Turn a money-draining house into a tiny, profitable off-grid homestead
Ron and Johanna haven't paid an electric bill in 40 years. Here's their full, step-by-step system for water, power, food, and medicine — built for a backyard as small as 1,020 sq ft per person.
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Two "back to the land" homesteaders, four decades in
Ron and Johanna joined the back-to-the-land movement in the late 1970s and have lived off the grid ever since — growing their own food, running their own power, and preserving everything they produce the way their grandparents did.
"The most important thing is the feeling of not having to rely on anyone else for anything."
Now in their sixties, they downsized and rebuilt a third homestead from scratch — this time optimized to be low-maintenance rather than labor-intensive. The Self-Sufficient Backyard is their attempt to document every project from that homestead in enough detail that someone starting from zero could rebuild it on their own land.
Twelve plots, one backyard
Each numbered plot below is a chapter of the book — a self-contained project you can adopt on its own, or stack together into a full homestead.
Rain collection & a private water source
A low-cost catchment and storage system so you stop paying for irrigation water — plus filtration so you can drink it, and backup hand-pump options if the electric pump fails.
The 7-plant medicinal garden
The seven herbs the authors say they've relied on for 40 years, including how to turn them into tinctures. Presented as their own long-term practice, not a substitute for medical care.
A backyard hybrid electricity system
Battery, controller, cabling, and inverter choices for an off-grid or grid-supplementing setup — including the option to sell surplus power back to the utility.
24-hour biological insect control
Swallow and bluebird houses plus a bat shelter, replacing pesticides with natural predators that work around the clock.
Root cellars, from full-size to barrel
Several build options depending on how much space and budget you have, from an under-house cellar to a repurposed trash can.
Pressurized off-grid hot water
A system that heats water as a byproduct of cooking or heating the house, so hot water stops being a separate utility cost.
A year-round self-sustaining greenhouse
Siting, glazing, insulation, and ventilation for any US climate — up to a geothermal upgrade that uses stable underground temperature to heat it for the cost of a small fan.
Microgreens & six more sellable crops
Indoor winter growing methods the authors describe as suited to selling locally — framed as a possible income supplement, not a guaranteed return.
Chicken coop & handy beehive
Coop setup, egg-yield tips, and a jar-style beehive modification for honey you can access directly, plus pollination for the orchard.
The low-maintenance "no-work" orchard
A planting and layout approach aimed at minimal upkeep once established, providing fruit for years with little ongoing labor.
Seed saving & whole-harvest preservation
Seed fermenting and curing techniques, plus non-electric methods for preserving eggs, vegetables, roots, fruit, and meat through winter.
100+ money-saving tips & easy-on-the-back beds
Cost-cutting tips spanning electricity, food, water, and repairs, plus a full chapter of low-bend garden designs for people with back problems.
Three digital bonus guides
The authors currently include these three guides at no extra cost with an order.
The Aquaponic Gardener
Setting up a closed-loop system — fish waste feeds the plants, the plants filter the water — sized for a backyard, basement, or greenhouse.
DIY Projects from the 1900s
Pre-grid techniques — charcoal water purification, smokehouses, root cellars, solar water heaters — adapted with modern materials where it helps.
Where Free Land Can Still Be Found in the US
A guide to present-day programs offering low-cost or free land parcels (typically 1–5 acres) suited to this homestead plan.
What this doesn't require
No back-breaking labor
Written by two people in their sixties who rebuilt their homestead three years ago — the projects are scoped for that reality.
No full-time commitment
Framed as something to run alongside a regular job, one hour a week or one hour a day, done in stages.
No large property
The core plan scales down from a quarter acre to a suburban backyard — you won't hit full self-sufficiency on 200 sq ft, but the authors say the same principles still apply.
No prior homesteading skill
The authors describe themselves as ordinary people with no special background when they started — the book is written for a first-timer.
There's no risk in trying it
If The Self-Sufficient Backyard doesn't fit your property or your goals, the authors offer a full refund within 60 days — no requirement to justify it beyond not being satisfied.
Start Your 60-Day TrialWhat readers say, in their own summary
Paraphrased from published reviews of the book — not reproduced verbatim.
Called the book essential reading for the future, and praised the responsiveness of the authors' customer support when an order issue came up.
Wasn't planning to go fully off-grid, but found the garden layout alone worth the price for growing food in a small space without heavy labor.
Described it as full of practical ideas useful for both small (under quarter-acre) and larger properties.
Reported actively using several of the techniques in their own garden and yard with good results.
Recommended it as a starting point for anyone new to homesteading, covering everything from site planning to greenhouse and off-grid systems.
Called out the step-by-step structure with pros, cons, and alternatives for each project, adaptable across very different situations.
Frequently asked
How much land do I actually need to be self-sufficient?
The authors' method is built around roughly 1,020 sq ft of growing space per person — under 10% of a quarter-acre lot. The full plan targets a quarter acre feeding a family of four, but they describe it as scalable down for smaller suburban yards.
Do I need off-grid experience or special skills to start?
No. The authors describe themselves as ordinary people — one grew up in Philadelphia with no rural background — and say the material is written so a beginner can learn as they go.
Is this only for people who want to go fully off-grid?
No. It's framed as modular — you could apply a single project, like a rain-collection system or a root cellar, without disconnecting from utilities or moving to rural land.
What's included besides the main book?
Three digital bonus guides at no extra cost: The Aquaponic Gardener, DIY Projects from the 1900s, and Where Free Land Can Still Be Found in the US.
What if it isn't a good fit for my property?
The offer includes a 60-day money-back guarantee directly from the authors, so you can review the material before committing.
Does this cover growing food for extra income, not just personal use?
Yes — the authors describe a small set of high-yield crops, including microgreens, they say are suited to selling from a small homestead. As with any income claim, actual results depend on your local market and effort.
Forty years of trial and error, so you don't have to repeat it
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