Homesteading in Downtown Springfield, MA

Today's Springfield Republican included a story about a family that's urban homesteading in the heart of Springfield, MA. Many people like me have thought about how nice it would be to simplify right down to growing one's own food, and spending no money on cars, clothes or gadgets. That's what life is like for Daniel Staub and Kristin Brennan, of Marlborough Street.

They have a large one-acre garden, and cut wood to burn in their woodstove. They raise chickens and even shut off their refrigerator in the winter, storing cold foods, vegetables and canned preserves in their cellar. The patronize mom and pop shops nearby, and pften take busses and bikes to get around, sharing one small car between them. Their challenges are different from most of ours. like how to get around without a car, and making sure their crops grow, but they lack one problem that vexes many--money and debts.

One thing that's tough is explaining their natural lifestyle to their relatives, who often want to give them gifts. They don't desire anything new, they prefer used. They aren't on a soapbox about their life, but recognize that it encourages community and embraces nature. "This is a great way to live," said Staub.