Homesteaders

[MoonShadows]

Quote:
I did read your post in its entirety, but I misunderstood "mishandled food products after purchase." I thought you were saying even if the farmer mishandles the food product (not the customer), and thus my response. My apologies.

Maybe I also don't understand today's processes and regulations for small farmers selling their produce/meats...their responsibilities...the burden of "proof" if someone gets sick. In our business from our farm, we sell canned goods and personal care products. We have been doing it over 10 years and have grown to the point we can no longer supply the raw materials ourselves (we buy most of them now, and save the fruits of our labors on our property for ourselves). We are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and have regular inspections in order to be approved from year to year so we can retain our license from the State. We also carry a lot of liability insurance. To meet the standards of the Department of Agriculture and to have the liability insurance is not cheap. That's just part of doing business whether you are Kraft Foods or an ice cream stand on the corner. It is a burden on our small business, but I believe a necessary one to protect our customers and protect ourselves. I don't understand why this should be any different for small farmers and "their business". The CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

 

[nanasacres]

I posted to CL for manure and got a few offers but went with the place that was closest and traded some eggs. I used feed bags and filled those. As for soil prep. I suggest the lasagna method it's easy and can be done a little at a time. I used cardboard to kill grass and weeds, laying it down anytime but winters are best as the snow weighs it down and come spring it's soft and easy to break through if you need to. There is also the hay bale method. You can google this and there are a bazzillon pics on how to do it. You could do this the first year and then just till all the hay under if you have a mind to, or use the old hay as mulch between the new bales. Wood shavings make great mulch and go far. Even if you decide to till it works the same with the cardboard. Check furniture stores, grocery stores or anywhere they might have it. I collect it at the school I volunteer at and lay it down as I get it. 1. 2. 3.

Your garden looks good! This is the method that makes the most sense to me.

 

[Serenashome]

I was trying to figure out just the other day what the difference between homesteaders, preppers, and all the other titles. I'm not sure my family actually fits into any of those niches. I think we are closest to homesteaders but who knows...

Anyone else feel like this?

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I was trying to figure out just the other day what the difference between homesteaders, preppers, and all the other titles. I'm not sure my family actually fits into any of those niches. I think we are closest to homesteaders but who knows...

Anyone else feel like this?

To me it is a question of why you do what you do (I agree we mostly do the same things) Preppers chose to live as independently as possible because they are worried we are comming into an apocalyptic situation. Homesteaders (At least I ) Try to live as independently as possible because I do not care for the way most of our food is grown. I think the benifits of living this way is I get tastier and healthier food.

 

[Woodsdweller]

My definitions:

Homesteader: People that try to be self-sufficient, grow their own food (plants, animals) on what land they have available. Store the food they don't eat immediately and rarely rely on a store to provide much. Lives in a "normal" home and pretty much enjoys living.

Prepper: People that try to be self-sufficient, grow their own food (plants, animals) on what land they have available. Store the food they don't eat immediately. Stocks food that will last 100 years and probably tastes like cardboard. Lives in a place that they think is defendable or has one to go to. Stocks up on guns, ammo, supplies and gets ready for the end of the world.

Just because someone is paranoid doesn't mean someone is NOT out to get them.

 

[MoonShadows]

For homesteader I would definitely agree on becoming as much self-sufficient with food as they can achieve, but some also choose to go further and become self-sufficient in electric generation, potable water, heating/cooling, etc.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Yes, preppers are highly concerned with defense. Most homesteaders own guns but that is mostly for hunting.
I do have a cement underground shelter, but that mostly for food storage and hiding from tornados

 

[Beekissed]

For homesteader I would definitely agree on becoming as much self-sufficient with food as they can achieve, but some also choose to go further and become self-sufficient in electric generation, potable water, heating/cooling, etc.

I agree. Homesteading, to me, is if you can continue to live your life without much of a hitch if the power grid were not available to you and even do it for the rest of the year or more if needed. If you can do it for a year, it's likely you could do it for good. That your routines and seasonal chores are geared towards working the land and utilizing it toward the goal of living more independently of the system that everyone else depends upon. If you've ever made the statement that begins with "I can't live without <insert some electrical gadget here> cell phone, TV, refrigeration...even indoor plumbing, etc." then it's likely you are not a homesteader in the true sense of the word. You are likely more of a home gardener, you may or may not can a little, and you own some small livestock, but you depend on many, many off land sources in order to maintain that lifestyle.

 

[Serenashome]

We have a garden that supplies a years worth of food for our family, a small orchard, bees and soon we add chickens.

Our focus has been on making our property self sustaining so that it pays for itself and continues to produce enough for us into retirement. Looking at our home from the outside we probably fit into a couple categories. For us it's just been about what is healthy and right for our family. I think teaching the next generations how to rotate a crop and keep bees and a hundred other things is important because with the mono-culture we have in farming it's becoming a lost art. Supporting yourself and being self reliant and responsible may also be a soon to be lost art.

I love that all of your definitions vary just a little and it just goes to show me how personal all of your journeys are. What a wonderful thing. Who needs titles when we all get an opportunity to live the life we wish for right?

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I did read your post in its entirety, but I misunderstood "mishandled food products after purchase." I thought you were saying even if the farmer mishandles the food product (not the customer), and thus my response. My apologies.

Maybe I also don't understand today's processes and regulations for small farmers selling their produce/meats...their responsibilities...the burden of "proof" if someone gets sick. In our business from our farm, we sell canned goods and personal care products. We have been doing it over 10 years and have grown to the point we can no longer supply the raw materials ourselves (we buy most of them now, and save the fruits of our labors on our property for ourselves). We are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and have regular inspections in order to be approved from year to year so we can retain our license from the State. We also carry a lot of liability insurance. To meet the standards of the Department of Agriculture and to have the liability insurance is not cheap. That's just part of doing business whether you are Kraft Foods or an ice cream stand on the corner. It is a burden on our small business, but I believe a necessary one to protect our customers and protect ourselves. I don't understand why this should be any different for small farmers and "their business". The CDC estimates that each year roughly 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized, and 3,000 die of foodborne diseases.

I'm not saying we need to be able to slide by the regulations, I'm just saying I wish it were easier for us (small business or small farm) to acquire the proper licenses and insurance without such a headach. By no means should we be able to slide by and make people sick, but the proper inspections and licenses should also be affordable for small farms. Just don't allow us to have large farm things going on without upgrading insurance and such.

I carry full farm insurance here even though all we deal in is eggs and garden fresh produce. I have the coverage that I could sell meat, canned goods, and baked goods just in case friends or family "hire" me to cover an event or they choose to purchase chicken from me instead of the store. I understand the reasons for all the hoops we jump through, it would be negligent of us, the government and the consumer to not have and follow regulations. However a small farm with 10 acres, 50 chickens and a 2 acre garden who only makes $2500.00 income a year should not be required to pay out the same as a large 100 acre farm with 200 chickens, 50 cattle, a 50 acre garden and makes $100,000 a year . a company should only have to pay for the coverage and licenses that pertain to their business. I don't sell canned goods, baked goods of meat but its on my policy making my policy more expensive. However if I drop those items off I also go back to basic homeowners insurance, there in not bei g able to sell eggs or produce.

I don't want a free pass for small farms I want a FAIR pass for us.