how to live of the land

[Southerngirl]

It seems that more and more people are doing exactly what most members of BYC are doing: trying to live off the land once again! We also have animals, garden-canning in the summer and fall, fruit trees and plants etc. It is a definite peace of mind to have worked hard all day in your garden, pick a watermelon and go inside cut it and have a cold glass of ice tea. That is living !!! Go for it !! It's worth it !!

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
That sounds like a real job to me!

I say I am a Research Assistant in the fields of child psychology and development

 

[ams3651]

Last year was out first year with our garden, flields has been untouched for at least 20 years. We planted sweet corn which didnt do well but I expected that. Tomatoes did very well, inculding cherry tomatoes. Pumpkins and watermelon did respectable and i put maneure in each hole as i planted. The brussel sprouts never had a chance thanks to rabbits. I bought a test kit before I started to tell me what I was lacking. I got it at Lowes but you can also take a soil sample to your county ag extension office and have it tested. We have laid down maneure last week but I still dont expect much out of the corn for a couple years, it takes alot out of the soil. But will be adding cucumbers and peas as those are easier to fertilize as you go.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

With the garden.....It' ll take alot of work to get the soil the way you want it and it make take more thatn 1 season with or without natural fertilizer. As for the fruit trees and grape vines it will take up to 3 years before they even yeild a small portion. But, that's according to what size and age of tree and vines you purchase.

With the garden you will yeild alot, if you fertilize good the first year. If you intend on planting in the same soil each year the best thing we found to do id to plant either soybeans or blackeye peas for the winter months. These plants help put nutrients back in the soil.

The best sdvice I can give is.......start now and it will be there later.

 

[jnjross]

be positive, you should start small thou, a few raised beds close to the house. our first year we planted 2ac. way too much for a stay at home mom (me) to tend. we started a tree farm instead. currently have 450 christmas trees, a greenhouse that a storm torn up friday i grow veg seedling to sell, 4 raised beds, i just got chicks i hope i can handle it all.

 

[Miltonchix]

I have 5 cleared acres with almost all of it usable. (too few trees) Used to be a huge commercial soy bean farm 20+ years ago that went bust because of over use. Planted the same crop year after year.
After 20 years of "resting" the soil is still not the best so I'm starting small. I've got a 50'X50' garden starting that I've been tilling compost in for 3 years. So far this year I've got corn (6"tall now), lots of tomatoes, peppers of all sorts, lettuce, bush and pole beans, peas, and squash started. They're doing so,so as we've had little rain. But next week I plan to do a second planting of everthing and add melons and fresh greens for chickens.
Our goal is to be 85% self sufficient by the end of next year.

 

[Bubba]

On the subject no one has touched...

Have you thought of trading in that gas guzzler for a diesel guzzler? While diesel is more expensive than gas right now for 500 dollars or so you can put a bio diesel converter on the car/truck. You would need two tanks one for diesel and one for oil. Just google bio diesel, you want a system with a pre heater and filter with an automatic switching unit for start up and shut down. You could collect vegetable oil from restruants in your area that would cut down fuel costs ALOT. Making a seperator isn't that hard, you would need two tanks and a hand pump or just use gravity if you have the space. Others use recycled motor oil, hydraulic fluid, power steering fluid etc but I have no experience with that.

I've been pondering buying a diesel generator converting it to bio and selling the elec back to the utilities. Might even be worth collecting oil as a job then burning it for power. Buying even virgin oil in huge drums would beat buying gas/diesel since there is no tax on it like other fuels. Just an idea for those of you that live off the grid to...

Bubba

 

[ams3651]

I watched a series on Sundance channel called "Its not easy being green" Its about an english family who moves to an old farm and has a goal of self sufficiency, Im talking composting toilet and water wheel. Most of it would be hard to do, the dad is an engineer, but it is so inspiring. Im not sure if it would be on video as it was just on a couple months ago but if you get the channel they still run episodes occasionally, its very entertaining also.

I also wanted to mention around here farmers plant buckwheat or clover for an off season crop to help the soil.

 

[Settin'_Pretty]

Total self sufficiency really isn't possible, but a person can do a pretty good job of providing most of their needs.
Things like fuels, salt, rope/string, and a ton of other things you about have to buy.
You have property taxes to pay, so that means generating an income in dollars.
Uncle Sam doesn't want you out of his system, so you simply aren't going to be permitted to get out of it.
You can't even hunt or fish without a permit.

 

[lilcountry]

Yeah I love to hunt and fish, my whole family does, but you also have to have the land to do that on, and you have to buy that. I manage a tax office and I am crossing my fingers for 4/15 it is indeed nearly impossible to avoid uncle sam

I see it alot and its those who do actually work and do the "right" things. My dad was going to buy me a lifetime license when I was born(about 100 or 200) at the time and he wasnt sure if I would end up hunting or fishing and sadly now they are like 1000