Just a thought i too have always liked the articles on what people are doing on their homesteads. Why not do that on the forum and i hate to say it but might have some info worth magazine space. I am not really going into it all on mine but will give a summary of what I am up to. Hope others will to. As of april I am starting my fourth year here in sw missouri. I have 3.7 acres over the previous three years I have had about .7 acres cleared and a pond dug. I have built a house small 24x15 with a 7.5 x 15 ft. enclosed porch now being used as a bedroom and where i keep the all important bucket. I also have one of the funnels used for oil attached to the wall and connected to 40' of pipe for use as an urinal. Don't have running water haul drinking water and other in times of no rain. I have a total of 20 barrels connected with hose so all will fill and a run off into a 100gal stocktank. Most times i get rain before the stocktank is empty. I use that water for washing, watering some plants and pet and livestock watering. I have 1 goat, 5 dogs, 6 cats, 1 dove, and 6 pot bellied pigs. with washing and watering I go through 7-10 gallons of water a day. Due to my back I don't have a garden this year but am planning of tire planters for next year at waist high so I can do it. I have a 15 x 24 dog run made of stockpanels and chicken wire, and 2 pig pens both 8x16 one with a house made with pallets and one with a 4x6 dog house I bought at a yardsale for $1. The goat pen is 12x15 with a shed attached that is made of 4x4 oad pallets and plywood with a old camper shell for the roof and is 6x8 happens to be the size of this shell. The house also does have running water in a way as I have a hand pump plumbed into one of the barrels. Is real nice when the weather is bad and I don't want to go outside for water. Electricity is currently 2 extension cords plugged into the temporary electric hook-up both are homemade and are 12gauge wire with heavy duty plugs. As the house is wired with the outlets and I am almost finished with the outside lights I am going to do something I cannot recomend but I will be doing it. The current set up is extension cords everywhere looks like the web of a bionic spider in the house. I plan to by pass the outlets which are on the pole (which I put in the outlets not the pole) and as I understand it is rated for 15 amps. I am going directly to the temp breaker which is rated 30amps with 10 gauge wire to the house where I will conect the wires for the various circuits together. I talked to the electric company who said that I would not be up to code but they did admit it might be safer than all the extension cords. If my back allows I plan to put in an electric fence this fall with many seperate areas for the goats ( i will be getting a buck in september) and an area for the pigs around the pond hoping that they will help seal it which if it will hold water would make available several thousand gallons of water for a garden as it is about 40x60 and 8 ft deep in the center. I have also planted rhubarb should be able to start harvesting next year, 2 peach trees, 25 plum, 25 hazelnut and 10 nanking cherries. Have so many things I want to do but am limited by physical condiation, money, and time so will see what happens. I at times think I have done nothing then realize I have done quite abit. one of the hardest things was putting up one of those metal buildings by myself used a lot of duct tape holding the bolts in so I could go inside and put on the nuts. I should not be posting at this time of the night whoops morning but it seems that is the time I get to spend on the net. My advise to anyone considering moving beyond the sidewalks is get land and do it. But it won't happen all at once take pride in what you have done and dream for more it isn't much but it is mine and it is so nice to be living beyond the sidewalks. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), July 31, 2000

Answers

Were not "beyond the sidewalks" but we are 8 miles outside the nearest city (29000) and 4 miles from the nearest small town (850). Got 1.3 acre of ground, supporting 35 x 90 garden , two fruit trees , small greenhouse is in the works before winter and I just started a wading pool aquaponics tank. Maybe next year a rabbit hutch. Almost forgot , computer room in sunporch for daytrading when they lay me off (with contract buyout, I hope)

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), July 31, 2000.

Now, this is more like it!!! This is the type of stuff I want to read about!!! I'm working my @*% off here in the city so someday I can live like you, Gail. Most everyone I know thinks I'm nuts, but I WILL GET THERE. I'm paying down my debt and saving as much cash as I can for a downpayment on property. Everything I do, every breath I take is filled with determination. I have to do this right, which for me means planning, covering all the bases. I don't want to fail simply because I wasn't really ready. I'm surrounded by people who say that they want this and they want that, but they're not willing to sacrifice anything short term so they can achieve their goals. I come to this forum for inspiration. I have a desire and willingness to learn from you. I do a lot of "creative visualization"; I "see" myself and my animals, and my home in the country. In the meantime, I garden and can my bounty, bake bread, read a lot, and simplify my life as much as possible. Thanks, Everyone.

-- Cathy Horn (hrnofplnty@webtv.net), July 31, 2000.

Well here on our 13 acres life has slowed a bit due to the drought and the intense heat. I've been having to take frozen two liter bottles of ice to each rabbit the first thing every morning and then right after lunch because the heat has been so intense. It was more than 100 degrees for several days straight. This week it is overcast and about 10 degrees cooler...but even 90 is pretty hot for a rabbit, especially Angoras....so they still have their ice bottles to snuggle with.

Every morning I get up first thing, fed and water the rabbits, give them their ice bottles, clean their hutches and rake underneath them, and make sure everything is o.k. in their rabbit house. Then I check for anything in the garden, anything that needs picking or needs immediate attention. I also feed and water the dogs.

Then depending on my work schedule I either go straight to the computer or head out to cover a court case or some crime or meeting.

Usually I hang out at least one load of clothes on the "solar drier," (i.e. clothes line) before I begin work also.

Husband is in and out with his new business as a home-based handiman. On Saturday he installed closet shelves and lighting for a woman.

Today I covered a court case at 9 a.m.; then checked records at the sheriff's office, police dept, and 911, before returning to my home office to write articles for both newspapers I write for.

This weekend we had lots of purple-hull peas and butterbeans to shell and a huge mess of corn to fix.

Our garden is pretty much dried out and gone due to the heat and drought although the freezer is now pretty well stocked and I've canned a lot.

As the weather turns toward fall we hope to resume fence building and eventually working toward getting Angora goats and hopefully a smaller-bred milk cow.

So how was your day?

-- Suzy in 'Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), July 31, 2000.

CHICKENS!!! We gots chickens!

Went to the 4-H fair last week and reminded some neighbor kids that I was in the market for a rooster and some pullets post fair. They came over Saturday and we settled price ($4 each). Saturday afternoon, Uncle Ivan, Hubby and I started work on a chicken house. We looked at pictures in Countryside, and decided we wanted a chicken tractor - Unc said that was a good idea, since he is a wrench jockey - not a carpenter. Hubby, a wrench jockey of a different persuasion, agreed.

Unc had some scrounged 2x4s, and hubby had brought home some 1/2" OSB and short 2x4s from work, so all we bought to begin with was some treated 4x4s for a skid base and a couple of treated 2x4s to go across them. Had the frame pretty well built, and the floor in by Saturday evening, so took a run to town to get chicken wire, hardware cloth and a hamburger and chocolate shake (Hey - we deserved it!).

By Sunday afternoon, we had everything done but the roof and the door. We inserted some strong eye screws into the skids, Unc hitched up the H and off to the garden we went! Pop wandered home and cut down an old door so they would have a nice windowed door on their coop and Hubby and I put the OSB on the roof and tacked down roofing paper - right before the rain! After the shower, Hubby and I used some old lattice we found in the shed to go over the chicken wire around the bottom. "Chicken tractor?" said Unc. "Chicken palace, more like!" Two story chicken palace, no less!

I think the total cost was around $43, because most of the supples were left over from other projects or scrounged. $23 of that was for chicken wire and hardware cloth - and I think I have enough left to build a rabbit hutch for my daughter! Unc is planning a mule shelter, however, and was down eyeballing his pile of scrounged steel siding! I think we should just build a barn, myself. Gee, then we'd have room for a goat...and some pigs......

This morning, in came a farm truck with the new residents (and three neighbor kids!) in back. We are now the delighted owners of a Black Australorp rooster, 5 Black Australorp hens and one Rhode Island Red hen!! And Red has already presented us with an egg!

Still have a bit of work to do - roof needs shingled, the feeder needs raised up, nest boxes (old apple crates) need front boards and straw, and the whole thing needs painted before it rains too much more..... But, Hey - We gots CHICKENS!!

-- Polly (tigger@moultrie.com), July 31, 2000.

This is our 2nd year here, and we have a greenhouse in the planning stages (PVC and film, 10 X 12 in size to start hopefully) to augment our garden. We're canning tomatoes this week, getting ready for the pears, eating watermelon and canteloupe, and preparing to plant a fall crop of peas, greens, cauliflower, cabbage, and whatever else strikes my fancy. 2nd planting of potatoes are already in the ground. The 2 peach and the 1 pear tree I planted this year are doing well. And I did get some plums off of one of my plum trees (planted by previous owners).

If I get a dozer in before the spring to clear out some of the woods for me, a chicken coop and a half dozen layers will finally happen. Otherwise, most of my spare time and energy have been focused on fixing the house up.

-- Eric in TN (ems@nac.net), August 01, 2000.

Nice thread Gail. We have been on our 13 acres for 14 years. This summers project is a carport and a covered picknick area to barbque under. Typically this time of year we are only milking does who will be showen in September, after chores I check for nasty tails to see who was bred last night, mark the calendar and then walk the 13 juniors through the woods. We have an almost completely clean skeleton of a coyote that was killed by our dogs and checking on this for my son who wants the skull. Then its to the house where I go on the computer, house work, get dinner ready, bake something and answer phones for our company. Evenings, after all are in bed, is when I rake my barns, clean waterers, check on the hens. Garden is done for the spring/summer and the 3 raised beds in the front are being readied for another batch of corn, multiplying onions and one more batch of tomatoes, we prefer our picante suace fresh! School starts next week, Yeah! and more power to the moms who homeschool and whos children are alive!! It's 1:45 here, time to take the bread out from its 1st rise, add chunks of mozzarella cheese, chunks of ham, onions, bellpepper, and garlic, form into a loaf and bake. Makes a wonderful meal/bread that I will serve with a huge salad, lemon bars for dessert. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), August 01, 2000.

I am packing up my house this week to move to an almost 8 acre homestead in Oak Harbor, WA.

I have been cleaning and painting and finally sold the old house and quit my old job! Now I have just over 2 weeks to get up and go!

The new place is remodeled with a view of the water, barn, outbuildings, 2 wells and bordering a christmas tree farm and cattle ranch.

I just need to listen to all the advice when I move in and go SLOWLY! I want 2 cows (1 for milk, 1 for meat), some chickens and maybe a goat or two. I feel so ignorant but everyone has to start learning somewhere. But for now- I pack! Amy

-- Amy Richards (tiggewife@aol.com), August 01, 2000.

I guess the answer to that question is that yes our homestead is in quite a state.Just about everything I haveg to say about this is going to be complaining. Garden not doing much, animals doing fine biut there are very few of them, Can't buy more because house is for sale, can't seem to get it all together to get moved. Very frustrated! There are a few good things it is a very beautiful place to wait it out, and we all have our health, and I have four beautiful children who make my life wonderful, and Jesus is my Lord. Of course these are the most important things so maybe I don't have much to complain about after all.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), August 01, 2000.

This is year 10 on our 7 acres. Large garden and animal pens enable us to be quite independant for food. Animals this year are chickens, turkeys, and pig. Right now I am just beginning to can the garden vegetables. I bought a pressure canner few years ago and really enjoy it. I am in the process of cutting fence posts to get an area ready for a dairy animal- still undecided whether to go with 2 goats or 1 jersey but leaning towards the Jersey. This week we are also finishing up with our fire wood. got a great deal at the lumber mill, 4'x4'x6' cube kiln dried various lenghts for $10 canadian. Great kindling so am splitting that and selling a few bundles too. Also made some new pens out of the longer pieces. If you have a mill near by check it out. I work weekday mornings at the riding stables cleaning the stalls, feeding etc. It works out good, as I feed my animals let them out then go for only about 2 hours to do the horses - and get some of that cash stuff you need once in a while. Bonus- all the manure I want to haul. This years goals learn tallow candle making- yes I buy candles now!, and find out how to collect and clean down for duvets/ pillows etc, also learn more about car mechanics so I can save a few dollars doing things myself. If anyone can point me in the right direction with these items feel free to email.

-- TerriYeomans (terri@tallships.ca), August 01, 2000.

Ok, here goes. We are on year 5 of reconditioning an overused and under cared for farm. This year, I added 2 pastures, making a second one for the cows, and my first permanent one for the goats. Up until now, I have been using portable mesh fencing (electrified), and bringing them in at night. We have been up to our eyeballs in rain, which made driving posts easy, but is making it REALLY hard to keep up with the garden. (those of you with drought, where are you, I would be happy to share ;-)
For animals, this year I added pigs, beef cattle, catfish, rare breed turkeys, and guineas, and expanded my duck collection. It is still funny to watch my husband go from, "we don't need to be messing with that" to planning how to expand and revise our setup. The pigs are now his spoiled pets, especially the female. They immediatly started earning their keep, we didn't even need to plow the garden to plant, they did all of the digging for us, and worked all of the barn cleanings in completely. Right now, they are working up a patch for me to plant winter wheat. I also discovered that I have a market for any and all meat I care to part with. I love having city friends!
In the new toy department, we finally got a NICE cider press, so we can take advantage of the orchard we reconditioned. Between that and all of my homebrewing friends eagerly awaiting the first annual cider festival, we won't have anything go unused. Last year was awful, there was just no way to process all of the fruit. (we have 7 mature apple trees, and 2 mature pear trees, and they all bear at the same time) By the way, pear cider vinegar is wonderful. I just juiced up a big mess, added cider yeast, and allowed the air to get to it to capture a proper mother.
On the dairy front, I discovered the joys of making onion butter and cheese. I didn't even have to come up with the onions, the cow did it for me. It was good, but of limited use. (onion butter does NOT go well on pancakes) Future plans? This weekend I am going to look at a second fish tank a friend found for me, and I am collecting information on how to winter raise trout after I harvest the catfish this fall. Freezing up doesn't seem to be a problem, last year things kept flowing even in extended sub-zero weather. (that pump circulates a LOT of water) We are also looking at a second hand bin feeder for the pigs, and are making plans to build or get the same thing for the poultry, to save time on chores. Down the road, expanding my dairy kitchen, and adding a greenhouse are on the list, as well as more pasture fencing. It keeps me busy, but I do love it.

-- Connie (Connie@lunehaven.com), August 04, 2000.