Becoming self sufficient

[Aacre]

Just wanted to toss out a couple of suggestions, as you said "I need to invest in..."
1. You can build a very inexpensive solar dehydrator yourself; there are oodles of plans out there on teh internets. Save the cash for...

2 When you're buying your first canner, go steampunk

. You'll save yourself a LOT of time, especially if you're using an electric or wood stove, and you'll want one later anyway. The canner I refer to is an "All American". It's made in the USA, milled from a single block of aluminum, and requires no gasket. I've had a Presto (still have it), and a Mirro (would rather I had IT), but my DH came home from the hardware store with one of these. I LOVE it! I could have killed him when I found out the price, but... I love it enough to forgive him. Honestly, it's a bit over $200 as opposed to the $70-$90 for the others, but with this one, I DON'T have to stand in the kitchen watching the gauge all the time - it's got a rocker weight as well as a gauge, so I can hear from anywhere on the ground floor that it's maintaining correct pressure. That means I can do other things at the same time - very important!

3 Also explore Tattler re-useable canning lids. After you get into canning, you will be amazed at how much you spend on lids (because, after all, you can CAN almost everything except starchy stuff, and don't have to pay for electricity to keep it preserved!) I don't have enough to use them exclusively, but for the stuff that gets used and replaced quickly, they save a lot of money in the long run.

Google and explore before you lay out those greenbacks, you might choose other products, but at least you can get an idea of your options.

**editing to add... *I* really want a few (2-3) sheep for a lawn mower! They won't eat brambles, so we could use them to keep the grass down in the berry rows, and I'd have wool for a bonus!

Yes yes yes! I have heard of the DIY solar dehydrator. I hadn't actually been able to get opinions from people who have used them, so I have been hesitant to try it. But there is a first for everything, right? Thank you for the info on the canners. That will be something to take into consideration. Sure, they might be expensive, but heck! They last a lifetime! Your's sounds amazing. I love it! I've heard of those re-usable canning lids. A co-worker's wife uses them and she loves them!
Sheep are adorable. I ALMOST had two yearling lambs from the neighbor, but she kept changing her terms because she wanted more money if they were bred etc. We didn't like how the terms kept changing, and so we decided not to get them from her after all. She's our neighbor and a good one, we didn't want anything to go sour on that relationship. One day..

 

[ZetaPet]

Hello everybody! I very much enjoy all the info everybody has posted!! Its a lot to take in, but Im defiantly taking notes! I live in the Middle of the city so I am struggling with room issues right now , but I have started with chickens and ducks. I am an avid hunter and love to fish, but a very poor gardener. I have a raised planter box ( Wood found in dumpsters and road sides, and craigslist, etc.) But nothing has grown. I very worried that nothing will grow

I’ve read lots of book, but I am the type of person that always put the cart in front of the horse. Also there is not a lot of talk about putting rain barrels in place, are they a good idea? I am also very confused about canning. I’m reading some books on it now, but it still a little scary. So if there are any more tips how to "get off the grid" keep them coming!!

 

[nayeli]

@ZetaPet turnips, radishes, peas, and greenbeans are the easiest to grow from what I've read... Peas need lattice to grow up though.

 

[Anna6]

I just killed my first animal. I made quail last night... we didn't like it though so we are selling the quail.

Congrats upon your first time butchering. What was it about quail you did not like, the processing or the quail taste itself? Just asking because my husband likes quail and I think they are too much hassle.

 

[Anna6]

Hello everybody! I very much enjoy all the info everybody has posted!! Its a lot to take in, but Im defiantly taking notes! I live in the Middle of the city so I am struggling with room issues right now , but I have started with chickens and ducks. I am an avid hunter and love to fish, but a very poor gardener. I have a raised planter box ( Wood found in dumpsters and road sides, and craigslist, etc.) But nothing has grown. I very worried that nothing will grow

I’ve read lots of book, but I am the type of person that always put the cart in front of the horse. Also there is not a lot of talk about putting rain barrels in place, are they a good idea? I am also very confused about canning. I’m reading some books on it now, but it still a little scary. So if there are any more tips how to "get off the grid" keep them coming!!

I have had more luck with tomatoes like Early Girl, Kentucky pole beans, beets and carrots. I also noticed that Pak Choi is prolific. Remember though I am in Socal.

 

[Anna6]

I have to do that many because I have a waiting list; I *can* do that many because I have a hero with a large industial-style plucker that he delivers on a trailer. This is how I set it up:


The green tub was for temporarily holding ice for the coolers (coolers sit under table at back); it is replaced with a propane turkey fryer (with water for scalding) before I start. Out of the pic, to the right, is a rack made of iron pipe with a board that holds four cones. The 'wall' behind the table at the back is the back ramp of the trailer; it's covered with plastic & there's a hose clamped across the top with a Dramm breaker head extending to the fan side, so I can have constant water flow for washing with minimal water use. The white over the plucker is a disposable table cloth; it keeps any feathers from flying out onto my cutting table. The red behind is the dumpster, and has nothing to do with the processing, LOL.

Kudos to your DD & DH on the caponizing effort! It takes a little practice to get comfortable with, but it's definitely worth learning! (freedom from excess roosters is reason enough, IMHO)

 

[MoonShadows]

Moonshadows, I suppose we can also put a drop or two of essential oil to make it smell good.

This is great, I LOVE making my own stuff. And I am out of shampoo, I have rinced the bottle with water to use the last bits of shampoo left last time. So trying this ASAP Thanks

Yes...good idea...essential oil to smell nice. In fact...if you have itchy, dry scalp in the winter, you can use some tree tea oil and it will help.

 

[Alewis74]

We finally got our chickens! 3 polish (9 weeks), 4 buff orpingtons (5 weeks) and 2 rir's (5 weeks). I am going to try making laundry detergent this weekend.

 

[nayeli]

Congrats upon your first time butchering. What was it about quail you did not like, the processing or the quail taste itself? Just asking because my husband likes quail and I think they are too much hassle.

We didn't like the taste. I don't find them to be too much of a hassle, you wring their necks, pull feathers and intestines and presto =)

 

[jenneverett]

We didn't like the taste. I don't find them to be too much of a hassle, you wring their necks, pull feathers and intestines and presto =)

lol....we would hunt dove and quail, then as we cleaned them we just cut a hole under the breast bone shoved in a thumb and ripped them open. cut out the heart, gizzard, breast, and legs....the rest was tossed.
we brined them at least over nite and boiled them with a 20 quart pot because there were enough to feed 9 people and 7 of them male.