Anybody else doing "urban homesteading"?

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

I'm curious if anybody else is doing urban homesteading. I've just started reading about it and I'm finding it absolutely fascinating.

My first step: breadmaking. I've made baguettes, pitas, and ciabattas and I'm planning to try the Artisan Breadmaking in 5 Minutes A Day strategy.

We're talking about bees and chickens, but I'm not too keen on bugs or poop. So we have a couple of hurdles.

We're definitely planning a garden and contemplating build-your-own solar panels. Anybody have a fantastic source for organic seeds?

Am I the only Smoosier learning about this movement?

[Michael J Dukehart, II]

The wife an I have talked about bee keeping...It sounds like fun....she can use the honey for her bread and once I get the bee breing set up i can use it in place of sugar.

We have tried the traditional garden at the current home but at the new house we are looking at squar foot gardening to get hte most of of the small area we will designate for food production. Also hoeing one of the downspouts would support a rain barrel.

Since we are going to have a larget yard we are needing to replace our current reel mower withsomething for a larget yard. I am thinking of building a small solar generator for the shed and getting a cordless electric mower that will tap into that.

[Lynn Jenkins]

Hi Michael, are you aware that there are 2 beekeeping "schools" in Indiana, and both tend to hold their sessions in Jan and Feb?
Our Nov/Dec issue of Indiana Living Green listed at least one of them. If you need more info on them, let me know. I'll be happy to hunt it down for you.

[Michael J Dukehart, II]

Thanks for the info. We have been talking to the bee guys at the state fair for the past two years and feel like we have a decent understanding and network of connections for questions.

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

Hey Michael,
Another couple of resources: that guy I mentioned who goes to the Traders Point Creamery Farmer's Market teaches beekeeping. Also, my dad and brother-in-law were both beekeepers for a couple of years, but both gave it up for different reasons.

I'll be interested to hear about it if you decide to have beehives. My husband is still considering it. :)

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

Michael, do you have any concerns about the rain barrel being an attractant for mosquitoes? I had several EarthBoxes a couple of years ago and with that reservoir of water in the base, had tons of mosquitoes. I know there are those "dunks" or whatever the doughnut-shaped things are, but they're not exactly organic. Any thougths on that?

LOVE the ideas about the shed!!

[Michael J Dukehart, II]

Most commercially produced rain barrels have a screen across the top and plus I plan on using the water for the entire back yard considering we don't have a water spicket back there. not to concened about it being true standing water. one could also add a solar fountain type water agitator to it as well

[Lynn Jenkins]

Mosquito dunks are actually "natural"
http://www.indianalivinggreen.com/index.php?option=com_content&...
But yesterday I was giving a presentation, and two new simple ideas were shared with me:
a couple of minnows will take care of the mosquito larvae in rainbarrels (until you use ALL of the water ;~ )
Also, someone suggested putting a couple of tablespoons of vegetable oil in the water...it will float on top and suffocate the larvae. (Obviously, not to good olive oil!)

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

Okay! This is great information, guys! I'm really glad to hear that the dunks aren't as bad as I thought. I don't know if I could put minnows or oil in my Earthboxes (have you guys seen these things? They're marvelous! http://www.earthbox.com), but if I can use the dunks, I can have some of my garden back on my patio again, where I'll have about 10 steps from garden to skillet. Hooray!

[Arlan Landey]

My mother has been an organic gardener all of her life. I'll see her in a few weeks and see what she has/recommends for organic seeds.

I am in the midst of a greenhouse design for urban settings utilizing our Liberty Stone as the foundation and in the pillars which will hold the glass (In most communities it won't require a permit to set up). It draws "heat" from the ground in the winter and should remain between 45 and 55 degrees even on days like today (9 degrees presently)! You may have to do some marginal heating to optimize growth in the dead of winter, but costs for heating will be minimal.

Let me know if you are interested in getting the plans when they are completed.

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

Arlan, I would love that! I'm interested in a greenhouse for the future! Thanks!!

[Arlan Landey]

We're tentatively planning on showing the greenhouse in the January/February issue of Living Green Magazine -

[Susan Baroncini-Moe]

I think I just organized a miniature co-op for gardening this summer!