Homesteaders

[Loc20chick]

I started buying from this guy in November got connected from someone who bought pullets from me.
He makes organic swine and chicken feed and Luckily he lives a mile away from me, grows his grain and the other ingredients he doesn't have buys them from www.fertrell.com
I buy layer feed at $16.50/50lbs this is the mixed feed so Today I asked about whole grains so I could ferment for my chickens and when he told me the price I thought it was good and had to confirm here. His website is www.cutfreshorganics.com

 

[Loc20chick]

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 ...

I try to feed my chickens organic but sometimes especially before finding this guy it was too expensive.

 

[BayBj]

Another reason I love the idea of homesteading is because it helps to teach my children responsibility and maybe the skills I'm teaching them will save thier life one day.

 

[rancher hicks]

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.

Our farmers market has them for $5 for ten, but i think I mentioned that.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

I feed my girls Blue Seal grower it's $14/50 pounds. Its the only feed my flock likes. They are super picky. I don't think my feed is organic.

This year we are trying 3 garden methods.
1) raised square foot beds, only 10 or so of them
2) row method for corn, spuds, onions and such. That will only be 1 row of each about 30 feet long.
3) containers. I am going to attempt the rubermaid tub container method for a bit of everything. Whatever method works best for each plant is the method we will try next year.

As for things we are trying that are new, a bunch. We are expanding from just a salad garden to hopefully a large enough garden to sustain us until next season. My kids love fresh fruit and vegetables so we grow (or try to) as much as we can.

 

[rancher hicks]

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.

Organic feed would be nice but it's twice what the non is here and I just can't afford it. Perhaps when prices come down in years to come. Though I expect to be out of the chicken keeping by then.

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 ...

As you state Hybrids, not necessarily GMO's, were developed for resistance to disease. While the old types are good they do take more work. Also I have to look at the time for each variety I choose. Anything past 90 days will not have time here, so I choose those with the shortest allowed.

For Tomatoes I plant a variety and I find that if I start my own plants they seem to do better. Even then they need time to adjust to being planted outdoors. I will say this, add lots and lots of Horse manure. Yes I know there are those who swear by cow manure but I'm and old man and I've found horse manure to be better.

 

[KlopKlop]

I feed my girls Blue Seal grower it's $14/50 pounds. Its the only feed my flock likes. They are super picky. I don't think my feed is organic.

This year we are trying 3 garden methods.
1) raised square foot beds, only 10 or so of them

2) row method for corn, spuds, onions and such. That will only be 1 row of each about 30 feet long.
3) containers. I am going to attempt the rubermaid tub container method for a bit of everything. Whatever method works best for each plant is the method we will try next year.

As for things we are trying that are new, a bunch. We are expanding from just a salad garden to hopefully a large enough garden to sustain us until next season. My kids love fresh fruit and vegetables so we grow (or try to) as much as we can.

Those plans are good, except the 'one row of corn' part. IF you plant one long row you will have very poor pollination and ears with no kernels. YOu need plant them in a block. 6 rows at 5' long would be better or similar.

 

[rancher hicks]

I feed my girls Blue Seal grower it's $14/50 pounds. Its the only feed my flock likes. They are super picky. I don't think my feed is organic.

This year we are trying 3 garden methods.
1) raised square foot beds, only 10 or so of them

2) row method for corn, spuds, onions and such. That will only be 1 row of each about 30 feet long.
3) containers. I am going to attempt the rubermaid tub container method for a bit of everything. Whatever method works best for each plant is the method we will try next year.

As for things we are trying that are new, a bunch. We are expanding from just a salad garden to hopefully a large enough garden to sustain us until next season. My kids love fresh fruit and vegetables so we grow (or try to) as much as we can.

You should plant your corn in more but shorter rows. Corn is wind pollinated. So I suggest 5 rows 6' long or 6 rows 5' long.

I use pots for things like Egg plants or Peppers that need a warmer clime. Placed in the drive near the house they do better than in the garden. The black tarvia hold the heat longer into the night I think. Also the sun come up at that angle.



I envy anyone who CAN grow in rows and not have to use raised beds but it's too wet here. Spring and fall it's wet. The drainage here is horrible. Anyone here got a septic system to deal with?

 

[rancher hicks]

Forgot to ask, Who here grows peas to freeze for the year. We may have to buy another freezer as ours is full inside and outside the house. I really need to make some more jam and use up some of the berries.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I am jumping on quick as this is something I am rather passionate about. Organic is fantastic, if you can use it that is great. But if you go that route, please do your research. There are a lot of growers, like us, that do believe in organic. We do not cut corners, because we believe in them. But there are also many growers that do cut corners. Often they are the larger factory farms, many of who then sell to feed store to make organic feed.
You are much better buying from a small, local conventional farmer. Then a organic farmer who then needs to ship to you. You cannot see the Organic farm, do not trust it outright. Also getting that organic label is time consuming and expensive.
We do have overseers, and inspections every year. We also must document everything extensively. But that does not mean it is always completely legitimate. Factory farms see the extra money Organic brings in and they are not stupid, even Monsanto has organic seed.
So please buy local, if you have organic that is great, but it is much truer to the cause if you just find someone near you. And please do not buy Natural, there is absolutely no over site for that. All that is required if a signature at the time of sale that the grower followed Naturals guidelines.
Sorry i will get off my soap box...