Suburban Homesteading

How to practice sustainable living in San Diego

Suburban homesteading, also known as urban homesteading, is a growing trend among families seeking to combine the comforts of city living with the slower pace and self-sufficient practices of traditional homesteading. While the idea of homesteading may invoke visions of expansive rural farms with cows, it’s not difficult to adopt practices for a more independent, sustainable and healthy lifestyle without leaving the suburbs. Yes, even in the heart of San Diego. Here are some ways to get started.

Grow Your Own Food

1. Decide where to grow fruits, vegetables and herbs depending on available space and sunlight. You can use pots or buckets inside your home, on a balcony or in a raised garden bed in the backyard.

2. Choose easy-to-grow plants for your living environment. Consider rosemary, thyme and basil for the windowsill. Lettuce, radishes and baby carrots grow well in containers on a balcony garden. If you have a raised garden bed, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes and peppers are relatively low maintenance.

Danielle Dunham of University City has a garden in her backyard that yields crops year-round. Her family chooses what to grow based on season and preferences. “My 3-year-old loves our spring and summer garden, as it yields sweets like strawberries, watermelon, blackberries and cucumbers,” says Dunham. “I wholeheartedly believe children are more likely to eat homegrown food rather than storebought…their bodies crave sensory interactions and whole food nutrition. Homegrown fruits and veggies taste so much better and there’s comfort knowing where our food came from.”

Since Dunham tends the garden herself, crops are grown with no pesticides or chemicals and attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. “Ultimately, I want to build healthier, more self-sustaining consumption habits for my family.”

Preserve Food

Preserving food is an essential homesteading skill that helps families store fresh produce, reduce waste, save money and stock the pantry for seasons ahead. Food preservation extends shelf life, allowing homegrown or locally sourced food to be stored for future use. Here are common food preservation techniques:

• CANNING: With mason jars and a canner, you can start making jams, jellies, pickles and tomatoes.

• FERMENTING: Salt, water and mason jars are needed to begin fermenting foods such as yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi and kombucha.

• DEHYDRATING: Dehydrate fruits, vegetables and herbs in the oven.

• FREEZING: Use a vacuum sealer or freezer bags to extend the shelf life of meat, dairy, fruits and vegetables.

Compost Kitchen Scraps

A countertop compost bin, ventilated bin in the garage, or small outdoor bin helps turn food scraps into nutrientrich soil for your garden.

1. Add food scraps to the bin such as eggshells, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable peels. You can also add leaves, cardboard and paper. Avoid meat and dairy products.

2. Mix the compost regularly for aeration to keep it moist but not too wet.

3. In a few months, the compost will turn brown and crumbly and smell like dirt. Add this to your garden to enrich the soil with nutrients.

To learn more about composting and why it’s important, visit www.sandiego.gov/environmentalservices/recycling/composting-events.

Cook and Bake from Scratch

1. Stock the pantry with basics such as flour, eggs, rice, beans, oils and dried herbs.

2. Begin by slowly replacing heavily processed foods with whole ingredients such as homemade soups and broths, sauces and dressings, and baked goods like granola bars, muffins and bread.

Jessa Samudio of Normal Heights bakes sourdough bread for her family and friends and has even started a small business out of her home kitchen.

“With just a large bowl and kitchen scale, you can bless loved ones with fresh loaves, focaccia, bagels, cookies, scones, pizza dough and so much more,” she says.

Sourdough bread is packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, which helps aid digestion. “I am thrilled to show my daughter…where food comes from,” says Samudio. “She watches ingredients transform into yummy food, benefiting her relationship with food as she gets older. While this method of cooking requires a little extra love, it will always be worth it.”

In addition to these simple, beginnerfriendly practices, many suburban homesteaders embrace renewable energy options, such as installing solar panels or using rain barrels to collect water for irrigation. Others may make their own clothing or reduce waste by repairing or upcycling household items.

At its core, suburban homesteading revolves around self-sufficiency and a healthier lifestyle. Whether you make your family’s meals from scratch or have a raised garden bed in your backyard, suburban homesteading proves that self-sufficiency can flourish anywhere. v

Amanda Cavallari is a lifestyle writer residing in San Diego.

Jessa’s recipe for a fresh, nutrient-dense sourdough loaf:

100 grams of a well-fed starter

350 grams of water

500 grams of flour

10 grams of salt

Conduct four sets of stretch and folds one hour apart; then shape the loaf before letting it ferment in the fridge overnight. In the morning, place shaped loaf in a dutch oven (lid off) and bake at 475 degrees for 27 mins. Cool completely.

More Ways to Learn Homesteading Skills

• San Diego Craft Collective in Liberty Station offers parent/child classes such as sewing, organic gardening and ceramics, afterschool woodworking classes for kids, and weaving for adults and ages 16+. www.sandiegocraft.org

• Discover 4-H clubs for kids around San Diego County at https://ucanr.edu/ sites/4HSanDiegoCounty.

• ArtReach offers classes such as paper making (ages 8+) and rug tufting (ages 11+) at local libraries and at their headquarters in Hillcrest. www.artreachsandiego.org

• Solana Center for Environmental Innovation offers composting classes around the county, and a free Raising Backyard Chickens workshop on March 8 at Spring Valley Library. Learn more at www.solanacenter.org/ inspire_events/raisingbackyard-chickens-workshopspring-valley.

• Girl Next Door Honey offers beehive tours and beekeeping classes. www.girlnextdoorhoney.com