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What a Wirecutter Writer (and Rural Homesteader) Can’t Live Without

I’m a senior writer for Wirecutter, and each morning I milk my cow. I also have a flock of sheep, a second cow, two hives of honeybees, and 30-plus chickens. We have a number of mature apple trees, a berry patch, and a 3,000-square-foot vegetable garden. In the summer months, I raise a few pigs and about 30 meat chickens, and in the spring we tap some maple trees. All of this supplies us with an abundance of meat, vegetables, eggs, herbs, honey, cider, vinegar, maple syrup, and dairy products.

The rural homesteading lifestyle is a lot of work, but much of the labor is manageable and can mostly be limited to the weekends—if I’m using the right tools.

Here are just some of the things that help me ensure our lifestyle has as few setbacks as possible. Although not all of these will work for every home, most of them can be adopted into any industrious life with positive results.

See the full list from Doug Mahoney on Wirecutter's website here.

LAST UPDATED

May 6, 2022

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Media Mentions from Wirecutter

Wirecutter’s mission is to recommend what really matters. Each year, we independently test and review thousands of products to help you find just what you need. Our goal is to save you time and eliminate the stress of shopping, whether you’re looking for everyday gear or gifts for loved ones.

We strive to be the most trusted product recommendation service around, and we work with total editorial independence. We won’t post a recommendation unless our writers and editors have deemed something the best through rigorous reporting and testing.

MEDIA MENTIONS

Fresh drinking water is essential. This water filtration system ensures you will never run out as long as there is a nearby natural water source. It can filter out bacteria, protozoa and microplastics.

Allen Foster

MEDIA MENTIONS

Faster and more efficient than pumping or waiting for chemical treatments, the Sawyer Squeeze System offers on-the-go hydration at a good flow. This product is long-lasting, affordable, reliable, cleanable, and very user-friendly.

Alan Dixon
AdventureAlan

MEDIA MENTIONS

But Sawyer was way ahead of me — 15 years ahead, to be precise. In 2008, the brand started its Clean Water for All initiative, which provides Sawyer filters to developing countries around the world. And the company spends 90% of its profits funding it.

Shauna Farnell