How to Start a Backyard Homestead in Southeast Wisconsin
So, you’ve caught the homesteading bug. You’re not alone. Across Southeast Wisconsin—from the leafy suburbs of Brookfield to the rolling farmland near West Bend—more and more folks are turning their backyards into tiny, thriving ecosystems that feed their bodies, soothe their minds, and reconnect them with the land.
Whether you're on a city lot in Milwaukee or a few acres outside Oconomowoc, you can homestead right where you are. Here's how to get started, step by muddy step.
STEP 1: CHECK LOCAL ORDINANCES (BEFORE YOU BUY THE COOP)
Let’s get the boring-but-important stuff out of the way. Every city and township has different rules about what’s allowed when it comes to chickens, compost piles, and even raised garden beds.
Some things to look into:
Can you have chickens, and how many?
Are roosters allowed? (Hint: usually not.)
Do you need a permit for a greenhouse, hoop house, or large shed?
Can you sell eggs, produce, or seedlings from your home?
Pro Tip: Start by searching “[Your Town] + chicken ordinance” or calling your zoning office. Better to ask now than rehome your hens later.
STEP 2: GROW YOUR OWN FOOD—EVEN A LITTLE BIT COUNTS
You don’t need rows of crops to feed yourself. Even a few raised beds or large containers can produce a surprising amount of food. Start with easy, high-yield crops:
Lettuce & salad greens
Lettuce and salad greens love Wisconsin’s cool spring and fall weather—sow seeds directly in the garden as soon as the soil is workable. Choose cut-and-come-again varieties for continuous harvest, and plant in partial shade or use shade cloth in summer to prevent bolting. Keep the soil consistently moist for tender, flavorful leaves.Tomatoes
Choose determinate or bush tomato varieties like 'Roma' or 'Celebrity' that thrive in shorter growing seasons and require less pruning. Plant in a sunny spot with well-drained soil, use mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, and water consistently at the base to prevent disease.Beans & peas
For beans and peas in Wisconsin, plant after the last frost once the soil has warmed (beans) or early in spring for peas, which prefer cooler temps. Choose bush varieties for low maintenance, provide simple support like a trellis or stakes, and water regularly at the base to avoid mildew.Zucchini, cucumbers & squash
Zucchini, cucumbers, and squash thrive in Wisconsin's warm summers—plant them after the last frost in rich, well-drained soil with plenty of sun. Use mulch to retain moisture and reduce weeds, and consider vertical supports for cucumbers to save space and improve airflow. Water deeply at the base to prevent powdery mildew and check regularly for squash bugs.Herbs like basil, thyme, and chives
Basil, thyme, and chives grow well in Wisconsin’s summer—plant them in well-drained soil with full sun and water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Basil prefers warmer temps, so wait until after the last frost, while thyme and chives can tolerate cooler weather. Harvest often to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering, which can reduce flavor.
Southeast Wisconsin planting tip: Our region is typically in USDA Zone 5b. That means your last frost date is around May 10, and first frost comes around October 5—so plan your planting windows accordingly!
Want to grow more? Think about succession planting, crop rotation, and incorporating vertical gardening (like trellises, cattle panel arch, or hanging pots) to make the most of your space.
And don’t forget about perennials! Asparagus, rhubarb, sorrel, and chives come back year after year with little fuss.
STEP 3: ADD CHICKENS
Raising a few hens is often the gateway to full-blown backyard homesteading. And honestly? They're a joy. You'll get eggs, entertainment, and free fertilizer all in one feathery package. They are low maitenance animals, making daily care fairly easy.
Basics to get started:
Tips When Choosing a Coop
When it comes to your coop, ensure it is easy to clean when it comes to removing dirty bedding. Include an automatic door to ensure that you don’t have to run out to let your chickens out every morning and that the door closes at night to keep your girls safe! When considering where to place your coop, being close to an outdoor electrical outlet can be extremely helpful in the winter seasons. This way you can safetly have a heated water bowl for your chickens, ensuring that the water doesn’t freeze. Be careful and aware of fire risks especially with anything electrical inside your coop. If you use wood shavings for your bedding it is highly flammable and difficult to estinguish if I fire starts.Securing Your Chicken Run
When it comes to your run, the safest option is a fully enclosed chicken run that includes a roof. You can do a DIY build or find a kit like this one on Amazon, there are plenty of different shapes and sizes and range in pricing. They come with wire mesh that is adequite but you can upgrade this by replacing the mesh with hardware cloth. Add a predator apron (a trench around your run with hardware cloth to prevent pradators from digging into your run.Additional Tips For Safety
Invest in a Predator-Proof Latch/Lock. Predators like raccoons can easily break into your coop without one. Add motion activated lights to deter nocturnal predators like raccoons, oppossums, and owls. My personal favorite, make friends with your neighborhood crows! To do this, establish a regular feeding time with them and offer peanuts (in the shell) in a safe, open area and give them space. Once they become more comfortable around you and start hanging around your chickens more, their presence will deter predatory birds like hawks from bothering your flock.
Feed, grit, and water setup
When starting a homestead in Southeast Wisconsin, setting up a reliable system for feed, grit, and water is essential to keeping your chickens healthy year-round. Choose a quality layer feed and store it in a dry, rodent-proof container to maintain freshness and nutrition. Provide free-choice access to grit—especially if your birds are confined or don’t have access to natural gravel—to help them digest food properly. For water, invest in a heated waterer to prevent freezing during the long Wisconsin winters and ensure a constant, clean supply.
Remember—chickens are a long-term commitment (5–10 years), and yes, they do poop a lot. But once you taste those rich, golden-yolked eggs, you’ll never go back.
Want to go bigger? Many Southeast Wisconsin homesteaders also raise quail and ducks—check local rules first, of course. And if eggs aren’t your thing, chickens are also amazing composters. Let them turn kitchen scraps into rich manure and keep bugs at bay.
STEP 4: COMPOST LIKE A PRO
Good soil is the heart of any garden, and composting is how you build it. Turn your kitchen scraps, lawn clippings, and fall leaves into black gold with a simple bin system.
Things you can compost:
Veggie peels and fruit scraps
Coffee grounds and eggshells
Grass clippings, dried leaves, straw
Chicken poop + bedding
Avoid meat, dairy, and anything greasy to keep pests away.
Setting up a backyard compost:
Choose The Right Spot
Place your compost bin or pile in a well-drained area with partial sun to help speed up decomposition while keeping moisture balanced.Balance Greens and Browns
Aim for a mix of nitrogen-rich “greens” (like fruit scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich “browns” (like dried leaves, cardboard, and straw) to keep the pile active and odor-free.Turn It Regularly
Aerating your compost by turning it every week or two helps break materials down faster and prevents it from becoming compacted or smelly.
STEP 5: THINK BEYOND VEGGIES
A backyard homestead isn’t just about growing food—it’s about creating a little ecosystem that works with nature, not against it. That can mean:
Planting Native Flowers For Pollinators
Planting native plants in Southeast Wisconsin is a smart choice for a small homestead because they’re well-adapted to the local climate and require less water and maintenance. These plants support native pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects, helping to create a resilient ecosystem right in your backyard. Choose species like Purple Coneflower, Prairie Dropseed, and New England Aster to add beauty and biodiversity. Native plants also help prevent soil erosion and improve overall soil health, making them a natural fit for homesteading with long-term sustainability in mind.Growing Medicinal Herbs Like Echinacea, Calendula, and Lemon Balm
Growing medicinal herbs like echinacea, calendula, and lemon balm is a rewarding way to support your health naturally while adding beauty to your garden. These herbs are easy to grow in Southeast Wisconsin’s climate and can thrive in both garden beds and containers. Once harvested, they can be used for teas, salves, and tinctures to boost immunity, soothe skin, and promote relaxation.Starting a Small Rain Garden to Manage Stormwater
Starting a small rain garden is an effective and beautiful way to manage stormwater runoff on your property. By planting deep-rooted native species in a low-lying area, you can naturally filter rainwater and reduce the risk of erosion and flooding. Rain gardens also provide valuable habitat for pollinators and help recharge the groundwater table.Adding a Bee Hotel or Bat House for Beneficial Wildlife
Adding a bee hotel or bat house is a simple way to support beneficial wildlife and boost biodiversity around your homestead. Bee hotels offer solitary pollinators a safe nesting space, while bat houses provide roosting spots that can help control insect populations naturally. Installing a bat house away from your home encourages bats to settle there instead of seeking shelter in attics or barns during colder months, reducing the chances of them invading your living space in winter.Replacing Lawn With Cover Crop
Replacing traditional lawns with ground covers like clover is a smart, sustainable alternative that requires less water, mowing, and maintenance. Clover naturally enriches the soil by fixing nitrogen, which means it stays green and healthy without the need for chemical fertilizers. It’s also more resilient in drought and creates a lush, soft carpet that’s gentle underfoot. In addition to all of those benefits, clover is more resistant to dog urine meaning it won’t develope brown and discolored spots as easily as traditional lawn. Plus, clover attracts pollinators, helping support local ecosystems right in your yard.
The more diversity, the better!
STEP 6: EMBRACE THE SLOW
Gardening invites you to slow down and tune into the natural rhythms of the seasons. It’s a quiet, grounding practice that rewards patience and observation more than instant results. Watching seeds sprout, leaves unfurl, and blooms unfold over time is a gentle reminder that good things truly do take time. Each small task—like watering, weeding, or harvesting—becomes a moment of mindfulness and connection with the land. The pace may be slow, but the joy of seeing something you’ve nurtured thrive is deeply fulfilling. In a fast-paced world, gardening offers a rare and welcome invitation to breathe, pause, and savor the process. Homesteading is less about perfection and more about the journey. Your first year might bring zucchini overload, failed carrots, and a chicken who thinks she’s a lapdog. That’s all part of it.
Give yourself permission to start small. Plant one bed. Raise three hens. Build your soil. Learn something new every season.
📍 LOCAL RESOURCES Wisconsin Homesteaders:
Kettle Moraine Permaculture School (Richfield): Great for workshops on permaculture and food forests.
UW-Extension Master Gardener Program: Tons of science-backed info for regional growers.
Farm & Fleet + Fleet Farm: Great for picking up garden tools, coop supplies, and canning gear.
READY TO DESIGN YOUR HOMESTEAD FRIENDLY GARDEN?
Whether you want an herb spiral, a raised bed layout, or a garden that attracts pollinators and produces food, we design native-focused landscapes that do more. If you’re homesteading in Milwaukee, Cedarburg, West Bend, or nearby, let’s create something rooted in purpose—and beauty.
Contact us for a free garden consult! Call (414) 403-6498 or email hello@lillyandbug.com.
