Comments on: RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/ One family's journey towards a sustainable, more self sufficient life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:32:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Melissahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13389 Melissa Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:44:53 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13389 Thank you for the inspiration!Baby steps, we've taken a few in the last three weeks.Ordered seeds for a garden on the patio of our suburban home. Started compost pile. Checked the city dos and don't list, no chickens for us. :( Recycled all the vessels for the patio garden and read up on going verticle with some items. Committed to using internet and person to person learning methods as opposed to books. Commited to supporting our local food growers.And Just this week built and cooked our first meal in a Solar Oven....made the commitment to learn better construction if necessary and to cook as much as possible with solar energy.The list is long and compromises of individual comfort levels are being made along the way.Next on the list is going as manual in processes as possible. Food chopper vs food processor.This is an exciting journey! Thank you for the inspiration!

Baby steps, we've taken a few in the last three weeks.

Ordered seeds for a garden on the patio of our suburban home.
Started compost pile.
Checked the city dos and don't list, no chickens for us. :( Recycled all the vessels for the patio garden and read up on going verticle with some items.
Committed to using internet and person to person learning methods as opposed to books.
Commited to supporting our local food growers.

And Just this week built and cooked our first meal in a Solar Oven....made the commitment to learn better construction if necessary and to cook as much as possible with solar energy.

The list is long and compromises of individual comfort levels are being made along the way.

Next on the list is going as manual in processes as possible. Food chopper vs food processor.

This is an exciting journey!

]]> By: Alidahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13353 Alida Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:37:22 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13353 Okay my baby steps are simple. I ordered about 25 baby chicks ( laying brown egg hens) so that we can have fresh eggs instead of the store bought. I want to share this cool experience of raising our first chickens with my little daughter. We had already planted strawberries, tomatos and some herbs, flowers. We are taking small steps. You all are inspirational ! Okay my baby steps are simple. I ordered about 25 baby chicks ( laying brown egg hens) so that we can have fresh eggs instead of the store bought. I want to share this cool experience of raising our first chickens with my little daughter. We had already planted strawberries, tomatos and some herbs, flowers. We are taking small steps. You all are inspirational !

]]> By: Amy - Green Plan(t)http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13351 Amy - Green Plan(t) Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:31:57 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13351 Firstly, I want to thank you folks for being so inspiring. Every day I look forward to reading about what great progress ya'll are making on your tiny plot of land.I find myself struggling with a lot of jealousy because we can't do the same!We live in a trailer park, in Las Vegas, with some of the worst soil we've encountered in the 13 years we've lived here. It's taken 2 years of work on the one garden plot we have to get it fertile enough, and it's still nowhere near good enough.But hopefully, within the next 3 to 5 years, we'll be moving to a plot of land of our own (testing that soil first!) and will be able to do something similar to your situation.Until then, it's all baby steps! Firstly, I want to thank you folks for being so inspiring. Every day I look forward to reading about what great progress ya'll are making on your tiny plot of land.

I find myself struggling with a lot of jealousy because we can't do the same!

We live in a trailer park, in Las Vegas, with some of the worst soil we've encountered in the 13 years we've lived here. It's taken 2 years of work on the one garden plot we have to get it fertile enough, and it's still nowhere near good enough.

But hopefully, within the next 3 to 5 years, we'll be moving to a plot of land of our own (testing that soil first!) and will be able to do something similar to your situation.

Until then, it's all baby steps!

]]> By: Ellenhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13347 Ellen Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:46:28 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13347 We try to take baby steps all the time. So far this year, we have added a solar oven, a larger garden, 2 plum trees, an outside brick grill and I've started making our bread & yogurt. I've started buying our organic raw milk from a local dairy and I bought a cheese making kit to learn to make cheese. Just today I made panir which is an Indian cheese like cottage cheese. So many more things I want to do! We try to take baby steps all the time. So far this year, we have added a solar oven, a larger garden, 2 plum trees, an outside brick grill and I've started making our bread & yogurt. I've started buying our organic raw milk from a local dairy and I bought a cheese making kit to learn to make cheese. Just today I made panir which is an Indian cheese like cottage cheese. So many more things I want to do!

]]> By: lavonnehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13343 lavonne Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:13:23 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13343 My list this week includes: 1. ordering ollas from the peddler's wagon 2. picking up some compost and potting soil 3. planting several self-watering [with ollas] buckets with the sweet potato slips I've been nurturing 4. harvesting what's left of my cut-and-come-again salad greens from the Earthbox 5. planting new seeds [haven't decided what yet] into the Earthbox 6. turning over my first bucket of bokashi compost into a bin 1/3 full of old potting soil from the Earthbox, and covering it with more soil. From what I've read, it should turn into good soil in about three months. 7. foliar spraying with bokashi compost tea [tried this just once last week, and the growth is amazing!]This is fun! My list this week includes:
1. ordering ollas from the peddler's wagon
2. picking up some compost and potting soil
3. planting several self-watering [with ollas] buckets with the sweet potato slips I've been nurturing
4. harvesting what's left of my cut-and-come-again salad greens from the Earthbox
5. planting new seeds [haven't decided what yet] into the Earthbox
6. turning over my first bucket of bokashi compost into a bin 1/3 full of old potting soil from the Earthbox, and covering it with more soil. From what I've read, it should turn into good soil in about three months.
7. foliar spraying with bokashi compost tea [tried this just once last week, and the growth is amazing!]

This is fun!

]]> By: Christinehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13339 Christine Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:18:58 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13339 Anais, I am thinking very seriously about buying two Nigerian goats, if things get tighter in the world. Have you bred your does yet? And do you like the taste of the milk? I have read that Nigerian milk is very good, not goaty if you know what I mean. Thanks, C again! Anais,
I am thinking very seriously about buying two Nigerian goats, if things get tighter in the world. Have you bred your does yet? And do you like the taste of the milk? I have read that Nigerian milk is very good, not goaty if you know what I mean. Thanks, C again!

]]> By: Christinehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13338 Christine Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:14:05 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13338 We just purchased ten acres out of town, and planted a first year garden. (potatoes, onions,carrots, rutabaga, strawberries twice, raspberries twice,( blackberries? if they took), apple tree, rhubarb, plum, two apricot, peas, beans, kohlrabi (spelling- sorry), garlic, cherry tree (doesn't look good) tomatoes, cabbage. I also have in pots, three cherry bushes, one honey locust, ten pines, plums, maples and ect. I have two citrus trees that I grow in pots. I have repotted one and need to do the other. I also need to repot some of the trees, so they thrive till fall. I feel it's too hot now to plant the trees on the land, but will do so this fall God willing. Tomatoes and lettuce in pots also, here where we rent till the garban is up. (garban is a future garage after we use it as a cabin) It will be finished like a house, and have a bathroom. We also plan to order chicks, and build a chicken house. If things get worse, I plan to get a couple of goats. I do prefer jersey cows, but money?.... I am over fifty, and handicapped, so if I can do this, so can you young people! I have such problems with the old bod, that I have to garden sitting down or lying on my belly! I know I look ridiculous, but I don't really care! My ambition in life is to be the best Wife and Mother I can possibly be. To me that means, feeding good foods to my family if possible. Having a country like life for my family, heating our home with wood, live simply so my husband doesn't have to work so hard. I hope, with God's help, that I will do this. ... Thank you for all you do with this site Anais! C We just purchased ten acres out of town, and planted a first year garden. (potatoes, onions,carrots, rutabaga, strawberries twice, raspberries twice,( blackberries? if they took), apple tree, rhubarb, plum, two apricot, peas, beans, kohlrabi (spelling- sorry), garlic, cherry tree (doesn't look good) tomatoes, cabbage. I also have in pots, three cherry bushes, one honey locust, ten pines, plums, maples and ect. I have two citrus trees that I grow in pots. I have repotted one and need to do the other. I also need to repot some of the trees, so they thrive till fall. I feel it's too hot now to plant the trees on the land, but will do so this fall God willing. Tomatoes and lettuce in pots also, here where we rent till the garban is up. (garban is a future garage after we use it as a cabin) It will be finished like a house, and have a bathroom. We also plan to order chicks, and build a chicken house. If things get worse, I plan to get a couple of goats. I do prefer jersey cows, but money?.... I am over fifty, and handicapped, so if I can do this, so can you young people! I have such problems with the old bod, that I have to garden sitting down or lying on my belly! I know I look ridiculous, but I don't really care! My ambition in life is to be the best Wife and Mother I can possibly be. To me that means, feeding good foods to my family if possible. Having a country like life for my family, heating our home with wood, live simply so my husband doesn't have to work so hard. I hope, with God's help, that I will do this. ... Thank you for all you do with this site Anais! C

]]> By: Beverlyhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13337 Beverly Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:13:47 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13337 Love the comments! So many folks doing baby steps that will result in big changes!Some of our recent baby steps include putting the dryer up for sale, making more garden beds, planting a raspberry plant, getting 12 dozen canning jars for FREE, and mulching with grass clippings.We're eating lettuce, spinach, radished and onions out of the garden, but it's getting really hot. The spinach is starting to bolt. Potatoes are blooming so we'll have new spuds in a couple weeks, yummy!Future steps include chickens next year and maybe a milk cow. At $1000 to $1500 for a good cow, that could be along way off!Beverly Love the comments! So many folks doing baby steps that will result in big changes!

Some of our recent baby steps include putting the dryer up for sale, making more garden beds, planting a raspberry plant, getting 12 dozen canning jars for FREE, and mulching with grass clippings.

We're eating lettuce, spinach, radished and onions out of the garden, but it's getting really hot. The spinach is starting to bolt. Potatoes are blooming so we'll have new spuds in a couple weeks, yummy!

Future steps include chickens next year and maybe a milk cow. At $1000 to $1500 for a good cow, that could be along way off!

Beverly

]]> By: maryhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13336 mary Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:51:13 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13336 Just today we acquired a rabbit and a hutch from a friend. Bunny droppings will help us with our recent move into vermiculture. Should go something like this: Bunny eats garden scraps...digests...poops...and then the worms take it from there! Voila! beautiful compost - even through the winter months! :-) Just today we acquired a rabbit and a hutch from a friend. Bunny droppings will help us with our recent move into vermiculture. Should go something like this: Bunny eats garden scraps...digests...poops...and then the worms take it from there! Voila! beautiful compost - even through the winter months!
:-)

]]> By: JoyceAnnhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/07/02/right-here-right-now/comment-page-1/#comment-13335 JoyceAnn Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:21:30 +0000 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/?p=5234#comment-13335 I've just started recycling seriously this year , as we get ready for our 4th of July party , I decided I need to get everyone who attends to recycle while they're here. I will put out containers for bottles , cans and paper. I hope it will make some of my family and friends more aware of recycling. We're having covered dishes , everyone will be bringing food to share , I think I might recognize the ones who bring something homegrown or local grown with a pin , ribbon or certificate. I've been thinking it will call awareness to these things , and it might inspire them to recycle or eat more homegrown/local foods.Happy 4th of July !!~ Blessings ~ JoyceAnn I've just started recycling seriously this year , as we get ready for our 4th of July party , I decided I need to get everyone who attends to recycle while they're here. I will put out containers for bottles , cans and paper. I hope it will make some of my family and friends more aware of recycling.
We're having covered dishes , everyone will be bringing food to share , I think I might recognize the ones who bring something homegrown or local grown with a pin , ribbon or certificate. I've been thinking it will call awareness to these things , and it might inspire them to recycle or eat more homegrown/local foods.

Happy 4th of July !!

~ Blessings ~ JoyceAnn

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