How to Farm in the City; Urban Homesteading

Usually when we think of a homestead or a small farm we think of a hand hewn cabin in the wilderness or an old farmhouse on at least 30 acres. This is not always so and, in reality, most of us could "farm" right where we are now, using the resources we have available to us. We don't because of our fears, our misconceptions and our lack of education on the subject. Perhaps some of us would even admit that we like the idea of growing our own food better than the actuality of it!

However, families across the United States, as well as other countries, are breaking the ground for urban homesteading. Watch this interesting video of one family in California that is not only growing their own food but making money at home by selling what they produce to local restaurants.

Actually this is not a new concept. Kitchen gardens were a matter of necessity in cities long before the advent of grocery stores. Most homes had a small courtyard area where they kept a garden and perhaps a few chickens and goats. If they had a bigger space a dairy cow might be added. As the United States grew towns formed around common areas that were used to graze livestock during the day.

During World Wars I and II Victory Gardens cropped up all over the world. It was essential to send the commercially grown food to the battlefields to sustain the military and people were encouraged to grow their own food to make the food go farther. Commonly rabbits, chickens, ducks, and goats were kept on suburban plots to take care of the families needs. It was a source of pride for the homemaker to display the fruit of her labor on the pantry shelves- jars and jars of home canned fruit, vegetables, and even soups and meats. Try to imagine the flutter and fuss amoungst local Homeowners Associations today! In some places it is against the rules to have an outside clothesline!

During this time vegetables that were commonly grown were; carrots, leaf lettuces, spinach, peas, green beans, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers,onions, strawberries, and corn.In the south okra and eggplant would be added to that list as well as black eyed peas and butter beans. The gardeners would till up any available space, eschewing rose bushes in favor of vegetables. Front yards, back yards, and side yards were tilled and planted, as were empty lots where whole neighborhoods gathered to plant community gardens. It developed not only a local insurance policy against hunger but built relationship and esprit de corps amoung the neighbors.

This is still a sound philosophy today. In this age of questionable food supplies, poor business practices, a shaky economy and the desire to not only be more self sufficient but to live more gently on the earth we could learn alot from our parents and grandparents and they way they survived during hard times. Canning food is not difficult and is as rewarding now as it was then. Being able to pick a juicy tomato, still warm from the sun, on your very own property, take that tomato and process it into the homemade catsup that your children slather on their homemade french fries is a very nice feeling. Very nice indeed. There is the sense of having some control over your destiny, odd as it may sound.

In the reference area below there are several books to choose from that will be helpful in your endeavors. It is important to start small and work your way into urban farming because it is easy to bite off more than you can chew and become overwhelmed.

1. Take note of your space.

Do you have a yard where you could put a garden? Are you going to need to garden in containers? Look at your space carefully and creatively and assess your needs. Square Foot Gardening is an excellent resource. This year, because of several difficult situations I just planted seed right in organic soil bags, putting a couple of holes in the bottom for drainage and planting through holes in the top. This is not my favorite way to garden but the green beans will be delicious in a few weeks and it will help financially. Use what you have.

2. Read and make notes of what has worked for other people. Don't reinvent the wheel! Other people have done the same thing you want to do. Read their experiences and see what you can learn from them.

3.Check with the Almighty Neighborhood Association if you have one.

4. Consider miniature sizes. Everything from apple trees to goats comes in small sizes now. We raise Nigerian Dwarf Dairy goats for their profuse milk and small size. Read about them here-

5. If you plan on getting animals consider all of the expenses.Vet bills, feed, fencing, housing...even problems with the neighbors should be taken into consideration. Allowing your chickens to free range is great but they will still need feed.

6.Consider the time you have to give to the project. Are you willing to give up your weekend football games to weed? Go to work exhausted because your doe had trouble kidding the night before? Even small urban farms have big farm challenges and troubles.

7.Enlist the help of the whole family. It is hard to do on your own.

As you get more experience in gardening and animal husbandry you can move further into the farming lifestyle, knowing your own strengths and limitations. As you grow more of your own vegetables you can try different varieties and sell the excess to neighbors, small grocers and restaurants, bringing in a little profit. If you decide to keep goats you can use the excess milk in soaps that you might sell on the Internet. Angora rabbits can be raised for their fiber, and some people raise rabbits for meat. With the concern about ethical farm practices people will eagerly buy wholesome fresh eggs from chickens that live like chickens rather than are a product as in a commercial operation.

Try to think outside the box and move ahead with confidence. Do or do not do..there is no try.