Homesteading Where You Are Part 2

     We are now on to day two of the homesteading where you are series and we are going to get a little bit more urban today. I think this is going to appeal to a larger audience since more people live in what most would consider a suburban setting vs rural. If you missed part one, you can catch up here

Suburban

    So maybe you dream of owning a farm and a dozen acres one day but you currently have 1/4 surrounded by lots of neighbors and pavement. Maybe you already have a small garden in the back yard, but it's never been more than a hobby of sorts. A tomato plant, maybe a zucchini or pumpkin plant, but not much else. Your front yard probably has little more than some green grass and a few plants that you picked up to add a pop of color. There is nothing wrong with having that if you are dreaming of being a homesteader. Now is the time to learn your skills and expand your knowledge.

    Just like yesterday, the most vital thing with be a plan. Do you plan on living at your home for the next few years while you save up to buy a bigger piece of land? Maybe you only want to expand your goals a little and never want to leave your home. Having a grocery store and good restaurant just up the road is a wonderful perk to a lot of people. Plan out your goals for the next one, two, and three years. Keep them simple since we never know where life is going to take us. Plus you can always add stuff in later.

    Your next step is going to be researching those goals and seeing what you are able to do with neighbors so close. A lot of suburban areas have stricter rules and regulations regarding rearing livestock. Some even have regulations about what you can plant in your yard. I'm not saying you have to agree with these, however, you do need to follow them until you can try and get them changed. More and more communities are allowing a small flock of back yard chickens. Now is your time to research your local regulations and petition if you disagree with current standings.

    So now what? Maybe you live in an area that is pretty against being self reliant. There is more to homesteading than just having the animals and growing a garden. Now is the time to learn how to cook from scratch. For some families, that sounds terrifying with their current schedules. Kids have school and activities, parents are working long hours to afford life, when is there time to squeeze in from scratch cooking? This is an important skill to learn if you plan on raising and growing most or all of your own food one day. And even if you don't, it's typically healthier to eat whole foods vs heavily packaged and processed ones. Take time with the family and decide on how you'll start cooking at home. Maybe you'll plan two to three dinners per week at home that are completely free of boxed ingredients. Take the time to get the entire family involved in this new endeavor. Bring the kids with grocery shopping and have them each pick out one new produce item to try that week. This can be a fruit, a veggie, maybe even an herb!

    You may be wondering how else you can keep working toward independence. There are lots of opportunities awaiting in almost every community. Find the nearest farmers market and get to know the vendors. Many larger population areas have fairly diverse markets available for at least part of the year, so you never know what you may find. Learning a hand skill such as knitting, sewing, leatherwork, wood working, candle making and more can be a fun way to expand your knowledge. Modern day lessons are available both online and in person to fit around your life. It can also be a wonderful way to bond and spend time with your kids on a new hobby. 

    I hope I gave some inspiration on where to start turning to for my suburban readers. If you missed the first part and introduction to the blog, you can click here to catch up and read part one. Comment below what you hope to learn in the next year that will get you closer to your homesteading dreams.