Edible Gardens
Easy Green: Modern Homesteaders Stake a Claim
With more options for raising chickens, growing edibles and keeping bees than ever, suburban and city folk are rediscovering a lost art
No longer relegated to a farm way out in the boonies, modern homesteaders are just as likely to be found tapping away at a laptop with Wi-Fi in the nearest coffeehouse as they are to be collecting eggs from the backyard coop. Springing from the DIY and handmade movements, people everywhere from city apartments to grassy lots in the suburbs are finding ways to be more self-sufficient, without giving up all the modern conveniences many of us have come to rely on.
Whether you are itching to grow vegetables on your fire escape or are considering bringing a few chicks home to roost in your backyard, here are some ideas to bring a bit of the farm home without all the hassle.
Whether you are itching to grow vegetables on your fire escape or are considering bringing a few chicks home to roost in your backyard, here are some ideas to bring a bit of the farm home without all the hassle.
Rethink the suburbs. Attitudes are shifting in most places, so what once would have raised eyebrows (peas in the front yard, pygmy goats out back) will now, more often than not, simply spark conversation and camaraderie with neighbors. Not sure where your neighbors stand on edible gardens or livestock in the suburbs? Try striking up a casual conversation to feel things out before you invest time and money in a project.
The unexpectedly low-maintenance pet. Earlier this spring we brought home our first chicks. During their first weeks they require close attention, but now that they are comfy in their backyard coop, we spend a maximum of five minutes each day on chicken care. I toss in a handful of feed, maybe some veggie scraps from the kitchen, freshen their water and I'm done. It's less work than having a dog!
Note: Chickens are prohibited in some cities, so be sure to check local chicken laws and ordinances in your city to see if your area allows a backyard flock before bringing your birds home.
Note: Chickens are prohibited in some cities, so be sure to check local chicken laws and ordinances in your city to see if your area allows a backyard flock before bringing your birds home.
Woo wary neighbors with fresh eggs. If your neighbors seem skeptical about your plans to keep chickens on your suburban lot, you can assure them you will be keeping the coop impeccably clean, you will be keeping only hens, not roosters, and you would be happy to share fresh eggs once the little ladies start laying.
Other chicken-keeping perks include: free, organic pest control (they love slugs!), kitchen waste removal (see a list of what they will eat here) and wonderful fertilizer for your garden from composted poop.
Other chicken-keeping perks include: free, organic pest control (they love slugs!), kitchen waste removal (see a list of what they will eat here) and wonderful fertilizer for your garden from composted poop.
Seek out attractive digs. The look and feel of your coop can be incredibly important in keeping the peace with neighbors. You don't need to spend a fortune on a designer coop if you don't want to, but do pay attention to how it will fit in with other structures in your neighborhood. We found a low-profile A-frame chicken coop on Craigslist and with a fresh lick of paint ended up with a cute coop on a budget.
See more about home chicken coops
More chicken keeping resources:
See more about home chicken coops
More chicken keeping resources:
- Backyard Chickens has informative forums and resource articles.
- My Pet Chicken has day-old chicks (three-chick minimum order), coops and supplies.
- Murray McMurray is a well-respected hatchery. The minimum chick order is 25, so you might want to go in with a few friends.
Backyard Beehive Starter Kit
Bees are the new chickens. Once you get started with chicken keeping, chances are you will begin dreaming of more ways to add to your little homestead in suburbia, and bees are a great next step. They take up little room and can provide you with the freshest, most delicious honey around. I have even heard of urbanites installing hives in rooftop gardens in the heart of the city. And, hello, when Williams-Sonoma starts a new shop devoted to beekeeping, backyard chickens and DIY home skills, you know this is not a passing trend.
New Hampshire Honey Bee Hive Kit
Tap into beekeeping resources. While chickens are extremely low maintenance, becoming a beekeeper takes a bit more preparation. For instance, knowing that you must provide your bees with a water source would be good to learn before they decide to take a dip in your neighbor's pool. Check out these beekeeping forums to tap into an active online community of apian enthusiasts, and visit The Barefoot Beekeeper for more on getting started as a beekeeper using natural, low-cost methods.
Try a patio garden. If you are looking to dip your toes into the water of edible gardening, try starting by incorporating a few herbs or vegetables into existing flower beds. Many veggies and most herbs have ornamental foliage and lovely fruit and flowers, and can blend in quite easily with standard flower-border fare.
Give up unused lawn space to raised beds. If more production is what you are after, consider saying goodbye to a sunny piece of lawn and install raised vegetable beds instead.
See how to build a raised bed garden
See how to build a raised bed garden
Try ornamental edibles for a productive front yard. Twining vines of peas, deep purple leaves of kale, dramatic artichoke flowers, bright chili peppers and tender chives can all make lovely additions to a front yard. Gates and fences provide a natural support for climbing peas and beans, and if you mix perennial flowers in with your edibles, most people will walk by none the wiser.
Ball Canning Discovery Kit
Preserve your harvest. So, you have a bountiful backyard harvest. Now what? Time to learn a skill that was second nature to many of our grandparents: canning and preserving. Whether you decide to try one special chutney or jam, or make a big batch of tomato sauce and freeze trays full of berries and peas, canning is a lost art that deserves to come back. The National Center for Home Food Preservation is a comprehensive resource for information on safe canning and preserving methods.
Impress friends with your new skills. Once you discover the joy of sipping your morning coffee while watching your hens forage in the backyard, or pick the freshest, sweetest peas from your own backyard for dinner, you will hardly be able to restrain yourself from sharing your new hobbies with friends. Try hosting a canning party, a batch cooking club or even a neighborhood group with others interested in suburban or urban homesteading to make connections with others in your area.