Homesteading

Homesteading is a part of a movement that is gaining popularity. This homesteading movement is about learning to take care of you and your family in a more self- sufficient way. With the economy as bad as it is, having the ability to take care of your food and other needs could become very important for your family. Homesteading can take place in urban, suburban and country settings. Obviously, homesteading works best in the country, but it is not impossible to do at least some homesteading in the city and suburbs.

Homesteading in the city is not impossible, but of course it is a bit trickier than it is in the country. Obviously in the city you are not going to have fields and fields of growing vegetables, large orchards and roaming cattle, but there are still things you can do. You may be able to keep a roof top garden or if that is impossible then maybe grow a few vegetables in window boxes outside of your windows. You could grow a few veggies or herbs in containers inside if you have a bright window or if you have some plant growing lights. If you do have a bit of land, you may be able to grow a couple dwarf fruit trees or a few berry bushes. Check with your city ordinances, you may be allowed to keep a couple hens for laying eggs. Some cities allow this. Other homesteading tasks you could do in the city is making food from scratch, make your own herbal tea, candle making, soap making and basket weaving. There are books that can help you learn these skills.

Homesteading in the suburbs is a bit easier in some ways than in the city.  Most people in the suburbs have more land outside to use, but you do need to check with your city ordinances and you may run into trouble if you live in an area with an association that you pay to live in a certain neighborhood.  Make sure you learn the local laws well.  If you don't have any trouble with ordinances and associations, you may be able to have a small vegetable garden, an herb garden, a few fruit trees, berry bushes, a small amount of hens and maybe even a small pygmy dairy goat depending on how much space you have.  If you learn how to utilize your land, you may be able to supplement quite a bit of your diet with your own home grown food.

Ok, being out in the country is the easiest way to homestead if you have a few acres.  You don't have to have a lot of land for homesteading because you are are not growing stuff to sell, you are only growing (and raising) enough mainly to feed your own family.  If you have a couple acres out in the country, you can pretty much do everything you are in the suburbs but also add some cows, horses, pigs, fields of grain, bee keeping (you can possible do this in the suburbs if you really want, but check for ordinances), ect.  You will have room to add a barn and possibly even a pond.  In the country you will have more freedom to do the type of homesteading you want.  If you are just moving to the country and starting homesteading for the first time, I suggest you start off small and don't try to do too much in the first couple years.  After you get the hang of maybe raising a couple goats, a few hens and maybe a dairy cow, then try adding a few more animals.  Keep in mind out in the country you will probably want several cats on the property for kill mice and rats and you will probably want a herder dog or two to help protect the livestock.