What Is An Urban Homestead
Urban Homestead
What is an urban homestead? How do you start one? If you have dreamed about homesteading, flower farms, farming, gardening or hobby farms urban homesteading is for you.
What Is Urban Homesteading
Urban homesteading by definition is practicing sustainable living techniques and creating urban agriculture in a city or urban location. You can be an urban homesteader on a city lot like we are or you could get creative an be an apartment homesteader. You are not limited by size only by imagination.
Homesteading For Beginners
Homesteading is about creating sustainability. Growing your own food. Creating your own natural living products like soaps and other crafts. Living more simply. Baking your own bread and enjoying homemade food.
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Homesteading In The City
Homesteading in the city is actually quite easy. We installed raised beds in a portion of our 1/5 acre lot and grow about 75% of our annual produce using polyculture gardening techniques and crop rotation. Depending on your gardening zone you could grow in 3-4 seasons annually. If your city allows you could have chickens or other birds for egg production.
Urban Homestead Ideas
Sky is the limit for your urban homestead as long as you comply with the city. Urban homesteads are usually located in city limits and have to abide by bylaws in reflection to garden size, lot usage, keeping chickens and etc.
Check with your city or your landlord and see what works. You could be growing tomatoes, salad greens, herbs and flowers in no time.
Backyard Urban Homestead
If you’re located on a city lot a backyard or front yard homestead may work for you depending on the lot size and structure. Now, you may want to put in a 10×10 garden plot and start planting. Which is great, but can I suggest going no till (layering compost and soil) or building raised beds. Both options mean less weeds, more produce and less work in the long run.
Urban Homestead Apartment
If you live in an apartment or townhouse you can still homestead in the city. You would be surprised what you can grow in a pot or five gallon bucket. As long as you have the patio area with sunshine you can grow tomatoes, salad greens, beets, cabbage, carrots, herbs and strawberries to name a few. Vertical planters offer you more growing area in a small space.
How To Start An Urban Homestead
If you are looking to start an urban homestead check your bylaws on what you can and can’t do first. If you can have chickens and animals great. Otherwise, plan your garden and planter locations. Figure out what you want to grow and dive in.
Homesteading and gardening are always a new experience there is something new to learn or try all the time. For example, this year we planted a tea tree, Camellia Sinensis (yes, I can pick my own green tea leaves for tea). We are also experimenting with crop rotation in all our raised bed hoping for at least four different seasonal crops.
What To Grow On An Urban Homestead
Plant what you like. We have a rule of planting our usual rotation of crops and trying something new each year. This meant this year we planted parsnips to see how they grow in our area and if we like the variety. Each homestead will be different. You maybe able to garden and have chickens or quails. You may also choose to make your own butter and cheese. Each urban homestead is unique.
Can Urban Homesteading Save You Money
Yes, homesteading can save you money! Plus the food tastes amazing, so much better than the grocery store. Even if you just grow May to September and salad greens. In today’s economy you will save money. A package of seeds ranges on variety $1.50 to $4.00 but you are getting 20+ to 200 seeds per package that will sprout and grow into food you can eat. Huge savings.
Can You Make Money With An Urban Homestead
Yes, you can make money with your urban homestead. You could sell microgreens, salad mixes, tea blends, homemade breads and homemade cheeses at your local farmers markets or to local cafes. Homesteading is about creating a sustainable environment based on growing, preserving, homemade items and sharing those creations.
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