Urban Homesteading

On my mind lately has been urban homesteading. What a neat concept, and how awesome is the way this family lives! Okay, so where do I start? First, I'll need to add more gardens, a place for chickens and my huge rain irrigation system. I will sew things, bake all our bread, get into canning, and make all my own cleaning products. I will learn how to make biodiesel. I'll need some Pygmy goats for milk and cheese. Oh! And bees! I'll need lots of bees. I might even cover our entire roof with solar panels and get a wind turbine. If I got one of those water filters they use in third world countries, we could be off the grid! Such aspirations! Such dreams!

But alas I live in reality. Oh how I wish I had the backyard space to do this (okay, maybe not the chickens and goats), but doing so would pretty much nix any "running around" room my son and dogs have. Plus I really do hate the smell of chickens, and I've never been good at sewing, despite my repeated efforts. As for the solar panels, well, I doubt my HOA would like that, nor would we likely recoup the cost in the time we have left in this house. Can solar panels be moved with you?

So what's a girl to do? Well, I can start with *thinking* about putting in another garden space - if I can find another sunny spot. I can add the rain barrel we've been wanting. I do like to bake on occasion, and I'd love to try this recipe for no-knead bread I've had bookmarked for a while.

Well, anyway it's fun to daydream about living off the land. Sure seems like a lot of work though. And besides, did I mention I hate the smell of chickens?