I know many of you out there are homesteaders or at least semi-homsteaders as we are but for new folks or city folk who have planned a bug out, thought I would post a typical day or so around here to illustrate the need for many hands make light work.

June 15/16-milk goats & feed cows(2X daily), clean kitchen, feed baby buck (6X daily), weed vege garden (1/4 acre), cook lunch, tote grey water to garden on yoke, earnsome money consulting, community awareness activities, keep house picked up, walk dogs, exercise buck, move and stack wood, vac seal dried meat, cut up 50# meat salt to dry, do wash hang on line fold and put away (3X daily), prune misc trees and shrubs, take care of kids, homeschool lessons, get kids to activities,run monthly gen test, hoof up 12 v for maintainence charge,fork garden for more planting area, chip paths (muddy in winter), test water settling ( hand pump well sandy in summer), keep feeding the burn barrell, make sure sitting hens have food and water, cook meals, read kids stories and say prayers, pick up milk for buck trade for herbs from garden, pick up new milking doe (just kidded) ensure postpartum stuff going well, trim hooves, worm etc etc etc

The point is "simple" living isn't so simple- like any business it's work and planning the partial list above (though dull) points out the need to involve all who can work and get it to be normal. We have a family of 7 and husband works full time so most of the above is done by me and the kids- husband helps with projects in the evening.

-- EC (JHnck1776@aol.com), June 17, 1999

Answers

EC...been there, done that for 22 years. My favorite saying lately is muttered a number of times a day as I check the forum. And that is "they don't have a clue". How many know how to milk, trim feet, give shots, recognize illness and treat, know what to feed and how much, muck out a barn, buck hay and on and on and on and on. I guess they will learn as they have to. But I am so grateful that my husband and I already have the experience and all the tools to live an 1800s style of life. I can even spin and weave. These skills and tools give me a great feeling of security. Y2k shortages, etc doesn't bother me. Its the people, both the bad and the good that bother me. I fear terrorism and riots more than anything. And in my deepest of heart in the deepest of night, the fear is of a hungry family on my doorstep. I pray for that bump in the road scenario.

Got lots of beans, rice and rolled oats for the neighbors.?? I figure if someone is truly hungry, a bowl of beans or oat meal will taste very good.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie @aol.com), June 17, 1999.

EC,

Your post made me think of a quote I came across recently.

-Jim

-------------------

The Simple Life?

"Living in the country has been called "the simple life." This is not true. It's much more complex than city life. City life is the one that's simple. You get a job and earn money and you go to a store and buy what you want and can afford. The decentralist life in the country, on the other hand, is something else again. When you design your own things and make plans about what you're going to produce and really live in a self-sufficient manner, you've got to learn...you've got to master all sorts of crafts and activities that people in the city know nothing about." --Ralph Borsodi

-- Jim Morris (prism@bevcomm.net), June 17, 1999.

Hello!

I grew up with cattle (100+ beef and 1 milk) and horses, dogs, pigs, cats, etc. but got my first goats this spring. Doing great, one is freshened, love the milk but I gave an extra cup or so for the two of them the other day, the younger (not milking) apparently hogged the grain and for the past three days I have been nursing her sloooooowly back to health...even slept with her night before last. Have a garden, a small business run from home, R.N. studies, 3 yr. old son, great husband who works full time, etc..... getting ready to make bread and butter pickles out of the extra zucchini - yes lots of work but it sure feels good! (except for my poor little goat.......doing better now!). Thanks for sharing!

Kristi

-- Kristi (securx@succeed.net), June 17, 1999.

you sleep with a goat?remember it's ok to love your pets.just don't LOVE your pets.

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), July 24, 1999.

zoobie, did anyone ever tell you that you are a pervert? If not, consider this as your first time.

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), July 24, 1999.