City Homesteading
Living a self-sufficient lifestyle used to require acres of land and a large barn or several outbuildings. I am happy to say that has all changed. Homesteading can be done no matter where you live. This article on city homesteading will introduce you to the concept of a self-reliant life no matter where you live.
Homesteading tips are great when they work for everyone, and these are perfect for people who live in the city and suburbs.
Today’s world is always changing. With so many new gadgets meant to make our lives easier it can be easy to pay for a shortcut. The problem is when you are spending more than you are getting in return. More money to buy these shortcut tools, more time to upkeep and repair them, and more energy setting them up and using them.
For example, a few years ago, we invested in a robot vacuum for our home. At first, I loved it, but it became more trouble than it was worth after a while. To set things up for her to work took at least 10 minutes, and for her to run thoroughly, it took over 2 hours. I found that if I just did the floors myself, it took a fraction of the time, and I actually did a better job.
That was an expensive lesson to learn but one that was valuable in the long run. I realized that shortcuts are not always better and sometimes doing things in a simpler way is the best approach to take.
What does a homesteading lifestyle mean?
Think about homesteading as living life on your own terms, doing things with your own hands on your own timeline, and embracing self-sufficiency as a way of life.
The definition of self-sufficiency is: needing no outside help in satisfying one’s basic needs, especially with regard to the production of food. Source: Oxford Dictionary
I actually love this definition because, for us, this is exactly why we do what we do. To be in control of one area in our home that affects every living member both human and animal….our food.
Homesteading is also about being resourceful, sustainable, and living with our own resources, whether in a big city or in the quiet countryside. It’s all about learning to stand on your own two feet and appreciating the value of self-reliance.
City Homesteading
City homesteading is a newer term that centers around creating a self-reliant lifestyle even if you live in a busy and noisy place. It’s going back to basics and being more intentional with your day-to-day life, including growing your own food, cutting back on food waste, and being resourceful by creating what you need rather than rushing out to the store.
Living in the city can make this a challenge mainly because of the limited space and regulations. But as with anything, homesteading has evolved over the years, bending the rules to allow more people to take part in this amazing lifestyle.
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Starting Your City Homestead
There are many projects you can learn for hoemsteading a few of them include:
- Gardening
- Canning/preserving food
- Raising animals such as bees or chickens
- Making soap, lotions, or shampoo
- Making cleaners
- Making candles
- Composting indoors
- Frugal eating and cooking
- Learning to barter or trade
- Learning skills to do more on your own
Since gardening is usually at the top of everyone’s list, we are going to focus mainly on that project goal.
Step #1. Know your Why
Before you begin, you will first need to know what your goals are. The reason you want to homestead in the first place. Knowing your “why” will help you to better understand the things you want to include and the skills you want to learn.
Call this your mission statement. I know it sounds silly to do this step, but homesteading can be hard, and knowing you are doing this for a reason and revisiting your thoughts when you first began will help you to stay motivated enough to keep going.
Step #2. Evaluate Your Space:
Take a good look at your home so you can better choose what projects you hope to set up. If you have a small area of land to work with, you can consider beekeeping or gardening. If you have no land but a patio that gets sun every day, then a patio garden might be more reasonable starting out. If you have no outdoor space at all, then indoor gardening my be your best option.
By knowing what you have to work with you can create a more realistic list of homesteading projects to try out.
Step #3. Plan Your Garden:
Now that you know what space you have to work with, you can plan out your garden. Remember to choose a growing setup that fits the room you have. Here are a few ideas:
- A small yard – Grow bags work great and are easy to move around.
- A patio or porch – Container gardens work great. You can use a raised table, growing pots, vertical gardens, or stadium containers.
- No outside space – An indoor garden is your best bet. You can use small pots on a counter, purchase a table top growing system, or a large all in one hydroponic setup.
Once you’ve understood the potential of your space, you can plan your garden that will work best. You may be surprised at the variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs you can grow even in small spaces.
More Gardening Help:
Step #4. Learn to Compost
Composting is an important part of sustainability, and now, composting indoors is easier than before. You can set up a small container under your sink and toss in any kitchen scraps. These can then be used to create nutrient-rich soil for your plants.
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Step #5. Harvest Water
If possible, set up a rainwater harvesting system. This can be as simple as placing a bucket on your balcony when it rains so you can then use this water to care for your garden.
Step #6. Learn to Preserve Food
Finally, preserving food will play an important role in city homesteading. This includes canning, freezing, drying, and dehydrating. Not only can you preserve food that you are growing but also any food you purchase at farmer’s markets or roadside stands.
Remember to start small and expand gradually. It might be tempting to do everything at once, but homesteading is a lifestyle change that takes time. Be patient with yourself and enjoy the process.
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Other City Homesteading to Consider
Beside growing your own food there are other areas you may want to try. Let’s go over a few quickly to give you an idea of all the options that are out there.
Animals
Even though livestock is off the table, you may still have enough room to raise smaller animals, such as chickens, rabbits, or bees. Be sure to check your local regulations before bringing any animals to your property.
Fermentation
Fermentation is another way to preserve food that is quickly gaining popularity. Fermentation is preserving vegetables in salt water or brine giving a unique taste to foods. The most common is taking cucumbers and making them into pickles.
Making soaps, candles, and lotions
Another great project to try out is soap and candle making. It is really easy to do and allows you to be more in control of ingredients.
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Homemade Cleaners
Creating your own cleaning products is another excellent step towards a more sustainable lifestyle. Not only do homemade cleaning products reduce plastic waste, but they also avoid the harsh chemicals present in many store-bought items.
More Cleaning Reads:
Legal considerations: zoning laws and homeowner association rules
Before you begin any homesteading project, it’s important to understand and comply with the specific legal considerations that might affect your plans. These potentially include zoning laws and homeowners association (HOA) rules.
Zoning Laws: These regulations govern what activities and improvements are allowed on a property. They vary widely from city to city, and even from one neighborhood to another. For example, some zones might allow backyard chickens, while others may prohibit them. Keeping livestock, constructing outbuildings, or even the type of gardening you plan to do, may be regulated. It’s crucial to research and understand the zoning laws in your city and locality before you start.
Homeowner Association Rules: If you live in a property governed by a Homeowners Association (HOA), there might be additional rules to consider. These can limit what you can do with your property, including restrictions on gardening, livestock, exterior changes, and more. Make sure to review your HOA’s covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) to understand what is and isn’t allowed.
In both cases, remember that rules can change. Stay informed to avoid fines or conflicts.
City homesteading is a great way to enjoy living a self-reliant lifestyle no matter where you live. Try out a few of these ideas and see if this way of living is right for you. Plant a few containers with your favorite veggies, try out your hand making soap, and stock up on homemade cleaners and join the homesteading club today!
More Homesteading Resources:
