Pandemic To Homesteader
City Homesteading update!!
THAT spring, just a few years ago, changed my life forever. And the lives of everyone in my household.
Cue, the beginning of the pandemic, and the rush of panic shopping.
Now prior to this, I wouldn’t have considered us “preppers” per se. But we keep more on hand than the average household.
I have five gallon food buckets of necessities like flour, sugar, brown sugar, pasta, rice, and beans. Usually averaging about 10–25 pounds of each, depending on the product usage. Our pantry is well stocked with canned goods. And we have all the supplies we’d need for an extended power outage.
We were some-what prepared for an emergency.
But when the pandemic hit, just like everyone else, I wanted to stock up on a few necessities. Because we did not know how long the chaos would last.
To my surprise, the shelves were bare. I had seen nothing quite like it. Food was wiped out. Toilet paper, gone. Dairy products, gone. The produce that was available was limp and gross.
So that night, I sat down with my husband, and told him that the empty store shelves had really hit home for me. And that even though we lived in town, and had limited space, I was going to do what I could to lessen our household dependence on grocery store food.
And thus began my process of “city homesteading”.
How can I maximize my yield with the minimal space that I have?
We own our home, but the lot is fairly small. That first spring I planted my first garden. Small and fruitful, but I did not know how to save what I grew. So when winter hit, we had no way to grow, and no stash from my garden. Which sent us back to the store.
That is why in my area, indoor hydroponic growing systems for the cold season are a must, if you want a constant supply of fresh vegetables and produce. I live in the northwest, which has a limited outdoor season. We only have about two “hotish” months, the rest is cool and rainy.
(Photo by Quinn)
This year will be my largest garden yet. Because I have spent all winter researching how to grow more in the space I have.
And better yet, I now know how to preserve what I have grown. Because it does no good to grow an abundance of food, if you have no way to save it for later use.
I have also have researched the foods that my family eats the most, and their growing requirements.
In doing that, I have realized that I have an abundance of space that can be used, that was previously unutilized.
For example, one side of my home has more space. But because it does not get much sun, I have never attempted to grow there.
Wrongly assuming that all vegetables need direct sun to grow.
But in doing my research, I learned potatoes do not require a lot of direct sunlight. So that side yard can be used by growing potatoes in grow bags.
Once those are harvested, I will prepare, and freeze them as: French fries, potato chunks for soups/stews/mashed potatoes, and hash browns. I will also dehydrate some for “instant” mashed potatoes.
Herbs don’t require a lot of root space, and do well hydroponically. So this year, instead of taking of valuable garden space, I am going to build a hydroponic set up. I will fasten lengths of PVC pipe horizontally to my fence, high enough that my dogs can’t get them, drill holes in them, and fill with plants. (YouTube has a lot of videos on how to create PVC gardens). I will use the same nutrients for those, as i do for my indoor hydroponic unit. As the herbs mature, I will dehydrate them, and store in mason jars.
We will start peas in rock wool, and planted in a vertical PVC garden. By planting them in a vertical column, they can grow up, using the column as a trellis. Although, if I find they need more room, I will add an actual trellis behind them.
PVC pipe gardens are probably are not the best, or most ideal garden choice. But I have found that they really increase my growing ability and growing space. Which means fewer grocery store trips!!
By using the PVC pipe gardens, I can save my soil space for the plants that need room like zucchini, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
I am also trying something new with my tomatoes this year as. In previous years, I have planted one plant, per large pot. I pruned heavily per some of the care videos that I watched and enjoyed a yummy hand full of tomatoes.
This year I am building a key hole garden for my tomatoes. I have a 6x8 foot area that i have blocked off and filled with prime soil. In the center, I have built a compose bin. That I have been feeding all winter, and will continue to feed all year. The compost goodness will drain into my soil, feeding the tomatoes that will be planted there. I will not prune. They won’t be in separate pots. I am just going to plant them and let them do their thing. This will be a test to see which way produces more tomatoes. Hopefully, there will be enough to be canned into tomato and pasta sauces.
Since the pandemic has begun, my garden has vastly changed. The first year we could go all summer, and part way into fall on what I had grown. which meant never having to buy produce from the store. But since I hadn’t taken the time to determine how to save what I grew, we were back at square one, once winter hit.
It has only been a couple years since the pandemic chaos begun, but those years have been like dog year. Every year feels like seven. So I have learned much in that time.
Because of that, in the last year I have rarely bought produce from the grocery store. And after this year’s garden revamp, I am hoping we will be completely self sufficient for produce, herbs, and the like.
I can never raise my own meat, because I don’t have the space that animals require. But I support local farmers, instead of big chain stores. Admittedly, it costs more. But the quality and flavor of farm fresh meat VS store bought is vastly different. If you have never bought from a local farmer, I suggest you try it.
So you see, it can be done. You can live in town, in the city, and not on a farm, and still become more self reliant. It may be a somewhat costly startup, but in the long run, it will save money. Happy Harvesting
Rowen is a mother, Wife, Domestic Violence Victims Advocate, community volunteer, and nature lover. Most of her time is spent with her family or volunteering in her community. Rowen has a degree in Psychology, with a concentration in Family Counseling and Minoring in criminal justice. Writing has been her passion since high school, and she enjoys using it to help others.
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