Modern homesteading is the act of transforming a household from a unit of consumption to a unit of production. Here are 5 reasons why homesteaders in the suburbs are making the switch and how they’re doing it.
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Homesteaders seek to become more self-reliant by producing some of their household needs. It’s a transformation that can be done anywhere—city apartment, country farm, suburban home.
Through the homesteading lifestyle of producing rather than consuming, you can save money. As a bonus, help make your community a better place!
The following are the top 5 reasons why we, here at Tenth Acre Farm, became suburban homesteaders.
1: Getting out of Debt
According to Debt.org, the national average debt per household is ~$135,000. Keeping up with the Joneses is the dogma of suburbia, which results in consumerism and debt accumulation.
Americans do a lot of complaining about government and destruction of the economy. It turns out that—rather than complaining—we can affect more change by walking away from the treadmill of consumerism and building a productive and healthy life. A homesteading lifestyle is a productive one.
When you realize the hold that impulse buying, material desires, and instant gratification have on you, you can make different choices. Choice is power.
We here at TAF were caught on the debt treadmill at one time, but we found Dave Ramsey, worked hard over several years to get out of debt, and have been able to change the trajectory of our family tree!
2: Making the Lawn Good for Something
According to Food Not Lawns and this article in the Huffington Post, the largest irrigated crop in U.S. is LAWN.
This is an embarrassing fact about our nation. People around the world would kill to have the little slices of lawn that we perceive to be only for play or ornamentation.
Luckily, we suburbanites have an opportunity to redeem ourselves!
According to the U.S. EPA, less than 1% of the American population is farming, and with an average age of 57, many farmers will be retiring within the next 10 years. This doesn’t bode well for national food security.
Enter the suburbs: Use that asset (lawn) to produce something of value (food)!
The culture of American farming will change within my lifetime, as smaller gardens and farms begin to produce more and more of our nation’s food.
Would you like to grow more food with less effort? Check out my mini guide, The Permaculture Inspired Vegetable Garden.
3: Using Important Stuff Efficiently
According to this study by the University of London, one acre of suburban yard has been shown to be THREE TIMES more productive than one acre of farmland, since it can more easily be managed by its occupants. The food is sure to be fresher and healthier, as well.
If we can produce more food in yards than we can with farmland, then as a nation we can reduce shipping costs and plastic use, and reforest a lot of land.
4: Increasing Regional Food Security
According to The Ohio State University, an American city could produce 100% of its own produce, using existing vacant lots, flat rooftops, and just 9% of each residential yard.
If that’s true for an urban environment, just think how the suburbs (with all that lawn) could rock it!
5: Rebuilding Community
According to the book Superbia!, 16% of the American population moves every year. Suburbanites have become transient while chasing the American dream. Moving is expensive (debt) and community relationships are degrading as people no longer know their neighbors. Growing food in your yard and generally being outside rather than glued to a tv set, helps neighbors meet one another and create connections.
Have you seen positive effects in your suburb due to activity by homesteaders and gardeners?
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Emma Faulkner says
We are in the process of turning our back yard/lawned area into land for crops, hard work with a bad back so doing it a bit at a time but the rhubard went in yesterday and am going to turn over a flower bed for later today ready for veggies… I am in the UK but we face the same problems in the long run.
Amy says
How exciting! Slow and steady wins the race 🙂
Becky says
I’ve got back issues too – the biggest tip I can give you is to mulch like crazy! The worst things for me are double digging, and weeding. A good thick layer of mulch keeps my soil light and fluffy, adds nutrients as it breaks down, and keeps the weeds down.
Find a mulch that works for you and mulch in good.
Oh, and conscript your friends to help out 😉
MaryP says
I hire a local guy to rototill. We can’t dig anymore.
Jessica says
I love the suburbs for our homestead. Rural living is not for us, living in a walkable/bikeable community is super important to us, and I like having all the amenities of the city so close by. It’s great to know my kids can go right out the front door to play with all their friends, and can walk to school by themselves.
There are some major environmental problems with the suburbs, but with smart city planning and more efficient use of the space, we could really turn all that around, I think.
Amy says
I totally agree! The suburbs just need innovative planning and an openness by residents to support and accept it. Sounds like your suburb is perfect for your family’s needs 🙂
Kathryn says
Putting raised beds and an herb border around my lawn is one of the best things I’ve ever done. 🙂 Every year we add in more edible plants.
Holly says
So glad I found this site! I love this article. We are also Dave Ramsey followers (2019 will be our debt free year…we started with 105k in debt thanks mostly to student loans!) and I am just more and more interested in living differently. I’ve become more interested in homesteading topics over the past few months and am excited to dig in more. Can’t wait to read more articles on your site.
Amy says
Way to go!!! There really is no better sense of accomplishment than getting out of debt. Enjoy the journey. 🙂
Mary P says
If you can’t pay cash or finace for a very short time, you can’t afford it. Seniors. We are debt free and live on small SS. Had a nice organic farm a few years ago. Had to sell because of health problems. Converting my tiny rural yard to a minifarm. Fruit trees,fish pind,flwers and veggies. My husband is heading to the front yard to tap the maples for syrup.
Karen Furr says
Not everyone lives where beautiful rainfall is consistent and gardens flourish. I live in such a place. I had a wonderful suburban raised bed garden but keeping it watered was terribly expensive because we do not get the needed rainfall required. I did not have the expertise or the money to put in irrigation. Between poor soil (native and purchased),no rain, high water bills, birds eating ripened fruit, it was just too much.
Rocky A mathews says
Live in city of 8000. Edge of town newer subdivision. Over 65 years old and getting ready to retire. Have laying chickens, medium size garden, bee hives and starting fruit trees all on under . 875 acre lot. Still have plenty room for expansion. Spouse is really starting to can/freeze. Next year is expansion year in back yard. Maybe rabbits and broiler chickens since I can’t have larger livestock
LOVE this life. Makes me feel 30 years younger and that’s beside the great FRESH food that we eat.