By the author of Be Ready for Anything and the online course Bloom Where You’re Planted
Do you live in the suburbs but yearn for the farm life?
The two do not have to be mutually exclusive. There’s a guide that can help you realize your self-reliance dreams no matter where you live.
As most of you know, I moved last year from my 5-acre farm in Northern California to my little house in suburban Virginia so my youngest daughter could start college early. It has been quite a change to go from a huge property with chickens, multiple gardens, and a bubbling creek to a tiny little fenced-in yard on the edge of a city. But, I’ve made the best of it and had my biggest tomato harvest to date here in town. In fact, it’s almost April and my root cellar still has several butternut squashes from last year’s harvest, and I have a couple of jars of home-grown marinara on the shelves.
How did I do it?
I used a variety of techniques found in the book, The Suburban Micro-Farm. This is the best gardening book I own for making the most of a small space for growing food. The ideas in it are not only useful but also beautiful.
Best of all, there’s a brand-new edition for your perusal. This one is illustrated with inspiring full-color photographs that will make you want to go dig in the dirt immediately. And it’s out just in time for spring planting! (Check it out HERE) If you have permaculture dream for a small space, this is the book for you. It’s the kind of book you will refer to again and again because it is such a thorough wealth of information.
I guarantee that you will be shocked to learn how much food you can grow in very small spaces – and so beautifully that your HOA won’t get worked up about your vegetable garden. Whether you are brand new to growing food or an experienced gardener, you’ll find loads of ideas you will be eager to implement.
It’s more important than ever to be self-reliant, no matter where you live.
I’ve written a lot recently about how vital it is to increase your self-reliance because at some point, simply prepping won’t be enough. A lot of people have responded that they don’t live in a place where this is possible for them.
That is why it’s essential to learn to make the most of wherever you live right now. We may not always have a chance to relocate to our dream homestead, so we need to “bloom where we’re planted” and make the most of our property, even if it’s just a townhouse or a small property in suburbia. You’ll be shocked when you see exactly how much you can produce if you learn the proper techniques, like building good soil.
I strongly recommend you grab a copy of The Suburban Microfarm before you start your garden this spring. You’ll thank me when you’re eating your delicious, homegrown fruits and vegetables later this year.
Thank you for all the information you provide. God bless.
Glad you left California, it is going to be a mess soon. See latest article on Dave Hodge’s Thecommonsenseshow.com on CALEXIT and UN troops.
WellDone!! I have lived the “Self Sufficent” life for 40 years ( Not ALWAYS !) and I have long believed that “Prepping” is NOT enough. One has to have a CONSTANT SUPPLY of water, shelter , food and warmth. If you do not have the book “Self Sufficency” by John Seymour then GET IT!!! this book transformed my life and we have never looked back, for instance:- when we pick our veg for dinner ( yes, we cook from scratch every day) all of the veg peelings and egg shells are blended in the food processor and boiled up -stock cubes added for flavour, and with oats are fed to the chickens. They love it and if you have ever eaten store bought Hen Pellets you will know that they taste like SH1-T! We even cook for the dogs and they do NOT know how bad dog food tastes. I will buy the book you recommend and if good I will buy 2 more for my children. For anyone out there who is sceptical… you cannot buy the great taste of fresh food straight out of the garden,also, create nesting places for pigeons ( Net Your Garden!) and harvest them, if you can create a warren on some land near by then you can add rabbit to the menu , or make hutches and runs for them ( I don’t like to cage animals if I can help it) , Add a good size pond if you have the space and you can have fish as well.All you grow and do not need can be sold to pay for your next year’s seeds and buy the spices you cannot produce.