THE CITY HOMESTEADER

Practical, step-by-step tips for creating a sustainable lifestyle on a smaller scale.

Think you can’t live a self-sufficient life in an apartment or suburb? Think again, writes Meyer. Sustainability is all the rage right now, and this helpful guide gives urban dwellers instructions on growing their own food and living a more eco-conscious life. The author tackles such subjects as planting an edible garden by focusing on which vegetables do well in smaller spaces and which can handle less ideal locations. Strawberries, for instance, do well in hanging pots, and pole beans only require vertical room. Meyer even offers a window-gardening option for those without any outdoor space, and he carefully explains the many ways to preserve food—from dehydrating to canning to freezing. Take it a step further and create your own compost pile, he suggests. When you’re done outside, look to improving your indoor quality of life with the author's green cleaning and laundry tips (remember clotheslines?) and eco-friendly methods of handling of pests like cockroaches. There's even an all-natural way to dispose of “pet poop.” If you’ve got a bigger yard and flexible city codes, Meyer gives a crash course in raising backyard livestock, like bees, chickens and even goats. Not too many city residents may be interested in caring for goats, but the general idea is that you’d be surprised at how much you can do with limited space. A basic guide to greener living filled with easy-to-follow instructions that can be implemented in any size home.