“Daddy, what is it?” she exclaimed, squinting in curiosity and horror at the prickly vine that had swallowed up her play area in the backyard. End-of-school madness had given way to June’s warm California sun and she was free to play for the summer, but the intruder had sprouted up seemingly overnight. “I don’t know, honey, it looks like some kind of vine. We should let it grow and see what it turns into.”
And so they did. Through yellow trumpet-shaped flowers, and the beginnings of a small green fruit, they wondered what would appear on their mystery vine. As the round ball of fruit grew larger, and took on a yellowy-orange hue, they realized that last year’s Jack O’ Lanterns had left a persistent volunteer in the yard.
That child was me—growing up in my suburban California home meant more time in the pool than the garden. However, the fascination of watching that single, rogue pumpkin grow to full maturity, and take its turn as a Jack O’ Lantern later that fall, sparked in me a love of growing things that would not be realized until many years later.
I met my husband at college more than a decade later, and I remember the first time I visited his house realizing how very different our childhoods were. While I grew up playing in the swimming pool, he was feeding cows and fixing fences. While I could walk to the corner store and back in just a few minutes, he lived miles from town and made a monthly trip that was a thrilling change of pace. We were miles apart, but we both had a lot to teach each other.
Once we married and had children we began to seek a lifestyle that was more and more independent and in balance with God’s design. Each year we’ve taken bigger steps down the path of self-sufficiency. Beginning with a small home just inside city limits, with less than a half-acre plot, we’ve found ways to increase the amount of food we produce for ourselves each year. We started with a simple garden and each year have added more elements to our backyard farm.
Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) is a direct result of that journey and my desire to share what can be accomplished, no matter where you live. Backyard farming is about creating a healthier family, a healthier food system, and a healthier Earth for yourself and those who come after you. It’s about recapturing the balance of years gone by, married with the knowledge and breakthroughs of modern ages. Everyone’s journey into backyard farming is unique, and that’s the beauty of it.
My hope is that you’ll be inspired, challenged, and informed through what you read here. Please don’t feel that you have to try everything right off the bat, or that you somehow fail as a backyard farmer if you don’t have any desire to try one of these elements. Each of these is a choice, an option. Part of the homesteading buffet that you can select from based on your personal situation, desire, time, energy, and family dynamics.
So pick one thing to start, nibble on that for a while, and if it excites your taste buds, go back for seconds! My beginning was a simple rogue pumpkin seed that consumed half my childhood backyard. What will yours be?
Acknowledgments
This book is the work of so many people it hardly seems fair mine is the only name on the cover. I’m grateful to so many, for more than it’s possible for this wordsmith to express.
To my parents, for instilling in me a love of learning, and for always indulging my many curiosities and interests, no matter how odd or fleeting they were.
To my husband, Sidney, for teaching me where my food comes from and helping me learn to embrace this new lifestyle. For always being there as the rock who holds me steady through my many moods and brilliant ideas. For being an amazing father to my children, and a man of God who lives his life with integrity and honor.
To my kids, for being the driving force behind my desire to change the world, and for teaching me to look beyond my own selfishness and see generations in the future. For reminding me that I’m only borrowing the world from my grandchildren.
To my friends, who supported me through frantic Facebook and Skype breakdowns, panic attacks, and celebrations. Alli, glitter and brilliance who believed in me and saw the potential before I did, I’m so glad I let you hire my clone. Brannan, who is the best website editor a gal could ask for, I appreciate you keeping Untrained Housewife alive while I sunk into this project. Amanda, who makes me look better than I really am and puts the polish on my websites, thank you for knowing when to pester me again. Heather, my special snowflake, who is always available and will remind me that I am strong, human, and able. Blissfully Domestic Community, the writers and editors whom I love working with, thanks for pulling up the slack when I was distracted and for supporting me these past few weeks. Becky, for taking my rambles and pencil sketches and making gorgeous art. Dorothy, the best VA in the world, thanks for working on any task assigned, big or small, with a cheerful attitude. Chris, my partner in writing crime, I’m grateful to you for putting my name out there in the first place and sharing the delight of book writing with me.
And most of all to the Lord, who shows me more of His mercy and kindness each day, I’m forever grateful He instilled in me a desire to be a good and wise steward of the earth.
Special Thanks to the Technical Reviewer
Backyard Farming on an Acre (More or Less) was reviewed by an expert who double-checked the accuracy of what you’ll learn here, to help us ensure that this book gives you everything you need to know about backyard farming. Special thanks are extended to Jodi Hein.
All terms mentioned in this book that are known to be or are suspected of being trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized. Alpha Books and Penguin Group (USA) Inc. cannot attest to the accuracy of this information. Use of a term in this book should not be regarded as affecting the validity of any trademark or service mark.