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November 26, 2008

By Anais | email author

Our family are firmed believers that change begins at home.  And “Home” is certainly a hot word these days and touted as “one of the most radical thing you can do.”

In the last year we’ve seen a growth of more and more people who are staycationing, growing their own food,  preserving, being crafty and doing more with less.

With new eco lingo like “carbon footprint” and “low impact living” just goes to show that folks are starting to re think and re prioritize their lives.

I believe this homegrown, diy mentality is one of the reasons PTF has been such a tremendous inspiration to people (btw, PTF has been online going on nigh 8 years now! can you believe it?)

Which calls to mind a recent review of HomeGrown (the documentary about our urban homestead) saying:

Should we stay close to our families, and create support networks, maybe we would be better adjusted and happier than our doppelganger typing away in a skyscraper cubicle. But it brings into question the notion that President-elect Obama has brought up in his speeches: will we be willing to sacrifice in order to better the planet for all of its inhabitants? Or will we keep going at the rate we are now and see what happens?  Courtesy Civileats

In choosing a more sustainable path, this choice involves what many greenies skirt — sacrifice.  But through such sacrifice, a sense of place and quality of life is gained.

What homegrown solutions have you implemented?  What have you sacrificed in order to make the world a better place.

Homegrown Holiday

More and more folks are jumping on the eat and buy local bandwagon.  Why?  Because it makes sense not ship out-of-season foods or goods from thousands of miles away.

Here’s an interesting fact

Despite the apparent abundance (and over-abundance) of food in North America, few of us realize how fragile our food supply really is….  In the case of a major natural disaster (earthquake, tidal wave flooding, etc) or disruptions in transport (closed airports, restricted borders, etc.), most North American cities would have less than a three day supply of fresh food. Dry and canned foods could theoretically last up to three weeks, but would be preceded by widespread, panic-driven hoarding.  Courtesy of Bringing Food Home

This year PTF cooked up some challenges to help deal with such unsustainable problems we face.

100 Foot Diet Challenge - Growing Food Closer to Home

Harvest Keeper Challenge - On the Preservation Front

Liberate Your Yard - Growing Food Not Grass

Say AHHHH - Show Us Your Insides

and now during this festive season…

Home-Grown for the Holiday

Are you one of those who eat, sleeps and, well, what ever closer to home.  Are you fed up with the over consuming, mass advertising, have it all culture that’s shrinking the earth’s resources and just making everyone downright unhappy.

Are your a homebody who likes to stay home, make your own gifts, preparing local and homegrown foods.

Then this nifty little icon is just for you to use on your blog.

Also make a list on the homegrown things you are doing to make this holiday season a more local and low impact one

Enjoy!

Speak Up!

Would you like to see more challenges issued here at Little Homestead in the City?

(3 votes)  Loading ...

Topics: 100 Foot Diet, Challenges, Harvest Keeper, Liberate Your Yard | Tags: homegrow, homegrown, staycation

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• THE HOME
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• Home heating and biodiesel links

4 Responses to “HOMEGROWN”

1. Claudia Says:
   November 26th, 2008 at 10:49 am

   Hi All !
   I would like a post or maybe a short synopsis on what your planting routine is? ie. We start a general bed by putting in soil, compost, any admendments you but in?, seed is started in seed starter area, during growing time add? admendments? Wait how long? until turned under and start new seedlings again. Do you have a rotation plan?
   Thanks Claudia

2. Amy Says:
   November 26th, 2008 at 11:52 am

   Thanks for the orion article. As a stay at home mom I get so much flack for not being career driven and going to work. There is however a certain comfort to spending so much time at home, baking bread, knitting, doing old fashioned housekeeping, and so forth. I’m just greatly disappointed that in today’s culture this is seen as more of a setback than a success.

3. Roger, Gone Green Says:
   November 26th, 2008 at 10:09 pm

   Cool graphic! Is it homegrown? (Seriously, is it yours, and can I post it to a blog with credit and a link back to you? )

   Roger

4. kevin Says:
   November 27th, 2008 at 12:18 am

   I have never heard the term “staycation”, but I LOVE it! My wife and I have been working to start a “staycation” business in Japan to show that people don’t need to fly to France or Hawaii or Guam to have a satisfying and learningful vacation as they learn about their own area and environment.

   Unfourtunatly, I am now in a dilemma in terms of this winter’s vacation / staycation. My family lives around the globe, and everyone will be gathering together for this years Christmas. I am in the position of deciding if I should join them for, what may be, a last Christmas “vacation” or just stay here and enjoy a “staycation” in this amazing area I live in. Of course, there is no farm work to do in the winter, but just keeping my carbon footprint down is a big driver….

   But, family ties are also important. I know I got myself into this mess by moving so far from home, but what to do???

Comments