An ongoing list of resources relevant to tropical gardening and urban homesteading.

While you are here, be sure to check out our Free Guides to getting started.

 

Animals

honey_bees_insect_social_insectThe Beekeepers Handbook, Diana Sammataro, Alphonse Avitabile, Dewey M. Caron – For getting started in apiculture

Backyard Chickens – Forums, guides, and chicken coops

 

Buildings

Greenhouse Plans: An extensive list of DIY plans at Morning Chores

 

Community

Cooking Up Community: Nutrition Education in Emergency Food Programs

Hyperlocavore – Yard sharing, tools and supplies, know-how, community action

The Good Market – Buy local and organic direct from the grower in Colombo

 

Homesteading

Skills – A suggested list of skills to master as a homesteader from Granny Miller

Making Castile Soap – From the Crunchy Urbanite

Zero Waste Recipes – From Zero Waste Home. Get started with the little things around the home

 

Intrepid Gardens 101

Our very own guides to getting started with your own intrepid garden in the urban tropics, or anywhere!

Start with local varieties – How to choose the best plants to grow in your area

Choosing containers – An in-depth discussion of container size, shape, and materials

 

Researchbread_cold_cuts_frisch

Clay Pot Irrigation – A traditional approach to irrigating with less run-off and evaporation

The Farming Systems Trial – Rodale Institute finds that organics surpasses conventional farming over 30-year trial

 

 

Permaculture

Gaia’s Garden, Toby Hemenway – Home-scale Permaculture

Topical Premaculture – A free and interactive documentary introducing tropical permaculture.

Permaculture: A Designer’s Manual, Bill Mollison – For anyone looking to dig deeper into permaculture applications

Permaculture News

Permaculture Global – Projects, courses, practitioners

Permies – A very active and friendly permaculture forum full of resources

 

Tropical and Urban Gardeningsolar_panel_185692

Tropical Planting and Gardening; H.F. MacMillan – Both an in-depth guide to tropical horticulture and gardening, and a historical look at Ceylon (Sri Lanka). Full of practical how-to, natural methods for care and fertilization that are still relevant over 100 years later, and even recipes!

Composting – Guerilla tactics from The Urban Farming Guys

Composting Bench – An attractive DIY to hide your compost in the city

Making your own liquid fertilizer – From Woods End via Mother Earth News

Root Simple – Sustainability starts at home with practical guides and quirky discussions for urban homesteaders

Self-irrigating Planters – Great for rooftops and container gardens that dry out quickly

Small Backyard Greenhouse – Easily extend your growing season in cooler climates and higher altitudes

How to Grow More Vegetables…, John Jeavons – An introduction to Biodynamics for your annual gardens

Integrated Pest Management – A video lecture from the University of California Master Gardener Program

 

Water and Electric

Rainwater harvesting and storage – Australia is one of the larger supporters of rainwater use in the home and the department of health provides a nice guide to understanding rainwater systems.

DIY water cistern installation – From Off-Grid.net with links to a detailed instructable.

 

 

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