Homesteaders

[wyoDreamer]

I use the milk jugs in the spring for starting the garden out - but having a greenhouse cover to plop on in the fall to extend the season a little bit would be nice. Probably not as useful in Northern Wisconsin, but it did help a lot in southern Wyoming where we moved from. The sunlight will be an issue for me here, maybe I'll try to rig up something with solar and LED lights to try to extend the daylight a little ...

 

[Raech]

I heard some people have used white Christmas lights, adds heat and some light. Not sure if it would work, but might be worth a test run.

 

[rancher hicks]

Anyone here care to show a map of their planned garden this year?

Is there something you're going to try that you have not planted before?

Do you plan to grow a percentage of your food this year? What percentage have you grown in the past.

I'm not sure whether to plant onions since I just bought ten pounds for $3. Not big onions but I could have gotten bigger ones for $5.

 

[Loc20chick]

Anyone here care to show a map of their planned garden this year?

Is there something you're going to try that you have not planted before?

Do you plan to grow a percentage of your food this year? What percentage have you grown in the past.

I'm not sure whether to plant onions since I just bought ten pounds for $3. Not big onions but I could have gotten bigger ones for $5.

That's a great deal!!!!!!

I've never grown onions and that's what I'm trying this year which hopefully the following year I can grow 100%of the onions we use. I planted the winter onions, will plant green onions too and I'm ordering some intermediate day onions. I think I'll try growing egg plant too.

Last year I planted about 90% of our tomatoes this year I plan on 100% of all the tomatoes we use. I planted about 50% of our green leaf vegetables and hoping to get 80 to 100% of that this year.

I'm also planning on growing some of the chicken feed grains this year have not calculated the % yet.

 

[Loc20chick]

On another note, I just bought some organic barley, soghurm and wheat whole grains for $4 per 50lb bag is that a good price? one of the grains was $5 per 50lb I think the barley. Is this a good price?

 

[KlopKlop]

On another note, I just bought some organic barley, soghurm and wheat whole grains for $4 per 50lb bag is that a good price? one of the grains was $5 per 50lb I think the barley. Is this a good price?

That is insanely good price! I paid $18 for 50lbs of whole barley last time I bought it

 

[rancher hicks]

On another note, I just bought some organic barley, soghurm and wheat whole grains for $4 per 50lb bag is that a good price? one of the grains was $5 per 50lb I think the barley. Is this a good price?

I think it's good. I don't even know where to buy it.

Right now I'm looking to find someone nearby with Honey. I can find it at the Farmers market and the store of course. I'd like to find someone who lives near me.

 

[duluthralphie]

I have winter onions here, they grow like crazy, but I limit what I use of them right now, I want to get a huge patch of them. They are great but mainly as a green onion.


I was at Costco last week and they had HUGE red sweet onions they were like 4 bucks or so for 10 pounds, I really cannot grow them for that here, considering how poor my soil is and how short the growing season is.

 

[Fuzzy Moto]

I'm seeing a lot of talk about different types of this plant of that seed/tuber to try this year and how much people are getting onions for at the store and auctions, but not much on if they are organic and/or heirloom varieties. Yes I understand that it is not always feasible, but I would think if we are grow/.caring for our own chickens I would have thought that was part of it, especially in this here "Homesteaders". Now I am not meaning to sound like I am criticizing, as I really do not have a leg or a knowledge base to stand on, just hoping to get more clarity so I can make choices, the best I can today. (which usually is to keep my trap shut and learn) But I did learn a new Star Wars saying the other day: "To find answers one must ask questions".

As far as I am aware for organic grains, you paid an insanely good price. I believe I paid $20.25 for 25 lb Organic hard red wheat grass seed. And like $8+ for 1 lb of Organic Barley seed on Amazon.

And for those of you that are doing fodder for your chickens and other grass eaters, I have found that adding a little bit of soil to the flats and having them open on a simple structure keeps the smell and mold away. I am actually using worm casings from my mother.

 

[wyoDreamer]

I would love to go all organic, but like you pointed out, it is insanely expensive.
Also- hybrid plants are developed to overcome disease and pests that are naturally in the environment.
I plan to plant some heirloom tomatoes and some hybrid. I have lost all of my heirloom tomato plants in past years to disease. I like to eat, so I hedge my bets and plant the hybrid as I know I will get something from them.
I am planning on building a big solar dehydrator. Then I will be able to harvest my white clover all summer and dehydrate it for winter feeding. Spinach, kale or any greens actually. I will also be using it for tomatoes, apples, and anything else I want for my own purpose. Need to get going on that project ...