Welcome to my small plot of digital space on the internet! In this small space I choose to share with you my journey of growing and sculpting my very own urban homestead. I have a grandiose vision and no specific plans, just ideas and goals. One project at a time, I hope to carve out a little slice of Heaven where I can commune with the Lord and grow a healthy, happy family. The main goal is to be as self sufficient as possible, while living in a downtown community, using an area of about 3350 sqft.
All of this is an exercise in creative engineering, coupled with pioneer skills & methods, meets a bit of personal flair. My hope is to build a supply of abundant, high quality resources starting with a food forest. In a food forest, fruit bearing plants regrow themselves year after year with minimal intervention, and also help to improve the quality and output of the annual crops, as well. Permaculture!
My fragrant rose bushes, cherry tree, and yucca plants are solid starters in the food forest, and there’s also an abundance of wild mint, dandelions and edible wild flowers all over. We’ve also just added four baby chicks to the mix for fresh eggs. They are about four days old and living indoors for now, but soon will be inside the their new chicken coop under the deck. Details on that will be in the next post. Other existing elements we have to work with are a small compost pile, loads of ever bearing strawberries that winter over well, and sugar pie pumpkins that regrow each year.
I love caring for things and harvesting the fruits of that TLC. It’s also rewarding to watch my kids learn new skills and discover the world of bugs and worms and get their hands in the dirt. To me, it’s very healing and reaffirming that we can truly rely on the gifts of God. We can regain and continue the connectedness to the creations God gave us for nourishment and refreshment, and find his perfect touch in all of it.
I hope you’ll join me for some more homestead chatter as I try my skills at being The Artful Homemaker.
Artful Homemaker 