Homesteaders

[Mochadlik]

I am glad to see this thread starting up again. We have five acres, four in pasture and one acre house and outbuildings. my main motivation for this life style is to eat as healthy as possible. We grow a lot of pour own food. I can and freeze alot. I haven't started pressure canning yet but I would like to do so. We have sheep, turkeys and chickens. We feel that we raise and process them in a humane environment. We also have a feeder calf ever other year but do not process that ourselves. I use simple soaps and vinegar for cleaning most things. I started out doing none of these things, really. Each year I add to the complexity, but that makes if fun and challenging. I strive to buy local and organic. We are fortunate to live in a rich agricultural area. I have bought milk to make simple cheeses. I don't think I would ever have a dairy animal. I am about 5-8 years from retiring and I would like to learn how to do as much as I can when I begin living on a smaller fixed income.

 

[jerrey]

I am glad to see this thread starting up again. We have five acres, four in pasture and one acre house and outbuildings. my main motivation for this life style is to eat as healthy as possible. We grow a lot of pour own food. I can and freeze alot. I haven't started pressure canning yet but I would like to do so. We have sheep, turkeys and chickens. We feel that we raise and process them in a humane environment. We also have a feeder calf ever other year but do not process that ourselves. I use simple soaps and vinegar for cleaning most things. I started out doing none of these things, really. Each year I add to the complexity, but that makes if fun and challenging. I strive to buy local and organic. We are fortunate to live in a rich agricultural area. I have bought milk to make simple cheeses. I don't think I would ever have a dairy animal. I am about 5-8 years from retiring and I would like to learn how to do as much as I can when I begin living on a smaller fixed income.

very nice

 

[rancher hicks]

I was at Wegmans yesterday and tasted some samples of local cheeses made with goats milk. I'd never liked cheese til I married DW. Up until that point I'd only liked it on burgers or in mac and cheese.

Growing up we'd only had the large bricks of Orange welfare cheese. Now I eat lots of different kinds.

Point? keeping goats on a small holdings can work. The soap I use is NYS made. Some with goats milk. I buy it at the NYS fair each year. I rarely use anything but that. I spend about $40 each year. She's the demo lady and she's very good. I wonder how much she makes selling it at the fair. Her prices have been really good. Unlike the Regional market folks.

Of course the materials to make it are a start up cost. Perhaps locals together can make up a years worth of soap.

I've considered making home made butter since I choose that over margine. With the new machines it seems pretty easy. We go through A lot of butter.

I'll have to keep track of how much we use. I buy a pound every time we go to Wegmans so as not to run out.

 

[jerrey]

Thank you for your kind words. I will start a new thread for the recipes as I have quite a few. A lot of what I have learned over the years is from reading what works and what doesn't from the people here on BYC and friends who also use essential oils and herbs. Being as chemical free as we can, I strive to find a balance in this world of "you need this to fix that from doing this" mentality. I'm a nurse and certified aromatherapist by trade so I see all too often more medications being prescribed to "fix" a side effect from another medication. It's a vicious circle that never ends. So off my soapbox I go to start typing up these recipes.

thank you

 

[islafarm]

I was at Wegmans yesterday and tasted some samples of local cheeses made with goats milk.  I'd never liked cheese til I married DW.  Up until that point I'd only liked it on burgers or in mac and cheese. 

Growing up we'd only had the large bricks of Orange welfare cheese. Now I eat lots of different kinds. 

Point?  keeping goats on a small holdings can work.  The soap I use is NYS made. Some with goats milk. I buy it at the NYS fair each year. I rarely use anything but that.  I spend about $40 each year.  She's the demo lady and she's very good.  I wonder how much she makes selling it at the fair. Her prices have been really good. Unlike the Regional market folks. 

Of course the materials to make it are a start up cost. Perhaps locals together can make up a years worth of soap. 

I've considered making home made butter since I choose that over margine. With the new machines it seems pretty easy. We go through  A lot of butter. 

I'll have to keep track of how much we use. I buy a pound every time we go to Wegmans so as not to run out.  

Start up costs for soap making are low. You need a good scale - capable of measuring down to 1/10 of an ounce, a blender (goodwill or garage sales) and lye (sodium hydroxide - used to be easy to get as Red Devil drain cleaner) and basic oils : the main 3 are Palm, olive and coconut. You can make 100% lard or tallow soap that works well. Google colemans blender soap recipes for the very easiest.

 

[TytoAlba]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I thought this would be a good place to ask. Does anyone have a recommendation for a general purpose farm rifle? It would generally be used to protect chickens from predators like raccoons, opossums, and coyotes. I wouldn't want anything overpowered and won't be "hunting" per se, so I would probably prefer a 22lr but my research suggests that might not be sufficient for a coyote. Your advice is appreciated.

 

[shortgrass]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I thought this would be a good place to ask.  Does anyone have a recommendation for a general purpose farm rifle?  It would generally be used to protect chickens from predators like raccoons, opossums, and coyotes.  I wouldn't want anything overpowered and won't be "hunting" per se, so I would probably prefer a 22lr but my research suggests that might not be sufficient for a coyote.  Your advice is appreciated.

22-250s are good all purpose if you have good aim 30-06 too..

I have a 12 gauge, just because I'm a really bad shot

 

[wyoDreamer]

22 MAG would be better than a 22LR, but not a sure kill for a coyote. Also ammo availability issues at this time.

223 would work good for a coyote also. They are available in bolt action or AR. Fun to shoot and ammo is fairly easy to get - 22 can be hard to find at this time.

22-250 will have better range and a flatter trajectory than the 223. Great varmint rifle.

12 gauge is an excellent farm gun and is a little more forgiving in accuracy, but closer range depending on the ammo. Slugs will go farther than buckshot. Also good personal protection in the home ...

 

[RichnSteph]

Sorry to revive an old thread but I thought this would be a good place to ask. Does anyone have a recommendation for a general purpose farm rifle? It would generally be used to protect chickens from predators like raccoons, opossums, and coyotes. I wouldn't want anything overpowered and won't be "hunting" per se, so I would probably prefer a 22lr but my research suggests that might not be sufficient for a coyote. Your advice is appreciated.

I happen to have a Winchester Model 69 in .22 caliber. My great grand father bought it new in 1935 and it's been on every farm/ranch/property that the family has ever owned. It'll fire .22 CB caps, .22 short and .22 long rifle rounds. A .22LR round will indeed knock down a coyote if you hit it properly.

A .22 is probably one of the best all-around farm guns you can own. The only issue I have is finding ammo for it.


RichnSteph

 

[shortgrass]

I happen to have a Winchester Model 69 in .22 caliber. My great grand father bought it new in 1935 and it's been on every farm/ranch/property that the family has ever owned. It'll fire .22 CB caps, .22 short and .22 long rifle rounds. A .22LR round will indeed knock down a coyote if you hit it properly.

A .22 is probably one of the best all-around farm guns you can own. The only issue I have is finding ammo for it.


RichnSteph

Nice rifle there

22s are great all around, lighter weight... I started out on an over/under practicing on Starlings when I was 9, so its a way faster, easier shot than the shotgun... Just hard to justify the expense in ammo. And I can use my shotgun for hunting turkey, since that's majoritively what I got this one for.. My folks put up the 22 and a nice 410 for the grandkids