Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to keep chickens here, and I think my neighbors would be freaked out by a bee hive (if you knew the struggles I've gone through merely to be able to keep my compost bin...) but I can definitely make better use of my space. I decided to start growing sprouts, which are much better when you grow them fresh anyway. I also decided to try growing more of my own fruit. I ordered a few raspberry and blackberry bushes, and I'm looking into ordering a few dwarf apple trees to espalier near my raised bed vegetable garden. These are just a few of the ideas from Ruppenthal's book, and I definitely want to try more of his suggestions.
I'll have a full review of the book up later this week, but, in the meantime, what are you doing to make better use of the space you have? Do you grow food in containers? Have you tried sprouting? Or are you one of the lucky ones who's able to keep chickens for your own fresh eggs? Tell us about it!
Comments
Have you really looked into the chicken thing? You might be surprised. The city ordinances for our neighborhood actually only say that your livestock can’t be running loose. Chickens (although not roosters, as they violate local noise ordinances) are absolutely fine to have.
It’s a big discussion that’s been coming up lately, as people are finding new ways to stretch their food budgets. Even the city of Chicago, when pressed recently, says there is no law against keeping chickens.
Hi Ryan,
I looked into it, and while it’s not technically illegal in my city, they make it very tricky for anyone who wants to try. The ordinance says that your chicken coop must be kept 500 feet or more from any other residence or public sidewalk. Some people with larger lots might be able to swing it, but there’s no place on my corner lot that doesn’t violate the distance rules. And believe me, I’ve tried to make it work!
Thanks for stopping by, and it’s a good reminder for people to really look into things–you might be surprised by what you’re allowed to do.
I am trying “Edible Landscaping” in balcony pots – I live in the center of a city, on the 8th floor. I don’t have a beehive, but I have many bee plants and they are visited by an amazing number of wild pollinators and honey bees. Could you hide the beehive? (my beekeeper friends using natural-sized cells don’t have any of the problems of the industrial beekeepers)
I used to raise rabbits. They are not noisy, the “bunny berries” make excellent fertilizer you can use immediately, you can breed them easily, feed them vegetable leftovers/kitchen scraps, and they are very edible and tasty, and neighbors don’t seem to notice, much. When you raise them and get to know the temperament they lose the cute factor, fast . . . honest. I have known urban meat rabbit raisers in places where they could not have raised chickens, maybe this is something you could look into?
Have you seen the book Gardening In Small Spaces: how to make the most of every square foot, by Marcus Schneck? 1992 – it has been around for a while, and it is worth finding (IMHO!).
Thanks for posting this. organicgardening.about.com is a fantastic resource, please keep up the great work!
I produce a great garden out of 55 gallon drum cut in half. I truly think you have great sucess on even the smallest amount of ground as long as you work on having great soil. I’m a worm farmer by trade so I have an endless supply.