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
The 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
Research
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 Global – Projects, courses, practitioners
Permies – A very active and friendly permaculture forum full of resources
Tropical and Urban Gardening
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.