The Power of Urban Farming

"This video will inspire and reengage your conviction that urban farming may indeed be THE most important social and environmental movement of our time." (link)

Here are the top 5 reasons why:

2 Favorite Urban Homesteader Products

This winter has been a chilly one in my part of the woods--and that's being euphemistic. Extreme cold is normal for this area and I was prepared for it. But it's our chickens' first winter, so we've learned a few things the last few months.

First, who has the time to change out frozen water multiple times a day? Not me. It was getting very annoying and difficult. Even switching the rabbit's water twice a day was a lot of work for my eight year-old daughter and we still worried he wasn't getting the water he needed because in negative temperatures, water freezes quickly.

Enter two solutions. Both required an investment, but these containers should last us at least another winter (hopefully longer), and it's totally been worth it already in time and anxiety saved.

The first solution was this heated poultry fountain for about $40. The base has an attached cord that plugs into an electrical outlet. We had already strung a cord from our house to the coop and attached a power strip to plug in the heat lamp (which got our chickens laying again--see this post). This waterer is thermostatically controlled and keeps the water from freezing. It's guaranteed down to 0 degrees, but we've had many days and nights well below that and it still hasn't frozen. *Happy dance.* It's not a perfect system, as flipping it over once it's filled has to be done very quickly and precisely in order not to get soaked or flood the coop--which can be tricky. But it definitely beats what I was doing before! And for our five chickens I only have to refill it once a week (especially now that I have it raised up off the floor so they can't get it scummy as quickly).

The second solution was a heated rabbit water bottle, for about $30. It stays plugged in all winter, too, and even out in the hutch exposed to the elements, the water doesn't freeze. Happy bunny, happy daughter, happy parents. :)

Both items I found at our local IFA.

Urban Homesteading

Months ago, one of our neighbors took a look at our backyard and the then halfway-built chicken coop and exclaimed, "It looks like a farm back here!" He had no idea what a compliment he was bestowing with that statement, because he was surprised when I thanked him seriously and told him that was kind of what we are working toward.

Gradually, I have come to realize that what we are trying to do with the small space we have is what is now called "Urban Homesteading." Having a chic, green label like that and seeing/reading how many other people in America are also doing this, makes me feel very validated. And excited. For example, check out the video below:



I don't know how, in all my ambles through the internet I never stumbled upon the Dervaes family before. They are so inspiring! As I look through their amazing blog I am struck by what a gorgeous oasis they have made of their small city plot, and still it produces 6,000 pounds of produce annually. So that means beauty doesn't have to be sacrificed to practicality and sustainability! This is especially inspiring when I consider that my small plot of land is actually a bit bigger than theirs, so I should be able to do even more with it. But, I do have to keep reminding myself that their land got this way over a period of 20 years or more, not all at once, so my efforts year by year will eventually add up too...

And I love their slogan, Pathway to Freedom, since that's really what urban homesteading is all about!