees wax products from their bee-raising efforts.
Are Goats Practical On 9 Acres?
Goats are family-friendly animals that produce a decent amount of milk and keep the grass in their pens nice and short with their grazing habits. The milk you’ll get from a sizable herd will give you enough to drink, make cheese, and even try your hand at making lotions, soaps, and other marketable products. Like with any livestock, start with a few and add to your herd as you feel comfortable.
Why Pigs Don’t Actually Need A Lot Of Space
Pigs don’t travel far in their pens on their short little legs, so you won’t need to set aside much room for them on your property. They’ll give you about half of their body weight in meat — just try not to get too attached.
Is 9 Acres Really Enough Space To Grow Your Own Food?
A 9 acre homestead layout is more than enough space to grow your own food and then some. You don’t need acres upon acres of wheat or corn fields to have a farm large enough to produce all the food you’ll need in any given year, but remember, you aren’t required to use all of your land for gardens and livestock pens either. Some people prefer to keep their farming efforts small and easier to manage.
How Much Food Can You Grow On A 9 Acre Farm?
As I mentioned earlier, a 9-acre homestead farm has the potential of producing upwards of 35,000 pounds of food in a good year. I can’t give you anywhere near an exact number, since any number of weather and pest factors can affect your harvest, but here is a concise breakdown of different averages to expect if you fully farm your land.
Estimated Harvest From A 9 Acre Homestead With This Layout
- 3,500 pounds of vegetables
- 1,200 cartons of chicken eggs
- 1,200 cartons of duck eggs
- 12,000 gallons of goat milk
- 18,000 pounds of fruit
- 690 pounds of honey
- 5,000 pounds of meat
Is 9 Acres Of Land Enough To Be Self-Sufficient?
Nine acres of usable land is more than enough to be self-sufficient. Living a self-sustaining lifestyle on any property size will take skill, dedication, and creativity, but on a roomy 9-acre spread, your space will be an advantage.
Can 9 Acres Of Land Sustain One Person?
Yes, 9 acres of land can easily sustain one person. A single person willing to put in the work (possibly with hired help), could produce enough to provide for their own needs with a profit besides.
Is 9 Acres Of Land Enough To Feed A Family Of Four?
A 9-acre homestead could easily feed a family of four, and it could most likely feed up to a household of 12 or more. That said, trading, selling, and food preservation would probably need to be involved for variety and longevity.
Can You Be Off Grid On A 9 Acre Homestead?
You can be off grid on a 9 acre homestead without sacrificing too much growing space. Quite honestly, an acreage of this size will give you more than enough wiggle room for any off-gridding necessities you add on to my blueprint like outhouses, extra solar panels, a solar generator, and a water setup.
Is 9 Acres Of Land Enough For An Off-Grid Homestead?
Nine acres is plenty of land for an off-grid homestead as long as you’re willing to take on the extra work, and you might need to consider the additional expenses of off-grid life. If being totally off-grid is your goal, you’ll also need to make room in your property layout for things like an outhouse.
How Many Solar Panels Needed To Power Your Homestead?
You’ll easily have room for my recommended 28 solar panels on your 9-acre homestead, but the amount you’ll need will depend on the square footage of your living space and the amount of power you or your family use. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 10 to 12 solar panels for every 1,000 square feet of living space.
When you’re doing the math here, don’t forget to factor in every powered space on your property (including your barn, outhouses, and garage). You might need to consider creating multiple sections of solar panels around your property so every building you’d like to power is in range.
Is A 9 Acre Homestead Worth The Investment?
The life skills alone that I’ve gleaned while working different homestead sizes have been worth the investment for me, so at the end of the day, I’ll always say that homesteading your 9-acre property is a worthwhile investment. It gives you freedom to grow and make creative choices like picking a favorite food preservation method or even starting a new hobby like cheesemaking with your farm fresh goat milk — both great ways to get the most out of your acreage.
How Much Does It Cost To Start A 9 Acre Homestead?
When it comes to cost, everything is relative to your location. When you’re selecting building materials, you’ll want to be a little picky with the quality and durability of your choices, even if that means you’re spending a little extra up front. A well-built structure will stand the test of time and save you money in the long run.
Cost Considerations When Building A 9 Acre Homestead
- Land
- Building materials
- Possible hired help
- Tools, machinery, and equipment
- Seeds, plants, bushes, and trees
- Livestock
- Animal feed and care
- Continued maintenance
Can A 9 Acre Homestead Be Profitable?
A 9-acre homestead can absolutely be profitable. Honestly, though, only you can decide how profitable your farm will be.
At this size of land, you have enough space to learn how to make and sell produce, cheese and other milk products, baked goods, eggs, and so much more. It’s all up to your own goals and the efforts you’re willing to put in.
What I know is that when you combine desire with knowledge, you can achieve great outcomes. Applying what you’ve learned to your own 9 acre homestead layout will help you create a homestead as productive as you want and need, all while doing it at your own pace.
Your Turn!
- How much of your land do you plan to farm?
- If you have experience with fruit trees, which types have given you the best harvests?
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