Goals ArticulationHilary Emmons

Integrated Backyard Homesteading - Winter 2017

1. BrainstormingElements (in no particular order!)

Food forest ~ Grotto (getaway in the city) ~ Soil remediation ~ Compost (leaves/worms/chickens) ~ Biochar ~ Mushrooms ~

Fruits/nuts (perennials) ~ Winter gardening ~ Rainwater ~ Graywater ~ Solar ~ Summer season gardening ~ Aquaponics ~ Pollinator plants

~ Chickens ~ Bees ~ Worms ~ Basement ~ Garage

Patterns and Goals

Food production ~ Footprint reduction ~ Soil health ~ Barter/income ~ Urban “livestock” ~ Use all space ~ Save $$ ~ Reuse

2. Brainstorming - continuedDiscoveries

Many connections

Multiple benefits from each element

Many possibilities even for a small space! (Too many?)

Time is a factor too - not everything has to happen at once, some elements (compost production, soil health) develop over years

3. Goals Articulation Statement

The Ridgemont Street Homestead is a living experiment in intensive urban homesteading. We produce sustainable food and resources for

ourselves and high-value commodities for income or barter to supplement what we can’t make. We

provide a natural refuge for meditation and reflection in the middle of the city, and reuse and recycle as much as possible back into the system.

4. The SiteThe Ridgemont Street Homestead is a 2-story, 2-family brick building on a .15-acre lot in a densely populated urban residential neighborhood in Allston, MA. The long, narrow lot runs north-south, with small yard areas to the south and west. The north side of the property opens up into a larger, wooded back yard. To the east, a rock ledge provides shelter and shade. A brick fire pit in the back yard is original to the property. A basement and unheated, open garage are largely unused except for storage.

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5. The Site - continuedKey site features:

West-facing side yard - gets most sun

Wooded “food forest” and seating/refuge area

Rock ledge - natural noise and wind shelter, privacy

Abundant leaf litter (soil amendment)

Underutilized sheltered/indoor spaces

Important challenges:

Small space

Soil compaction/contamination

Limited light access for vegetables (surrounding trees, buildings)

Noise and light pollution (neighboring properties)

Legal restrictions on homesteading activities

6. Selected site photos

“The Grotto” refuge and food forest

Side Yard

Back Yard