The Micro Urban Homestead: food and energy self sufficiency

Everything you see on this plate including the heat and some of the water that was used in cooking it, was sourced from within this tiny space, Within this less than 13m x 13m, mostly concreted urban space, I generate most of the food, electricity, heat and water that I need all year round. This course has been created to teach you how to achieve same.

I have been able to generate 50% of the energy for cooking, 100% of the electricity needed to power essential devices for modern life, that includes the electricity I’m using to power my laptop right now. The house is also able to harness around 80% of the water I use from nature.

This urban homestead is essentially zero-waste- waste as I recycle, compost, or reuse everything. Other than the obvious reduction in cost of living, this urban homestead contributes to improving biodiversity, food production, saving soil and in general a better environment. It has also done a ton of good to my health and well-being.tALL within a 13m x 13m space

This required applying both ancient knowledge and current technologies with a bit of creativity.

I am Ololade Olatunji, a researcher with over 10 years prior experience as a University lecturer and industry researcher. My current research focus is in the area of food and energy self sufficiency. My past research work has extended from energy recovery from waste plastics to food processing technologies. I have studied self sufficiency within various concepts and the different approaches people have taken to achieve self sufficiency in different parts of the world and in different periods of human existence.

In the course of my research I have built a model micro urban homestead as a demonstration site for what can be achieved within limited space in an urban setting in terms of food and energy self sufficiency, water and waste management.

In this course, I will be taking you through the different aspects of achieving food and energy self sufficiency as well as managing water and waste within a micro-urban homestead. You will in the process learn how to convert a standard urban building into a homestead using minimal structural modification by skillfully living in synergy with nature and implementing readily available technologies to sustainably harness resources from nature.

Why you should take this course

• The methods presented are based on scientific findings and first-hand experience

• It presents a realistic approach to homesteading that is achievable by a larger proportion of the society living in urban and peri-urban areas

• The course has been designed to be visually appealing and easy to follow

• It is valuable knowledge you can almost immediately implement

• The knowledge gained is an asset that helps prepare you before going into homesteading whether out of necessity or desire

Who should take this course

• Policymakers, NGOs and governments officials in areas such as urban development and sustainable development

• Development workers

• Property developers and real estate agents

• Researchers

• Students in e.g. sustainable buildings, urban development

• Architects, builders, and civil engineers

• Individuals looking to build or convert their existing residences into homesteads

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have access to the course materials?

You can view and review the lecture materials indefinitely, like an on-demand channel.

Can I take my courses with me wherever I go?

Definitely! If you have an internet connection, courses on Udemy are available on any device at any time. If you don’t have an internet connection, some instructors also let their students download course lectures. That’s up to the instructor though, so make sure you get on their good side!