Cindy'sbackyardcity homestead

plants areyour friends

You don't have to move to the middle of nowhere to become a homesteader. You can start right where you are.

"She has a wonderful ability to take practical homesteading skills and make them feel achievable, useful, and even enjoyable."

— Karen Nelson, Strathcona County

Meet the Neighbours

How to grow it, how to eat it, and which plants it gets along with.

What's ready to pick in the yard, month by month, from spring through the August glut.

Canning, freezing, drying, fermenting, and pickling — keep the harvest.

Filter by meal, season, main ingredient, or how much time you actually have.

Short, scannable notes on soil, pests, and preserving — plus the tools she swears by.

A tangy, tomato-rhubarb ketchup with a hint of spice — great on burgers, meatloaf, or anywhere you'd use regular ketchup.

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A summer staple in Cindy's kitchen — "It isn't possible to have too much basil in my opinion. That's what pesto is for."

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A long, slow simmer that turns apples into a deeply spiced, spreadable butter — worth the wait.

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What's going in the ground, what's coming out of it, and what to do with the pile on your counter.

Garden clubs, libraries, community groups, and workshops — practical talks on growing food in small city spaces.