Urban Homesteading

Hello! My name is Josh - I am new to the forums here, but have been poking around over the past few weeks.
I have yet to come across a post on urban homesteading and thought it would be a great topic for open discussion.

I am curious about the possibilities of homesteading and permaculture within or close to a city.

Some areas of exploration:

law and policies

collaboration with urban farms

simultaneously maintaining a city job and homestead

repurposing buildings

community outreach

solutions to the limitation of space

bicycles, bicycles, bicycles

rainwater collection

exchanging locally made items

hydroponics or other alternative growing systems

working with a small yard

generating energy

zero-waste living

Seeking anyone with personal experience, expertise, general knowledge, or ideas!

My interest lies in the ability to create a self-sufficient lifestyle while pushing the community of a city toward its own sustainability. As much as I love the idea of separation from the city, I can't help but feel some sort of purpose in staying. Without forward-thinking and active people in deeply established places, change occurs much too slowly to stay ahead of an inevitable detriment. Adaptation seems increasingly important (well, it always has been) - especially given the lack of resources that many of us have. If there was more support for like-minded people in cities, perhaps there would be more development for urban homesteading to exist.

So what are your thoughts? Do you think mid- to large-sized urban environments have too much of a foundation for things like homesteading and horticulture to break into? If not, where do you see potential?

Most people live in cities these days, so in my opinion, urban homesteading, and especially urban permaculture, are extremely important.

Some people think there are laws against growing food in the city, but nobody has ever been able to show me such a law.  Not too long ago, San Antonio,TX, where I live half the time, specifically made market gardening legal throughout the city.

Homestead to me means onsite conservative use or production of
Electricity
Water
Sewer
Space Conditioning
Raw Food (Fermentation & Dehydration)
Food Preservation (Above + Canning/etc)
Prepping food for the week/etc
Cooking Nutrient Dense Food
Herbs/Mushroom/Probotic Condiments/Vegetables/Tubers/etc
Less prepared food
Outside Kitchen
Onsite food growing
Preventing sickness thru herbs/mushroom/sleep/etc
Helping sickness thru herbs/mushroom/food/sleep/etc
Composting
Producing less waste esp non compostable ones.
Buying sustainable local good+services.
Human powered transportation/less energy intensive transportation.

Alot places do have laws that laws/hoa that says keep your yard looking tidy.
But I think that we can have pretty/tidy permaculture.
Some might day no biocide spraying or low water usuage but that can still be done

S Bengi wrote:
Alot places do have laws that laws/hoa that says keep your yard looking tidy.
But I think that we can have pretty/tidy permaculture.

I super agree.  I think if there are weed ordinances, etc, that permies can design a beautiful productive edible landscape that fits the requirements.  Might take a teeny tiny bit of creativity, but it is certainly possible.

HOA rules, which are a contract and not a law, may be restrictive, but again, I think creative design can solve these problems.

Tyler Ludens wrote:Some people think there are laws against growing food in the city, but nobody has ever been able to show me such a law.  Not too long ago, San Antonio,TX, where I live half the time, specifically made market gardening legal throughout the city.

That's great! Where I currently live, there is an extensive presence of direct farmer-to-consumer markets - even through the cold winters. I get a real sense that urban farmers and other growers/makers can generate relatively consistent income, or at the very least barter for what is needed through the changing seasons. What also makes cities desirable for homesteading is the huge variety of disciplines that different groups have in close proximity. You have access to consciously-made goods of almost every sort. Versatility in a community is so important.

Tyler Ludens wrote:I super agree.  I think if there are weed ordinances, etc, that permies can design a beautiful productive edible landscape that fits the requirements.  Might take a teeny tiny bit of creativity, but it is certainly possible.

Right! And it is sometimes surprising how much land is tucked away in a dense city. I often walk around the neighborhoods here and discover a hidden garden, or a grassy lot between residential buildings that is otherwise unused. A small amount of land can go a long way, especially with intentional design. Growing vertically when possible could help substantially as well. If you have a solid circle of collaborators, different homes could focus on different plants/goods/services and everyone could reap the bounty of abundance together!