Prepping on a budget: 8 Recession-proof projects to start on your homestead

By zoeysky // 2025-05-07

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Starting recession-proof projects, like a home garden or a chicken coop, can help shift priorities toward self-reliance and ensure readiness for any economic disruption.
Grow gardens with heirloom crops and fruit and nut trees for sustained food yields. Use greenhouses and cold frames to extend growing seasons, and root cellars to store fresh produce off-grid.
Harvest rainwater via barrels or tanks to reduce utility bills and ensure irrigation. Invest in solar panels to cut energy costs and generate income by selling excess power.
Raise chickens for eggs, using scraps for feed to save costs. Explore small-game trapping (squirrels, rabbits) as a backup protein source.
Create a home office for freelance work and income eligible for tax deductions ($1,500/year) to offset home expenses. Incremental projects (e.g., gardens, rain barrels, coops) compound into long-term security, reducing dependency on unstable systems.

Economic downturns can strike without warning, leaving families scrambling to adjust to job losses, rising prices and financial instability. But for preppers with a homestead, or even regular people with a modest backyard, there are ways to insulate against the worst effects of a recession. By investing time and effort into self-sufficient projects now, you can create long-term security, reduce living costs and even generate extra income. Here are eight recession-proof projects to fortify your homestead against economic uncertainty. (h/t to AskAPrepper.com)

Start a home garden with fruit and nut trees

A well-planned garden is one of the best defenses against rising food costs. Growing your own vegetables, fruits and nuts ensures a steady supply of fresh, nutritious food without relying on grocery stores. Tips for success: Grow heirloom varieties Heirloom varieties are better because you can save the seeds for future planting, cutting costs year after year. Use succession planting Learn about succession planting so you can stagger planting times to ensure continuous harvests. Grow resilient berries Raspberries and blackberries require little maintenance and produce abundant fruit. During past recessions and supply chain disruptions, many families slashed their grocery bills by relying on homegrown produce. A small garden can keep a family fed for pennies on the dollar. (Related: Garden fresh: Low-effort planting and chemical-free pest control.) Add fruit and nut trees Apple, pear and nut trees, like butternut or walnut, provide long-term yields. Depending on your planting zone, you can also grow the following fruit trees on your homestead:

Apricot
Calamondin
Cherry
Fig
Kaffir lime
Kumquat (Zones 8-10)
Lemon
Mandarin orange (Zones 9 to 10)
Peach
Persimmon
Plum
Tangerine

While these trees take a few years to mature, they’re worth the wait.

Build a greenhouse or cold frames

Extending the growing season means more food with less dependency on store-bought produce. A simple greenhouse or cold frames (mini-greenhouses made from old windows or plexiglass) can add six to eight extra weeks of growing time in spring and fall. Place a black-painted five-gallon bucket filled with water inside your greenhouse. The water absorbs heat during the day and releases it at night, protecting plants from unexpected frosts.

Install rainwater collection systems

Water bills can add up, especially if you’re irrigating a large garden. A rain barrel system is an easy way to capture free water from gutters. How to maximize efficiency:

Start with a single barrel under a downspout. Even a single rainstorm can fill it quickly.
Expand to multiple barrels or larger tanks for bigger gardens.
For off-grid watering, consider a pressurized system with a pump to distribute water efficiently.

Build a root cellar

A root cellar is a time-tested way to store produce long-term without relying on electricity. It keeps vegetables, canned goods and bulk purchases fresh for months. Basic requirements:

At least 8'x8' in size (larger if possible).
Buried at least two feet underground for stable temperatures.
Concrete block walls that resist mold and are easier to DIY than poured concrete.
Even if zoning laws prevent a full underground cellar, a cool basement corner can still function as a makeshift storage space.

Build a coop and raise chickens for eggs

A small chicken coop is a low-maintenance way to ensure a steady protein supply. Raising just six hens can provide enough eggs for a family of four, with extras to sell or barter. Cost-saving tips:

Feed your chickens kitchen scraps and garden weeds to cut feed costs.
You don't need a rooster because hens lay eggs without one. However, their eggs are infertile, meaning the eggs won’t develop into chicks. If you get a rooster, the eggs must be collected daily and stored in a cool place before being used so they won’t develop into chicks.
A 24 sq. ft. coop is enough for half a dozen birds.

Eggs are a versatile, nutrient-dense food source that remains valuable even when meat prices skyrocket.

Learn small game trapping

When meat prices soar, hunting and trapping can supplement protein sources. Rabbits, squirrels and other small game are abundant in many areas. Getting started:

First, check local laws on trapping and hunting.
Learn primitive traps (snares, deadfalls) as a backup.
Practice field dressing to minimize food waste.

While not for everyone, small game can be a crucial survival skill in lean times.

Install solar panels

Energy costs often spike during recessions. Solar panels can reduce reliance on the grid, and they can also generate income through net metering, or selling excess power back to the utility company. Considerations:

Assess your energy needs before sizing a system.
Start small since even a few panels can offset costs.
Pair solar panels with a solar generator for backup power.

While upfront costs can be high, long-term savings make solar panels a smart, recession-proof investment.

Create a home office for tax benefits

If you have a side hustle or freelance work, converting a dedicated home office space can yield tax deductions for up to $1,500 per year. Qualifying uses:

Freelance work
Online business
Storage for self-employed inventory

This simple adjustment can help offset mortgage interest, utilities and insurance costs on your property. Recession is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to devastate your finances. By implementing even just a few of these homestead projects, you can slash expenses, secure food sources and create alternative income streams. Start small. Plant a garden, set up one rain barrel or build a chicken coop. Over time, these efforts will compound into real financial resilience, ensuring you’re prepared no matter what the economy brings. Now is the time to act. The more you do today, the safer you’ll be tomorrow. Visit Offgrid.news for more tips on how to start prepping projects that won't break the bank. You can also check out Health Ranger Store and Brighteon Store for more supplies for your prepping stockpile. Watch the video below to learn more about Organic Coffee Beans and why they are an essential and versatile addition to your survival stockpile. This video is from the Health Ranger Store channel on Brighteon.com.

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