Self sufficiency with my food etc.

[roccoracer]

In the last few years I have been on a kick to become more and more self sufficient. I also want to know what is in my food and what I feed to my kids.
If any of my fine northeast shooters friends have any other ideas I am all ears. I take pride in producing the food that is at my table with the additional benefit of keeping costs down. I am a hunter as well so that also contributes.
What I have already started doing and my future plans.

Already doing
1. Maple syrup
2. Chickens for eggs
3. Meat chickens

My future plans.
1. Meat rabbits
2. Building a cider press. There are so many apples wasted near my house that I feel obligated to use them.
3. Wood gas generator
4. Small orchard on my property.

 

[CrackPot]

Add small goats for milk and meat, a breed like Nigerian Dwarf. I have not consumed cows milk in 15+ years as we have more than enough from our goats. The males have no real purpose so when you get extra males, once they get big enough they go into the freezer.

You can also raise Turkeys each year for meat.

In the last few years I have been on a kick to become more and more self sufficient. I also want to know what is in my food and what I feed to my kids.
If any of my fine northeast shooters friends have any other ideas I am all ears. I take pride in producing the food that is at my table with the additional benefit of keeping costs down. I am a hunter as well so that also contributes.
What I have already started doing and my future plans.

Already doing
1. Maple syrup
2. Chickens for eggs
3. Meat chickens

My future plans.
1. Meat rabbits
2. Building a cider press. There are so many apples wasted near my house that I feel obligated to use them.
3. Wood gas generator
4. Small orchard on my property.

 

[JayMcB]

A vegetable garden comes to mind

If you're going to plant an orchard, do it ASAP, as it takes a few years for the trees to produce viable fruit

Blueberry bushes

Raspberry/Blackberry vines.

You might peruse the survival forum too, lots in there

 

[roccoracer]

Add small goats for milk and meat, a breed like Nigerian Dwarf. I have not consumed cows milk in 15+ years as we have more than enough from our goats. The males have no real purpose so when you get extra males, once they get big enough they go into the freezer.

You can also raise Turkeys each year for meat.

I have put thought into goats. My wife loves goats milk and cheese. I am not a fan but maybe I could grow to like it.

 

[roccoracer]

A vegetable garden comes to mind

If you're going to plant an orchard, do it ASAP, as it takes a few years for the trees to produce viable fruit

Blueberry bushes

Raspberry/Blackberry vines.

You might peruse the survival forum too, lots in there

I have 3 blueberry bushes that produce awesome tiny berries. I have several areas with wild black and raspberries 2 apple trees a peach tree and I get a bit of wild strawberries as well. I am terrible at pruning and my apple trees are 30 feet tall.

 

[jtnf]

On a much smaller scale, this is why I resumed gardening on my property after 30 years or so, planted peaches, and will be adding asian pears. (I LOVE a nice asian pair.)
Canning and pickling (and soon fermenting) has been added to the list of experiences.


For the gardening and preservation side of things, check out Garden Betty:
http://www.gardenbetty.com/the-dirt/

 

[Prepper]

I have never tried it, but I hear raising quayle is efficient at producing meat. It is also a niche market so you might even be able to sell quayle eggs or meat for more than chickens can get. Also, ducks. You simply can't profit on chicken eggs because they are everywhere.

Sent via Tapatalk on my Android phone. Good news; Tapatalk sucks less than it used to.

 

[xtry51]

I second berries. Plant them everywhere.

Any kind of nut tree is also a good idea, even if it's just a couple oaks for acorns.

 

[jtnf]

Has anyone looked into permaculture (I think that's the word?)
Basically a self-sustaining group of perennial crops that are planted everywhere: In forested areas under the trees, in prepared beds, etc. I've been thinking about something for the back of my property, to try to reclaim the area from vines and thorns.

 

[pj150]

Asian pears are tough as they need to cross pollinate.

 

[browncoat]

I have put thought into goats. My wife loves goats milk and cheese. I am not a fan but maybe I could grow to like it.

You should try fresh milk from different breeds of goats. My dad doesn't like typical goat milk from traditional (swiss?) goat breeds, but he really likes milk from Nubian goats. They have really different flavors.

 

[todd c]

need to add bee's to the list.

 

[jtnf]

Asian pears are tough as they need to cross pollinate.

True dat. I've been thinking about one or two multi-graft trees... As long as you don't get too ambitious (like "fruit-salad trees") then multi-graft is sustainable, with two or three varieties per trunk.
There was a three-variety espaliered multi-graft asian pair that I almost bought last year... I think this would be the way to go with my space.

 

[SteelShooter]

great ideas. Like the ducks

 

[Admin]

One thing to consider. Chickens shit, ducks are literal shit machines.

 

[roccoracer]

I have been lucky and I sell out of eggs every week. I am getting $4 a dozen and can't keep the cooler stocked.

 

[FrugalFannie]

If I could I would raise a couple hogs every year. Best meat ever!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[mousegunguy]

One thing to consider. Chickens shit, ducks are literal shit machines.

If you compost the shit it becomes beautiful soul that will feed your plants that will feed you

 

[BruceW]

if you already have the apples on your property, you should try your hand at making apple cider vinegar

 

[Kevin_NH]

How many acres do you have?

Even with modern farming practice and assuming "climate change" gives us a longer growing season, the Northeast isn't really the greatest region for food production. Lots of work for little yield.

 

[roccoracer]

How many acres do you have?

Even with modern farming practice and assuming "climate change" gives us a longer growing season, the Northeast isn't really the greatest region for food production. Lots of work for little yield.

Just 4 acres but there are 300 acres behind me.

 

[Kevin_NH]

Just 4 acres but there are 300 acres behind me.

That's a pretty common situation in New Hampshire. Many have just a few acres, but abut conservation land.

Free range goats?

 

[mousegunguy]

How many acres do you have?

Even with modern farming practice and assuming "climate change" gives us a longer growing season, the Northeast isn't really the greatest region for food production. Lots of work for little yield.[/QUOT.
Modern farming pratices are not the way to go for the homesteader to try to produce food. I harvest out of my edible forest about 10 months out of the year in central ma. If you know how, much of your harvest can be wintered over in some way. My collection is up to around 1000 different edible plants. There are 10,000plus edible plants that can be grown here. I grow my own kiwis and fig and Che,cranberries,chestnuts honneyberies, grapes, schizandras and Lots more....
It's work to collect and design and install an edible forest but in the end it's much less work and exceptionally productive giving an amazing variety of foods over a longer season.

 

[JayMcB]

How many acres do you have?

Even with modern farming practice and assuming "climate change" gives us a longer growing season, the Northeast isn't really the greatest region for food production. Lots of work for little yield.[/QUOT.
Modern farming pratices are not the way to go for the homesteader to try to produce food. I harvest out of my edible forest about 10 months out of the year in central ma. If you know how, much of your harvest can be wintered over in some way. My collection is up to around 1000 different edible plants. There are 10,000plus edible plants that can be grown here. I grow my own kiwis and fig and Che,cranberries,chestnuts honneyberies, grapes, schizandras and Lots more....
It's work to collect and design and install an edible forest but in the end it's much less work and exceptionally productive giving an amazing variety of foods over a longer season.

wow....

any reference material you can share? I have acreage in NH, would love to start something like that for my kids to inherit. It's hard keeping the bear/deer/moose from eating the existing apples, blueberries, etc