One of the most useful little books

As you know we want to homestead after we leave NY. I'm not trying to do much of anything here since we have none of the space we had in CA. Man, I do miss my porch. Anyways, one of the most useful books we own is probably The Backyard Homestead, by Storey Publishing. Why? Because the size lots they walk you through are a tenth of an acre, quarter acre, and half acre. Obviously you can expand based on what they show you, but the idea that ever someone with a tiny little suburban lot can farm...I wish more people would.

Here is there 1/4 acre plot design. Granted, house size and lot configuration will dictate a few changes, but let's use this as an example:

1) 12 beds of vegetables. That's a lot of veg if you use intensive square foot gardening practices. Add a few vertical garden plots in there and you'll have everything you need veg wise.

2) Fruits and nuts- a fruit or nut tree instead of oak or ficus in your front yard will give you all you need. Add a fruit arbor (like kiwi), some small potted berry bushes (like blueberry and strawberry), grape vines in a side trellis, and some potted mini fruit varieties like lemon, orange, pear, etc, and you'll have more fruit than you know what to do with. 

3) Herbs- everyone knows you can put potted herbs on windowsills, but if you add a few around the berry bushes or walkways you'll be able to pick as you walk!

4) Grains- if you have animals, you should grow your own feed for them. Even if you don't, a small 25x50 ft patch of wheat or oats will give you enough to add it into your breads, muffins, and cakes.

Instead of a permanent chicken coop, try a movable chicken tractor design like this one made for 3-4 chickens!

5) 12 chickens- a typical family of 4 doesn't even need this much. You can get by with 3-4 and save a bit of space for more gardening, or give it to them for exercise. Use a chicken tractor like above and move your chickens around the yard to help with insect and weed control.

6) 2 pigs, rabbits, or goats- depending on cuteness level, you'll want to pick an animal you know you can slaughter without getting upset. If pigs and rabbits don't work for you, switch to two small Nigerian Dwarf goats and get fresh milk instead; or one milk and one meat goat variety like Fainting goats! If you do this, enlarge the space a bit by only having the 3-4 chickens and switch the grain to hay to feed the goats!

7) 2 beehives- You should have at least one anyways, even if you don't harvest the honey. If you just want them to pollinate your yard, use a top bar hive, if you want honey, use the normal box style. Put one at the top of your yard and one at the bottom to get maximum coverage.

Around #3 on the picture you'll see a garden shed and compost piles. You can use a greenhouse/shed design to start plants in before transferring to the garden beds, and if open compost bins make you nervous, use a barrel style that is completely seal-able.

I like this design because you can play with what's most important to you and your family. It also allows you to get an idea on space. There are several dwarf varieties of plants and trees out there as well, so think about that if you are tight on space.