Homesteaders

[cppeace]

Hey everyone I am a homestead type. I want to become more and more self sufficient and teach others how to be. I bought a small house on a basement on 3 acres. 2 acres of pasture surrounded by trees, a no longer empty lot next to our house. I planted my garden, pumpkins and nut trees in that lot I also have a peach tree, 3n1 apple tree, mulberry tree, strawberries, and naturally have some big black walnut trees growing. Have ducks, a pair of geese, bout to try and hatch out some turkeys. Going to get into trying to produce some meaty chickens. Want in the next year or so some dairy sheep and pigs. Would also like to get a yak and highland cow and shorthorn milker. Want to learn to live as much off the land as we can and rely on others less and less. Already know how to do tons of stuff. Really need to learn to knit. I get close but don't quite have it down. Also want to get some more angora rabbits for the fiber.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Hey everyone I am a homestead type. I want to become more and more self sufficient and teach others how to be. I bought a small house on a basement on 3 acres. 2 acres of pasture surrounded by trees, a no longer empty lot next to our house. I planted my garden, pumpkins and nut trees in that lot I also have a peach tree, 3n1 apple tree, mulberry tree, strawberries, and naturally have some big black walnut trees growing. Have ducks, a pair of geese, bout to try and hatch out some turkeys. Going to get into trying to produce some meaty chickens. Want in the next year or so some dairy sheep and pigs. Would also like to get a yak and highland cow and shorthorn milker. Want to learn to live as much off the land as we can and rely on others less and less. Already know how to do tons of stuff. Really need to learn to knit. I get close but don't quite have it down. Also want to get some more angora rabbits for the fiber.

Not wanting to rain on your parade at all, but it sounds like you will need more than your 3 acres for all that you want, lol. I applaud your ambition though.
Do you do home canning? water bath and pressure canning are pretty good skills to have.

I am going to try to get to the pick your own strawberry place this week and make some strawberry preserves. I have about 7 pounds of wild asparagus in then freezer right now. Next year I'll try to make some pickled asparagus, DH didn't want any - not really interested in trying it and I really didn't have time to mess with it.

 

[rancher hicks]

I only grow things we'll eat. Also things that fit. Strawberries cheap enough to buy. I'm in New York. Working on currants raspberries gooseberry and started concord grapes. Got two nice vines for free. I can knit and crochet. If you only focus on what you need you can do fine.

 

[cppeace]

Not wanting to rain on your parade at all, but it sounds like you will need more than your 3 acres for all that you want, lol. I applaud your ambition though.
Do you do home canning? water bath and pressure canning are pretty good skills to have.

I am going to try to get to the pick your own strawberry place this week and make some strawberry preserves. I have about 7 pounds of wild asparagus in then freezer right now. Next year I'll try to make some pickled asparagus, DH didn't want any - not really interested in trying it and I really didn't have time to mess with it.

actually the 2-3 sheep only need a little space and the highland cow and yak are both good for smaller areas and eating more like a goat than a cow so think that will be fine. Have a little area at the back of the pasture that I plan to specify for the 2-3 pigs it's mostly woody. My fowl are in my backyard. I will only get one at a time, the sheep and pigs are more important to me than the cows but we shall see how it goes
I only have 5 little strawberry plants that survived but they are looking good so far
I do know how to do water bath canning but currenly have no pressure cooker. Need one though to start my small mushroom farm

 

[chickadoodles]

We are on a small farm and DH has been a farmer all his life. He has been teaching me to be a frugal farmers wife. lol
We have some cows, turkey and chickens. We have dogs to keep the predators away from our livestock. We are getting older and since it is just the two of us we only have a small garden these days. We also have a small orchard with a couple apple trees, a couple pear trees and a plum tree. We also have some pecan and hickory trees for nuts. We grow our strawberries and freeze them to use as we want them. We have added several kinds of berries and 2 bush cherry trees this year.
I do freeze and can some fruits. I can some jams and jellies.

I usually barter with a gentleman on my chicken or turkey processing. I let him pick out what he would like in exchange for processing a few birds for me.

We are still striving to be more self suffient.

 

[RustedOak]

We had planned a trip to Waco when we were in Conroe, but weather got in the way. Can I ask, just how is Waco? How real is this Fixer Upper show? We're retire now and have considered moving south. Haven't really looked at real estate there yet.

We'd need something bigger perhaps so we could have chickens and a garden. We nearly three acres here. About half wooded.

Waco, like most little big towns, has it's good parts and it's not so good parts. We live in an area that's mostly retirees. Fixer Upper is the real deal. They has been in business long before the show came out and are a very nice couple. I'd wager that Chip is more of a overseer than a doer in real life though. They have large crews.

 

[rancher hicks]

actually the 2-3 sheep only need a little space and the highland cow and yak are both good for smaller areas and eating more like a goat than a cow so think that will be fine. Have a little area at the back of the pasture that I plan to specify for the 2-3 pigs it's mostly woody. My fowl are in my backyard. I will only get one at a time, the sheep and pigs are more important to me than the cows but we shall see how it goes
I only have 5 little strawberry plants that survived but they are looking good so far
I do know how to do water bath canning but currenly have no pressure cooker. Need one though to start my small mushroom farm

Iv'e considered sheep but my property would need a complete overhaul. It's not planted with good pasture. Pigs would do okay for the time being clearing the woods but that means a lot of fencing.

Most generally it's all the other things that larger animals need. Here in NY. Safe housing, clean pasture, and fencing. I don't relish having to chase goats, pigs or other animals that break loose.

 

[rancher hicks]

We are on a small farm and DH has been a farmer all his life. He has been teaching me to be a frugal farmers wife. lol
We have some cows, turkey and chickens. We have dogs to keep the predators away from our livestock. We are getting older and since it is just the two of us we only have a small garden these days. We also have a small orchard with a couple apple trees, a couple pear trees and a plum tree. We also have some pecan and hickory trees for nuts. We grow our strawberries and freeze them to use as we want them. We have added several kinds of berries and 2 bush cherry trees this year.
I do freeze and can some fruits. I can some jams and jellies.

I usually barter with a gentleman on my chicken or turkey processing. I let him pick out what he would like in exchange for processing a few birds for me.

We are still striving to be more self suffient.

Surprisingly you can get a lot of food from a little. Two cups of crushed strawberries / pineapple and I can make enough jam for the two of us. My neighbor gave me Pears one year and they were to many for just us.

Once your garden and fruit trees are established things can go well.

The key is WORK. It's all work. It's the things you can't grow. Like sugar, flour, etc. etc. At least on a small holding.

Somethings you will HAVE to pay for. Car repairs, insurance, home maintenance. I can't repair the gutters that are hanging low. Plumbing, electrical.

Too much to learn and so little brain capacity.

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I am looking forward to our trees next year they at least a few should produce some fruit we will be able to eat.
I do like to make jam and jelly.
I am looking forward to our pear tree getting ripe this year. I want to can some for pies and to just have some canned to eat.
I also like growing cantaloupe so I can freeze it.

Yes we still have all those other things to keep on paying for. So we keep on working.....

 

[Chicken girl 15]

We are on year 3 for our garden and it's finally producing enough to keep us satisfied for the summer. Next year we will triple the size though. There are 7 of us so bigger is better. I enjoy canning and jamming with the kids. So far it's just fruit/vegetables and chickens. Next comes the big step, building a barn and fencing in our back 5 acres for cows and horses. I got very lucky with my hubby being an auto mechanic and me being very handy around the house. We are attempting to be self-contained inside of 10 years. Any advice is greatly appreciated.