Posted in Urban Homesteader

Who Are The People In Your Neighborhood

Do you remember that song?  It’s from Sesame Street, right?  “Who are the people in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood, in your neighborhood“….that’s all I can remember of it, but now it’s going round and round and round in my brain, oh my!

 A drive (even better a walk) in your neighborhood just might reveal some treasures.  You never know what you might find- a gardener who has a table full of fresh veggies for sale, a sign that says “fresh eggs” sold here, maybe a yard full of flowers (stop and offer to buy a homegrown bouquet).  Perhaps you could offer to help with the weeding in exchange for some of the garden’s bounty, or even “rent” a bit of the garden and grow herbs that will complement the veggies grown there.  Exchange some home baked bread for a dozen eggs or a bunch of flowers.  Get to know the neighbors and see how you can bless each other.  We can do so many wonderful things when we work at this life thing together!  So, think about it….”Who ARE the people in your neighborhood?”  Think I’ll take a little stroll and meet some of mine today!

Catherine Love

Posted in Urban Homesteader

City Farmer works to bring the country to the city.

Here is a really great website dedicated to urban agriculture. City Farmer's Urban Agriculture Notes. City Farmer is a program in Vancouver, Canada started by some folks who had a vision to see more people growing their own food no matter where they lived.  This site is just FULL of good information.  There are step by step photo guides on composting, online tours of urban gardens and many other wonderful articles.  One of my favorites is entitled "Grandpa's Victory Garden" found here  Grandpa's Victory Garden .  It's so inspiring to know that others have done so much just in their own backyards.  I hope it will help you to see the potential for a little "urban farm" right where you are!

Lisa Vitello

Posted in Urban Homesteader

Grow an Indoor Herb Garden

Herbs are one plant you can grow even if you have no yard at all.  That's because they can be grown in pots on a sunny windowsill.  Herbs generally like the warm, dry climate inside a house, so they do well in this environment.

Annuals like basil, cilantro, and dill work well since they can be clipped and kept at a manageable size.  Try chives, too.  They aren't an annual exactly, but they can also be managed in a pot quite nicely.

Choose four to six inch terracotta pots (depending on how much room you have).  You can jazz them up by painting designs on them with acrylic paint if you want.  If you have some type of gravel or small pebbles you can place in the bottom, do this first.  This help keep the soil from packing down in the bottom and facilitates drainage. Fill them with good organic potting soil.  Plant your seeds to the depth recommended on the seed package, usually just a fraction of an inch beneath the soil for most herbs.  Plant at least four or five seeds, you can thin them down to two or three plants later.  Water them well and cover the pots with some kind of plastic.  This helps create a "greenhouse" effect which will increase your chances of germination. 

I do not suggest using some kind of "saucer" under the pots to catch the water.  Most herbs originate in dry, arid climates and are used to somewhat dry soil.  Retaining the water at the bottom of the pot keeps the soil too wet for the roots, plus it's a breeding ground for mildew and mold.

Keep your plants on a sunny, warm windowsill and you will soon see those little green shoots popping up.  Remove the plastic once you see the sprouts and let them grow to a height of about one inch before thinning.  To thin, DO NOT just pull the plant out of the pot.  This might disturb the roots of the plants you want to keep.  Simply pinch them off at the soil level.  Water as needed - again, herbs don't like very wet soil, so it's O.K. to let the soil get a little dry before watering again.

This also makes a great gift idea.  Buy four of those really tiny terracotta pots, some packets of herb seeds, a few of those really cute plant markers and maybe a tiny spade or hoe (some nurseries carry these as a novelty). Put it all in a basket with nicely printed directions for sowing and germinating and, voila!  You have a wonderful gift.  Of course, the plants will have to be transplanted from those tiny pots after about six weeks, so be sure to include that in your directions to your recipient.

Herbs smell great, add spice and flavor to foods and have a multitude of uses.  Growing herbs just satisfies the soul.  Give them a try!

Lisa Vitello

Posted in Urban Homesteader

Hanging Basket Herbs

If you donÂ’t have a lot of space to garden in, or just want something different, try a hanging basket herb garden.  It will be beautiful, fragrant and fun to create. 

First, pick a hanging basket for your plants.  The wire baskets are nice because you can plant all around the sides, not just in the top.  Next, choose your plants- trailing herbs like Prostrate Rosemary, Mints and Thyme work well in hanging baskets.  Choose a light soil mix so your basket wonÂ’t be too heavy.  If youÂ’re using a wire basket, you will also need a peat or cocoa fiber liner.   After your herbs are planted, water your basket well and find a good location for it to hang.  Be sure to check the light requirements for your herbs and place the basket accordingly.  Also hang your basket at a height that is convenient for watering.  You donÂ’t want to have to be climbing up and down to give your herbs a drink.  Enjoy your hanging garden! 

Catherine Love

Posted in Urban Homesteader

photo from LehmanÂ’s

Space Saving Clothes Dryers

Since space is at a premium in our little homestead, and it costs $1.00 per load to dry our laundry in the laundromat here, I decided to see what kind of laundry racks I could find.   Lehman's has several to choose from.  I really like the look of the Accordian Wall Dryer and the Clothespin Circle Dryer because they are space saving.  The accordian dryer has a shelf on top and folds neatly against the wall when not in use.  The circle dryer would be good for hanging from the shower rod.  They also carry an Amish-made wall dryer which looks interesting.  When not using these for drying clothes, they could be used for other things, too.  They would be good for hanging bunches of herbs or flowers to dry; and someone suggested using a clothes rack to dry homemade pasta.   Even if you don't need a drying rack, check out the Lehman's website, you're sure to find something wonderful for your own homestead. 

Catherine Love

Posted in Urban Homesteader

I've been a bit torn about living the Urban Homestead life.  On on hand, I know this is where my family is supposed to be and I do like our new home.  Yet, on the other hand, there are my own little hopes, plans and dreams of that perfect homestead with the gardens, chickens, goats and other good things that an apartment does not facilitate. 

 I've decided that I will focus not on what I can't do here in our apartment, but what I can do to live simply and well. 

 Here are a few things I've come up with so far: 

1.  I can grind my own grain and make my own bread and other goodies.  I just ordered a grain mill this week- a present from my husband.  Yea!

2.  I can container garden and grow greens for salads, herbs and even some flowers just because I love them!

3.  I can make cheese, yogurt, buttermilk, kefir, etc.

4.  I can purchase goat's milk from a local source.  We still get the health benefits, plus we will be supporting someone else's cottage business.

5.  I can purchase free range eggs and organic veggies from the farmer's market or other local source.  More support for local farmers and homesteaders.

6.  I can continue to study and learn about the things I love and share them with others; things such as herbs, gardening, cooking healthy meals, etc. 

I'm sure there are many other things that I will think of as the days go by.  I'll keep you updated! 

Catherine Love

Posted in Urban Homesteader

Photo from Earthbox.com

This is the claim of a company called Earth Box.  They have developed an all-in-one growing system which consists of  a growing box, water reservoir, aeration screen, mulching cover (so no weeds) and a staking system.  They claim this system will result in much higher yields.  The box itself is 2 1/2 ft. long x 15" wide x 12" high.  At $37.95 each, plus shipping and handling, it's a little pricey, but it might be worth it for someone who would love to grow vegetables, but has no room for a traditional garden.  So if you have only a small patio or postage stamp sized backyard, you might want to check this out at www.earthbox.com.

Lisa Vitello 

Posted in Urban Homesteader

Grow Strawberries in Containers

No matter where you live, you can probably find some room to grow a batch of delicious, succulent strawberries this spring.  These are always the first fruits we pick in the growing season and they last through the fall.  Strawberries are wonderful!

For an in depth look at how to grow strawberries in all kinds of containers, see this article from the Royal Horticultural Society (those Brits really know their gardening stuff!).  Royal Horticultural Society - Publications: The Garden

One of the newer ideas in the area of container growing is that of the grow bag.  Grow bags have been used in the greenhouse and nursery industry for a long time, but are now catching on with home gardeners. This is basically a poly bag which can be filled with a potting soil and then planted.  They are great because they can be used over and over.  Just Google "grow bag" and you will find lots of information and websites that sell them.  Here is one ingenious company that advocates hanging the grow bags!  That will take up even less space.  Grow Bag Jr.

Now you have no reason why you can't grow a luscious crop of strawberries this season!

Lisa Vitello