Just curious who else is living super frugal

[mickey328]

Good for you Anna! So many of these "old" things are being lost that's it's awesome to see some folk are trying to find their way back to them. You're right, it's not just "frugal" it's also a matter of pride...and a sense of accomplishment. Silly as it sounds, I feel those things when I open a jar of beans I put up for dinner

I was fortunate enough to have been raised by my grandparents, who lived through the depression, and we lived in a very remote area. When we first moved there, we had no electricity and had a pump in the kitchen sink for water. We had to make do and make our own for a lot of things, and they were well equipped from their background of simply living that way because it was the way people did it back then.

Grandma always baked her own bread...made about 8 loves a week. Oddly enough, having grown up with it, "store bought" bread was always a treat for me! Sad to say, to this day I still prefer the store bought for sandwiches, but for just having bread or toast, nothing beats homemade. DH loves homemade and likes to have all different kinds so we got an inexpensive machine from WM and we sort of compromise...I make the bread for him and buy it for myself, LOL

To learn, find others of a similar mind...folks who do different things and talk to them about it...most are more than happy to share their knowledge. Especially older folks...they have a wealth of knowledge and experience we'll likely never know. Check out people in your area who garden and talk to them...most of us are boringly happy to tell you ALL about it! LOL You may even find other folks to barter with...most folk seem to have more of a knack with certain things, or like some things better. You might find someone who would trade you homemade bread for eggs...that sort of thing. If you weren't on the other side of the country, I'd be more than happy to show you how to can and bake bread

 

[cntrywmnkw]

Wonderful Anna! I hadn't made bread in more yrs than I want to remember, lol, but got a good recipe & have been getting some really good bread flour, & yeast. If you pm me, I'd be happy to share info on flour & bread recipe. My BF absolutely LOVES the homemade bread & won't go back to buying.

 

[DennisK]

This is a great subject as I believe I am finding more about where my real values are – now that I am officially “poor”. I feel fortunate in that we do have acreage and no depts. – finally! This year brought our first garden for more years than I can remember. It has proven to be very productive, and we are currently canning, pickling and freezing our produce. We have plans to expand our garden next year. Further plans include two milk cows and a few sheep. I am very much interested in making my own bread. This brought me to the realization that yeast is very expensive, so I have been experimenting with making my own sourdough yeast – with varying degrees of … failures. Some of my breads turn out very sour, and some completely bland. I’m beginning to think I need to build an outside wood burning bread oven, as I don’t think my oven gets hot enough. This lean time of my life has been a time of learning which seems to be a common thread throughout these posts.

 

[newfoundland]

May i be very cheeky and offer some advice DennisK. Do your costings for taking on cows and sheep very carefully. The setting up costs are very high if for example you do not have outbuildings that can be used to house the animals. Even if they are grazed they will need supplementary feeding and of course there are bedding and cleaning material costs too. Vetinary costs are also a vital consideration. If you decide to get cows and sheep, I would do it slowly, getting the cows first maybe and then when they have settled and you feel on top of it you could get the sheep.

 

[erinszoo]

Dennis - if you go down to the self sufficient thread on here I started a sour dough bread thread that has had some really good posts about starters and bread baking that you might find helpful.

 

[DennisK]

I share your sense of caution as livestock represents a large commitment. My DW and I will be embarking on this adventure with no previous experience; so we will be climbing a steep learning curve. Starting off slow is sound advice. We were thinking of beginning with one Jersey calf – that way, we will teach each other our individual roles.

 

[DennisK]

Thanks erinszoo! I subscribed to your thread. This is a great website which I am just discovering even though I joined way back in 2009. That was when I built my chicken coop and bought my first chickens.

 

[cntrywmnkw]

DennisK. May I ask, what are you planning on doing with all the milk that even 1 Jersey cow will produce, approx. 5+ gal per day, that's about 2-3 gal morning & evening milking & any plans on what to do when she dries up for the month before she delivers calf? Also, what about the calf she will be producing each year in order to produce milk? Are you going to raise it or sell it? Don't mean to sound bad, it's just I was raised on a farm, so thought I'd pose these questions for you, as you mentioned in your above post, you're new to this. Just trying to help.

 

[mickey328]

I was considering the same thing, would love to have a milk cow but that would be just too much milk...especially since DH is lactose intolerant. You'd likely have issues if you were trying to sell it unpasturized. One thing I came across in my research is miniature cows. There is a miniature Jersey that generally gives 1 to 1.5 gallons a day...which would suit our needs much better. Milk goats are another option...they provide milk but not in such massive amounts...and DH is a fan since he can drink goat milk with no tummy issues.

 

[HeatherLynn]

Ok so I have my jersey already also. She is young and did not get a well cared for start so we are way off from her getting a bull visit but anywho. When we do get milk, what is usually done. I think we can use the milk. Probably be providing for 15 of us. My parents and my family of 6 and my sister who all live on the farm. There is my nephew and his 6 person family. but still thats alot of milk. I am thinking yogurt and cheese are in our future. We go through a gallon a day. My nephew goes through less than that now but his babies will be off the formula before we know it and they are pretty big boys already so i see lots of milk in their future. So thats another gallon. My sister barely counts because if she drinks a glass every other day its a miracle. So honestly what would you do with that much milk?

Cheese, Kefir......ok well i am out of ideas. Maybe you guys who are experiences give those who are maybe in over our heads some ideas. A plan of some sort.