Homesteading can start where you are. Back to basics. “Basic” information, but I never get tired of hearing it. Great episode. Inspiring.
Thank you for reminding us.

Great podcast, great podcast, great podcast. It has been a ong time since a podcast connected with me. The most important part of the podcast was the simple statement (and I am paraphrasing), “what can you do with what you have?”

I believe I am an example of an urban homestead in process. I live in the middle of urban Houston, Texas. My lot is 130 feet by 50 feet, including the 1700 square foot foot print. I am not kidding. I moved here prior to becoming a “real” prepper. I was newly married and moved to this area to give my wife a shorter commute than my pre-marriage house in the ‘burbs. I did not think about a homestead, so I have to build one in stealth mode because my wife is somewhat reluctant.

So, I do the best I can with what I have, because I want my marriage to survive my prepping. I am lucky, because the house has two big pecan trees. We get a crap ton of pecans in the fall. In fact, the neighbor’s pecan tree drops pecans that end up in my back yard via their roof (yes, they are that close). In the past, I let my wife pick up the pecans, get them cracked and get the pecan out of the shell. And yet, she does not pick up 50% of the pecans and they rot in the yard. This year, I am going to actually help. The pecans we don’t crack and shell, I am going to sell. Not only will it forward my homestead process, but it will get me in good graces with the wife.

For my first anniversary in 2011, I planted blackberries. It was a rough year because the summer of 2011 was the hottest in the history of Houston and one bush died. Last year was better, so I propagated the surviving bush and now they are growing like gangbusters. In a year or so, I will have a thriving blackberry grove. I have not protected from the birds, so most of the blackberries get eaten, but that is not the point so far. Next year, I will get lively production from those bushes.

During the winter of 2011/2012, I tore out an overgrown bush, dug a trench and turned it into a woody bed with a raised bed on top of it. That 4X8 bed is in its second year. It will be productive as hell in a few years.

In the back yard, there were several beds dedicated to ornamental plants including roses. Somehow, they died off. I don’t know how that happened. Over the past three years, I have turned them into garden beds. I give away the surplus vegetables to my neighbors and, this year, my neighbor across the street is growing a garden. How did that happen? I finally killed that evil, thorny bougainvillea this spring. That area will be a strawberry patch in the future.

My only mistake is not planting a fruit tree in the back yard this year. I was too busy and too tired this spring with my job and my life. I put it off and put it off and now it is too late. Of course, there is always next spring.

My small property has so much potential, that it will take me a few years to complete it while navigating my marriage and life. It may not be a homestead, but it will be as productive as it can be.

In summary, do the best with what you have. I am.

Jack,
Just wanted to let you know that almost an hour into this episode, I was moved to tears. I truly appreciate the work you do and listening to you keeps me from feeling alone in my beliefs & actions. You have inspired me and renewed my vigor when I have been feeling exhausted by what feels like a constant struggle with the “ruling class” and my fight with “disposable” life. Thanks again.