3 FREE Websites to Help You Make Money from Your Homestead

Homesteading can be a deeply rewarding experience, but building a homestead business requires more than just growing a large garden or keeping a few extra chickens in your chicken coop. You’re building a long-term, sustainable business — one that will need careful planning, a solid marketing strategy, and multiple income streams to succeed.

If you’ve been following my journey for a while, you know that I’m a bootstrapper at heart. When I set a goal, I don’t dwell on what I lack. Instead, I focus on the resources I do have and get creative with making the most of them. (Okay, maybe some would call it “bull-headed,” but it works! 😅)

Starting a homestead business doesn’t have to be expensive, though. In fact, one of the biggest tips I can give you is to keep your expenses low in the beginning. The lower your costs, the quicker you’ll start seeing a profit. And that early profit is key — it becomes your “seed” money to reinvest and grow your homestead income.

I didn’t launch a “legit” website for our homestead until several years into the business. Instead, I focused on using free websites for homestead income to build my customer base, advertise, and make sales. And you know what? Those free websites worked wonders, and I still use them today! So, let’s dive into the three websites that helped me get my homestead business off the ground — all without spending a dime.

1. Mailchimp.com

Email marketing is an excellent way to keep your customers updated on your latest products, special offers, and farm news. It’s also an ideal way to nurture relationships with your audience, whether you’re selling farm products at the local farmers market or promoting items through your YouTube channel or social media accounts. With Mailchimp, you can create simple landing pages for your offerings and start collecting email addresses — all for free.

Building an email list early on in your homesteading journey helps you establish a direct line of communication with potential customers. When someone subscribes to your mailing list, they’ve shown interest in your products. You can then stay in touch with them through regular email updates, exclusive offers, or news about your homesteading life.

The free plan on Mailchimp allows you to collect up to 500 email addresses, which is perfect for someone just starting their homestead business. Once you’ve reached that point, you can export your list to another platform with a more affordable pricing structure. Quick note — I actually don’t recommend the paid version of this website. But for the first year, this free option is a great way to build momentum without worrying about subscription fees.

Not only can you build an email list, but you can also send out professional-looking emails, newsletters, and promotions with just a few clicks. For someone who’s working on a small farm and juggling a million other things, this is a great way to stay organized and keep customers informed. Plus, having a strong email list will become crucial when you start offering more income streams, such as courses, online tutorials, or consulting.

Pro Tip: You can also integrate Mailchimp with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, making it easier for your followers to sign up and stay in touch. It can also sync your customer list to streamline your communications across all platforms.

A simple “digital” flyer I made for an on farm class on Canva.com

2. Canva.com

When you’re running a homestead business, you want your offerings to look professional and attractive, especially if you plan on selling at the local market or promoting your farm through social media. However, many homesteaders don’t have the budget to hire a graphic designer or spend time learning complex design software.

That’s where Canva comes in. Canva is a free website that allows you to easily create high-quality graphics for everything from social media posts to flyers to business cards. Even if you don’t have any design experience, you can use Canva’s templates to create stunning marketing materials that showcase your farm, products, and business offerings.

Having a visual brand for your homestead is important because it builds credibility and helps customers feel more confident purchasing from you. Whether you’re trying to sell fresh eggs, homemade candles, or produce from your garden, well-designed promotional materials can make all the difference. Canva offers a wide variety of templates and tools to help you create beautiful posts, business cards, and even farm signs that look professional without the need for expensive software or a graphic designer.

I personally use Canva to create everything from product labels to flyers promoting special sales on our farm products. Canva offers plenty of free templates, but you can also purchase extra design elements if you want to take your marketing up a notch. As a homesteader, having access to a tool like Canva is invaluable for creating polished materials without needing a background in design.

Canva also offers a feature where you can resize your designs to fit different platforms, so if you create a flyer, you can instantly turn it into a social media post for Facebook or Instagram. This is especially helpful when you're marketing on multiple platforms but don’t want to spend all day designing different pieces of content.

Bonus Tip: If you’re planning on starting a YouTube channel to share your homesteading journey, Canva can help you create eye-catching thumbnails and promotional materials to attract more viewers. You can also create branded images for your YouTube videos or even design ebooks if you plan to sell digital products related to your homestead.

3. Facebook

When you’re trying to market your homestead products, you might feel like you need a website to really make an impact. But the truth is, Facebook is one of the best (and completely free) platforms for connecting with your audience, promoting your products, reaching new customers, and even connecting with the homesteading community.

Why Facebook?

Social media has transformed the way small businesses market themselves, and for homesteaders, it’s a powerful tool for advertising and networking. Whether you’re trying to sell farm-fresh eggs, promote your latest business ventures, or build an online community around your homesteading lifestyle, Facebook makes it easy to connect with local farmers, buyers, and potential collaborators. You can join community groups in your local area, create a Facebook page for your business, and start advertising directly to people who are interested in your farm products.

The beauty of Facebook lies in its massive reach and low-cost advertising opportunities. You can target your audience based on location, interests, and buying habits, making it an effective way to build your local market and connect with like-minded people. Plus, Facebook gives you an outlet to share farm updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses of your homestead, photos of your chicken coop or market garden, and any exciting news about your small homestead.

Another advantage is that Facebook allows for engagement. Your followers can comment, share, and ask questions, which helps build trust and loyalty with your customer base. Engaging with your followers is a great way to keep them connected to your business and show them that you’re approachable and passionate about what you do.

Additionally, Facebook allows you to create targeted ads that can help you reach even more people in your local area. The best part is that Facebook advertising doesn’t have to break the bank. You can set a small budget and still see great results.

Final Thoughts: Starting Your Homestead Business

Starting a homestead business isn’t about having the fanciest website or the most expensive marketing tools — the best way to start is getting creative, working hard, and utilizing the free resources available to you. Whether you’re selling farm products at the local farmers market, growing your income streams through online courses, or promoting your homesteading journey on YouTube, Mailchimp, Canva, and Facebook are powerful tools that can help you start building a profitable homestead business from the ground up. Even beginner homesteaders can immediately reap the benefits of these free tools!

It’s important to remember that working your own homestead and growing your income takes time and effort, but with the right mindset and a clear strategy, it’s absolutely achievable. As you start your homesteading journey, stay focused on the basics, keep your expenses low, and don’t forget to take advantage of all the resources available to you.

Building a thriving homestead business is a journey, not a sprint. Stay patient, work hard, and soon you’ll be well on your way to creating a sustainable homestead with extra income that supports you and your family for years to come. As you grow your small homestead and your income streams, remember that every step you take, no matter how small, is a step toward building a truly thriving, self-sufficient business.

Stay focused, keep pushing forward, and embrace the challenges of homesteading. Your hard work will pay off in the long run, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re building something meaningful — not just for you, but for your entire family, and maybe even the generations to come.