Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[tiki244]

My sister and her hubby try to live that way in almost every aspect of their lives. Although they do jet around the world for a few business trips every year. Most of the time they will take their bicycle or bicycles to the store (probably 10 miles one way), but in their old (yuckyuck) age the sometimes take the diesel converted to vegetable oil engine car.

 

[tiki244]

I have always liked Buckeyes myself, but dont have any. I see your point about the chickens also.

 

[Tatters]

Who needs a cat when a buckeye can mouse for you lol

 

[tiki244]

My sister and hubby grow most of their own food. What they dont grow, they buy locally. They are also very careful what they wear for clothes and use for building materials in their house and well everything. They try to live with a very small footprint. They are also very aware of wildlife and the impact man has on it. The Orion magazine is a very good magazine that has articles about these issues in it. I really admire my sister and her hubby and try to emulate them as much as I can. But alas I am far from the goal and do what I can. And go on with my life.

 

[tiki244]

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[Tatters]

Winter is the only time I can rest. In the warmer months I am leaving a small footprint as well. I have solar panels in my pole barn waiting to go on the house and want to incorporate solar power on my coop as well for the door and lighting. I'd like to build a 400 sq ft barn and then attach the coop to the barn itself to save on land taxes which are a killer here. My garden is plowed by a horse I use as I don't believe in machines and I plant heritage seeds. Even my roses are heritage breeds. My herbs are for both medicinal and for the soaps I make and I make oatstraw infusions in the warm months which I drink more than anything else. Apples are pressed to make juice, and my meats I get depend on the end of the season...if I get a deer and turkey great, if not, I get a free side of beef from the Mennonite family up the road. I'd like to one day have 4 goats, chickens and some rabbits, hence would bring in some extra income. All this would in turn make my hobby farm self reliant and profiting. Since I make flour out of acorns I don't need to visit the grocery store all the time. I still buy sugar and salt and toiletries and thats about it. My last bill from 4 months ago was $48.92 and I'm set for a full year before I head back to the store.

 

[FrenchToast]

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Holy Cow !!!!! A full year without going to the store ??????

I do like the $48.92 bill however !!!
Would the goats be for milk or meat ? Never heard of acorn flour or oatstraw infusions. So what is oatstraw infusions?

 

[tiki244]

You are really living frugally. Thats good. It is hard work I am sure of that. I have a home made solar device planned for my big coop. I didnt get it finished this year because of health issues, but have at least built a *greenhouse* structure on the south side. I will probably be putting another window in the south side this winter(going into the *greenhouse*. I pick up old windows in good shape when I see them, for *projects*. My mini coop I built is really gathering the solar energy. I love it. Although I am not too happy with my landlords, they are nice enough to let me have chickens and build mini coops and dig a garden. It is fun to do that again, like I did many years ago.

 

[Tatters]

Here are a couple links for your educational studies

Since I am single, I have ways of curbing my money to the point where bills are nearly non-existant. The key is, what do you want to go without and what do you feel you can make in place of what you don't have to buy?

http://nourishingherbalinfusions.com/Oatstraw.html

http://www.susunweed.com/An_Article_Fear_AW1.htm

http://www.susunweed.com/How_to_make_Infusions.htm

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/acorns.htm

 

[tiki244]

yes ditto on the oatstraw.


I think it would be very helpful to have a book that tells a person what they can scavenge for food in the wild. They have a name for such people but cant remember what it is. I think locavores are people who scavenge from dumpsters.

Seriously though. It is the name, probably not the spelling. And I think there is a new one urbanvore or cityvore~people eating off the land in the city.