Homesteaders

[drakeschicks]

Garlic is on the list!!

trial and error lol

I hasn't thought about selling my fruit but I for sure won't have Apples my children can eat their weight in applesauce lol

My newest project is a rescue five day old goat. I pick it up tomorrow! I know nothing about goats! The owner had a bad stroke and the doe stepped on the baby and is refusing to take care of it. So I get a free baby goat because the owners son is not into farming. Looks like I will have a goat in my laundry room the next couple of weeks!

Awe, baby goats are so cute! Good luck with it.

 

[drakeschicks]

I really want to give canning a try. Any good beginner books to recommend? How about cell phone apps?

There's a couple good canning groups on facebook.

 

[sepaditty1]

Ok, just found this thread today but I already love you guys! You're doing it!

I have always figured I was born a couple centuries too late. I was meant to be a pioneer woman. Instead, I worl full time and try to fit homesteading in my "spare" time.

Currently I have chickens and a grape vine. My yard floods horribly so I haven't bee able to do a gaarden. My hubby and I aren't all that good at building things, does anyone have suggestions on an easy to make raised bed for gardens?

 

[yogifink]

Quote:
Nail 4 boards together in a rectangle, and presto, raised garden bed! Seriously. Got to the big box store, get you 3 - 2"x12"x8' kiln dried lumber. Ask the folks at the store to cut one in half for you. Get the wood home and treat it with a bit of minieral oil and let it dry for a fey days. Then nail or screw together in a rectangle, and youve got a 8'x4' garden bed

 

[kentuckychicks]

If your not great at building you can buy a pre made raised bed but they are kind of high. My advice is however find a buddy that is good with building trade them eggs to show you how to do it. Your not going to be happy with just one..... Just ask my husband seriously though a power drill, a handsaw, a tape measure and a hammer are a girls best friend! If you try to build one and you don't get it " perfect" then it has character and you will feel proud that YOU made it . You can also repurpose old dressers to make raised beds. Pull out the drawers and cut out the dividers drill holes in the bottom ( aka the back ) or cut it off completely. I actually love those because I do have clay soil and have trouble growing root vegetables. I love the deep ones for carrots.

I would also look into a few fruit trees (not sure how big your yard is ?) but most fruit trees don't mind wet feet.

 

[rancher hicks]

There's a couple good canning groups on facebook.

We have a very nice Canning thread right here.

"what are you canning?" find it and see.

I've ordered my new Baker Creek seed catalog. How bout you? Lots of different varieties to try. I never put all my eggs in one basket. I plant more than one variety of things to increase my odds of a successful harvest.

Remember if we don't order from some of these folks we'll lose the varieties they offer forever. So order at least a few things, please.

 

[kentuckychicks]

I will have to check out Baker seed catalog! We have a larger Amish community half and hour away so I usually buy my heirloom seeds from them. I do try to only plant heirloom seeds but need to be saving more seeds!

I put up 50 pints of sweet potatoes this morning! I'm tired! Lol but my work is never through....going to pick up my baby bottle fed goat this afternoon and then on the have him castrated! Then taking the kiddos trick or treating ( we had tornado weather here last night so they pushed Halloween back a day) I will post pictures of my kids (lol my kids and my goat kid) this afternoon maybe someone on here can help me figure out the breed! I'm excited and nervous all at once!!

 

[sepaditty1]

How much space do you need for a goat? What do you do with the poo?

 

[kentuckychicks]

Well to be honest this is my first goat and a rescue the mom stepped on him and is now refusing him. I'm for sure not the expert on goats but you can google fias co farm she has the best info I've found so far.

I will be composting the manure to put on my garden just like any herbivore animal manure.

Please don't get just one goat! They are very social animals and we are getting two more for him to pal around with. I am going to make a temporary "run" for the winter and start fencing in a two acre field to be done by summer. Smaller goats however do need less space (same as chickens) . If you are looking for a smaller meat animal try rabbits not nearly as much work space or mess!

 

[rancher hicks]

I will have to check out Baker seed catalog! We have a larger Amish community half and hour away so I usually buy my heirloom seeds from them. I do try to only plant heirloom seeds but need to be saving more seeds!

I put up 50 pints of sweet potatoes this morning! I'm tired! Lol but my work is never through....going to pick up my baby bottle fed goat this afternoon and then on the have him castrated! Then taking the kiddos trick or treating ( we had tornado weather here last night so they pushed Halloween back a day) I will post pictures of my kids (lol my kids and my goat kid) this afternoon maybe someone on here can help me figure out the breed! I'm excited and nervous all at once!!

How do you do sweet potatoes. Though I've never grown them, we do eat them. I may have to try them.