The Joy of Farm Life

Top 2. Oct 21, 2001 12:15 PM

» Bob_Ewing - Self-reliance

Greetings, self-reliance and freedom go hand and hand. People can enjoy Life when they can take care of themselves.

-- posted by Bob_Ewing

Top 3. Oct 22, 2001 8:59 PM

» whimsical - Re: Self-reliance

In response to message posted by Bob_Ewing:
Thanks Bob and Renee for your comments. Both of your topics are followed by me when time permits and I am really pleased to see you here reading.
Thanks again

-- posted by whimsical

Top 4. Sep 4, 2002 7:54 PM

» Brendyte - I bought the farm....now what?

I recently purchased 4 acres and a little house in Tennessee. I've cleared land for a garden spot (aprox 60 x 30 feet) and learned to make butter. I know how to can veggies and meat. I learned how to make butter. My question, what is the priority in becoming self-reliant. I am single and have limited resources. I feel like I am in a whirlwind with what I want to do and what I am able to accomplish. In what order would you suggest I move to be self-reliant? Any suggestions?
I do not have farm animals yet. The fence needs some mending first. My greatest concern is the hard clay that makes up my garden. How can I make this more veggie friendly? Thank you to all for any comments made. Brendyte

-- posted by Brendyte

Top 5. Sep 13, 2002 5:33 AM

» whimsical - Re: I bought the farm....now what?

In response to message posted by Brendyte:

Hi Brendyte,
As far as you clay soil becoming vege friendly, I can't go past heaps and heaps of mulch - lucerne hay being one of the richest in great stuff the soil needs. It will turn your soil chocolate brown and invite the earthworms to keep it aerated. Pile the mulch up as high as you can and leave to to break down for a few weeks, then pile on some more and plant seeds just under it. It traps the water in so there's less need for watering and feeds the soil at the same time - so by the time your seeds are sprouting they will be in a welcoming home.
The only animals I would worry about just yet are chickens - a few chickens are no work at all, mainly for fertiliser for your garden beds and to start your egg production. Fruit trees are probably best planted soon since they take so long to fruit - a few years mostly so you would want them in as soon as possible, and they should be fruiting abundantly at the same time your vege garden is feeding itself and you smile

I would think about what it is that YOU need, what you love to eat - and plant that. As much as you can, and stagger your plantings so you get consistent supply. One rule of thumb for a continuous garden - every single time you take something out, put something else in. When you pic a lettuce, stick another lettuce seed in it's hole (you could do that with every lettuce in the garden and you've gotten twice the amount with no extra work), and when you stop growing lettuces at the end of the season, plant something else right away - no need for the garden to "rest". The best gardens are those full of plants at all times. When you have a crop of beans, peas, sweet peas or lupins finish, add the remains to the soil as they are good nitrogen fixers, which should alleviate any problems associated with growing the same thing in the same spot for a long time.
ANother good way to ensure healthy soil is to build (or get built) two reasonably large, secure chicken pens. Put the chickens into one and have them live, lay, graze and poo there for around 6 months until they have cleared that patch of land of all grass and weeds. Add to that they've been adding valuable manure to the soil and hopefully broken down some of the clay in the meantime. All vege scraps should be thrown out there (even those they won't eat) as they will break down into the soil too. Once land is clear, move them all into the other pen and use the empty one as a vege garden. You have soft, manured ground just begging for plants to grow, plus it is fenced from wildlife! Once your growing season is over, the other pen should be ready - and move them back. This is just something to think about and the bonus is you'll be getting eggs the whole time too! In the meantime though, I would concentrate on the patch you have cleared, getting some fruit trees in and perhaps getting your chickens (or some of them) now. Once you are confident with that, move onto the next step. It's all a journey, I am still learning so much each day.
Email me at whimsical@idx.com.au if you would like to chat about this further.

-- posted by whimsical

Top 6. Oct 26, 2002 6:22 AM

» KrisPe - Where do we go?

After discovering self reliant living (a week ago)I have been searching the web, checking out the library and buying seeds! What I was wondering is if there are better places to live then others. Are there better areas to think about moving to? Where do we start looking?

Thanks,
Kris

-- posted by KrisPe

Top 7. Jan 30, 2003 7:25 AM

» Gay_Klok - Re: Where do we go?

In response to message posted by KrisPe:

Sonia, at last I have made it to your site!

And I am so glad. It all sounds so familiar. I laughed at your article - those steers always have a ring leader who takes them up to a corner of the garden [after they have broken a fence] where you can't get behind them and they all turn around and stare at you - as if you were the naughty one.

-- posted by Gay_Klok