Starting My Suburban Homestead

When we bought our house in the 'burbs almost four years ago, we planned to live here two - maybe three - years. We made a few changes, but I tended to shy away from anything big so that it would be easier to sell the house.

Well, how times have changed. Since the housing market tanked and our neighborhood has had a few foreclosures (including both of our neighbors), we owe much more than our house is worth, keeping us here for many years to come.

This year I've made an effort to explore our little community and discover things I like, so I would stop driving 45 minutes to an hour away just to get my hair cut. I found an amazing kickboxing gym, excellent sushi restaurants (better than quite a few I've eaten at in the city) and a salon I trust to touch my hair. I love the parks and trails, and love that I have a beautiful (traffic free!) drive to work everyday. There are farms and farmers markets, and a natural foods store I've been meaning to try. I used to dream of breaking free from this suburban lifestyle, but now actually enjoy it.

Now that I know we will be in this house for awhile, I've started working on our little suburban homestead. Tucked behind our newly completed privacy fence is the beginning of a vegetable garden and compost heap. Two small steps in becoming more self-sustaining. I'll blog about the garden later, when I have photos of my progress to add (the cucumber plants have actually sprouted!). I eventually would like to have rain barrels, fruit trees and backyard chickens, but I'm waiting for the Georgia Right to Grow act to pass before I take on a tiny flock of fowl.

I think I abandoned this blog since my heart wasn't really in suburbia. Now that I'm establishing roots, I'm hoping to post much more often.

The State of Suburbia

I live in a land where chain restaurants outnumber local ones. Where strip malls sit vacant, a sign of the housing boom and bust. Where you have to drive half an hour to get anywhere interesting, often traffic doubling that commute. Where subdivisions prevail and all of the houses look the same. Where public transportation is a pipe dream.

I live in suburbia.

My husband and I bought a house almost three years ago, so suburban life it will be. But we are changing the way we live. Instead of relishing in suburban excess, we are trying to live a more eco-sustainable life. I'm seeking out more natural and organic foods and making things from scratch. We are almost paper towel free (though toilet paper free is never going to happen).

This blog will be mostly about trying to live better on a budget, begin my public relations career and become the ultimate domestic goddess.

Small challenges, right?