The corner of 28th Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way in Oakland isn’t where you’d expect to find fruit trees or beehives. Yet nestled between the historic apartments and storefronts, the intersection is now host to a compact urban homestead.
Novella Carpenter transformed part of the property into a garden with pomegranate and almond trees plus beehives. She’s among a growing number of Oakland residents taking food production into their own hands.
"People are getting excited about urban homesteading again," Carpenter told CBS News reporter Kara St. Cyr. "They feel like maybe there will be nobody to help; it’ll only be you helping yourself and your neighbors."
Homesteading is growing, but is it worth the cost?
A 2022 study by Homesteaders of America found that 40% of current homesteaders started in the past three years. When asked why, 59% cited food security, 58% wanted healthier food and 52% pointed to political unrest and changing government policies.
Carpenter said she sees her homestead as a fallback.
“Just in case,” she said. “It’s kind of like a backup plan.”
The timing makes sense. Grocery prices jumped 5.8% in 2023, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, after an 11.4% spike in 2022. Tariffs and climate-related disruptions add more pressure.
"Security is a concern," Carpenter said. "You can kind of relax a little bit. You can be like, ‘Oh, okay, I’ve got at least this covered.’ And the thing is, you can barter with honey.”
Getting there isn’t cheap, however. Carpenter spent $2,000 to $5,000 to set up her homestead, not counting upkeep or her labor. The payoff comes in stages: seasonal fruit, honey to sell or trade, and — most of all — peace of mind.
Whether that math works for you depends on your goals, said Robert Eyler, an economics professor at Sonoma State University.
“The trick is, for those who are thinking about replacing what they would buy at the grocery store with something to do at home, is what’s the cost for you to do that, versus what you can buy from the store?” he said.
Thinking about homesteading? Keep these tips in mind
Urban homesteading has emotional and practical perks, but it’s not always a money saver. Take backyard chickens: when egg prices soared, many people bought hens. Even a small flock costs at least $200 for a coop, plus heat lamps, brooder plates, feed and water systems. Hens need six to nine months before they lay, and often slow down in winter. Spending hundreds on eggs may not pan out unless you scale up.
If you want to try homesteading:
- Start small. Begin with a couple of fruit trees, a few garden beds or a small flock of chickens.
- Tap local knowledge. Join community groups, attend workshops or talk with neighbors who have already homesteaded.
- Share the load. Eyler suggests trading with neighbors: one grows herbs, another keeps bees, another raises chickens. "It’s almost like creating a little economy in your neighborhood,” he said.
- Look for used or shared tools. Items like tillers or brooder plates are often only needed temporarily, and borrowing or buying used can save hundreds.
For Carpenter, the payoff goes beyond dollars.
“You want to create a sense of self-sufficiency,” she said. In a time of economic anxiety and rising prices, that feeling alone may be worth the investment.
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
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