The Citystead is the journey of my family transforming our zone 5b/6a Michigan backyard into an urban homestead.
This year we are taking the leap into trying to start a small farm business. We are working on using our land to start a garlic farm. I'm documenting the whole process for others who might be in my situation where they want a farm business but have to travel and be away from the farm at times.
Our kids are very involved in our gardening, and we have set up many different areas to keep them entertained and wanting to be out side playing as much as possible. Everything from a bushcraft grape teepee to our bean tent, we even have a secret forest corner for them to explore.
You may be dreaming about that farm or homestead with tons of land, but we want to show you what is possible on a smaller scale with the space you currently have.
Send us mail! The Citystead P.O. Box 130 Lapeer, MI 48446
Nice to see a kid that hasn't been brought up and trained by a social media platform. Makes a refreshing and natural change compared to the fake kids constantly in pose mode...👍
I highly recommend learning what native flowers you have in your area and setting up at least 1 small patch with them. This is aid the local pollinators too and encourage them to stick around all year
I had some building a burrow under my trailer. I filled as many holes as possible with used cat litter and put a brick on top of the litter. I got all but one hole (couldn't get to it) and they left. Was talking to my brother about his issues with them, and other neighborhood cats he doesn't have any, he used ammonia, poured on the holes he could see, and within 2 weeks of talking about it he had texted to say they were gone. Not sure how many days it took because he had to go buy the ammonia.
Don't know if anyone mentioned it yet but if you turn the 16' panels on their edge and bow them in, (Bowed middle up against the back of your bed and the open ends towards the tailgate) they will fit inside a standard bed truck with the tailgate closed (Just). Just put a strap on them from corner to corner.
Over here in Cape Town, South Africa, I started an urban homestead, back yard square foot veggie patches except one patch that's just for sweet potatoes. In my front yard I have a very neglected food forest that when spring comes I will attend to that.
This was wonderful to come across. Been wanting these for years, cattle panel is not easy to access. Used remesh and more we have 3 gorgeous arches in garden. So excited for this gardening season!!
⚠️ CAUTION, folding over 16' panels in your backyard near power lines are something to think about. If you are near a major power main, I would suggest you contact the power company and ask them to assist. Sometimes they have insulating blankets that they can toss over the lines. Power mains can act like a magnet and literally suck the metal toward them. Very dangerous. Most people have no idea
It does not work for me. I have a empty barn with dirt floor, I use for storage. I covered my barn floor with it and put in their holes before filling them in. I still get them!
Try ammonia! It simulates cat pee..... I evicted mine that were burrowing under my trailer with used cat litter, but my brother used ammonia in late may or early June and messaged me to say it gad worked within 2 weeks of us talking about it.
Just bought two 16’ers, bought beefy bolt cutters at Harbor Freight & cut the panels in half, loaded them in my suv/truck. Saved about $45 minus the bolt cutters. Thanks for the video!
Cattle panels are not only “especially good for the North.” I’m in SW Oklahoma where the sun and 100 degree temperatures are relentless in the summer, so these are good for supporting shade cloth. Since we also have destructive hail and wind storms, I prefer the strong cattle panels, which can be anchored securely, to help support the cloth or plastic to protect plants from total destruction. Smaller, wimpier wire structures blow over, get shape shifted, etc.
We've been using ranch panels we've been using those forever in our garden and around our ranch....and finally people are listening and using them. Of course that's making the price go up but it is what it is and hopefully you guys will farm and feed your families which is very important!
I used 12 foot panels, and started them up on the t posts about 2 ft. It makes it taller which is great for pole beans. I put them in my truck bed and away we went.
that folded 8 foot panel? that would likely fit the other way in a car with the back seat down. (2 at a time) (contemplates) also you can buy a 16 foot and take bolt cutters with you if money is an issue
P.S. the truss style concrete block reinforcing "panels" (6 inches wide, ten feet long) flex nicely and fit in the back of a regular sedan style car with the back seat down. i demo that on my garden channel.
