Intro!

[mdehners]

I'm Pat, an old Fart Gay Heathen who started on his Path back in the days of Sybil Leek, when great herds of Polyesters roamed the land to the dulcet tones of Disco;>.
Primarilly, my partner of 15 yrs(married in Heathen Rites, the only actual religous wedding in my family since my Paternal Grandparents;>!)and I practice Urban Homesteading on a lot and a half on the Florida Panhandle. I grew up with a mother in a family that considered seeing Spirits no different than seeing the neighbors or even the squirrels so needless to say, "Seeing Dead People" isn't a big deal here.
Living at the border of two Biomes esp in our times is "Interesting" for those Interested in Things Botanical, from Herbs the Ancestors used for various reasons to conserving or Agricultural Heritage. From yr-to-yr we can change a full zone(8 to 9).
Hoping to learn and share, esp now that Summer's Heat has pretty much put the kibosh on anything beyond maintainence on the Property and driven me Indoors;>!
Cheers,
Pat

Comments

[arethinn]

Greetings Pat!

Curious, can you tell me more about "urban homesteading"?

[mdehners]

Basically, it's doing your best to "Live off the Land", even in a (sub)urban environment. We've planted a number of fruiting trees, bushes and vines, as well as Perennial Starches like Dryland Taro, Malanga(a New World "Taro") and Sweet Potato whose patches expand every yr. We also grow Veggies and Spices. Unfortunately, thanks to the poor behavior of a neighbor, Poultry and other Livestock are no langer allowed within city limits so we have to shop for those;>!
There are areas that are not touched, left to both "critters", Physical and Non(though the Box Turtles inroads into the Tomatoes and Sweet Peppers are making the idea of Turtle Soup look good;>).
We make our own Soaps(Bath, Dishwashing and Laundry)and try to be good Stewards of our Land and the Planet.
There are a number of subtropical plants that we can grow even in z8 yrs with Protection or taking cuttings to overwinter indoors. This yr will be the 1st that our 'Dwarf Namwa' Banana patch is mature as so to Bloom so the fruit'll Ripen before Frost! Unfortuneatly, our Spring Rains came just at Blossom time(and Bees don't like getting wet!)so the Asian Pears, Quince, Peaches and Plums will produce "zip" this yr. I've only got one Pomegranite fruit! This yr's weather(then and now) has really made me Understand why Agricultural festivals and Rites were so Important to the Ancestors. They DIDN'T have the choice to cover their losses down at the local Safeway....
Cheers,
Pat

[arethinn]

This yr's weather(then and now) has really made me Understand why Agricultural festivals and Rites were so Important to the Ancestors. They DIDN'T have the choice to cover their losses down at the local Safeway....

Haha, true!

[ngakmafaery]

...I'm glad to see a little activity here: welcome...I have helped on urban farms, mostly in the UK, and am always glad to see nature right there in the middle of human nature, which sometimes people think just is somehow not actual nature...! Perhaps it will help to make the seasons seem real again for some, to have it in their yards...

[mdehners]

I know it does for some folks. Every yr I have people drive their families by the property either to see what's blooming or to see the clouds of Gulf Fritillary Butterflies that arrive in late Summer to Feed and lay their eggs on the Maypops and other Passionflowers that have naturalized in the hedgerows.
Cheers,
Pat