| The term homesteading is usually associated with the | | | | gardening 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 the | | | | do), some potting soil, seeds, and fertilizer if you decide |
| 1970s. However homesteading as an activity is alive | | | | to use a commercial product instead of going organic. |
| and well and moving into the cities and suburbs of | | | | Coffee 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; simple | | | | If you are going to making your own clothes, obviously |
| living, country living, getting back to basics and | | | | you will need a sewing machine, fabric, and other |
| self-sufficient living. No matter what you call it, it boils | | | | sewing supplies. Soap making has its own supplies as |
| down to doing more for yourself and relying less on | | | | does candle making, canning, drying, etc. |
| consumer goods and services. Urban homesteading is | | | | What Types Of Alternative Energy Are Possible For |
| simply homesteading without the benefit of a large | | | | Me? |
| amount of land, such as in the city. Some of the ways | | | | If you own your home, you may be able to go whole |
| people practice urban homesteading is by container | | | | hog and install solar panels. If you live in a small |
| gardening, sewing their own clothes, finding alternative | | | | apartment or any residence that you do not own, you |
| sources of energy, and conserving water through the | | | | may have to settle for a small solar generator, or only |
| use of rainwater collection and greywater use. The | | | | a solar oven. You can usually hang your clothes |
| first thing you should do if you are interested in | | | | outside to dry rather than using a dryer but some |
| homesteading (urban or not) is plan. Plan, plan and then | | | | areas do not allow clotheslines to be hung so you |
| plan some more. The last thing you want is to be | | | | have to check the local laws. Collecting rainwater is a |
| stuck not knowing what to do and wasting all your | | | | good way to save water for watering your garden |
| previous efforts. Following are four questions you | | | | but you need to be careful that your rainwater bins |
| should ask yourself after you have decided to try your | | | | have 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 Your | | | | alternative 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 and | | | | to whatever you decide. |
| vegetables or do you want to go as far as creating | | | | How Will I Deal With Criticism? |
| your own clothes, furniture and home furnishings as | | | | Simple living is not looked upon highly by most people in |
| well as grown your own food? The answers to these | | | | our consumer goods driven society. Odds are you will |
| questions will have a lot to do with the amount of time | | | | have friends and family members that will think what |
| and effort you want to, and can, dedicate to | | | | you are doing is pointless and over the top. Consider |
| homesteading as well as the amount of space and | | | | how you will deal with people criticizing the changes |
| resources available to you. The best idea might be to | | | | you are making, even going so far as to say that |
| write a list of your ultimate goals and then start by | | | | homemade 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 on | | | | the right thing. |
| what you want to accomplish. To start container | | | | |