• Feb. 19, 2009 - Construction on our acreage
We have been working on building a children's garden (scroll down to see pictures) and have been gathering the materials we need to make some earthen huts. But we have also started the construction of our outdoor kitchen. It will be framed with red cedar and the bottom portion will be filled in with cob and cordwood. Here are some pictures of the initial framing of our outdoor kitchen. We hope to finish the framing and roof next week.
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• Feb. 19, 2009 - The latest addition to our urban homestead
• Dec. 18, 2008 - Home Made Refrigerator
Posted By Grelihm
From Here:
Description
This section is from the "Henley's Twentieth Century Formulas, Recipes, Processes" encyclopedia, by Norman W. Henley and others.
Home-Made Refrigerators
I
Partly fill with water a shallow granite-ware pan. Place it in an open, shady window where there is a good draught of air. In this put bottles of water, milk, and cream (sealed), wrapped with wet cloths reaching into the water. Put butter in an earthen dish deep enough to prevent water getting in. Over this turn an earthen flower-pot wrapped with a wet cloth reaching into the water. The pan should be fixed every morning and evening. With several of these pans one can keep house very comfortably without ice.
II
Procure a wire meat-safe—that is, a box covered by wire netting on three sides, with a fly-proof door. On top place a deep pan filled with water. Take a piece of burlap the height of the pan and safe, and of sufficient length to reach around the entire safe. Tack it fast where the door opens and closes. Tuck the upper edge in the water. Place it where there is a draught and where the* dripping will do no damage. This constitutes a well-ventilated refrigerator that costs nothing but water to maintain.
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• Dec. 6, 2008 - Roundhouses and Living Roofs
• Jun. 18, 2008 - Perennial vegatables
I am working to plant perennial vegetables suitable for our climate. They hopefully would provide an ongoing source of food, hopefully requiring less upkeep.
Links coming as I find sources:
Great comprehensive online nursery
Leeks
Asparagus
Sun Chokes (purchased today at Whole Foods)
Prickly Pear Cactus
Groundnuts
Tumeric Tubers (purchased at Whole Foods)
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• May. 16, 2008 - Many lessons with urban homesteading.
Posted By Grelihm
One of my big struggles with raising our large family in an urban environment is keeping them occupied in wholesome activities. Boredom is a constant problem as well as the potential for dependency on media and mindless computer entertainment.
Urban homesteading has proven to be the answer. It is productive, it teaches science and responsibility, and the kids really enjoy it. At a time when people are increasingly talking about a world food crisis, becoming food producers rather than just consumers, also seem wise. We are not practicing the sin of avarice by hoarding food, which presents its own problems, particularly spoilage in this warm humid climate or extremely high price if properly preserved for long term storage. But we are working to live a more sustainable lifestyle that hopefully will be more resilient in the event of any kind of serious crisis.
Our organic wastes are being used to feed the chickens directly or the composting worms which will later feed the chickens and catfish in our new aquaponics pool. The compost from the worms feed our earth-based gardens. The waste from the fish feed the aquaponic garden. Everything is recycled and ultimately is used to feed our family.
Right now, we are starting small. It is my goal that we can supply 25-30 percent of our food needs while living in the city. Once we move to our acreage, it is my hope that we can expand it to 75-90%. Meanwhile, the children are learning so much. And there is now so much to keep their interest. They love watching the fish (and learning water chemistry) and caring for the chickens. They are looking forward to when we expand our operations to include rabbits and maybe a mini-dairy goat (which is permitted here with our large yards). Then they can learn breeding and cheese making.
I am very grateful that we finally have a solution to help our children to keep busy in a constructive way.
Glory to God for all things!
P.S. Here is a neat article on one family's urban homesteading. It's my goal! ;-) Bit by bit, we are tearing out lawn and replacing it with edibles. If it requires water, than hopefully it will in someway be productive. Otherwise, we hope to change the lawn to native with drought resistant buffalo grass and short Texas wildflowers.
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• May. 9, 2008 - Backyard aquaculture
• Dec. 8, 2007 - Earthbag construction website
Posted By Grelihm
• Nov. 5, 2007 - zipping across the ravine
• Sep. 27, 2007 - passive cooling in hot/humid climate
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