Getting Started

Getting Started

Getting Started

Homesteading: “Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homesteading). “According to author John Seymour, 'urban homesteading' incorporates small-scale, sustainable agriculture and homemaking.” Urban homesteading is really not much different just done in the city. Urban homesteading can refer to anyone embracing the back to the land movement of sustainability and self-sufficiency. The lifestyle is simple, frugal, and rewarding on all levels of being.

We have actually named our family urban homestead “Urbantopia.” For as long as my husband and I have been together we have always had a vegetable garden. Each year it got bigger and bigger. When we lived in Moses Lake we had a 10’ X 50’ veggie garden with a 25’ pumpkin patch. Since moving to Soap lake we have many veggie beds and a greenhouse. The lifestyle has brought on a sort of domino affect of sustainability. We homeschool our children, grow and practice herbal medicines, soap making, candle making, sewing and so much more. The more we learn the more want to learn as we embrace the abundance of the natural rhythm of life ~ ♥ ~

Growing Your Own Food is Empowing~

Growing your own food is empowering. For many people this is the first step to self-sufficiency. The rewards of growing Their own food brings on a domino affect of wanting to learn more rewarding skills. Maybe you live in an apartment and think this kind way of life is out of your reach but think again. Container gardening, Herbs on the window sill, lettuce growning as a center piece on your dining room table (yes we do this :) is one method of beating this myth. Join the Soap Lake Community Garden Project in the process downtown. As you learn and reap the rewards of growing your own fresh organic food you may start to think bigger because the more you learn…the more you want to learn. You may want to learn more about raised beds, composting, or maybe vertical gardening…trust me it is a domino effect~

Preserving Your Harvest~

Well whatcha going to do with all that abundance? Bet you want to learn about food perservation now. It is amazing how much your garden will provide. Our gardens give us enough to last us until the end of the following spring. There are many diy root cellar projects online even methods if you are unable to build one yourself. Canning and dehydrating are the main sources of perserving your havest as well as some others. This will become second nature every year as you harvest Mother Earth’s gifts~

Urban Livestock~

You may decide that some chickens or milking goats would really give you that nudge into true self-sufficiency. As of May 2, 2012 SLUH has convinced the Soap Lake Committee and Mayor to allow 4 city chickens (no roosters). You can read the ordinance HERE to learn more. You can also check out the labels area or chicken page of this website to learn more about raising urban chickens.

A Frugal Life~

Frugality. To some this is a dirty word or their belief associates it with lack. Well the contrary is true. In an urban homesteading way philosiphy it is living a simple life of abundance through consuming less by recycling resources while stepping a little lighter on our Earth. Many urban homesteading take up rewarding skills and crafts such as sewing, soap making, candle making, maybe cooking from scatch. Many go further and learn more about solar/wind power, biking it, or bio fuels. I have a friend that recycle everything from using tires in their garden to composting junk mail…truly go wild with your imagination ~ your jund can become YOUR treasure~

As you poke around the website remember to check back often as we add articles. We will be adding website links in the side bar along with helpful books and magazines. This spring we will be adding Urbantopia videos of our families learnings as well…Happy Homesteading ~