Urban Homesteading is alive and well in the Midwest. I've had the good fortune to meet other like minded folks, although most of them are in KC or Lawrence.
If you're new to the idea, get started here . The Dervaes family raises over 6,000 pounds of food every year on 1/5 of an acre. I know, it's mind boggling!!
If you're in the KC area, check out classes here and their Friday Night Market - yum!
And above is my beloved "hen" Lucy, which, as you can clearly see in the photo, is actually a Rooster, renamed Larry. Ahem. As Roosters are not allowed within the city limits, Larry is on the way out of town, as soon as he's a little older.
We ordered our flock from My Pet Chicken and were assured that we would get 100% hens as we just want layers. (As Cole says, " We don't EAT pets Mom!") Alas, 3 of the 12 are Roos.
I'd highly advise anyone thinking of Urban Homesteading to read their CCRs (neighborhood covenants) and the city laws regarding poultry, livestock, bee keeping etc. In my town, roosters and bee hives are outlawed. Poultry and livestock are limited (by livestock, I mean a goat, not a heard of Jersey's.) Funny thing I learned, most subdivisions in KC area do NOT allow clothes lines ~ is that crazy or what?!
Here's a few more links to sites I enjoy: Mother Earth News, Countryside, Little House.
If you like to shop at Garage Sales, there is no better way than to hit the City Wide Sales. Here's a guide to upcoming events:
May 3rd | May 10th | May 17th | May 29th | June 7 |
Garden Plain | Bentley | Towanda | Cheney | Andover |
Goddard | Leon |
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| Bel Aire |
Mulvane |
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| Burrton |
Sedgwick |
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| Derby |
Wellington |
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| Halstead |
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| Park City |
June 13th | June 21 | June 26th | Aug 9 | Sept 5th |
Kechi | Belle Plain | Douglas | Haysville | Clearwater |
Hesston |
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Potwin |
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Whitewater |
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Augusta |
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Be sure to stock up on the earth friendly $1 bags at local Dillons, Target or Wal-Mart before you head out. A friend of mine even has a collapsable shopping cart that she totes around. With city-wide sales, you may have to park and walk several blocks and having a sturdy shopping bag is a must!
Driving home from a day at the lake, I spotted this Dog Wash. Which was the perfect timing since our two labs love to swim and roll around in whatever smells good to them. One of our labs is some sort of a brindle lab mutt and she sheds, year-round! Bathing her results in tons of clumped up wet fur lining the tub. So... the dog wash looked quite interesting.
We stopped and took the more adventurous pooch in. They have 4 bays. Each bay has a pull out ramp that 
the bigger dogs can just walk right up and into the bay. The sprayer is mounted above and is very easy to use. We inserted our quarters and dialed up the flea and tick shampoo. Then, on to rinse and doggie cologne. Finally, we spun the dial to the dry feature. The owner of the dog wash happened to stop by and mentioned that they also have a dog vacuum which can be used on wet or dry dogs. So, we finished up with a doggie vacuum. The noise was minimal as it's a canister vac and the main components were behind the dog wash.
Would we use this again? Oh YES! It was 8 easy minutes from start to finish, Bo (the brown wonder dog) loved it and so did we. No more bending over the tub, washing and rinsing him with a plastic cup. And, no more hollering "Don't shake just yet!".
We even hit up the doggie snack machine on the way out.
The Dog Wash is located on Douglas, just east of Hillside. Try it out and let me know what you think!
I have started sending out a postcard to folks that are facing a foreclosure. It lists the toll-free hot-line that was created for troubled borrowers. It is a free call and there is no obligation. 1-888-995-4673 is the number and they are available 24/7. Here's a link to an article written about the HOPE toll free number. Or, visit their website at: www.995HOPE.org
If you are in this situation, the first step you need to take is to get educated about your rights and options. There are 6 options you have, 3 will allow you to keep your home, 3 will result in a disposition.
I have helped many families facing this situation, and several of them have been approached by investors offering to buy their redemption rights. Then, they have been told, they can rent their own home from the investor for a year or two and eventually, have the option to purchase their home again. Others have been told that the investor will "save" them from a foreclosure by fixing up the house and selling it for them. Before you sell your redemption rights or walk away from your home, contact a neutral party that can explain the foreclosure process and guide you in making decisions. Whether you choose to hire an attorney, talk to a HUD approved Counselor, hire a Real Estate Agent that has training in Foreclosure Intervention or seek other advice, don't delay! Time is of the essence!
I am a full service, full time career Realtor. I specialize in Residential resale representing both buyers & sellers. I enjoy assisting and educating my clients to create a fantastic experience!!
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