Today I just feel like rambling and not sure where this is going but somewhere or nowhere who the hell knows. It (homesteading) not only can but does mean different things to different people. So here are some ideas that my help both of us get a handle on this thing called urban homesteading.
I don’t live on a big acreage of land… just a small out of town lot about 120′ x 70′ give or take. When I first moved here it was almost in the country, but now have neighbors on one side and a street and then a house on the other. So I’m kinda out in the country but it’s more like Taint… Taint city and Taint country so it’s just Taint.
I have a garden or two and can raise most of the vegetables I can eat for the year. Raising a few chickens this year for the eggs and am thinking about for some meat. I’ve been told if you don’t name them it will be easier. Well see how that works out later. I’m not a hunter but love eating wild game so who knows If they will ever show up on my table or just get old and be friends.
I am installing some solar panels this year and a battery system to supply power for my computer and emergency communication equipment and for some LED lighting. Nothing fancy or big and expensive. I have an amateur radio license so in case I ever needed it I will have world wide communication. If I were not a ham radio guy I would get a CB radio for keeping in contact with the out side world in case of some type catastrophe.
I know that some folks think they(CB radios) are for a certain type of person and may not fit the urban homesteader mold…but consider this… they would be indispensable in case of a emergency of any type. The new CB radios use very little power and can be run off your car battery. Just a thought for what it worth.
Other things that fit in to my urban homesteading life style… I have some rain barrels that collect water from my roof and supply some of the water for my garden. Nothing fancy just old brine tanks that hook together and have a hose bib connection at the bottom to run a hose to the garden.
This year I am growing hulless barley in the front yard. If you have not tried hulless barley as a breakfast cereal you should. It is also great in soups and stews. Along with the barley I am growing as much corn as possible some for roasting ears. The remainder will be steam a bit then cut it off the cob and dried. When it is rehydrate it is as close to corn right out of the garden you will get.
If I have a point… it is that urban homesteading is a state of mind. It’s about doing as much as you can with what you have to get back to simpler life. Now I did not say easier just simpler. So hope to see you along fields and meadows.