Getting Started With Urban Homesteading

The term homesteading is usually associated with thegardening you will need at least some large containers
Homesteading Act that allowed certain Americans to(they do not have to be flower pots, any container will
claim land before the law was done away with in thedo), some potting soil, seeds, and fertilizer if you decide
1970s. However homesteading as an activity is aliveto use a commercial product instead of going organic.
and well and moving into the cities and suburbs ofCoffee grounds make a decent organic fertilizer if you
America and many other countries.do not want to but a commercial product.
Homesteading goes by many other names; simpleIf you are going to making your own clothes, obviously
living, country living, getting back to basics andyou will need a sewing machine, fabric, and other
self-sufficient living. No matter what you call it, it boilssewing supplies. Soap making has its own supplies as
down to doing more for yourself and relying less ondoes candle making, canning, drying, etc.
consumer goods and services. Urban homesteading isWhat Types Of Alternative Energy Are Possible For
simply homesteading without the benefit of a largeMe?
amount of land, such as in the city. Some of the waysIf you own your home, you may be able to go whole
people practice urban homesteading is by containerhog and install solar panels. If you live in a small
gardening, sewing their own clothes, finding alternativeapartment or any residence that you do not own, you
sources of energy, and conserving water through themay have to settle for a small solar generator, or only
use of rainwater collection and greywater use. Thea solar oven. You can usually hang your clothes
first thing you should do if you are interested inoutside to dry rather than using a dryer but some
homesteading (urban or not) is plan. Plan, plan and thenareas do not allow clotheslines to be hung so you
plan some more. The last thing you want is to behave to check the local laws. Collecting rainwater is a
stuck not knowing what to do and wasting all yourgood way to save water for watering your garden
previous efforts. Following are four questions youbut you need to be careful that your rainwater bins
should ask yourself after you have decided to try yourhave lids otherwise you will attract mosquitoes. To get
hand at urban homesteading.started go to your local library and research some
What Do You Want To Accomplish With Youralternative energy methods, do not be afraid to think
Homestead?outside the box (the breaker box that is) and commit
Are you interested in just growing fresh herbs andto whatever you decide.
vegetables or do you want to go as far as creatingHow Will I Deal With Criticism?
your own clothes, furniture and home furnishings asSimple living is not looked upon highly by most people in
well as grown your own food? The answers to theseour consumer goods driven society. Odds are you will
questions will have a lot to do with the amount of timehave friends and family members that will think what
and effort you want to, and can, dedicate toyou are doing is pointless and over the top. Consider
homesteading as well as the amount of space andhow you will deal with people criticizing the changes
resources available to you. The best idea might be toyou are making, even going so far as to say that
write a list of your ultimate goals and then start byhomemade goods are not safe or as good as those
working towards one at a time.bought in a store. Above all, stick to your guns and do
What Supplies Do I Need To Get Started?not let naysayers make you doubt that you are doing
What you need to begin is going to depend largely onthe right thing.
what you want to accomplish. To start container