How to become self-sufficient (kinda) with chickens.

[angelib1]

I have been putting dry milk in the bottom of my tomato plant holes for blossom end rot.

I dry some of about everything. I dry spinach and chard then crumble it through a screen and use it like an herb in my cooking (easy to sneak it past DH that way).

 

[country lady]

I think drying fruits and vegetables would be smart, just in case canning lids became scarce. I once dried apple rings with muslin on a cookie sheet, put the cookie sheet on a low shed roof. They dried beautifully but the catch was that I ate them before winter! I think I may seriously try drying.

I have put epsom salts in the bottom of a tomato hole--that works too. I dig my holes a little deep and add banana peels, coffee grounds and egg shells, then good dirt. I tried planting tomatoes in straw bales but it didn't work out for me. Maybe I didn't do it right. I am trying French cantaloupe from Baker Creek seeds and they look really good so far. I am composting the chicken manure for next year's garden--should be bigger and better.

 

[Ladyhawke1]

Quote:
What makes us fear humanity so? Did not the son of God say that "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of the least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"

 

[hikerchick]

Quote:
What makes us fear humanity so? Did not the son of God say that "Whatever you neglected to do unto one of the least of these, you neglected to do unto Me!"

Ah, but these sentiments typically exist only in theory. When it comes down to it, most people care only about themselves.

 

[The Zoo]

I dry the cherries from our trees (we have a dehydrator). I picked and picked for hours, pitted for days and made three pint size bags of dried cherries.

Will be worth it when we have cherry scones and dried cherries on our oatmeal this winter!

Any hints as to what to do for a zuke that's already in the ground? Can I sort of dig the egg shells in now? Crumbled dried ones around and water them in?

How about for squash seeds already planted at my husbands work plot?

 

[angelib1]

Let those who do not work also not eat.
God only helps those who help them selves.
Remember the story of the ants and the lazy grasshopper, when hard times arrived he came knocking and the the ants turned him away (he had already been warned about hard times) and the little bugger starved to death.
I learn well from the lessons of others I shall not make this one myself.

It does not cost me a dime to be nice. I am good because it is the right thing to do. BUT in my dear mothers words walk tall and carry a big stick. Meaning don't let others run you over. So now would be a good time to turn off your engine and give it a rest.

 

[hikerchick]

Quote:
People who live in cramped apartments in the inner city find self-sufficiency more challenging than those of us who have more. That is all I am saying.

 

[angelib1]

Not aimed at you hikerchick. I apologize if it seemed like it, in any way.

 

[hikerchick]

Quote:
No, it was not taken that way. No worries. I was just putting in my two cents.

We can break our arms patting ourselves on the back about how self-sufficent we have become but we need to remember that becoming self-sufficient requires resources that some people simply don't have access to. Having a plan to shoot them on sight seems a little - harsh.

 

[angelib1]

My grandpa grew up in chicago during the deppresion, after the st. valintines massacre the whole family packed up and moved west. He simply would not agree with you, he said people were killing people for a loaf of bread. my DH's father had to watch his brother starve to death. they had to protect what little they had.

I don't mind sharing but won't be robbed and won't watch my children starve.