2. I’ve spent the last nine years serving in the Air Force. It was a wonderful, growing, and
challenging experience. But after my third child was born about four years ago, I began to feel like something
was missing. It was me from the home, my children missing out on experiences I wanted them to have, and a
lifestyle that wasn’t always about getting to the next appointment on time. I finished up my second enlistment
in January of this year with the intention of buying a couple of acres in Texas and staying home where I could
raise and home school my children. Unfortunately, plans fell through when our rental property in Colorado
was to be vacated and we learned of the many damages that would have to be repaired. With time and money
not on our side, we made the decision to return to the suburbs and make the best of our situation. So here we
are!
My husband and I have three children ; ages 10, 8, and 4. We also have a German Shepard/lab
mix, a golden doodle, and a lazy grey cat.. I grew up with a small kitchen garden but that’s the extent of my
gardening experience. My husband is from Juarez, Mexico (which is basically a concrete jungle in the middle of
the desert). Needless to say, he has no experience. We made this conscious decision because we want to
educate our children and ourselves. We are concerned about our health, our environmental footprint, and our
ability to survive should the need arise due to various possible catastrophes etc. Not to mention, we would
much rather have our children outside digging in the dirt or collecting eggs as opposed to vegetating on the
couch glued to one electronic or another.
This is a drastic change in lifestyle for us but with baby steps and a thirst for experience and
knowledge we are ready to take on this challenge to better ourselves and maybe in the process inspire others to
do the same.
Why are we doing this?
3.
This is a family project so I enlisted the help of my children to
help observe our location and think of things we want to include in our
homestead. There were some off the wall requests and ideas but with
some guidance we were able to come up with a very long list of
wants/expectations, a list of possible problems we may encounter, and a
list of property observations.
Brainstorming
4. We own .14 acres
The home was built in 2009 so it is fairly energy efficient
The home doesn’t have an a/c so our energy consumption is a lot less in the summers
We belong to a home owner’s association
The front lawn has to stay to comply with the HOA’s
Our house faces west
We have a green belt on the other side of our backyard fence
Because our home is 2 stories, it casts a large shadow over growing areas
We are in USDA Zone 5
It is a semi arid climate
We recently learned that there is a 2/3 chance for a wet summer due to a possible El Niño year
Property Observations
5.
Organizing our goals on note cards was a bit chaotic with the children but I was
finally able to narrow them all down into the following categories which will be expanded upon
in upcoming slides.
Food we want to grow
Water harvesting
Compost
Growing concepts
Animals
Preservation of Harvest
Other
Goals
6.
HERBS
Rosemary
Basil
Parsley
Sage
Thyme
Mint
Chives
Oregano
Cilantro
Food We Want to Grow
VEGETABLES
Tomatoes
Rhubarb
Peppers
Onions
Garlic
Squash
Cucumber
Sweet peas
Potatoes
Beets
Broccoli
Lettuce
Spinach
Kale
Cabbage
Carrots
Zuchini
FRUIT
Apples
Cherries
Peaches
Strawberries
Gooseberries
Currants
Raspberries
Blueberries
Blackberries
Grapes
7. Water harvesting may be a bit of a problem for us. We have recently learned from the
Colorado Department of Natural Resources:
Stormwater Management
Precipitation that falls on a site and becomes concentrated in a detention or infiltration area may not be
diverted for any beneficial use. Landscaping that is planted on roofs (green roofs) is allowable as long
as the landscaping intercepts only precipitation that falls directly onto the landscaping. The
landscaping may not intercept and consume concentrated flow and may not store water below the root
zone. http://water.state.co.us/SURFACEWATER/SWRIGHTS/Pages/RainwaterGraywater.aspx
Still, we would like to have the following:
Swales
Drywell (x2)
Water Harvesting
8.
Two worm composters which will be stored in our
basement in the winter due to snowfall
Dog poop composter installed away from growing
food to help lessen our environmental foot print
Compost
9.
Green house
Container gardening
Raised beds
Hugelkultur
Edible landscaping in the front yard
Companion planting
Growing Concepts
11.
Can and freeze excess
Cold storage in basement
Preservation of Harvest
12.
Small storage shed for garden tools
Gourds and carving pumpkins grown on outside of
backyard fence to help prevent weeds and sticker
bushes from taking over and for compost uses
Solar panels
Other
13.
Direction our home faces in consideration of the sun
Winter weather
HOAs
City/State Laws such as:
Water harvesting
Poultry restrictions
Problems We May Encounter
14. Before I even learned that I could take this course online, my family and I have been at the
drawing board adding and subtracting ideas to begin work on this project. This week’s reading and video
helped me expand upon this even more. I was aware of companion planting and had learned about the “three
sisters” a long time ago in school when learning about the American Indians – but this great technique hadn’t
even crossed my mind. Thanks to the Suburban Permaculture video I was reminded of it as well as motivated
to get out in my yard.
The more I read about homesteading, permaculture, and the effects of modern day production
and consumption the more driven I am to make this change. Peter Bane mentioned that this need to get back to
the land may be primal instinct. Personally, I think he’s right. Furthermore, how can you deny common sense?
The examples of how other countries can maintain without the existence of industrial farming is inspiring and
hopeful. For this reason, I hope that what we are doing helps to inspire others in my neighborhood. Right now,
none of our neighbors really speak to one another outside the general head nod or hand wave as you pull into
the driveway. Perhaps our doings will at get some curious dialogue going and a better sense of community can
begin forming. Let the excitement begin!
Conclusion
