Learn to Homestead in a Weekend

Join us for an intensive weekend at Polyface Farm where you will learn hands-on skills from some of the most knowledgeable homesteaders in the US!

**There are no physical tickets for this event. Nothing will be mailed to you.

Hands-On Workshops

VIP Farm Tour

Are you interested in taking a crash course in homesteading?

Want to get hands-on experience and valuable information that you can’t find anywhere online?

Join us May 22-23, 2026 at Polyface Farm in Swoope, VA for an intensive weekend of workshops, in-depth lectures, and a homesteading community experience like no other!

Here’s what you can expect at the event:

  • Intensive workshops, demonstrations, and lectures
  • Access to teachers for Q&A time during their lecture
  • Hands-on demonstrations, where you get to learn visually by DOING, not just seeing
  • Lunch provided each day (please note, breakfast is not available this year)
  • VIP Farm Tour
  • An amazing time of fellowship and community with like-minded individuals from all walks of life!

…..and so much more!

We are so excited about this intimate and community experience with teachers and students. While our annual big event is amazing, this smaller event will allow you to learn in-depth, intentionally, and efficiently, as you won’t have to compete with thousands of other questions or attendees.

Most of these workshops will be in 1 to 2-hour intensive learning time blocks. They will either be lecture style, with intensive PowerPoint presentations and Q&A time, or they will be intensive lectures with demonstrations that you get to be involved in!

Each attendee gets to pick and choose which classes they want to take. You don’t have to sign up for a particular class!

Meet The Speakers

Topics Include::

  • Techniques and Tools for Homestead Efficiency
  • Chicken Butchering
  • Building Ponds and Water Systems (with a Polyface pond tour)
  • Rotational Grazing for the Small Homestead
  • Cheesemaking
  • The Homestead Dairy Cow
  • Be Your Own Doctor
  • Naturopathic Tools and Understanding for Resilient Moms and Families
  • Taking the Fear out of Pressure Canning
  • How to Ferment the Harvest
  • Old School Sourdough
  • Planning Your Garden Intentionally
  • Beekeeping
  • More to Come!

Event Schedule

The event schedule will be posted soon!

Kid Classes:

  • Rotational Grazing with Shawn & Beth Dougherty
  • Baking with Nicole Russell
  • Pasture ID Walk with Daniel Salatin
  • Goats! with Wendy and Karlyn Hartman
  • Bees! With Leroy Byler
  • Forestry with Joel Salatin
  • Ice Cream with RuthAnn Zimmerman

Vendors:

  • Eden Earth
  • Hatching Time
  • Reconciled Leather Co
  • Share Healthcare
  • Valley Mill Bakehouse
  • More to Come!

Purchase Your Tickets Before they are gone

Choose between Regular, VIP, or Child Tickets
Regular Tickets
$245
  • All Weekend Workshops
  • Build Community With Fellow Homesteaders
  • Lunch Included
  • Access to the Vendor Area
Child Tickets
$50-85
  • Ages 6-12
  • Lunch Included
  • Kidsteader Classes ($85)
  • Kidsteader T-Shirt ($85)
  • Kids under 6 are Free (tickets still needed for headcount)
VIP Tickets
$345
  • All Weekend Workshops
  • Build Community With Fellow Homesteaders
  • Lunch Included
  • Access to the Vendor Area
  • A 2-hour Tour of Polyface Farm

Partner with us!

Become a Vendor

Apply to become a vendor for the 2026 Homestead in a Weekene Event! 

Sell your homestead-related goods & services!

Become a Speaker

Do you have homestead wisdom to share? Apply to become a speaker!

Speaking at HOA events will allow you to share your knowledge with the entire community!

 

Become a Sponsor

Visit our sponsors! Check out the amazing group of businesses partnering with us to make our annual events possible.

Interested in sponsoring in 2026? Partner with Homesteaders of America to sponsor the conferences & events. View our Sponsorship Packet for more information. Contact our Sponsorship Coordinator for more information. 

Become a Member

Member receive early access to tickets, access to the members-only Facebook group, and access to our extensive online library of videos, lectures, and other homestead resources!