One of the joys of homesteading is finding creative ways to make the tools you already own work for multiple tasks. A big part of self-sufficiency is maximizing what you have on hand, and many common homesteading tools have uses beyond their original purpose.
From garden tools that can help indoors to kitchen gadgets that serve well in the barn, there are plenty of ways to make your homestead gear more versatile. Let’s explore some practical and unconventional uses for everyday homesteading tools.
1. Garden Forks as Rugged All-Purpose Lifters
Garden forks are typically used for turning soil and compost, but their sturdy prongs and long handles make them perfect for other heavy-lifting tasks around the homestead.
- Hay and Straw Management: Use your garden fork to spread straw or hay in animal bedding areas. The prongs grip loose material well, allowing you to cover large spaces quickly and easily.
- Lifting Root Vegetables: If you’re harvesting root crops like potatoes, carrots, or turnips, a garden fork can gently lift the soil to loosen vegetables without damaging them. The gentle leverage is especially useful for avoiding bruises on tender vegetables.
Garden forks are incredibly sturdy and can handle rough, uneven terrain, making them helpful for any job that requires some leverage.
2. Milk Crates as Mobile Storage Units
Most homesteaders are familiar with the versatility of milk crates, but these stacking storage containers go far beyond simple organization.
- Nest Boxes for Chickens: With a little padding, milk crates can serve as temporary or even permanent nest boxes for chickens. Line them with straw, and you have an easy-to-clean and portable nesting solution.
- Tool Holders: Milk crates make great carriers for garden tools, small farm supplies, or even as compartments for organizing seeds and seedlings. They’re easy to stack and move, so they’re ideal for outdoor work stations.
- Garden Planters: In a pinch, milk crates can become DIY planters. Just line them with burlap or an old T-shirt, add soil, and plant shallow-rooted herbs or greens. Milk crates offer good drainage and are easy to move around for sun exposure.
3. Wheelbarrows as Water Troughs and Transport
A wheelbarrow is a staple for transporting soil, rocks, or mulch, but its size and maneuverability make it useful for a variety of unexpected tasks.
- Temporary Water Trough: If you’re short on animal water troughs, especially during a busy season, a cleaned wheelbarrow can hold a surprising amount of water for livestock or pets. Just make sure it’s stable and won’t tip if an animal leans on it.
- Mobile Feed Holder: During feeding times, a wheelbarrow can be an efficient way to bring food to various locations. Whether you’re distributing hay or grain, a wheelbarrow keeps everything contained and cuts down on trips back and forth.
- Harvest Helper: Use a wheelbarrow to gather and transport your harvest. Its large capacity and easy mobility make it ideal for carrying bulky items like pumpkins, squash, or heavy loads of fresh-cut greens.
4. Kitchen Colanders for Garden and Livestock Use
Colanders might be a kitchen staple, but their straining abilities can be handy around the homestead in ways you might not expect.
- Seed Cleaning: If you save your own seeds, use a colander to sift and clean them. It helps to separate seeds from any debris or dried plant material, and the small holes prevent seeds from escaping.
- Feed Scoop: Colanders make excellent feed scoops, particularly when feeding animals grains or pellets. The holes allow any dust or fines to fall through, so you’re left with clean feed for your livestock.
- Outdoor Strainer for Small Harvests: If you’re rinsing freshly picked berries, herbs, or small vegetables, a colander makes an ideal portable washing station. It can be taken right to the garden for a quick rinse before bringing produce inside.
5. Mason Jars Beyond Storage
Mason jars are a homesteading favorite for canning and food storage, but they’re incredibly versatile in other areas too.
- Fermentation Vessel: Mason jars make great containers for fermenting small batches of sauerkraut, kimchi, or pickles. Their sturdy glass construction can handle the fermentation process, and you can easily see the progress of your ferment.
- Seed Starters: Start seedlings in small Mason jars if you’re short on pots. They’re especially good for herbs and can easily be transferred to the garden when the seedlings are strong enough.
- DIY Oil Lamps: With a wick, some oil, and a little creativity, you can turn a Mason jar into a simple oil lamp. This is a useful skill if you ever find yourself without electricity, and it adds a cozy ambiance to the homestead in the evenings.
6. Old Rakes as Drying Racks
Rakes are usually reserved for gathering leaves or leveling garden beds, but with a little creativity, they can be repurposed into storage and drying solutions.
- Tool Organizer: Mount an old rake head on a wall or post, and use the tines to hang hand tools, gloves, or even garden scissors. This keeps your essentials organized and easy to reach.
- Herb Drying Rack: Hang bunches of herbs from the tines of an old rake to create a rustic drying rack. The open structure allows airflow around the herbs, speeding up the drying process without crowding the plants.
- Pot Hanger: For a farmhouse-style kitchen look, you can also use an old rake head to hang pots, pans, or cooking utensils. It’s functional and adds a touch of rustic charm to the space.
7. Shovels for Snow Removal and Compost Turning
Shovels are essential for moving soil and digging, but they’re also adaptable for other homesteading tasks, especially during winter.
- Snow Shoveling: Many homesteaders find that a sturdy garden shovel works just as well as a snow shovel, especially for smaller areas like pathways or around livestock enclosures. The wide blade can handle heavy snow without buckling.
- Compost Turning: A shovel is a simple yet effective tool for turning compost. Its wide blade makes it easier to shift and aerate the pile, which speeds up decomposition.
- Weed Removal: Use a small hand shovel or trowel to dig up stubborn weeds with deep roots. The sharp edge can cut through compacted soil, making weed removal easier and more efficient.
8. Cheese Graters for Soap-Making and Garden Mulch
Cheese graters aren’t just for the kitchen—they can be incredibly useful for both homemade products and garden projects.
- Grating Soap for Laundry: If you make your own laundry detergent, a cheese grater is the perfect tool for shredding bars of homemade soap. It produces small, even pieces that dissolve easily in water.
- Creating Mulch from Vegetable Scraps: Vegetable scraps like carrot peels or zucchini skins can be grated and added directly to garden beds as a quick mulch layer. This grated material breaks down faster than larger chunks, enriching the soil as it decomposes.
- Craft Projects: Cheese graters can even be used to shred wax for candle-making or to create texture in homemade crafts. It’s a simple way to reuse old wax, whether from candles or beeswax blocks.
9. Clotheslines for Crop Drying
Clotheslines are a classic way to dry laundry, but they’re equally effective for drying homestead harvests and other projects.
- Herb Drying: Bundle herbs and hang them on a clothesline for natural drying as suggested by Strawberry Moon Farm. This is especially handy for large quantities, as you can spread them out to prevent mold and mildew.
- Garlic and Onion Curing: Dry garlic, onions, and similar crops on a clothesline by hanging them in bundles. This method allows airflow around each bulb or plant, which prevents rotting and helps them cure for longer storage.
- Outdoor Seed Storage: In dry weather, you can hang vegetable and flower seed heads from the clothesline to dry. Once they’re completely dry, you can shake out the seeds for storage.
10. Buckets for More Than Just Water
Buckets are essential on any homestead, but they’re not limited to hauling water. From carrying feed to acting as portable storage, buckets are surprisingly flexible.
- Garden Seat: Flip a sturdy bucket over, and you’ve got an impromptu seat for low-to-the-ground work like weeding or harvesting.
- DIY Planters: Old buckets with drainage holes drilled in the bottom make great containers for larger plants. They’re perfect for tomatoes, peppers, and other veggies that need more room to grow.
- Compost Collectors: Use a bucket to collect kitchen scraps for composting. With a lid, it can be kept in your kitchen until you’re ready to add it to the compost pile.
In Summary
The tools you already own can often serve double duty on the homestead. By finding new ways to use everyday items, you not only save money but also simplify your daily tasks. With a bit of creativity, you can turn common tools into multi-purpose assets, making your homesteading life easier, more efficient, and a little more rewarding.
