Homesteading is more than a lifestyle in Vermont. It is a tradition. Across the state, families are raising backyard chickens for fresh eggs, keeping goats for milk and companionship, canning the summer harvest to stock winter pantries, and setting up bird feeders to attract the local species that make Vermont's landscape so vibrant. Some homesteaders are returning to practices their grandparents never left. Others are starting from scratch, drawn to the idea of self-sufficient living and a closer connection to the land.
Whatever stage you are at, the right supplies make the difference between a homestead that runs smoothly and one that turns into a series of expensive lessons. Johnson Hardware & Rental in Johnson, VT has a dedicated homesteading department built around the practical needs of Vermont homesteaders. We carry Poulin Grain animal feed, chicken supplies, goat supplies, canning equipment, and backyard bird essentials, all in one location. This guide walks through the major categories of homesteading supplies and what you need to know to get started or expand what you are already doing.
Why Homesteading Works in Vermont
Vermont has always attracted people who value self-reliance, and the state's landscape and culture support that instinct. The combination of fertile agricultural land, a strong local food movement, supportive community networks, and a regulatory environment that allows backyard chickens and small livestock in most areas makes Vermont one of the best states in the country for homesteading at any scale.
The growing season is short, but that limitation has shaped a deep tradition of food preservation, root cellaring, and winter planning that experienced Vermont homesteaders know well. The cold winters are a challenge for livestock, but they also reduce pest pressure, keep disease cycles in check, and create the kind of conditions that hearty heritage breeds thrive in.
Whether you are working a few acres in Lamoille County or managing a backyard setup in a village, the principles are the same: raise healthy animals, grow and preserve your own food, reduce your dependence on outside systems, and build skills that pay dividends for years to come. Johnson Hardware & Rental is rooted in the same community and the same values. We are family-owned, powered by 100% renewable energy, and committed to helping Vermont homesteaders succeed.
Raising Chickens: Supplies for Beginner and Experienced Flock Owners
Backyard chickens are the gateway to homesteading for many Vermont families, and for good reason. Chickens are relatively low-maintenance, produce fresh eggs daily during their laying season, provide excellent garden fertilizer, and eat ticks, mites, mosquitos, slugs, and other pests that would otherwise harm your garden and yard. They also have big personalities and make genuinely entertaining additions to the property.
Johnson Hardware & Rental's chicken supply department carries everything you need to start and maintain a healthy flock. Our inventory covers the core categories that every chicken keeper needs.
Feed is the foundation of flock health. We stock Poulin Grain chicken feed formulated for different ages and stages, from chick starter to layer pellets. Poulin Grain is a trusted New England feed brand that performs well in Vermont's climate and conditions. Our team can help you choose the right formula based on the age of your birds and whether you are raising them for eggs, meat, or both.
Beyond feed, we carry treats like dried mealworms that chickens love and that supplement their diet with protein. Healthcare products help you manage common flock issues like parasites, respiratory problems, and wound care. Feeders and waterers come in sizes and styles suited to small backyard flocks and larger setups alike. Bedding and brooders are essential for chick rearing and coop maintenance, and fencing keeps your birds contained and protected from Vermont's predators, including foxes, coyotes, hawks, and fisher cats.
For those just getting started, our team can walk you through the basics of coop setup, flock sizing, and seasonal care. We have also published a guide on starting chicks with Poulin Grain on our blog that covers the first steps in detail.
Keeping Goats: Feed, Supplements, and Everyday Essentials
Goats are the natural next step for many Vermont homesteaders who have established a chicken flock and want to expand their operation. Goats provide fresh milk, help manage brush and overgrown pastures, and bring a level of personality to the homestead that few other animals can match.
Johnson Hardware & Rental's goat supply section covers the everyday essentials that goat keepers need to keep their animals healthy and well-fed. Our inventory includes quality goat feed from Poulin Grain formulated for different ages and stages, from kid starter to maintenance and lactation feeds. We also carry goat treats, mineral supplements that address the specific nutritional needs of goats in Vermont's mineral-deficient soils, feeding supplies to make daily chores more efficient, and grooming products to keep coats clean and healthy.
Goats require more infrastructure than chickens. They need secure fencing, as goats are famously creative escape artists, along with adequate shelter from Vermont's rain, wind, and cold. They also need consistent access to clean water, quality hay, and mineral supplements, particularly copper, selenium, and zinc, which are often lacking in Vermont's natural forage.
If you are considering adding goats to your homestead, our team can help you think through the basics and point you toward the right feed and supplies for your situation. Whether you are keeping a few dairy goats for family milk production or raising a small meat herd, the fundamentals of good nutrition and daily care are the same.
Poulin Grain: Trusted Feed for Vermont Farms and Homesteads
Feed quality has a direct impact on animal health, production, and long-term wellbeing. Cheap, low-quality feed leads to poor egg production, slow growth, digestive issues, and increased susceptibility to disease. That is why Johnson Hardware & Rental stocks Poulin Grain as our primary animal feed brand.
Poulin Grain is a New England company that has been producing animal feed for over 90 years. Their formulas are designed for the specific conditions and demands of northeastern farming, which means they account for the climate, forage availability, and nutritional challenges that Vermont animals face. We carry Poulin Grain feeds for chickens, goats, cows, horses, sheep, turkeys, swine, and lambs, with options formulated for different ages, stages, and purposes.
Our team can help you choose the right Poulin Grain product for your animals based on their breed, age, purpose, and the time of year. Nutritional needs change with the seasons in Vermont. Laying hens need higher calcium during peak production. Goats need additional energy during cold winter months. Horses in work need different caloric and protein levels than horses at pasture. Getting the feed right is one of the most impactful things you can do for your animals, and our staff is here to help you make that call.
Canning and Preserving: Putting Up Your Vermont Harvest
Vermont's short growing season produces an abundance of food in a concentrated window. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, beans, berries, and stone fruits all come in at once during the summer and early fall, and the only way to enjoy that harvest year-round is to preserve it. Canning is the most popular preservation method among Vermont homesteaders, and Johnson Hardware & Rental's canning department carries everything you need to do it safely and efficiently.
Our canning inventory includes mason jars and lids in multiple sizes, canning pots for water bath and pressure canning, Gulf Wax for sealing, liquid pectin for jams and jellies, pickling spices, candy thermometers for precise temperature monitoring, jar lifters, magnetic lid lifters, silicone canning rings, and food sealers for vacuum-packing.
For homesteaders who are new to canning, the process can feel intimidating, but it is straightforward once you understand the basics. Water bath canning works for high-acid foods like tomatoes, pickles, jams, jellies, and salsas. Pressure canning is required for low-acid foods like green beans, corn, meats, and soups. Using the right method for the right food is critical for safety, and our team can help you determine which approach your recipes require.
The best advice for canning season is to stock up early. Peak harvest in Vermont runs from late July through October, and waiting until your countertops are overflowing with tomatoes to buy jars and lids means you are already behind. Stop in before the rush to make sure you have everything you need, and our team will help you fill any gaps.
Backyard Birds: Feeding and Attracting Vermont's Wildlife
Not all homesteading involves livestock and food production. Attracting and feeding backyard birds is one of the most accessible and rewarding homesteading activities in Vermont, and it connects you to the natural ecosystem that surrounds your property.
Vermont is home to a remarkable variety of bird species throughout the year. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and cardinals stay through the winter. Warblers, orioles, hummingbirds, and dozens of other species arrive in spring and summer. Setting up feeders and providing quality food attracts these birds to your property, where they also help control insect populations and pollinate your garden.
Johnson Hardware & Rental carries bird feeders in multiple styles, including tube feeders, hopper feeders, suet cages, and platform feeders. We stock quality seed blends, suet cakes, and hummingbird nectar, along with hummingbird feeders and the cleaning supplies and accessories you need to keep feeders sanitary and functioning properly. We also carry bird houses for species like bluebirds and wrens that nest in cavities.
Feeder placement, food selection, and seasonal adjustments all influence which species you attract and how often they visit. Our team can help you set up a feeding station that matches the birds in your area and the layout of your property.
Seasonal Homesteading in Vermont: A Year-Round Cycle
Homesteading in Vermont follows a natural rhythm dictated by the seasons. Understanding that cycle helps you plan your purchases, prepare your animals, and stay ahead of the work rather than reacting to it.
Spring is when the activity ramps up. Chicks arrive at feed stores and hatcheries, gardens get planted, coops and fencing get repaired after winter, and goat kidding season brings new animals that need special care and nutrition. This is the time to stock up on chick starter feed, bedding, brooders, seed starter supplies, and fencing materials.
Summer is the peak production season. Laying hens produce at their highest rates, gardens are in full swing, and the harvest begins. Canning season starts in earnest by late July and runs through September. This is when your canning supplies, jars, lids, and pectin get the heaviest use.
Fall is about preparation and preservation. The last of the harvest gets canned, frozen, or root-cellared. Coops and shelters get winterized with additional bedding, insulation, and draft protection. Feed requirements increase as animals need more calories to maintain body heat. Fall is also a good time to set up or refresh bird feeding stations before winter drives birds to seek reliable food sources.
Winter is maintenance mode. Animals need consistent feeding, fresh water that is not frozen, and shelter from Vermont's harshest weather. Egg production drops with shorter daylight hours unless you supplement with artificial light. Indoor projects like planning next year's garden, ordering seeds, and repairing tools fill the quieter months. And for many Vermont homesteaders, winter is when the canned goods from summer and fall really prove their value.
Getting Started: What to Prioritize as a Beginning Homesteader
If you are new to homesteading, the number of things you could do can feel overwhelming. The key is to start small, learn as you go, and add new elements to your homestead one at a time.
Chickens are the most common starting point, and for good reason. A small flock of four to six hens provides fresh eggs for a family, requires minimal space and infrastructure, and teaches you the basics of animal care, feeding schedules, and predator management. Once your flock is established and running smoothly, you have a foundation of experience to build on.
A small vegetable garden is the natural companion to a chicken flock. The chickens provide manure for composting, and the garden produces food scraps and spent plants that the chickens eat. It is a closed loop that reduces waste and increases the productivity of both systems. Johnson Hardware & Rental's gardening department carries the seeds, soils, fertilizers, and tools you need to get a garden started.
Canning can begin as soon as you have a garden producing more than your family can eat fresh. A basic water bath canning setup costs very little and allows you to preserve tomatoes, pickles, jams, and salsas with minimal equipment.
Goats, backyard birds, and other additions can come later as you build confidence, infrastructure, and the knowledge to manage multiple systems at once. There is no right pace for homesteading. The only wrong approach is trying to do everything at once.
Common Mistakes New Homesteaders Make
Every homesteader makes mistakes. The ones that cost the most time and money tend to follow a few common patterns.
Buying too many animals too quickly is near the top of the list. Six chickens are manageable. Thirty chickens, two goats, and a garden in your first year is a recipe for burnout. Start with a number you can handle well, and expand once your systems and routines are solid.
Underestimating winter preparation is another common mistake in Vermont. Animals that are comfortable and well-fed in July need significantly more attention in January. Coops need to be draft-free but ventilated. Waterers freeze overnight and need daily attention. Feed consumption increases. Planning and budgeting for winter care before winter arrives prevents scrambling when the temperature drops.
Skimping on feed quality is a false economy. Cheap feed leads to poor health, lower production, and higher veterinary bills. Investing in a quality feed like Poulin Grain from the start saves money over the long run and keeps your animals healthier and more productive.
Finally, not connecting with other homesteaders in your area means missing out on one of the best resources available. Vermont has a strong community of homesteaders who share knowledge, trade supplies, and help each other out. Local feed stores, community forums, and agricultural extension services are all worth tapping into.
Why Vermont Homesteaders Choose Johnson Hardware & Rental
The homesteading supply landscape in Vermont is scattered. You can find chicken feed at one store, canning jars at another, goat supplements online, and bird feeders at a garden center across town. Johnson Hardware & Rental consolidates all of that into a single location in Johnson, VT, saving you time, gas, and the hassle of running between multiple stores.
More importantly, we are a family-owned store that understands the Vermont homesteading lifestyle because we are part of the same community. We stock products that are practical, reliable, and selected for real New England conditions. Our team can help you choose the right Poulin Grain feed for your flock, walk you through canning basics, recommend goat supplements for Vermont's mineral-deficient soils, and set you up with a bird feeding station that attracts the species in your area.
We are also more than a homesteading store. While you are picking up chicken feed and canning jars, you can browse our Milwaukee tools, building supplies, workwear, equipment rentals, pet supplies, and outdoor recreation gear. It is 25,000 square feet of inventory in a converted dairy barn, and it is all designed to serve the way Vermonters actually live and work.
Start Your Vermont Homestead at Johnson Hardware & Rental
Whether you are picking up your first bag of chick starter, expanding your goat herd, stocking up for canning season, or setting up bird feeders for the winter, Johnson Hardware & Rental in Johnson, VT has the homesteading supplies and the knowledgeable staff to support your journey toward self-sufficient living.
Stop by our store at 1442 VT Route 15 in Johnson, VT to browse our full homesteading department, talk to our team, and find everything you need in one trip. Give us a call at 802-635-7282 with any questions.