Creating a sustainable homestead is an endeavor that is becoming increasingly popular. These homesteads can range from small urban homesteads to larger homesteads resembling traditional farms. If you are going into homesteading, one of the key aspects will be your planting seasons. You will need to make sure you have the right tools to get the job done as quickly as possible. Here are three types of planting equipment every new homesteader should have.
Tiling Machines
Before you do anything with your planting and seeds, you will need to get the soil ready. This means tiling the soil to turn it over, soften it, and get it ready for the seed placement. If you have a smaller amount of land, then a manual tiller may work fine. However, for most homesteads you will need larger planting equipment. You can purchase tilling machines in various sizes that can handle larger spaces, cutting your work time down considerably. Some of these tilling machines can be attached to larger tractors for easy hauling and easy use on the homestead.
Planting Machines
One piece of planting equipment that can be very helpful are planting machines. These machines can be attached to tractors and traded out for the different types of seeds you will be sowing. The planting machine allows you to plant multiple rows of seeds at once over a large area. They also allow for proper and even spacing. This spacing, along with the ability to spread the seed quickly over larger areas, allows you to get the most out of your harvest. You can also set how many seeds will go out and at what intervals to help you better plan your crop production as well.
Harvester Machines
When you are buying your planting equipment, you can't overlook the most important step -- harvesting. You will need a harvesting machine that can help you to harvest the crops easily and quickly without damage to the crops themselves. Keep in mind, your harvesting equipment will differ greatly depending on the crops you have. For example, you will need different harvesting machines for tree bearing crops as opposed to ground and root crops.
These are only three tools you will need. There are many more tools and types of equipment to consider, depending on the type of livestock and sustainability options you plan on having. If you are ready to start a list of equipment needs, contact your local farm and supply center. They can help you with equipment options, pricing, and financing questions on larger equipment.