The author conceptualized their backyard homestead by walking their property, sitting in different spots to imagine items in locations, and looking from inside the house. They wrote out 55 cards with ideas and saw four primary goals emerge after organizing the cards: infrastructure, animals, fruits, and veggies & herbs. The process helped them realize they should include items for a positive mindset and that friends and family are important to the homestead.

1. Emerging Patterns
Craig Santicola

2. Emerging Patterns
 To conceptualize what my backyard homestead
would look like I did the following:
 Walked my property to get a better sense of the land.
 Sat in different spots and imagined what items would be
best suited for what locations.
 Looked at the property from inside to get a sense of the
land from inside the house looking out.
 Once I thought I had a good vision, I sat under a tree
and wrote out my cards.
 And yes, my wife thought I was crazy.

3. Emerging Patterns
 This process resulted in a total of 55 cards.

4. Emerging
Patterns
After setting the cards on the
table I began to look of
commonalities and
differences in the items.
As I progressed, four primary
goals emerged…

5. Emerging
Patterns
Infrastructure
Items include:
Shed
Greenhouse
Rain Collection System
Compost Area
Natural Fence
Solar
Native Flowers and Trees
Chicken Coop
Patio w/ Outdoor Kitchen
Pond
Relaxation Garden

6. Emerging
Patterns
Animals
Items include:
Bee’s
Goats
Rabbits
Ducks
Chickens
Friends
Family
And a yellow lab named
Louie
(I know, I know, my friends and
family wouldn’t appreciate being
called animals)

7. Emerging
Patterns
Fruits
Items include:
Grapes
Pear Trees
Peach Trees
Blueberry Bushes
Raspberry Bushes
Apple Trees
Blackberry Bushes
Strawberry plants
Watermelon

8. Emerging
Patterns
Veggies & Herbs
Lettuce, Spinach, Kale
Broccoli (yes I know I
misspelled this on my card
but remember, I was outside
sitting under a tree)
Mint
Carrots
Thyme, Dill, & Cilantro
Cucumbers, Zucchini, Squash
Garlic and Onions
Potatoes, Peas, & Peppers
Tomato's & Basil
(26 in all…too many to list
here!)

9. Emerging Patterns
 The process and the readings helped me realize a
few things that resulted in cards being added…
 Part one of the text is called “Attitudes” which made
me realize I should include items that will help my
wife and I stay in a positive mindset.
 Chapter 3 mentions “care of people” which helped me
realize that the backyard homestead wouldn’t be
complete without friends and family.