Shalom Ya'll

This is the first post of my blog about urban homesteading in east TN. My partner and I moved here 4 years ago with our then 11yo daughter and while our wee farm has had starts and stops and it's been slow, we now have a small garden, with plans to expand in the spring, 2 goats and 3 rabbits. Bee hives are not actually on the property but we own 2 hives.

As for the powering down and being more self-sufficent, this past summer I learned to waterbath can YEAH! and even gained some confidence with a pressure canner, I completed one quilt and a quilt top that is now being quilted and while we are still on the grid we don't use central heat/air, or the clothes dryer. Our next major steps will be, unplugging the fridge, cooking with a solar oven, and washing more cloths by hand. Our female goat is due to kid at any time and we will be milking her. The main purpose for the rabbits is compost for the garden as they are really pets and not for eating.

The main purpose of the blog is to provide a space for people who would like to be more self-reliant but feel because they live in a city or rent they can't do somethings. Granted we have a very understanding landlord but we do in fact rent our small space. The total lot is .5 of an acre but we don't have total use of that space. I see this as a challange to grow as much of our food as we can and supply ourselves with milk/butter/cheese. Even living in a rental place there are lots of things you can do.

I hope that you will enjoy the ride. There will be daily posts (No posts on Saturday) and challanges for all, info on what we are doing to prepare for peak oil (not that I'm a "doomer" but it never hurts to be prepared), with photos and lots of laughs.

So welcome, pull up a chair and stay for awhile.

Yiddishe Mama