Intrigue of the week: Urban Homesteading

July 6, 1:59 PMDC Healthy Living ExaminerMolly Borchers

Previous

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the DC Healthy Living Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Have you ever canned your own food? 

Home-canning was a way of life for most families for many years but is no longer a common practice.  It's often associated with stockpiling.  Generations of old had myriad reasons to stockpile - the threat of nuclear attack during the cold war, and the shortage of food and supplies during WW2, among others.  Instead, many families now rely on instant foods.  Unfortunately, this means we're eating more and more processed foods - a convenient but unhealthy practice.  Families may feel like they're saving time and money with store-bought instant foods, but that couldn't be farther from the truth.

Fortunately, a new wave of home-canners is cropping up.  Additionally, composting, backyard vegetable cropping, and other 'down home' practices are becoming mainstream in places one would least expect it - big cities.  This phenomenon is called Urban Homesteading. 

Urban Homesteaders are folks who want to live in the city, but still want to strive toward self-sufficiency.  The main goal is to eat healthy, local foods. 

You may not be interested in housing chickens in your backyard, but wouldn't you like to have fresh, in-season tomatos in the winter?  That's where canning comes in.  You can grow your own vegetables and fruits - or buy them at the farmer's market - and keep them good for seasons.

Interested in learning how to can foods and jellies?  This Web site shows how to do just that!