You don’t need a thousand acres to homestead. You can do it in your apartment, too! In this blog post, we will discuss the basics of apartment homesteading and how you can make your apartment into a self-sufficient space. Read on for more information about gardening indoors, raising chickens inside an apartment, and other ways to live off the grid without sacrificing comfort or convenience.
Gardening Indoors
One of the most common ways apartment homesteaders get their vegetables is by growing them indoors. You can grow many different kinds of plants in your apartment, including tomatoes! Tomatoes are actually pretty easy to grow inside provided you have enough sunlight and a way to support it. Another great thing about growing herbs or veggies indoors is that you don’t need to invest in a garden or soil. Instead, just use pots and planters that you already have around your apartment!
Growing Tomatoes
If you want to grow tomatoes, all you really need is a good place for them to get sunlight. If your apartment gets at least six hours of indirect sunlight per day then that should be enough! You can buy tomato plants or seeds from most gardening stores or even some grocery stores. Make sure the plant has an indeterminate growth habit because these types of plants produce the most tomatoes.
Growing Cucumbers
Another great plant is cucumbers. Cucumbers are actually pretty easy to grow, even if you don’t have a green thumb! All you need is some gardening twine and something tall for the vines to climb on. If your apartment gets lots of sunlight then it might be enough to just put them in a sunny window sill or balcony. If not, then you will need to attach them somewhere where they can get direct sunlight all day long.
Growing Strawberries
Strawberries are another great plant for inside growing. They can even grow in a pot on your apartment balcony or fire escape! You just need to make sure you have enough sunlight and water them regularly so that they produce delicious strawberries for you all season long. If you want, you could also get strawberry plants instead of seeds because these will already be acclimated to apartment growing.
Grow Edible Flowers
If you want to grow some beautiful food, try growing edible flowers. Some great examples of these are nasturtiums and pansies. Both have a sweet taste that goes well with salads or sandwiches! All you need is a pot for them on your apartment windowsill so they get enough sunlight throughout the day.
Grow Sprouts in a Jar
Another apartment homesteading option for apartment living is to grow sprouts indoors. This can be done with a jar and some seeds, water, cotton cloths, rubber bands, and twine! The process basically involves soaking the seed overnight then hanging it up above your kitchen sink or bathtub where there are no direct leaks of light onto the jar. This allows the sprouts to get indirect sunlight for a few hours each day as they grow and develop into greens! Once you have some fresh sprouts, eat them on salads or sandwiches. You can also use alfalfa seeds because these are easy to find at any grocery store and even come prepackaged in mason jars with a sprouting lid!
Growing Medical Herbs
There are lots of different medical herbs that you can grow in your apartment and use for home remedies. Basil is great for treating mosquito bites, rosemary will help with digestive issues, lavender is perfect for tired eyes, and echinacea can be used to fight the flu or common cold! There are so many medical plants out there that it can be hard to choose just one. Try growing several different ones and see which you like best!
Making Herbal Teas
If you want to grow an apartment homesteading herb garden but aren’t sure where to start, why not start by growing some herbal teas? Herbal tea plants are perfect apartment homesteading options because they don’t need a lot of water or sunlight. Mint is probably the easiest to start with, but there are lots of different kinds you can grow if you want something more exotic!
Growing Mushrooms
If you want to grow apartment homesteading plants indoors, one of the best options is mushrooms! There are lots of great medicinal and edible varieties that can easily be grown in your apartment. Blue oyster mushrooms will taste like seafood when they’re cooked up and shiitake mushrooms have a hearty and strong flavor that goes well on top of pasta or salads. Shiitake mushrooms are also great for fighting colds because they have anti-inflammatory properties!
Making Compost
Composting is a great way to turn your kitchen scraps into something that will help fertilize your apartment garden. If you have enough room in your apartment, then composting shouldn’t be too difficult! All you need is a bin and some newspaper or other material for it to sit on while the waste breaks down. You can build one yourself or buy one from a store. If you don’t have room for a compost bin in your apartment, then try growing some plants that use less water and can survive with minimal care like cacti or succulents.
Start a Worm Bin
Another apartment homesteading option for apartment living is to start a worm bin. This is actually really easy and doesn’t take up too much space in your apartment because you can keep it under your kitchen sink! All you need are some worms, shredded paper or cardboard, egg cartons (without the eggs), coffee grounds, old bread or vegetables, and some dirt. All of these things are readily available in apartment buildings so you won’t have to go far for any of them!
Raising Chickens
Believe it or not, some apartment complexes allow residents to keep small animals such as chickens inside their homes. Of course, they may need certain permits first before adding any livestock on the property, but it can be done! Chickens are great for apartment homesteaders because they produce fresh eggs that you can use themselves or sell to other apartment dwellers. If you’re not allowed to have chickens in your apartment complex, consider getting a small flock of bantam hens instead. They are much smaller than normal breeds and do not need as much space.
How to Store Food Properly?
Apartment homesteading requires apartment dwellers to learn how to store food properly. By learning the basics of canning and dehydrating foods, you will have a steady supply of meat, fruits, and vegetables for your family without having to buy them from a grocery store every week. Learning about these methods takes time but they are well worth it.
Canning and Dehydrating Food
Canning and dehydrating food are two methods apartment homesteaders can use to store excess produce or meat. When you make your own canned goods, you get the benefit of knowing exactly what is inside it (no sugar or preservatives) while also extending its shelf-life significantly. Canning only requires a pot, water, and jars. Dehydrating fruits or vegetables is a bit more complex but it does not require any electricity like canning usually does.
Make Soap and Cleaners
Making your own cleaning supplies is another way apartment homesteaders can save money. You can make soap, shampoo bars or liquid soaps, and even dishwasher detergent with the right tools in your apartment!
Educating Yourself
No apartment homesteading guide would be complete without mentioning how important education is for living off the grid within an apartment complex. You might need to take some time out of your day to learn about apartment homesteading and how you can make your apartment more self-sufficient. The more you learn, the easier it will be to build a homestead apartment that is sustainable.
Apartment Homesteading Challenges
Of course apartment homesteading doesn’t come without its challenges, but they are usually minor obstacles that can be overcome with a little creativity and elbow grease! For example, apartment owners may have rules against planting trees or digging up the ground of common areas in order to make gardens.
You may also face restrictions on how much noise your chickens can make. If you’re running into apartment homesteading issues, try speaking with the manager or apartment board first to see if there are any loopholes that allow for keeping small livestock and plants indoors. One thing to keep in mind is that apartment living doesn’t have to be restrictive! Even apartment homesteading can be done so long as you have the right resources.
Other Ways to Live Off the Grid in Your Apartment Community
There are many different ways to be apartment homesteaders without sacrificing convenience or comfort. If you’re not allowed chickens, for example, consider getting some bantam hens instead! You can also keep honeybees on the roof of your apartment complex with a few beekeeping resources and permits. Other apartment dwellers choose to plant small “container gardens” on their apartment balconies or rooftops.
Using these strategies, apartment homesteading can be a great choice for those who want to live a more sustainable lifestyle but don’t have the means to move out of the city! You may even find that apartment homesteading is easier than traditional household living because you no longer need as many resources to survive.
Your Turn
In your own words, describe apartment homesteading and how people can do it in small spaces. Also, try clarifying any points of confusion about this topic if possible!
FAQ
What is a Homesteading Lifestyle?
A homesteading lifestyle is one that focuses on self-sufficiency and sustainability. It often involves growing your own food, making many of the items you use in your day-to-day life (bread, soap), and even producing some of the power you need like solar or wind energy!
Why is Homesteading Becoming So Popular?
More and more people are wanting to live a sustainable lifestyle with minimal impact on the environment. In order for this to happen, you must be able to produce as many of your own goods as possible! Homesteading has been popular within rural communities for years but apartment homesteaders have also started rising in recent decades.
How Do I Learn to Homestead?
There are many different ways to learn apartment homesteading! You could enroll in a class at your local community college, visit an apartment homesteaders’ meetup in your city, or even find online tutorials on how to make things like soap. Whatever you do, just be sure it fits into your apartment living schedule and budget so that apartment homesteading isn’t a burden!