Homesteaders

[farmerkevin]

Well, its another bowl of cereal for breakfast for me

I must have the only chickens that lay eggs at noon haha

Seems if I want eggs early in the AM, I've gotta save them from previous days. Bummer.

I'm not one to get up early 0500, but its be nice to get fresh eggs for breakfast

 

[trsturself]

Hello everyone. Sorry to just jump in, I read the first few pages but don't have the time to go through 69!
We are wanna be homesteaders. Currently paying off debt and saving up for our land (got about 2 years left to go). We currently live in suburbia on 1/5 of an acre. We have 7 chickens, but that will be going up to 10 soon (we'll be setting some eggs in the incubator near the end of Jan). We also have 2 dogs, a cat, and a rabbit that thinks she's a chicken (she lives with them).

I started canning and preserving this year. Found a great deal on a 16qt pressure canner, dehydrator, grinder (both meat and grain), canning supplies (including over 100 jars!), and lots of other great things at estate sales and antique shops this summer. We also started brewing our own beer, hard cider, wine, and mead. Our garden will be growing by about 100sq ft this year. I'm going to try square foot gardening to see how much I can get out of our small space.
I also knit and am going to relearn crocheting soon (it's been YEARS since I did any crocheting).

I have a bucket of wheat berries sitting in my front room that I got to grow fodder for the chickens. Unfortunately I couldn't get my system down and they kept going moldy. I'd love to bake bread with it but my daughter has a gluten sensitivity. I'm wondering if fresh stuff would bother her as much or if she's having more reaction to something else in the bread. We do fresh gluten free bread for her but it's just not the same!

Our goal is also to be more self sufficient so we won't have to worry when those natural (or man made) disasters strike. Can't wait to get our land!

 

[rancher hicks]

Kev - I keep a mix of breeds as some lay at different times. A mixed flock can do well.

Now it seems to me that if " properly refrigerated eggs should last at least 3-5 WEEKS AFTER the sell by date". Your eggs unwashed should be pretty fresh the next morning. ( I copy anything I read from magazines that will be useful to my customers and give copies to new customers).

Self - jump in anytime.

Finally bought a smaller canner to do my jams and jellies in. That way I don't use some much energy and water. I have some jars I got in a trade for chicks.

As for Crochet we do have the occasional swap for granny squares. Nothing to complicated mind you but fun.

What are Wheat berries? I just took out a bag of Goose berries from the freezer to make jam. DW is sick so the stove is being used for Chicken soup. Perhaps later today I can get it done.

We do have a "What are you canning thread" too. Pretty much covers all the bases here on BYC.

 

[Highcotton]

Not sure, we're in Frankfort, KY...you're in NY? How might we have met?

Welcome to BYC.

 

[mlongworth]

Got 3 more eggs yesterday 2 were pullets. Yay! And another egg today. Puts my total at 7 in 5 days. Im so glad they started laying.

 

[boskelli1571]

Lucky you!! Ours are still not laying - one is still in heavy molt despite the weather!! I'm feeding them grower/layer ration, cat kibbles, scratch, so they are very healthy, plumage looks great. Of course, they will be 3 years old this year so they are approaching old lady status and things are slowing down. We have 15 chicks & a rooster on order for March - can hardly wait!

Sue

 

[aggiemae]

I must have the only chickens that lay eggs at noon...

Most of our chickens lay in the afternoon and none lay before 10AM. They are city chickens so it's a good thing because a few of them are very 'enthusiastic' egg song singers!

We are "urban homesteaders", emphasis on permaculture processes. We have ~1/2 acre which is considered a GIANT space here in town. I grow (espaliered) pears, (semi dwarf) apples, nectarines, cherries (a crazy little "four in one" semi dwarf tree), strawberries, currants, gooseberries, blueberries and kiwi. We have a good sized asparagus bed. We are currently adding a 20'X35' perennial food garden in the currently barren, hard packed side yard and hope to convert the swimming pool into a trout pond in the next few years.

We have dogs kids and chickens too.

 

[rancher hicks]

I made some Gooseberry jam with ginger yesterday. It's not bad, but I think jams need to sit for a while so the flavor develops. I've planted some bushes but they haven't done well. It's so wet here spring and fall. I've planted currants too they haven't done well either. Perhaps the black will do good since they are planted in a different spot.

got some Jostaberry cuttings from a friend on here and they might make it.

Also a granny smith apple and plans to plant a crab apple.

I'm getting the new catalogs. So many varieties to choose from and so little land.

Have a Happy new year, y' all.

 

[RTFchickens]

Hi homesteaders!
I think this is my first post on this thread. We are working into homesteading. We are transitioning from suburbia to middle of nowhere in a cabin in the woods.
We are learning how hard the rustic cabin living can be, but rewarding too! It's like two different worlds going from our home in suburbia to rustic cabin. We will remain in suburbia at least until we can fix our frozen pipes in the cabin. It's also difficult getting up the two track with all the winter snow too.
We have chickens, and hope to have a garden and more animals in the future! I'm looking forward to chatting with you guys! HAPPY NEW YEAR to all

 

[boskelli1571]

Welcome! Sounds like you are ready to enjoy the challenge of homesteading!! It will reward you in so many ways, not least peace, quiet and a sense of accomplishment, enjoy!! Sue