Urban Homesteading

A comprehensive and inspiring guide to self-reliance, sustainability, and green living for city dwellers. Read it and..

An essential handbook for the urban homesteading movement showing readers how to grow their own food, raise city chickens, gain energy independence and more. Illustrations, tips, anecdotes, and projects are designed to help urban households become more self-sufficient and sustainable.

With food culture in the midst of a do-it-yourself renaissance, urbanites everywhere are relishing craft beers, foraged ingredients, sustainable seafoods, ethically raised meats and homemade condiments and charcuterie. Inspired by the delicious creativity of local artisans, chefs, brewmasters and mixologists, Michelle Nelson began urban homesteading in her downtown apartment. Armed with a passion for food and farming, and a PhD in conservation biology and sustainable agriculture, she shares her hard-won knowledge and recipes with readers interested in collecting, growing and preserving sustainable food—even when living in an apartment or condo. In The Urban Homesteading Cookbook, Nelson explores the worlds of foraging wild urban edibles, eating invasive species, keeping micro-livestock, bees and crickets, growing perennial vegetables in pots, small-space aquaponics, preserving meats and produce, making cheese and slow-fermenting sourdough, beer, vinegar, kombucha, kefir and pickles. Nelson fervently believes that by taking more control of our own food we will become better empowered to understand our relationships with the environment, and embrace sustainable lifestyles and communities. With 70 fabulous recipes, including sesame panko-crusted invasive bullfrog legs, seaweed kimchi, rabbit pate with wild chanterelles, roasted Japanese knotweed panna cotta and dark and stormy chocolate cupcakes with cricket flour— this exciting new book is sure to inspire readers to embark on their own urban homesteading adventures. Generously illustrated with gorgeous colour photography and complete with useful how-to chapters, The Urban Homesteading Cookbook is an invaluable guide for all those seeking ethical and sustainable urban food sources and strategies.

Step into a world where concrete jungles become lush, edible oases. "Urban Homesteading Mastery" is your comprehensive guide to transforming your city dwelling into a sustainable, thriving homestead, where self-sufficiency is not only possible but highly rewarding. Embark on an enlightening journey through 18 comprehensive chapters that meticulously guide you from welcoming the urban homesteading concept into your life, to mastering the advanced techniques that will make your green dreams a flourishing reality. Dive into the compact yet incredibly potent spaces of balcony, patio, and window gardens in Chapter 2. Picture your very own balcony oasis, bursting with life, providing fresh, organic produce at your fingertips. Navigate the intricate complexities of urban soil in Chapter 3, learning the secrets to creating a goldmine for growth, right in your apartment or small city lot. Water, the source of all life, takes on new meaning as you uncover the innovative techniques of collection and management in Chapter 4, ensuring every precious drop supports your homesteading endeavors without waste. The tantalizing allure of your own food crops beckons as Chapter 5 takes you through the essentials of container gardening, crop selection, and succession planting – all you need for a year-round harvest. Experience the joy of plucking ripe fruit from your very own urban orchard in Chapter 6, and discover the buzz of urban beekeeping in Chapter 7. Meanwhile, Chapter 8 illuminates the path to energy independence through renewable solutions tailored for the bustling cityscape. Savor the fruits of your labor long-term with the preservation insights in Chapter 9, giving you a taste of summer in the depths of winter. Connect with your community in Chapter 10, creating a network of like-minded urban homesteaders, and embark on exciting DIY projects as outlined in Chapter 11. Chapters 12 through 17 will invite you to explore the nuanced elements of foraging, holistic health, and innovative agricultural techniques – all while maintaining an eco-conscious and financially savvy approach to city living. Finally, ponder the promising horizon of urban homesteading with Chapter 18's visionary prospects for a greener, more sustainable world. "Urban Homesteading Mastery" is not just a guide – it's a gateway to a lifestyle transformation where self-reliance and urban living harmoniously blend. No matter the size of your dwelling, unleash the homesteader within, and make every square inch count. Embrace this journey toward a greener, healthier, and more fulfilled life in the heart of the city – no backyard required. Welcome to your homesteading future; it's ripe for the taking.