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Suburban Homesteading: The Theory
Wikipedia defines homesteading as simple, agrarian self-sufficiency.
This lifestyle is common in the country, where acreage allows for livestock, large gardens, fresh air and simple fun. But, so many of us don’t have the benefit of the country life. Yards aren’t that big. Some of us don’t have a yard at all.
There are many reasons to be self-sufficient. With all the recalls lately, you wonder if your spinach, beef, lettuce or strawberries are going to make you sick. Grocery shopping has become a gamble. If you grow food yourself, you know how it was grown. Plus, garden fresh is healthier than processed food.
We have grown pretty confident in our systems. The thought of no food on grocery store shelves seems incomprehensible. But, we’ve seen it at hurricane locales. Those who remember our area’s floods may also remember doing without water for a few days. Those scenarios should get us thinking about how to sustain our families during times of crisis—whatever the crisis.
Fueling suburban homesteading is this question: If there was a disruption of basic services, could we live off our suburban plot? It would be extremely difficult, but some people are trying. With planning and taking advantage of every square foot, it just might be possible to live off a lawn.
Imagine if decorative shrubs were removed in favor of attractive, edible choices. Yards don’t have to boast corn stalks to be productive. Plants can be dispersed throughout the plot in pleasing layouts. Check out this blog for inspiration: www.lawnstogardens.com. (warning—colorful language there) The Lawns to Gardens site urges self-sufficiency in preparation of a coming oil crisis.
Even apartment dwellers are getting into the act. Container gardening has become a hit. It may not yield bumper crops, but a harvest from your windowsill or deck can supplement the family’s diet if grocery prices go through the roof.
Square Foot Gardening, a book and website by Mel Bartholomew, offers many suggestions for container gardening. His approach to gardens of all sizes is easy. Many people have been turned on to gardening because of it. Check out the official site: www.squarefootgardening.com.
Suburban homesteading encompasses many topics. What would we do if utility prices soar beyond our reach? It’s possible. Illinois has had quite a time with one of their electric companies. Residents and businesses saw increases in their bills of 200%. Alternative energy keeps sounding better.
There are so many skills to learn: making candles, soap, blankets and pet food. Preserving food, repairing bikes and entertaining kids on a budget are even more things to learn, too. Getting out of debt is a good idea and becomes a project in itself, and knowing how to live frugally is a valuable skill.
Neighbors may need to work together and pool resources. Being neighborly may soon go further than small talk. It might just be the key to sustaining our neighborhoods.
Some folks are preparing for the most morbid scenarios. They turn off would-be homesteaders with their Chicken Little attitudes. But, even if we don’t fear the worst, being prepared is just common sense. In addition to the idea behind the Boy Scout motto, preparedness is a really big deal to suburban homesteaders, too.
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Suburbia has been shoving us away from self-sufficiency. We have become reliant on stores and looking to others for services. Our parents weren’t taught the skills our grandparents took for granted. Most of us have a lifestyle totally opposite of a self-reliant one. |