The Daily Dig

Gardening seems to have made a full circle back to its humble beginnings. Not so long ago the garden was how families provided food and nourishment for themselves and where children ran, played and imagined. As we modernized, gardens have become ornamental and often times the care and maintenance is outsourced. But folks everywhere are looking for ways to reconnect with the earth, themselves and their communities, and they are turning to their own backyards in droves.

Urban homesteading is a grass roots movement that's springing up in communities everywhere. And it turns out that you don't need acres, just a yard and if you don't know where to start help is closer than you might think.

We visited the urban farm of K.Ruby Blume, founder of the Institute of Urban Homesteading, this past weekend in the residential neighborhood of north Oakland, California. She has created a fully functional mini farm complete with fruit trees, herbs, vegetables, flowers, rabbits, quail and bees. At the Institute they teach a range of classes on the lost arts of the kitchen, garden and animal husbandry.

A path through the vegetable and perennial beds leads to the apple tree and medicinal garden.
 

The central sun garden.
 

Visitors explore the garden.
 

One of a couple bee hives. This one is on the ground with another on the roof.
 

Bees need to eat too:)
 

Tender lettuces ready to be picked.
 

Even the most productive gardens have a little room for ornamentals.
 

A squash in bloom.
 

Rabbits are humanely raised for their meat.
 

A Quail workshop led by the Institute’s founder, K.Ruby Blume.

Remember, the best way to start anything is with a plan that you can take in small steps. Find a sunny spot in your yard that you can dedicate to edibles or maybe even some roof space for a beehive. Enjoy the delicious homegrown goods and don’t forget to share:)

Check out the Institute of Urban Homesteading
http://www.iuhoakland.com