While I was visiting the Victory Garden Intitiative's Facebook page, I happened across a guy and gal who posted their "we live off grid" website...I decided to let my curiosity get the best of me, and perused their site. It was very nice and information driven. I like that they have an indoor garden going. Kinda like my office garden :)
It also has me wonder. Where is the line between Urban Homesteading, and being a Survivalist? I am a member of a Survivalist board, and some people there are really into the deep end. No doubt in my mind, they will have it MADE when SHTF (a loving acronym of "when shit hits the fan"). Urban homesteading seems somewhat parallel but not the same.
One one hand, I feel that Urban Homesteading is almost a mini version of being a farmer. Having good ties w/your neighbors, and using technologies and knowledge to help sustain your family on the land you have. When I read books on urban homesteading, I fall asleep going "oh someday I'll have goats for cheese!"
They both talk about canning/preserving, and depending on who you talk to, some survivalist people who live off grid are basically homesteaders.
On the other hand, the survivalism has stockpiles of canned goods, it creates in my heart a constant and somewhat uncomfortable sense of fear and urgency. It also makes me realize that if SHTF my neighbors are my worst threat, because they might come begging for my supplies. There is a need for firearms to fend off people...
When I read the survivalist threads, I stay up thinking "I better board up the windows! How can we use candles without people knowing we're in the house??!?!?!"
This also conflicts with a part of my faith that says I'm not supposed to be like that. I'm supposed to love, share, depend on God for my resources, and it hasn't failed me yet. But it's really really easy for me to panic myself into the category of people who might dig an underground bunker and Hole up canned goods.
Muuuuust restraaaain myself! For the most part, Humans are gooooood!!!
Anyway. Just putting that out there. I know I've thought about this more than once. Maybe you have, too? I'd share my chicken eggs. I'd share my food.
I lean in favor of urban homesteading. It helps me sleep at night.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
In the beginning...
Last night I met with my friend Natalie.
Long time childhood friend, I didn't really see her for maybe 10 years. It's kind of neat that we met back up together to find we were both actively involved in the urban homesteading movement. I was involved by association, since the things I do to save money and eat the foods I like - parallel the movement, and she actually studied the theory/wrote thesis and even studied abroad in Scotland (correct me if I'm wrong, Nats??) to visit places that practice permaculture and Urban homesteading in a sustainable level.
I ordered hazelnut trees, recently to go with my chestnut trees. Once again, my motives being wanting "free food" as opposed to the environmental reasons...
But she was just in disbelief that so many things I did were just happenstance to wanting free food as opposed to deliberate involvement in urban homesteading. LOL
I learned alot from her last night about Zones around the house, where Zone 1 would be the circle that contains your house, and all the plants that need the most care, then a second further circle of things that need less care, and the outermost circle is a bunch of fruit or nut trees or other things that don't really need much maintenance.
I also learned that Chestnut trees would love to be with nanking cherry bushes, and hazelnuts. and it is SUCH A wierd coincidence that I have chestnut seedlings, nanking bushes, and ordered some hazelnuts. I mean, if there could be an award for "that is just downright funny how that all came about"... last night would have taken it.
We both also love goat milk and goat cheese, and discussed meat rabbits and raising chickens.
I've invited her to commentary on this Blog, as she is much more scientific, and informative about the things she talk about, and my posts are more like "today I blah blah blah, and oh hey free food". Ha! :)
I've also decided to make this a seperate blog from my edible landscaping one... they are in similar movements, but Urban homesteading is far more involved than just edible landscaping. It involved alternative energies, landscape, sciences, theories, meat, grains, all sorts of things.
Long time childhood friend, I didn't really see her for maybe 10 years. It's kind of neat that we met back up together to find we were both actively involved in the urban homesteading movement. I was involved by association, since the things I do to save money and eat the foods I like - parallel the movement, and she actually studied the theory/wrote thesis and even studied abroad in Scotland (correct me if I'm wrong, Nats??) to visit places that practice permaculture and Urban homesteading in a sustainable level.
I ordered hazelnut trees, recently to go with my chestnut trees. Once again, my motives being wanting "free food" as opposed to the environmental reasons...
But she was just in disbelief that so many things I did were just happenstance to wanting free food as opposed to deliberate involvement in urban homesteading. LOL
I learned alot from her last night about Zones around the house, where Zone 1 would be the circle that contains your house, and all the plants that need the most care, then a second further circle of things that need less care, and the outermost circle is a bunch of fruit or nut trees or other things that don't really need much maintenance.
I also learned that Chestnut trees would love to be with nanking cherry bushes, and hazelnuts. and it is SUCH A wierd coincidence that I have chestnut seedlings, nanking bushes, and ordered some hazelnuts. I mean, if there could be an award for "that is just downright funny how that all came about"... last night would have taken it.
We both also love goat milk and goat cheese, and discussed meat rabbits and raising chickens.
I've invited her to commentary on this Blog, as she is much more scientific, and informative about the things she talk about, and my posts are more like "today I blah blah blah, and oh hey free food". Ha! :)
I've also decided to make this a seperate blog from my edible landscaping one... they are in similar movements, but Urban homesteading is far more involved than just edible landscaping. It involved alternative energies, landscape, sciences, theories, meat, grains, all sorts of things.
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