• View ecochildsplay’s profile on Facebook
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Twitter
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Instagram
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Pinterest
  • View Jennifer Lance’s profile on LinkedIn
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on YouTube
  • View ecochildsplay’s profile on Google+

Eco Child's Play

Live a greener, healthier life!

  • Environment
  • Pregnancy
  • Food & Recipes
  • Health News
  • Parenting
  • Green Toys
  • Beauty & Beauty Products
  • Green Home & Cleaning
  • Contact

5 Ways to be an Urban Homesteader: How to Live Off the City Land

Not everyone can do as my family did and buy an old homestead, build your own house, and live-off-the-grid. Jobs and social ties keep families in suburbs and cities, and there is a good reason people tend to congregate together in living situations.  Being self-sustainable does not mean doing it all alone.  Community is vital to green living, and in fact, many aspects of city life are greener than living in the country (i.e. public transportation, walking to work/school, etc.).  The fact that many city dwellers want to get back to the land has sparked an “urban homesteading” movement.  Here are five tips to help your family become urban homesteaders:

  1. Grow food and herbs in your yard or patio: If you have a yard, plant it with edibles!  An edible lawn will be the envy of the neighborhood.  My friend’s lawn in Eugene doesn’t contain any grass at all.  The Dervaes family of Pasadena grows 3 tons of food on only 1/10 acre! Even if you don’t have a yard, many herbs and vegetables can be grown in pots.  I have grown habenero peppers, basil, and lettuce in pots during my college apartment years.
  2. Do-it-yourself: When you live on a rural homestead and something breaks, you fix it yourself. If you don’t know how to make the repairs, you ask a neighbor. The same goes for parts:  most rural homesteads have a boneyard where spare parts are stored for just such a time when there is a need.  When you live far from town, repairmen/women charge a fortune in travel time.  Usually, the community has the knowledge to repair anything, and their is no reason this simple aspect of country living couldn’t be copied in an urban environment.  Helping your neighbors is very sustainable, as it saves money, cuts down on transportation, and supports a positive relationship in the neighborhood.  Neighbors often trade for their services, keeping local goods in the local community.
  3. Shop local and in the neighborhood: When you live in the country and you run out of eggs, you don’t drive two hours to town: you ask your neighbor.  Get to know your community,and you may just discover other urban homesteaders that would share their bounty with you, whether for trade or money.  What comes around goes around works on both the rural and urban homestead.
  4. Cook your food: Making your food from scratch is not only healthier for you, but it is required when you live on a rural homestead hours from the nearest restaurant.  The fact that cookbook sales are rising with gas prices shows that people are cooking more.  Not only growing, but cooking your own food is a big step in self-sufficiency.
  5. Take up a craft: Many crafts served a vital part in family life before industrialization. Weaving, sewing, knitting, soap making, woodworking,etc. are all ways you can create for your needs and for gift giving.  Handmade goods are special, because they are made with loving hands.

Many modern day urban homesteaders keep chickens or other small animals, but some cities have ordinances against this practice.  These ordinances need changed, and this is possible when urban homesteaders unite.  Food is a big part of homesteading, as well as simplifying your life.  Doing what you can to do on both of these fronts is the first step to becoming an urban homesteader.

Related posts on homesteading:

  • Modern Day Homesteading and Voluntary Simplicity: Giving Away Your Possessions and Living Off the Land
  • The Art of Self-Reliance: Bloggers Document Urban Homesteading Movement
  • Weekend Review: Rural Renaissance: Renewing the Quest for the Good Life
  • Twitter
  • Email
  • Pinterest
  • Print
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • WhatsApp
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Subscribe!

« What is Baby going to BEE for Halloween? Help Spread the Buzz about CCD
Sweet Treats for Healthy Kids »

Comments

  1. Amy Jussel says

    September 28, 2008 at 4:48 pm

    We have a cabin in the Rockies off the grid (all solar, propane, etc.) and one of the things I love is the small ‘give one get one’ boxes in town where people swap their goods in old-fashioned barter mode. (e.g. when everything comes ripe at once, there’s no way you’re gonna use it all, so why not ‘trade’ for other goods/produce from someone else’s garden or passion project)

    Saw this mirrored in Nevada City on a street corner recently too…so it CAN be done in an honor system, communal way! (and some amazing produce too!) I may try it here on my funky little island…using an herb garden to get folks started!)

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. WV Green News » Blog Archive » 5 Ways to be an Urban Homesteader: How to Live Off the City Land says:
    September 23, 2008 at 8:59 am

    […] 5 Ways to be an Urban Homesteader: How to Live Off the City Land Posted on 11:47, September 23rd, 2008 by news_autopost This story contains additional media. Click here to view the media. […]

    Reply
  2. 5 Ways to be an Urban Homesteader: How to Live Off the City Land | Eco Buying says:
    October 17, 2008 at 8:18 pm

    […] This story contains additional media. Click here to view the media. […]

    Reply
  3. Sustainable Living: Raising Chicks into Hens : Eco Child’s Play says:
    March 28, 2009 at 6:00 am

    […] and Lois). It was devastating to say the least.  We decided that two was our lucky number. Having chickens has been such an adventure. When you first get them as chicks they do require to be under a heat […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Content

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter


About Eco Child’s Play

Our ethos is to provide news, information, and opinions on natural, green parenting to help your family live a greener, healthier life! Additionally, we offer personal consulting services to help you achieve your green living goals.

Jennifer is a vegetarian, yoga teacher, gardener, hiker, teacher, and mother that has been living off-the-grid for over 20 years.

Contact Eco Child’s Play

Eco-Friendly Decorating: How Removable Wallpaper Can Reduce Waste

Plants Over Plastics! Repurpose Compostable Home Products

More from the archives!

UC Berkeley: Lipstick contains toxic levels of lead, cadmium, aluminum, chromium, etc

Holy Hemp!

Ultrasounds and Autism: Is there a connection?

The Great American Backyard Campout 2009

Boys And Girls: As Different as Cats and Dogs?

Convenient Plastic Container Free Dropps Laundry & Dishwashing Pods

cbd salve joy organics

CBD Products that Actually Deliver: Joy Organics

Information

  • About & Contact
  • Archive
  • Blog
  • Consulting Services
  • Disclaimer, Disclosure, & Sponsored Posts
  • Privacy Policy

Powerful Message

Greenpeace, Dove, Palm Oil, and the Destruction of the Rainforest

Green your Moving Checklist: Choose RecoPacks

Roller Coaster of Emotions: Kindergarten, Green School Research and Melasma

Our Favorite: Soaked Blender Pancakes!

Popular Categories

  • Breastfeeding
  • Health News
  • Natural Childbirth
  • Parenting
  • Education
  • Product Review
  • Green Toys

Get our posts via email

Please stay in touch!

You might also like to read…

organic milk

Is Organic Milk Really Better? (YES!)

Why Moms Should Use Coconut Oil

Why Moms Should Use Coconut Oil

Baby Einstein Becomes Baby Entertaining…Only.

vegan cinnamon rolls

Vegan Whole Wheat Cinnamon Rolls With Date Filling

What Not to Say to Pregnant Women

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.