Homesteading is all about self-reliance, creativity, and making the most of what you’ve got. And when it comes to saving money, one of the best tools in your belt is the ability to repurpose everyday items into useful things around your property—especially for your animals.
Whether you’re just starting out or are deep into the homestead lifestyle, these 10 simple items can save you serious cash and reduce waste in the process.
1. 5-Gallon Buckets
These are a homesteader’s best friend! You can often get them free or cheap from bakeries, restaurants, or hardware stores.
How to repurpose:
- DIY chicken waterers or feeders
- Feed storage (just add a gamma seal lid)
- Nesting boxes
- Mini compost bins
2. Old Cribs or Baby Gates
Have an old crib or know someone getting rid of one? Grab it!
How to repurpose:
- Use crib slats as fencing or for a brooder frame
- Create a small animal pen
- Turn a crib mattress into a comfy spot in your goat or pig shelter
3. Pallets
Wood pallets are endlessly useful and often available for free from local businesses.
How to repurpose:
- Build chicken coops, duck houses, or rabbit hutches
- Construct compost bins
- Use them to make raised garden beds or tool racks
4. Milk Jugs and Plastic Bottles
Don’t toss them—put them to work!
How to repurpose:
- Cut into scoops for feed or fertilizer
- Use as mini greenhouses over seedlings
- Make small waterers for chicks or ducklings
5. Old Feed Bags
Empty feed bags (especially the woven kind) are tough and surprisingly versatile.
How to repurpose:
- Use as garden weed barriers
- Make reusable shopping or storage bags
- Use them to line animal bedding areas during muddy seasons
6. Bathtubs or Sinks
Old tubs and sinks are easy to find at salvage yards or curbside pickups.
How to repurpose:
- Outdoor water troughs
- Duck ponds (yep, ducks love a good soak!)
- Raised garden beds or planters
7. Wire Hangers or Old Fencing
Don’t toss bent or rusty wire—reshape it into something useful.
How to repurpose:
- Reinforce animal pens
- Create trellises or plant cages
- Make a frame for a hoop house or cold frame
8. Broken Furniture
Before you haul that old dresser or bookshelf to the dump, see what it can do on the homestead.
How to repurpose:
- Nesting boxes from drawers
- Goat or chicken play structures
- Storage shelves for your barn or shed
9. Mason Jars and Glass Jars
Whether they’re from pasta sauce or store-bought jams, glass jars have endless uses.
How to repurpose:
- Store seeds, dried herbs, or spices
- Use as candle holders or lanterns
- Organize screws, nails, and small tools in your workshop
10. T-shirts and Towels
Worn-out clothes can be reborn as practical farm helpers.
How to repurpose:
- Rags for cleaning the barn or tools
- Bedding for baby animals
- Wraps for injured animals (great for goats, chickens, or rabbits)
Final Thoughts
The beauty of homesteading is learning how to turn “trash” into treasure. Repurposing everyday items not only saves you money—it builds your creativity, keeps things out of the landfill, and gives your homestead a resourceful, handmade charm.
What kinds of things have you repurposed?
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