Come along as we chat with urban homesteader Anna Timmerman, getting a glimpse into what her urban homestead looks like and how she is able to homestead within an urban area.
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Our lives have pretty much always been centered in very rural areas. We grew up in a very rural area and we chose to build our own house in a very rural area. Much of the homesteading ideas are second nature here, and most people take on homesteading activities pretty regularly.
When the war began between Russia and Ukraine, I started to find myself wondering about our self-sufficiency. As we enter a time of unrest and unknowns, I thought through what we have here on our own little 40 acres of land and tried to think it through how we could survive. With the resources we have, the land we have, and the way we live, I think we would be able to make it.
But, what about those who live in the city? What would they do? I reached out to the broader homesteading community in search of people who have been successful in creating an urban homestead. Here, I found Anna Timmerman, an extension agent for LSU AgCenter and urban homesteader herself. Learning about how Anna is able to grow food for market and consumption for herself is inspiring and encouraging for those who are hoping to do the same on their own urban homestead.
Table of Contents
- What is urban homesteading?
- An urban homestead layout
- Urban homesteading animals
- Gardening on the urban homestead
- Best tips for urban homesteaders
- Anyone can do this anywhere!
- Share this post!
- Looking for more on homesteading?
What is urban homesteading?
An urban homestead is just as the name implies: a homestead created in an urban setting. Homesteading means to create and provide as much as possible from your own property for your own home. Doing this in the city, where there is obviously less land and more restrictions, can be more difficult, but can be done as Anna shows.
An urban homestead layout
Anna has been homesteading for most of her life. She grew up in west Michigan where she grew up on a homestead. In 2005, she moved to Chicago, where she began urban homesteading and then moved to New Orleans in 2008, where she continues to urban homestead today.
Anna lives on a 60’x120′ lot with an 1800 square foot shotgun house on it. Though the house takes up the majority of that lot, the front of the lot is west facing and is the location of most of their gardens. Here, there is a nursery on the side for plant propagation. She’s also able to keep some animals, which are all located in the backyard. They’ve also allocated some of their lot for pollinator plantings that they propagate from a large vegetable/herb garden.
Urban homesteading animals
Obviously some larger animals, such as dairy cows, may not be suited for urban homesteaders. However, there are a lot of other animals that are suited for small spaces and make great additions for urban homesteaders hoping to grow some of their own food.
URBAN ANIMALS TO CONSIDER:
- Rabbits
- Chickens
- Quail
- Pigeon
- Ducks
- Geese
- Goats
On Anna’s urban homestead, she is able to raise a wide variety of small animals for meat and egg production. For meat and show, she has a 50 hole rabbitry where she raises Dwarf Hotots and Blanc de Hotot breeds. She raises them in wire hutches that are constructed for good airflow in the heat with worm beds underneath.
In addition to rabbits, Anna also has four pairs of Texan Pioneer pigeons for squabbing/utility, four Coturnix quail coops for eggs and meat, a small chicken grow out pen, and the layers and trio of ducks run under the rabbits. She says she usually has around 6-12 laying hens and also raises 10 broilers for meat each year. The birds, she says, are raised in rotation so that they always have something getting ready for processing to become food. Fifty to sixty percent of their meat comes from their own urban homestead. She also mentions the importance of fishing, too, saying that she is able to provide lots of fresh fish and crab to keep to feed their family.
Gardening on the urban homestead
Don’t underestimate the amount of food you can grow in a small space. Last year, Anna was able to produce 80% of their homestead’s vegetables from their urban homestead! She grows her vegetables in lots of “pocket gardens” as she calls them. Her larger garden beds measure 8’x30′ and 7’x10′. In their 9B-10A growing zone, she is able to grow year round, producing many traditional vegetable crops, herbs for fresh and dry use, tea camellias, blue Java bananas, papayas, moringa, curry, satsuma oranges, and a whole lot of other things. At her last count, she said she was growing over 65 different vegetable and herb crops in a calendar year and has between 50-75 Louisiana native plant species on her urban homestead.
Best tips for urban homesteaders
As someone who has lived on an urban homestead for quite some time, Anna has some wise advice for those considering the venture. Here are some of her top tips for those getting started with an urban homestead.
1. Know the local laws.
When you’re considering your urban homestead, be sure to check local regulations and laws to make sure you’re in compliance. Each city has different rules and regulations, so be sure you know yours before you invest in animals or dig up your lot to start a garden.
2. Be a good neighbor.
Being a good neighbor is important. If your neighbors question you, be sure to explain yourself and the reasons that you’ve chosen to live the way that you have. Invite them over to see what they can do, too! If you have an overabundance of vegetables, consider sharing with your neighbors. You’re less likely to have conflict when you have a good relationship with the neighbors and they understand what and why you’re doing what you’re doing.
3. Don’t allow odors or pests to become an issue.
This kind of goes along with being a good neighbor. Be sure that you’re managing your animal waste in a thoughtful way. Sometimes compost piles and animal feed can lure in unwanted rodents like rats and mice. Be sure you are responsible with the way you handle these things so that pests and odors aren’t an issue that can cause trouble for you on your urban homestead.
Anyone can do this anywhere!
Anna’s last bit of advice: “Really- anyone can do this anywhere! Read all you can about a project before spending money or bringing animals home. Look for reputable, research-based sources of information from people in your state or climate. What works in one state might not work in another. Look to traditional food-ways for inspiration about what’s possible where you live. Eat seasonally!”
I think the biggest take-away from Anna is that urban homesteading is a real possibility. For those who are willing to take the jump against cultural norms, consider starting an urban homestead of your own. As the saying goes, “bloom where you are planted.” The fact that Anna was able to grow 80% of her vegetables and 50-60% of her meat in an urban setting is jaw-droppingly inspiring, if you ask me. The freedom of knowing that you have alternative options to get food besides depending solely on someone else is such a comfort.
A huge thanks goes out to Anna Timmerman for working with me on this post and sharing her story!
Share this post!
Encourage someone else to start their own journey towards self-sufficiency wherever they are.
Looking for more on homesteading?
Check out these posts!
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- MODERN DAY HOMESTEADERS: WHO ARE THEY?
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- READY TO START HOMESTEADING? LEARN HOW HERE.
- For our story, click here.
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