Green (1/8th) Acres sprout in the city -- Urban homesteaders swap sod for edible landscapes

[InternalDialogue]

The interest in urban homesteading goes beyond backyard enthusiasts. The Denver Botanic Gardens offers classes in different aspects of urban homesteading. At least two urban-farm outfits have arisen within the city of Denver. One Front Range designer is planning new subdivisions zoned for livestock and agriculture. Ellen Rosenthal, a Denver native, recently started the Living Earth Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to some of the foundations of urban homesteading.

Sizemore grew so animated about urban homesteading that a few months ago he started an online community called the Greater Denver Urban Homesteading group. More than 200 people have signed up, trading information about raising chickens, making cheese and yogurt, turning grapes into wine and more.

<snip>

For nine people living together in Denver, their adventure in urban homesteading is all about cooperation.

"Two years ago, it was lonely, and now I'm swept up in it. It's overwhelming, exciting," said Adam Brock, 23. "It's not just gardening but what you do the other eight months of the year."

The homesteaders moved into the big house facing City Park about two months ago. Already, they have transformed a large chunk of the big yard into gardens using tenets of permaculture, an approach to gardening that tries to mimic natural ecosystems. In addition to the usual slate of vegetables and herbs, they are growing things like Siberian pea shrub.

http://www.denverpost.com/lifestyles/ci_12446769

[lame54]

1. Nothing edible ever grew at Green Acres

[InternalDialogue]

2. Maybe not... but it was the place to be.

[CoffeeCat]

3. This sounds really cool!

And the big group of nine people who moved into one house--this sounds like the communes of the 1960's. They're all in a big
house, cooperating year round to garden and work together.

Maybe we're returning to some of the counterculture ideals of the 1960's. We're sure due. We've been isolated and uncooperative
for a long time---in our little suburban houses.

From "lonely" to "swept up in it"--sounds amazing!

I was born in 1964. Too young to have experienced all of that fun stuff when it came around the first time. I hope I'm not too
old to experience it if it comes around once again! :)