How To Homestead
Lease some land from the Canadian Government, for no cost per acre, then get all the trees cut down on 64 of the 160 acre "Quarter" [Section] - the minimum building "lot" size, then pile and burn the excess trees, remove all the stumps or cut off and then "break" or first time plow that land. Then root pick it, disc it three or four times, harrow it, then pick again, then seed to crop, harvest, then pick again, the following year then seed to crop plus hay.
At the same time, build a log cabin, outhouse, water system or well, prepare and plant a garden and can it, get some hives operating, and raise a faimly, chop 20 cords of fire wood the first year. And have a supply of money available or "work-out" at first. Make everything, use everything, fix everything, understand everything about how things work, think and do for yourself (and neighbour if available).
After about 40% of the land is "proved-up" then you get Title for it, you buy it for $8 per acre from the Government.
Do all of that more or less on-your-own, except for family help, and help of God and Saints and Sages of all time.
Then, that is
Homesteading. And that can be done today, by almost anyone with good health and a strong will - if that is God's will too.
As far as "Homesteading"-"Today" goes, I think that those words have some other meaning.
Alex
Neighbour's Cat With Piler
Neighbour's Tractor and Disc
Picking Roots On New Land
Blue, Cabin, and Stars, First Year, Moberly Lake, BC, Canada