Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2011
A basic guide to greener living filled with easy-to-follow instructions that can be implemented in any size home.
Wall Street Journal, 5/7/11
“It’s a cheerfully designed guide... The technologies that the book touts are delightfully retro (nothing says low-tech like cheesecloth) and are rendered in appropriate folk-art scribbles. In its mix of breezy, cartoon-illustrated directions for activities that we, as a society, have generally forgotten how to do, it is a sort of "Dangerous Book for Boys" for grown-ups.”
PW (May)
“…concise and readable guide to getting the most green out of small spaces.”
The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio), May 8, 2011 Sunday
“Meyer offers a return-to-the-land manifesto for the urban and suburban crowd.”
The Denver Post, 5/13/11
"Self-sufficiency beckons. Whether you've caught the urban-homesteading bug, support the local-foods movement or simply want some fresh ideas for doing more with less, Scott Meyer's new book, "The City Homesteader" can help. The author was on staff at Organic Gardening magazine for more than two decades and has compiled an easy-to-follow guide to everything from starting seeds to foraging in the wild."
BookPage, June 2011
“…sensible and simple instructions for a wide range of skills…. Author Scott Meyer…presents options for any level of experience and commitment.”
Midwest Book Review, June 2011
“For anyone who is looking to make their drain on the world a little less, “The City Homesteader” is an excellent read, well worth considering.”
Dallas Morning News
“a nice dose of can-do, with a feel-good kicker… Never preachy and always informational, the book also manages to be inspirational, in the way a good coffee klatch with a pal can be. Within a few dozen pages the reader is convinced it all makes good sense, no matter whether one lives in an apartment, tract house or yurt….Meyer’s voice, not unlike that of a favorite uncle, is witty, wise, never self-congratulatory and totally enabling. Want to keep a few backyard chickens? Here’s how. Start a garden, sure, here’s how to do it. The tips are generous, the how-to simple, the encouragement genuine.”
Practical, step-by-step tips for creating a sustainable lifestyle on a smaller scale.
Think you can't live a self-sufficient life in an apartment or suburb? Think again, writes Meyer. Sustainability is all the rage right now, and this helpful guide gives urban dwellers instructions on growing their own food and living a more eco-conscious life. The author tackles such subjects as planting an edible garden by focusing on which vegetables do well in smaller spaces and which can handle less ideal locations. Strawberries, for instance, do well in hanging pots, and pole beans only require vertical room. Meyer even offers a window-gardening option for those without any outdoor space, and he carefully explains the many ways to preserve food—from dehydrating to canning to freezing. Take it a step further and create your own compost pile, he suggests. When you're done outside, look to improving your indoor quality of life with the author's green cleaning and laundry tips (remember clotheslines?) and eco-friendly methods of handling of pests like cockroaches. There's even an all-natural way to dispose of "pet poop." If you've got a bigger yard and flexible city codes, Meyer gives a crash course in raising backyard livestock, like bees, chickens and even goats. Not too many city residents may be interested in caring for goats, but the general idea is that you'd be surprised at how much you can do with limited space.
A basic guide to greener living filled with easy-to-follow instructions that can be implemented in any size home.
