Not to worry, we still plan to host occasional skill shares, events and videos of our own; but in addition to these tried and true favorites, we are morphing this site to be a one-stop resource center linking visitors to all the known and amazing homestead events in the San Francisco Bay Area and slightly beyond. From beer-making to seed saving, our site will feature all the organizations, experts, amateurs, and one-off workshops you need to know about. We hope to provide our community with a simple way to stay tuned in to all things homestead. Please let us know of any skillshares and workshops that you know about so we can help spread the word.
New Website will be operational in March 2012.
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Click on any of the images to the left to view an episode.
I am in love with your website and homestead! Upon exploring this site, I have found that you have the same interests as myself; I will be coming here again to learn some more about your way of life (something I dream of).
I like the idea of your website and I even like the style you have. The music in your videos is generally pretty likable too. However, you convey very little information in each section of this site. Like the one about pie. What do we learn about homesteading? “Go pick some berries!” What about the crust? What about the stuff you mix to get that sauce with the berries? What about if we don’t live in San Fransisco? It doesn’t seem like you care much about those details and it took you about two minutes to tell me that sometimes you can find free berries if you know where to look. The same goes for the Kombucha video too. It’s cute as shit, but both videos border on self-congratulatory masturbation. Don’t get me wrong, I ALMOST gave you a StumbleUpon thumbs up because I really like the idea of teaching people about the basics of life. I’m bothering to write this because I think you can do better. Even if you just post a few links at the bottom of each page to some resources like recipes or maps to find berries or a retailer that sells Kombucha mushrooms. Then you can keep the cute videos or whatever you want to do. That’s all I’m really asking for. Don’t call it a “how-to” site if you aren’t going to even start to flesh it out the tiniest bit. Please feel free to remove this comment after you’ve read it. I hate to bring the bad energy, but I feel like someone needed to say it.
Maybe I’m missing the point. I don’t know.
Hello Jeff,
Thanks for your comments. They are very much appreciated. Your advice regarding links is something we are already doing. Each video has at least one link to a site that provides you with plenty of information in text form that gives you the details you need to accomplish your homestead passion. Our videos are meant to inspire– to show how fun homesteading is, and that anyone can do it. The internet is a great tool for information, we provide a bit to get you going and link you to some sites we think are better at detail.
I love the new lay out but no more Fungus Among Us?
Ok now my family has homestead with there home’s so how can I ???
hello from the sonoma county homestead future project…if i could stop commuting long enough to feed my kombucha and kefir soda…keep the ‘coons outta the compost and the chickens laying, life would be more centered. for now, melinda, i like to live vicariously through your site. let me know when you are down south. and apologies for dropping off the radar during a trying summer. you are doing something fabulous.!
this website is a joyful contribution; of course there are ways to make it better, easier, more clear, whatever; life is a lot of work and it will never be perfect. the fact that it is up and people care enough to make comments is great. I loved this sentence from Jeff’s review in March: “It’s cute as shit, but both videos border on self-congratulatory masturbation.” Could be worse! Oh, as for berries, it really is a local thing, but in San Francisco, try the Presidio – especially the field at Fort Scott; in Marin, they are all over from Sausalito to Kentfield to Bolinas and Point Reyes. Be in touch with the seasons of where you live and you will find the food that grows wild. Myself, I’m astounded by the folks in the East Bay who are finding chanterelle mushrooms so easily… Carry on… C
just received a packet of your marigold seeds. indeed they are marigolds, but the latin name you have designated them by is wrong.
Tagetes is the genus for marigold.
Calendula officianlis is calendula!
I grew up on 5 acres in what “was” rural Minnesota. We had little money but we did have 5 gardens, (one was totally potatoes), and fruit trees. We bought a little meat and canned and preserved “everything” and even made out own Ketchup and Sourkrout. I am not a young person. I read the Briarpatch Books, Mother Earth News, Coevelolution Quarterly, and all of the rest. I know this will be blastpheme but…. wouldn’t the problems this earth is facing all be totally negated or at least hugely reduced if there were a huge reduction in human population as that is the cornerstone of the problems?? There are about 77 Million “more” people on the earth every 12 months, and the people killed by the Indonesion Tsunami were all replaced in just a bit over “24 Hours”. (i.e. One Day). How come no clergy, politition or scientist mentions this as a problem ??? The need for energy, food, potable water, treating pollution, etc, etc, cannot be filled of there is always more demand on a finite planet.
I think you’re on to something wonderful here. Hope to come back in a few months and learn how to make soy milk and spin yarn on a drop spindle. Lots of love to you all; thanks for your hard work and spirit.
I was looking for website products and found your site. I was totally captivated by your videos. This is an excellent place for people to learn how to preserve things. I have to honestly say that I have never heard of humanure before.
It looks like you have found a great niche and combined a simpler world with the high paced Internet world in an excellent way.
Denny,
I don’t think it’s blasphemy–I think you’re absolutely right. Though this may be off-topic, it is related to living more sensibly and practically, which is what homesteading is partly about.
There are many reasons why the problem of overpopulation is ignored or swept under the rug–just one reason is that more people=more consumers, and that is what big corporations want. The biblical mandate to “multiply” is long since inappropriate, but religion doesn’t seem to have caught up to reality. But we will eventually have to face up to this; if we don’t reduce population, nature will do it for us. The earth cannot really support even the number of people there are now.
I am in total agreement with Denny Blacksmith that the base of most ALL of our problems such as resources shortages, pollution, even garbage disposal, etc. etc. is because of overpopulation. WHY is this such a taboo, touchy subject? The fact that there are TOO many of us on this earth should be addressed first and foremost. All the other would fall into place thereafter. Somehow (no apologies) religious folk seem to think it’s their right to have 4, 5, 6 kids and somehow “someone” will take care of it. Well, that’s just irresponsible. Churches need to educate their followers about overpopulation, and how that is a major contributor to resource shortages, pollution, global warming, etc. In the “old days” when half of a couple’s children were not expected to make it to adulthood, having that many children to help work the family farm or business was logical. Now, with modern technology, longer lifespans and good medical care? It’s a liability for the earth and the rest of us. Join the 21st century people…
There is a sort of bond, a connection that we have lost in our modern, consumerist society – one between human and product. Whether it is fresh produce, clothing, furniture, food, etc. the joy and appreciation of the product is often lost. Yet, when we put effort into tending a garden, sewing something of our own design, building or repairing furniture, or baking our own bread there is a satisfaction that makes the product much more valuable and precious than it’s material worth. More than material worth there is time, effort, work, and care put into the product.
How can we try to change our consumerist habits without having an understanding of the whole value of the products we have become so obsessed with?
My little rant. Thank you for changing the world.
I planted your kale, marigold, and calendula seeds in greensboro, nc and they have taken off! looking really good. thank you! kazoo
how about some lessons in what to do with all that milk from the family milk cow?
Defining what you mean by “homestead” would be a big help in understanding what your site is about. I’m not clear on what dancing, food tasting, and distributing short films have to do with what I understand homesteading to be.
Hello Laura,
Thanks for your post and your question.
We define homestead as your home and area surrounding your home; and homesteading to be creative acts that employ your homestead resources to provide for you and yours.
In our humble opinion, all homesteaders need outlets to share their skills, learn new ones, and come together to rejoice through food and dance. Our website does some of this through sharing ideas in video form and this discussion forum and our shows and upcoming tour is a full blown realization of it. We do hope to see you at one of the tour stops so you can experience the joy and fun of sharing the homesteading spirit.
Della
We are enjoying cheese making and ale making (made from the whey leftover from cheese making) with our goat milk. My guess is that the same process from cow milk would be just as delicious. Stay tuned as we are premiering our cheese making and ale making videos in 2011.
This is an extremely cool website — what a great idea! But i’m actually trying to contact Melinda Stone directly for something totally OT — Melinda, I’m interested in talking to you about your 2005 Market Street film, and I’d be thrilled if you could contact me at nicole@newanimalproductions.com.
Thanks very much!
~nicole
Свадьба от А до Я – [url=http://svadjba.net/]http://svadjba.net/[/url]
This. is. so. awesome! Looking forward to attending some of the 11 in 11 and seeing more videos.
love your films! a favorite is “wet”. really hope to make it to sf to join in some 11 in 11 celebrations and learning and of course, contra or square dancing. thanks for being a wonderful guest today on homegrown!!
Denny—>
I think you have a point that many people share, but feel powerless to resolve. How can we really begin to put restrictions on human population without resorting to some sort of illegitimate ‘one-baby’ policy (perhaps you don’t think that’s a bad idea, but ultimately it intends to discriminate)
More correctly I don’t think limiting the population would have the effect (and I think you come close to spelling that out yourself) of reducing our effect on environemental impact.
The global economy doesn’t care about how many people need plastic bottles or toilet seats or anything else we produce in excess that contributes massive amounts of pollution and uses precious limited resources. This system is only concerned with constant growth… Every year they have to be able to sell more.
But I like to take a step back from that, and say they actually aren’t solely to blame. I have been inspired rather by leaders who recognise the contribution we make as individuals to this system. In a theoretical world if we didn’t have these desires we wouldn’t be producing so much stuff… If we did all live on a homestead.
But the truth is before we can begin challenging our desires we have to consider what our responsibilities are. Perhaps it starts by recognizing the place from which these things come. Everytime you use a plastic bottle perhaps you say ‘I know where this came from, and the resources that went into it can only tolerate so much’ I’m hoping this brings a sense that you would be less inclined to waste such a resource and probably think before you again use more.
I don’t see this as ‘the solution’ because that is too big a statement for any one individual to be accountable for. But if there is any solution at all it has to deal with people, and at an individual level people’s desires.
For further inspection into this perspective see Alain De Botton book and tv show Status Anxiety; Krishnamurty (who is a strong advocate for the individualist movement)
If we are all always constantly in desire and want for new things it doesn’t matter how small or large our population is, the world can only give from what it has.
Anyway feel free to email me any related questions or for further discussion I’m always open to any challenges!
Brett
unocentra@gmail.com
What a cool idea! When are you coming to Bernal Heights and how can I get involved?
There is a very active group sharing homesteading knowledge and working to preserve the community spirit of urban homesteading movement and protect it from those who would make it commercial.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Take-Back-Urban-Home-steadings/167527713295518
Want to hear stories that could only happen to a former urban homesteader? Ever backed your car over bags of shorn fleece and wrapped it around your drive shaft? Nasty and hot to get untangled, not something “normal people” usually experience. How do you dust a chicken for mites if you have no idea?…In a large black trash bag dubbed “shake and bake.” Result pissed off chicken with puffed up feathers all dusted and none on the duster (Chicken lived to be 10 plus years as an urban companion.) Ever tried to make a drop spindle out of an old coffee scoop filled with pennies and held in with masking tape…don’t, especially if you are trying to spin short lambs wool…You know that recipe in the joy of cooking with the sheep’s head… some people really do that, quite a memorable shock, served with carrots and everything. Do you know what a 300+lb ram can do to a barn built for a 3lb layer? And you don’t always need a loom…you can make a weaving on the back of a chair.
Good to hear about others on the “journey.” And a note never try to eat older vegetables your sheep or goat refuses…Keep that fresh picked chard high above your head or you will have to share and always close the gates you pass through.
Born SF Bay Area urban(refused to accept it)hid bummer lambs in my backyard, then ag major, now happy Northbay small homesteader with plenty of rich compost, a little orchard and one of the pets in the flock, likes bananas…her name Monkey.
One last note…(to aspiring urban farmers)I hope this is helpful: If your(homestead)ship doesn’t come in…swim or dig through the compost out to it.
Hello Kathy,
Bernal is one of those awesome neighborhoods that is situated smack dab in the middle of a few of our shows:
Check out:
Bayview Opera House on April 16
Mission Rec Center on May 7
Minnie and Lovie Ward on October 15
or
St. Mary’s on November 5
Email if you wish to have a screen printed poster delivered to you.
cheers
Global Citizen – I like your style.
How do you feel about starring in a homestead movie?
Melinda
Love the tour. just missed it. in bolinas two weeks ago, i saw a poster.
I worked on a suncooker film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQbj0lmkZ7M
I’ll send a DVd. It has lots of extras– diagrams for cookers and interviews with solar activists.
if you come east you can be on farmhour radio http://thefarmhour.wordpress.com/
madalyn and tovey are working in the greenhouse today putting in brocolli seeds.
come visit here!
xx
dd
Woe i enjoyed your article…its fully a great idea to put into a picture..
It’s Saturday night and I am shining my shoes for the next round of contra dancing.!!
hi, wanted to say thank you for the fun contra / square dancing, and the poppy seeds. Lilly, thank you so much. Wanted to ask you about germinating them. Can you email or call me.
Thanks,
Louis 415 577 7129
I am going to be in San Fran this weekend and the beginning of next week. Wondering what the chances would be to experience the underground market? How might I find out about similar opportunities to visit local farms, and vendors. Visiting from Colorado, and have always been inspired to be a part of something similar. Thank you!
I’m really loving the theme/design of your web site. Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility issues? A few of my blog audience have complained about my blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Firefox. Do you have any ideas to help fix this issue?
Good outline. I like to see clearly IMDB
Would any homesteaders out there be interested in a Scottish Highland bull calf? He will be free to a GREAT home. We are particularly looking for a home with a child needing a 4-H project, or a homesteader wishing to start a small herd with a friendly, gentle and hardy breed. A good home will have sufficient pasture, be in a cool, coastal climate and have people to interact with to keep him hand-tame. “Duncan” is now 3 months old, so he will be ready to transport in another month or so. His father “Teddy” comes when called for hand-fed treats and loves to have the burrs picked out of his fur. Duncan’s mother “Buttercup” is equally friendly and intelligent. If we can’t find a good home for Duncan we will be keeping him as a steer for market, but we would prefer him going where he will be needed and appreciated as a bull. Photos can be emailed if requested.
Thank you for any help you can give in finding Duncan a good home,
Jeanine, Royal Oaks, CA