The Best Homesteading Areas in Canada

Homesteading in Canada has risen in popularity in recent years, partially thanks to media exposure and the rise of remote work that makes self-sufficient living more possible. Another factor that’s likely prompted households to reconsider where and how they reside is undoubtedly the high cost of housing in Canada. Many individuals and families in Canada also look to homesteading as a way to regain their independence from the precariousness of urban areas and practice living off the land in Canada. Others live near urban centres but use traditional methods of growing and preserving their food as a compromise solution.

Canada is a vast country with a climate that can be extremely harsh and land that can be unforgiving – and as homesteading relies on copious amounts of manual labour, at least some mechanical aptitude and a can-do approach to problem-solving – especially in the face of unexpected circumstances (of which there will be many) or in response to outright danger and disaster, homesteading in Canada is not for the faint of heart, and NOT to be taken lightly.

That said, if you’ve been reading up on the subject for some time, memorizing how-to videos about raising chickens and goats, trying mini-versions of homesteading in your backyard garden, and are ready with your plan, let’s dive in.

Best Homesteading Areas in Canada

Based on weather, land fertility, productivity and purchase price, the best areas for homesteading in Canada are:

Okanagan Valley

Arguably, the best place to homestead is in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Located in the south-central area of the province directly north of the state of Washington, this beautiful area truly has it all: a mild, semi-arid climate, fertile land, a regular growing season with hot summers to ripen fruits and vegetables and mild winters to replenish the water table without flooding property, lakes, forests, and access to a large farming community loaded with knowledge on everything from the latest regenerative growing techniques to non-toxic pest management. Places like Osoyoos and Penticton have long been homesteading stalwarts and welcoming to newcomers. The area is also far enough from the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the coast of Vancouver Island to be safe from potential earthquakes and tsunamis.

Alberta Near the Canadian Rockies

Not every area of Alberta is conducive to homestead living, but the foothills of the Rockies have fertile soil and are protected from the harsh, cold winds by the mountains. The entire area between Calgary and Edmonton and the Rockies is stunning, and it is without much of the severe, windswept weather that comes with living on the Prairies. If you avoid places like Banff and Lake Louise, as well as the military bases, then there is an abundance of good spots to homestead or even live off the grid. You’ll want to enlist the help of an experienced local real estate professional as you endeavour to find the perfect property, however, as land prices in this area tend to be somewhat high.

South New Brunswick

Boasting some of the country’s most affordable real estate prices, the south of New Brunswick is also one of the most welcoming regions for homesteading in Canada’s east. It is sparsely populated with lots of land suitable for farming, and with the Atlantic Ocean nearby, you can farm and fish for sustenance and use the leftover fish meal for fertilizer! If canning is your thing, the hilly ground allows for full or partial basements that can expand your opportunity for food storage. The only thing you need to be wary of in this area is that the summers can have lots of bugs, and the humidity can make working outside a bit of a bother unless you get an early start and slather yourself with repellent. The winters can be damp and bone-chilling, but it’s nothing that a masonry hearth or pellet stove can’t handle.

Maritime Islands

The islands of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland are beautiful places to homestead. They are sparsely populated while remaining close to the mainland for supply runs. The Gulf Stream from the Atlantic Ocean moderates the climate so that the weather is much milder than in other locations. The land is very fertile, especially in Nova Scotia, and the growing season is warm with the possibility of genuinely bountiful harvests. Land prices are reasonable compared to other places in Canada, making homesteading an accessible lifestyle in these areas.

Homesteading in the Rest of Canada

While the Okanagan Valley, foothills of the Rockies, and the Maritimes are the best areas in Canada for homesteading, Canada’s vastness allows for homesteading just about anywhere if you’re ready for it.

Homesteading in the high northern portions of Canada – including north of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and the entire regions of Labrador, Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut – is generally NOT recommended due to the remoteness of these locations, and frigid winters coupled with safety issues due to wildlife encounters, plus potential fires in the summer.

Add to that limited suitable land for growing crops – for example; it’s estimated that just 20,000 of the 1.17 million square kilometres of land in the Northwest Territories is agriculture-ready – combined with a shorter growing season of just seven or eight weeks, and even with a hunting and fishing license and a survivalist background, you’d still have your work cut out for you.

However, there are a few other locations that are good for homesteading, including:

Quebec – While the options in Quebec are somewhat limited, there is land available if you drive into the hills and mountains an hour or two from Montreal or Quebec City. Homesteading on sloped land comes with its own challenges – including the long and hard manual labour that can be required to create terraces for growing and controlling water runoff – and the augmentation that’s needed to preserve the soil scraped thin by the same glaciation that made the Canadian Shield.

Ontario – The best place to look for homesteading land in southern Ontario is northwest of Peterborough, which is somewhat removed yet just a short drive from civilization. Or, if you are more adventurous, look to the west half of the province.

Southern Manitoba and Saskatchewan – The Prairies can be unrelenting in their extreme temperatures but have abundant farmland available for homesteading. If you venture a bit further north, you can find forested regions with more water sources but less land for farming.

Pros and Cons of Homesteading in Canada

Like everything else in life, homesteading in Canada has many advantages and disadvantages that could encourage families to trek to rural Canada or discourage households from abandoning big-city living and planting new roots in remote communities.

Let’s take a look at the pros and cons:

Pros

Healthy Food: Provided you have fertile land and you know how to keep it that way, as you become self-sufficient, you will learn how to grow more and more healthy and organic food. Sure, you can still buy ultra-processed food, but why bother when you can harvest your own or trade for or purchase high-quality food directly from other homesteaders or farmers?

Nature: Homesteading connects you to nature as you learn how to amend and enhance soils, spend more time outdoors, and gain greater insight and understanding of the ecosystem you inhabit.

Family Time: Living in the city often means getting caught up in the hustle and bustle involved with the daily planning, costs, and travel associated with everything from work and grocery shopping to kids’ school and extracurricular activities. Because homesteading days can be long and gruelling and the need for community is felt at a deeper level, homesteaders typically spend more time relaxing close to home with family and friends.

Mental Health: Deeper social connections, lower stress levels, and more time to be mindful can create positive mental health benefits for those intent on living off the land in Canada.

Cons

Expensive Land: Believe it or not, purchasing land in many rural parts of Canada can be costly. Because the amount of arable land in Canada is shrinking at an alarming rate due to residential and industrial encroachment, and because buying agricultural land requires at least a 50% down payment in order to qualify for a mortgage, many prospective homesteaders have effectively been priced out of the market in recent years.

Investment: When you are beginning to homestead, you will need to invest in essential goods beyond the land purchase, such as ladders, tools and wheelbarrows; irrigation systems and soil amendment products such as straw, manure and compost; large-scale cooking and canning supplies; seeds and saplings, and maybe even oil and gas for chainsaw, tiller or a tractor.

Regulations: Municipal governments have implemented strict regulations for homesteaders. These can often include stringent zoning laws that require extensive paperwork, permits, and approval from local officials.

That’s why it is imperative to do your research, speak with people who have done homesteading, and determine if this rigorous type of living is right for you and your family.

Back to Basics

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Canadian government attracted immigrants to the Canadian West by advertising free 160-acre homesteads in the Canadian West. In exchange for the land, families had to construct a house with very few materials and cultivate the area within three years. Because of this, Hungarian, Romanian and Ukrainian farmers and farm labourers with a deep knowledge of agriculture who practiced at surviving harsh climates were some of Canada’s first and most successful non-indigenous homesteaders.

What’s Old is New Again?

There are numerous opportunities for homesteading in Canada. You can buy land and establish your homestead on a lot outside of the city or buy a more extensive property on the outskirts of a smaller town to grow your own food and practice animal husbandry to your heart’s delight (providing local bylaws allow it).

An experienced real estate agent can guide you through buying land or a rural home so you can set up your homestead in the perfect location for your lifestyle.