You want a homestead but you live in the suburbs... what do you do? Well, you can become a suburban homesteader! What? A suburban homesteader... that is a person that lives in the suburbs but tries to live as self-sufficient live as possible. Many suburban homesteaders grow much of their food whether it be vegetables, herbs, fruits and nuts, some grow all of them, some grow some of them. Suburban homesteaders, if they are able will try to grow enough that they can store some of the food away for non growing time. Some suburban homesteads also raise hens for eggs, goats for milk and bees for honey. This is not legal in all areas, so you need to check your laws before trying. Other things that may be done on a suburban homestead is the making of clothes, soap, quilts, candles, herbal teas, herbal medicines and other handi-crafts. Yes, you are more limited in the suburbs than you are in a rural area, but that does not mean you have to give up your dream of homesteading just because you are in the suburbs and you have an 1/8th acre lot. This page has lots of resources that will help you get started on your suburban homestead.
Learn About the Suburban Homestead
Many of these articles tell about live on a suburban homestead or give ideas on ways to improve your suburban homestead. If you are interested in suburban homesteading, I urge you to check them out.
- Taking Stock of a Simple Life | Suburban Homesteading - Frugal Living
- We get so caught up in the day-to-day activities of the farm that we miss the chance to just sit and take stock of what we have and what we have accomplished on our little plot of land.
- Raising Meat Chickens in Suburbia | Suburban Homesteading - Frugal Living
- We go over the basics of raising chickens for meat. If you want to make sure the chicken in your oven is raised well and processed humanely -Raise them yourself!
- Our Bees Have Arrived! | Lil' Suburban Homestead
- Learn about bee keeping in the suburbs!
- The Weiseman Family Suburban Homestead
- Learn about the suburban homestead.
- A Survival Suburban Homestead: A Prepper's Twist on the Homestead Movement - Part 1, by D.M.T. - SurvivalBlog.com
- This article about suburban homesteading is based on survival in uncertain times.
- Suburban Homestead Saga: Plant List The Permaculture Project LLC
- List of plants that this suburban homesteader is growing on their homestead.
- My Suburban Homestead | AltDaily : Creating and celebrating local culture in Norfolk and all of Hampton Roads.
- Welcome to AltDaily, Hampton Roads' source for creative culture, intelligent commentary and pressing news.
- Little Miss Planner: The backyard... the evolution of our suburban homestead.
- Life on a suburban homestead.
- Starting Heirloom Seeds (Suburban Homestead)
- We all got out back today - some of us more quickly than others. I occasionally tell the kids that there will come a time in their lives when they will actually want to do things like - go outside, finish their dinner and sleep in late. They aren't buying...
- Homemade Soap (Suburban Homestead)
- I have been meaning to make soap for while now. Over the years, I've seen some really cute ideas that I've sworn I would make and gives as gifts at the little girl's birthday parties. Next year, my love, next year. This project was inspired by an online Martha Stewart...
- Raising Meat Rabbits on a Suburban Homestead | Suburban Homesteading - Frugal Living
- Second to chickens, I have always thought that rabbits made the perfect homestead livestock. They are quiet, easy to raise and don't take up too much space.
- Raising Ducks | The New Agrarian
- My experiences raising ducks in a suburban backyard. Includes management, housing, and a journal of duck development from birth through adulthood.
- Summer Update | Sustainable Suburban Home
- Life on a suburban homestead.
- Growing Food Organically in the Northern United States
- A blog about suburban homesteading.
- Start a 1-Acre, Self-Sufficient Homestead - Modern Homesteading - MOTHER EARTH NEWS
- Even on a small 1-acre farm, you can create a self-sufficient homestead by following these guidelines.
Books About Suburban Homesteading
These books can help you with your suburban homestead. Some of the books are about suburban homesteading and some of them have good ideas that can help you make the most of the land your have.
Thigs to Consider for Your Suburban Homestead
Check with your city ordinances and/ or your Home Owners Association before making any big changes. Most of these will probably be allowed, but some area may have rules governing them.
- Grow Vegetables- Square foot, intensive gardens may work best for a smaller properties.
- Fruit trees- Dwarf or semi- dwarf may work best in the suburbs.
- Berries- raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, ect.
- Herbs- for cooking, teas, medical or crafts.
- Nut trees
- Beans- a great protein that can be grown in a suburban homestead.
- Vine fruits- melons, cantaloupe, watermelon, ect.
- Compost- a great way to recycle your yard waste and certain food wastes. Compost is wonderful for a garden and will help your garden grow more lush.
- Worm bin- Similar to compost, but uses worms to help break down the waste.
- Rainwater- You may be able to catch rainwater to help water your garden.
Possible Suburban Homestead Ideas
Many of these you need to check with your city and/ or Home Owners Association to see if they are allowed, some cities will, others will not.
- Hens- for eggs
- Rabbits- for meat
- Geese- for meat
- Bees- for honey
- Dwarf or pygmy goats- for milk or meat.
Suburban Homestead Videos
These videos will give you a taste of suburban homesteading and what you can gain from it. They also give you tips on how to suburban homestead.
powered by Youtube
powered by Youtube
powered by Youtube
powered by Youtube
powered by Youtube
Loading poll. Please Wait...
Chick Coop for your Suburban Homestead
New Chicken, Poultry Coop, Hen House Pen, Rabbit Hutch, Salt Box Roof
Amazon Price: (as of 06/04/2012)
It holds 3 or 4 chickens. It includes the nesting box. You can move this coop around your backyard to give your chicken new places to "forage".
Would you like to be a suburban homesteader?
If you would like to reply to the question or if you just have a comment, please feel free to write!
-
-
WriterJanis
Feb 14, 2012 @ 1:53 am | delete
- Excellent info and suggestions. I think growing your own could be very rewarding.
-
-
-
COUNTRYLUTHIER
Jan 5, 2012 @ 7:59 pm | delete
- Great job with the lens. I hope you know that I will eat better because of you. Thanks for sharing.
-
-
-
River_Rose Dec 23, 2011 @ 9:24 am | delete
- Nice lens ! I started out doing the same thing when I home schooled our son years ago. I started with one goat....ended up with over 100 at one time....couldn't stand to think of selling them...they were all my pets and all had names and I helped "deliver" most of them. I made soap with the milk and milked 4 goats 2 times a day ....we had chickens, ducks, geese, etc. Now I am Squidooing....son is almost 30 now...retired from most outdoor activities and I miss it...Merry Christmas !
-
-
-
joel7223
Oct 23, 2011 @ 4:54 pm | delete
- Great videos!
-
-
-
fugeecat
Oct 1, 2011 @ 4:07 pm | delete
- this is really interesting. I would really love to have bees, but I don't think I have enough space for them. I do know that in some of the major cities there are some businesses that have turned vacant lots into areas for hives.
-
- Load More
This module only appears with actual data when viewed on a live lens. The favorite and lensroll options will appear on a live lens if the viewer is a member of Squidoo and logged in.
RSS: Add your blog
New Zazzle Stuff from Homesteading Chic!
by HomesteadingChic
I am a newbie! I'm not even quite a homesteader yet. lol!!! I am trying to be a suburban homesteader, with a goal to be a country homesteader. I wa... more »
- 29 featured lenses
- Winner of 18 trophies!
- Top lens » Growing Blackberries
Feeling creative?
Create a Lens!
