The bounty of spaces large and small

I just returned from three days in New York City - took in The Whitney Biennial, Scope, Volta and toured dozens of galleries in Chelsea. People in New York sacrifice the convenience of having space in return for other conveniences: 24-hour living has its appeal. Seeing how art is displayed in such a dense urban area got me thinking more about how we use space, and the economy of space.
In the world of HOMEGROWN, space is about connecting to the land and to people using your hands: growing, crafting, cooking and, of course, eating. Since we've started this blog, I've encountered so many people who are thinking about growing - and the space in which they grow - in modern, creative ways. A few examples:

Edible Estates "is an attack on the front lawn and everything it has come to represent!"

It "is an ongoing series of projects to replace the front lawn with edible garden landscapes responsive to culture, climate, context and people!"
Basically, turn your yard into a farm!

Our friend Mark in the Pacific Northwest sent us a link to WebUrbanis -3D City Farms: Sustainable, Ecological and Agricultural Skyscrapers.

Blade Runners as farmers!


























And, again, The New York Times shows us how urbanites are living HOMEGROWN.
A Fruit Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Tell us about YOUR space - how do you choose to use what you've got?

HOMEGROWN Progress

Cows Grazing in the Rumpus Room

An excellent article from The New York Times about how some of us are responding to the "development" and misuse of land. In dirt we trust.

Our favorite Urban Homesteaders' movie

A short film from the Dervaes family

A short film about a city chicken controversy in Missoula, Montana

Squabble squabble

Urban Homesteading - our HOMEGROWN heroes

We all have our heroes, who are yours?
Urban Homesteaders are a group that we've been paying reverential attention to lately - those who take what little patch of land they have and strive for an independent, sustainable, and self-sufficient dwelling. From growing their own food to sourcing solar and wind energy to making their own clothes - these folks are models of self-reliance and resourcefulness.

If you’re dreaming of becoming a modern-day Thoreau, or simply looking for tools for sustainable living, check out these links for more information:
Path to Freedom
Homegrown Evolution
Urban-Homesteading.com
Urban Homesteader blog
Mother Jones article about city-owned urban homesteadsBackwoods Home Magazine

Who are the people that you think of as HOMEGROWN heroes?