Squatter in Los Angeles: Living on the Edge: A true story of living as a squatter for a year and a half

For a year and a half, Christopher Nyerges took and occupied a hilltop home on one acre whose ownership was being disputed in probate court. Due to not having to pay rent, Nyerges was able to experiment and practice many of the skills that he later used in his ongoing classes, and books (“Urban Wilderness,” “Extreme Simplicity,” etc.). This book describes how this all came about, some of the specific experiences during that time, and practical lessons about gardening, use of resources, how we relate to our land, etc. The book is intended to appeal to a general reader (such as audiences of “Crystal House”), and also will appeal to the growing trend towards urban self-reliance skills.

The book does not intend to glorify or glamorize homelessness or any illegal activity, nor is this intended to be a guide to being a squatter. Rather, the purpose of this book is to show that it is very possible for anyone to live better with less. Also, some of the events that occurred during this time will seem to have very little, if anything, to do with squatting. They are included because they were what happened to the author during that time.