Urban Homestead

I want to create an urban homestead. What is an urban homestead you might ask? Well I didn't know either not so long ago. The basic gist is that you "get back to basics" like growing your own food, canning, conserve energy while living in an urban environment. There are various levels of how you can go about it and of course it all depends on your motivation, access to land and materials and sometimes money (if only solar was cheaper!).

For me it the idea of urban homesteading all really started to snowball when I read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Her book is about her family moving from Tucson, Arizona (my hometown) to a farm in Virginia. Its her family's pact to live off their land (and other farms within 100 miles) for one year. I was hooked!!!! Not only had I lived in Tucson, Arizona where it is quite difficult to grow food but I finally moved to Boise, Idaho where (at least to me) anything and everything grows.

I then began reading more books like Fast Food Nation, Mad Cowboy, Plenty, In Defense of Food and many many others that I decided I wanted (and I needed) to change how I lived my life. So I am starting slow. I am learning about gardening, chickens, canning, bread making, sewing and myriad of other things so I can be self sufficient. I also believe that its the simple things in life that make people happy. There is also a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment when you have grown and made things all on your own. I crave that feeling.

Here is some more food for thought: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCPEBM5ol0Q&feature=related

The Happiness Project

I have been inspired. I am currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. The book is about the author embarking on what she calls a "Happiness Project" She is trying to figure out ways to make her own life happier and providing tips along the way. Its a fantastic read! The book is really speaking to me on many levels because its not just about happiness but how to accept who you are and push yourself to realize your dreams. Which I know, brings a person happiness. Its sort of a chick and egg thing...being happy allows you to accept yourself and accepting yourself makes you happy.

I decided that I needed to create a blog about being Nicole. What does it mean to be me? What really makes me happy? I know I am on a journey. Where am I going? What am I seeking? How do I know I am moving forward? All wonderful questions that I have no solid answers to at the moment. And what better way to explore them then in a blog...so the resolutions I create for myself might stick and I just might get some good feedback if there is anyone our there reading my blog. :)

Anyway. Here's to the journey!