Farms: Self-reliance in LA: backyard farming + radical home economics
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Erik Knutzen and Kelly Coyne have been farming their yard in Los Angeles for over a decade. In addition to a mini orchard and extensive veggie garden, they have all the instruments of an urban homestead: chickens, bees, rainwater capture, DIY greywater, solar fruit preserver, humanure toilet, rocket stove, adobe oven. But they don't like to talk about sustainability of self-sufficiency, instead they prefer the term self-reliance. "I don't like the goal of self-sufficiency, I think it's a fool's errand to chase that goal," explains Knutzen. "I think we live in communities, human beings are meant to live, and trade and work together. I think self-reliance is okay, in other words, knowing how to do things." Knutzen and Coyne share their tinkering, DIY and small scale urban agriculture experiments on their blog Root Simple and in their books "The Urban Homestead: Your Guide to Self-Sufficient Living in the Heart of the City" and "Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post Consumer World". They believe in the value of shop classes and old-school home economics (back when you learned how to make things, not shop for things). For the couple, their true goal with all of this self-reliance is freedom to live as they please. By growing their own and canning, pickling, preserving, freezing and baking their own breads and beans, they live frugally. They also only own one car (plus a cargo bike), one cellphone and no tv. "I think a lot of it has to do with our overdriving ambition to be free," explains Coyne, "makes being cheap fun, because it means you can be free". Root Simple: http://www.rootsimple.com/ Original story: http://faircompanies.com/videos/view/self-reliance-in-la-backyard-farming-radical-home-ec/ *Cameraman Johnny Sanphillippo also films for the site Strong Towns: http://www.strongtowns.org/
Comments
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I remember in the 90's that was a terrible neighborhood. What a change.
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gmo farming and crops have destroyed the environment, wiped out soil flora and fauna, bird,reptile. amphibian and rodent populations. gmo farming is a criminal enterprise.
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poop lazagnha ! loled hard !
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can't have enough fennel, you all are doing it. funny, i make my home in a small rural village in norte Mudzoory where we are within a mile of a million acres of gmo field crops but few home gardens are evident nowadays...
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love love LOVE your video. Watched it OVER and over!
One concern for you, tho.
Your stock water has so many chemicals and killed spores in it.
You are making your liver be the filter screen of all that dead stuff and chlorine.
Take precious care of yourselves.
I need a warmer growing area!
Thank you. Seattle WA
SHANAN -
Let your husband talk for himself
stop finishing all his sentences -
Thanks for a great video!
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"The house as an Engine of Production Rather than an Engine of Consumption" Brilliant philosophy!
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right on.
improvisation is, (in my opinion), key to self-reliance and self-fulfillment.
you drained the beans down the sink. grey water as well?????? -
I think his kale was really collards, lol. I have it in my garden. You can just throw the seeds around in the garden soil (toss) & it will grow just fine. It will want to be watered (don't let dry out completely).
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@Kay Smith you can compost human waste you just have to compost it longer
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Radical Home Ec, I love the concept you've both demonstrated , very real and achievable stuff. Being a-part and different from community is tough
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WTF dear head. Doesn't seem to fit into this sustainable video IMO.
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Inspirational
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you can not use human waste for compost!!! good job on every thing else.
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you seem to like shit.
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Wow, you guys are too cool for L.A. - you need to move up north to the S.F. Bay Area...hee hee!!! Thanks for all the tips; you're really great role models!
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Kirsten, I am loving this new direction! Not just these enlighted people's house but filming ALL their ways of living! It is so magic, such an interesting outlook, hugely entertaining and gives so much hope to live a different life. I am loving what you do Kirsten! If it wasnt for you I would have never knew such people existed!
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what an uplifting story! They are wonderful <3
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None of the neighbors share their enthusiasm..