What is Urban Homesteading?

Urban homesteading refers to a household that produces a significant portion of their food, including livestock and produce, to be consume by its residents. Other ways in which people may practice urban homesteading is through the use of solar energy, harvesting rainwater, re-using or recycling materials into a new use, as well as gathering wild edibles, composting and food preservation (canning).
Now, why would someone want to practice urban homesteading. The reasons are many and each unique. Over the past decade, the use of pesticides, hormones and genetically-modified foods in the food industry has been a focus of society. As well, the recession caused havoc on families finances. A good remedy to these problems is to grow your own food. You can control the pesticides, added hormones and whether it is genetically modified or not. Now people may think that growing their own vegetables costs just as much as buying them at the store, but those people would be wrong. The cost of one roma tomato plant is $3.19. One plant will produce anywhere form 5 to 10 lbs of tomatoes. One can also say that you need to include the cost of tending to the plant. I say, look at it as a form of exercise, and a way to spend time with family. By composting, you reduce the amount of food that goes to your local landfill, therefore reducing the outrageous population of dump gulls. The composted material can then be added back into your garden as a source of nutrients, meaning one does not have to go and buy fertilizer. Each aspect of urban homesteading is a way to save you money, protect and increase your health, and ensure that if the world ends (such as with this past May 21st) you would be prepared. Did you know that the world's food industry only has enough food to last the entire world 20 days? Scary, right?
I hope that this gives you a good eye opener into the world of urban homesteading, and gives you something to think about. In later posts, I will be covering the harms of pesticides, hormones and genetically modified foods and so on.

Happy Homesteading!