tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post7000745593920950056..comments2024-03-26T00:14:00.509-07:00Comments on Crunchy Chicken: Living on a farm in the cityUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-71979413569024159942011-04-16T02:30:05.321-07:002011-04-16T02:30:05.321-07:00We have about 1/4 acre in suburbia, and we're ...We have about 1/4 acre in suburbia, and we're a family of seven. At this point, I wish I had more time. We do have a nice size vegetable garden, and we've been slowing building a good size collection of fruiting plants and trees. However, even though I'd love to add in some chickens, I just don't have the time to always take care of what we have. Last year, we lost some of our Barb @ A Life in Balancehttp://alifeinbalance.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-55406991681273910242011-03-31T14:12:23.719-07:002011-03-31T14:12:23.719-07:00We currently have .86 of an acre and it's too ...We currently have .86 of an acre and it's too much. We are downsizing to probably .20 of an acre or so and that should be just right. We'll be able to grow all the veg, fruit and herbs for the two of us plus 6 chickens and that even gives us enough to share. I'd rather have less land to have to deal with and give it all over to food production than all the mowing/edging we have to Anna Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00771185484339023184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-88348956415576623232011-03-31T13:27:20.975-07:002011-03-31T13:27:20.975-07:00I have an acre just outside of the 'burbs, and...I have an acre just outside of the 'burbs, and I can't do much of anything with it. The front yard gets too much shade from trees and fencing. The septic drainfield takes up over a quarter acre. A good portion of the lot is a native growth area. Huge trees shade the western quarter acre. For all my acre I have eight fruit trees and 720 square feet of planting beds. That's it. <Kristihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14421150270049125967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-68960634351767617972011-03-31T10:39:08.853-07:002011-03-31T10:39:08.853-07:00I used to dream of having an acreage out in the co...I used to dream of having an acreage out in the country, and one day, I woke up and realized that my quarter acre in the suburbs was what I had, and I could either do what I wanted to do here, in the 'burbs, or I could keep wasting time waiting for that "perfect" piece of land.<br /><br />I decided to get busy and make this place my homestead. And here I am, several years later Wendyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642417312794814066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-35301920693858170392011-03-31T09:36:57.284-07:002011-03-31T09:36:57.284-07:00The single largest problem we have is zoning. On o...The single largest problem we have is zoning. On our 1/5 acre city lot, we garden intensively and bake and sew and recycle water. We could have chickens and bees, but we aren't zoned for it.<br /><br />Space is secondary. If we were to grow hay for dairy animals, we'd need 5-10 acres. If we bought hay, we could get along with 1-2. My children are horse obsessed, though, so when we buyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-85840184230732309852011-03-31T08:53:53.929-07:002011-03-31T08:53:53.929-07:00We can do most of what we want to do on our little...We can do most of what we want to do on our little city lot--garden, grow fruit trees and bushes, etc. Hens are illegal but that didn't stop me from having them. I don't at this point even desire goats or pigs or anything else. I could keep rabbits and that is a future possibility--they are legal as long as you don't keep them for meat, but who would know?<br /><br />I love being Lisa Zahnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491596171533559615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-13426389626965547922011-03-31T07:37:04.367-07:002011-03-31T07:37:04.367-07:00We rent in downtown Toronto and the biggest thing ...We rent in downtown Toronto and the biggest thing stopping me from doing more is that we might have to move. It's hard to put all that effort in and then have to leave it behind.CallieKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04991717349717389292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-73439222194205173282011-03-31T07:32:00.525-07:002011-03-31T07:32:00.525-07:00I live in the city, and have virtually no land...B...I live in the city, and have virtually no land...BUT...I grow on almost inch I do have, including container gardens. Unfortunately, livestock is illegal in my city, though I do bend those rules just a little from time to time;) I also volunteer on a local farm, so I'm getting my time with the animals, and I keep a good-sized garden there. I have all the skills I need from earlier life Sandyhttp://www.whosgotyourgoat.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-1358606801378570912011-03-31T07:26:21.243-07:002011-03-31T07:26:21.243-07:00We've converted most of our back yard into a g...We've converted most of our back yard into a garden and we're using part of the front yard to grow food as well. I'd raise some animals but since our neighbors are so close, it's a respect issue. Maybe if we move out of the city or the house next to us goes empty for long, we'll do it, otherwise I'm pretty satisfied with what we've got going on in our urban homestead.Dr. Monkey Hussein Monkersteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14871033999478634222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-3925547824676662642011-03-31T07:17:33.375-07:002011-03-31T07:17:33.375-07:00We love our urban space but we are constantly maki...We love our urban space but we are constantly making changes, find a little more dirt here or there to grow things. Moving the compost bin or building the chooks and addition. ;) I would love the space for a dairy cow, an orchard, a gigantic strawberry patch and an asparagus bed. But these are beyond our space right now. For a while I never stopped pining over more land - I wanted a horse Anisahttp://lazyhomesteader.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-70041547437716723812011-03-31T06:21:11.837-07:002011-03-31T06:21:11.837-07:00I'm a college student in a college town of abo...I'm a college student in a college town of about 100,000. My boyfriend and I have started with the most important stuff, brewing our own beer and making fruit wines. Then we branched out to cheese-making, canning, and cooking from scratch. I could be doing more, but I just don't have the time to keep up with a bigger garden (we currently do potted herbs). The other thing keeping me Veronicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15086660683050713126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-7447374978206332202011-03-31T05:48:55.143-07:002011-03-31T05:48:55.143-07:00"The perfect is the enemy of the good". ...<i>"The perfect is the enemy of the good"</i>. Sometimes the conditions aren't 100% as we would like them, but that shouldn't stop us from trying. Kate is correct about the difference between material and skills self-sufficiency, so that even those of us with few materials can learn and practice a ton of new skills.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08184273584998966031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-12781770037299367382011-03-31T05:48:09.904-07:002011-03-31T05:48:09.904-07:00Great post. I so agree we always yearn for what w...Great post. I so agree we always yearn for what we don't have. I'm trying to come to terms with this by minimizing, not reading magazines and watching shows that make me want "more." I have chickens and we have a little garden. It's all about finding that contentment...Panamamamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05059282003527452424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-53195708309530642942011-03-31T05:47:41.609-07:002011-03-31T05:47:41.609-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08184273584998966031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-63490362532937680492011-03-31T05:42:48.437-07:002011-03-31T05:42:48.437-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08184273584998966031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-80286961296559328812011-03-31T05:41:41.968-07:002011-03-31T05:41:41.968-07:00I have an acre and 1/2 just outside the city limit...I have an acre and 1/2 just outside the city limits of Houston. I left homesteading for corporate life and hated it. So glad to be home again. This spring has the vegetable garden going, chickens laying, mini orchard started. As soon as I can there will be a rabbit or two and maybe ducks again. The pond will be re-dug next spring. It just feels so right!harlywomnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-67581256806565556312011-03-31T04:20:59.123-07:002011-03-31T04:20:59.123-07:00I agree with those that say it's human nature ...I agree with those that say it's human nature to want just a little bit more than what we have. I have a luxurious amount of space compared to a lot of truly urban homesteaders. But our township won't let us have more than 4 "outdoor pets" and no free-ranging. I know it makes sense; my hens could destroy a neighbors garden when the seedlings are small, so I don't know Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-72817014348112263762011-03-31T04:13:55.389-07:002011-03-31T04:13:55.389-07:00Living in the city makes it both easier and harder...Living in the city makes it both easier and harder to be self sufficient. On the one hand you have easier access to a network to purchase or trade your seeds or goods etc. On the other hand, cities make it challenging by having rules and restrictions. It's always interesting to see how far those limits can be stretched. I wish I could grow anything on my shady balcony but I have yet to Laura Kaedinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02728792296140053108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-81278793129024491822011-03-30T22:55:13.365-07:002011-03-30T22:55:13.365-07:00Good post, Diana. We all could be doing more than...Good post, Diana. We all could be doing more than we currently are (even me!) The only thing really that I can't do here on my 1/5 acre Seattle lot is get dairy goats. I'm allowed to but having milked one up the street for the last year, I know firsthand the neighbors are concerned with the noise level. I already hear my chickens and sometimes ducks squawking up the street. The bees Sustainable Eatshttp://www.SustainableEats.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-55819177413995198442011-03-30T22:33:35.120-07:002011-03-30T22:33:35.120-07:00We moved last year to a half acre plot in "th...We moved last year to a half acre plot in "the city" - really the burbs but in the SF Bay Area everything here is so densely populated, I consider it urban. Here, I have room for chickens, raised beds, an orchard and also room for the kids to play. I think we are allowed to get bees as well but haven't investigated it - especially as I discovered a beehive in one of our trees todayGreen Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133847111288382381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-37097895854592898002011-03-30T21:50:02.281-07:002011-03-30T21:50:02.281-07:00While I have he ability to do most of the things I...While I have he ability to do most of the things I want to do, there are a few things that living in the city doesn't allow. I can't have any pigs, even pet pigs. I of course can't sell any raw agricultural goods to help fund my hobby. But I'm torn. I love living in the City and don't want to be isolated. But at the same time I want farming to be my career. The biggest issue Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05607208465219962573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-56202406335163576342011-03-30T21:37:47.558-07:002011-03-30T21:37:47.558-07:00As my wife and I began down this road of self suff...As my wife and I began down this road of self sufficiency some years back, I continually found myself feeling depressed by my constant pining for the perfect piece of land that I never thought I would be able to obtain. Always looking until that mystical day some time in the future when I could do all those wonderful farm-esque activities was keeping me from embracing the greater truth that, P~https://www.blogger.com/profile/13403847624491620709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-57039920998304855392011-03-30T21:11:09.299-07:002011-03-30T21:11:09.299-07:00We live on 1/6 of an acre in the city and have a l...We live on 1/6 of an acre in the city and have a large raised bed garden, 6 chickens, a rabbit and 2 cats. I would love to have a small goat, (or 2), but with our love to travel if we had any more live stock it would make travel prohibitive. Our county allows for any combination of 30 chickens and or goats, so we could go hog wild if we wished. Nothing is holding us back from our dreams of April Alexanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14284816070903462748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1542806651392353413.post-89995744828544986622011-03-30T20:54:34.870-07:002011-03-30T20:54:34.870-07:00I think it's like most things in life - you wa...I think it's like most things in life - you want what you don't have. I don't have the space for a cow, or goats and I'm not allowed to have more than 4 chickens or a couple of rabbits. I am sure that if I had 4 acres with a cow I'd want room for more pigs. Or sheep.<br />REally I have more than enough space to do what I can actually get done considering I have a full time jobAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com