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Started By
Message
Creating a self sufficient life for your family - what all goes into it?
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:47 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:47 pm
This thought has been in my mind all day today. With all the shite you see about what is added to groceries you buy in the store, and what it all contains, it seems like it would me much healthier to just have everything in your "backyard" and kill it when ya need it, get eggs from your chickens, get your vegetables from your garden, etc...
Just kinda brainstorming this idea, but what all would be needed and what would you need to spend for start-up costs?
what I'm thinking is some land, you'd need probably at least 5 acres, with a house, barn, pond...
some pigs, some cows, some chickens....
would need a large garden, no idea on size, to grow all of our vegetables and what not
could you have a regular 9-5 job and be able to take care of everything?
I'm sure I'm not thinking of about 90% of what all would be needed. yall know anyone who does this?
I just think it would give me great piece of mind to know where all my food comes from, going to be having a little chickman here in a few months too and want him/her to have great nutrition as well, without all the preservatives, chemicals and what ever the hell else is added to food these days to make it last longer and taste better.
Just kinda brainstorming this idea, but what all would be needed and what would you need to spend for start-up costs?
what I'm thinking is some land, you'd need probably at least 5 acres, with a house, barn, pond...
some pigs, some cows, some chickens....
would need a large garden, no idea on size, to grow all of our vegetables and what not
could you have a regular 9-5 job and be able to take care of everything?
I'm sure I'm not thinking of about 90% of what all would be needed. yall know anyone who does this?
I just think it would give me great piece of mind to know where all my food comes from, going to be having a little chickman here in a few months too and want him/her to have great nutrition as well, without all the preservatives, chemicals and what ever the hell else is added to food these days to make it last longer and taste better.
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 12:50 pm
11
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:49 pm to chickman1313
That shite isn't easy work. Maintaining a garden requires a lot of time and water.
Color me doubtful. If you could, you wouldn't have time for much else.
quote:
could you have a regular 9-5 job and be able to take care of everything?
Color me doubtful. If you could, you wouldn't have time for much else.
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 12:51 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:50 pm to chickman1313
between my garden in my city backyard, my Dads garden, and the farmers market, we don't have to buy much from the grocery store
if you want to be completely self sufficient, I would say all you really need is about 3 acres
a few pigs, some chickens, maybe a cow to slaughter on occasion
and decent sized garden, although I can grow a LOT of veggies out of my little 4 x 24 raised bed garden
my advice is to just try and buy from local people as much as possible, that is what we do when we can't get it from the garden
if you want to be completely self sufficient, I would say all you really need is about 3 acres
a few pigs, some chickens, maybe a cow to slaughter on occasion
and decent sized garden, although I can grow a LOT of veggies out of my little 4 x 24 raised bed garden
my advice is to just try and buy from local people as much as possible, that is what we do when we can't get it from the garden
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 12:52 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:53 pm to chickman1313
All you need is a swimming pool LINK
But seriously, hydroponics would reduce the amount of land needed and you could even get into aquaponics.
garden pool
Goats for milk, rabbits for meat...
But seriously, hydroponics would reduce the amount of land needed and you could even get into aquaponics.
garden pool
Goats for milk, rabbits for meat...
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 1:08 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:54 pm to chickman1313
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:56 pm to Salmon
pretty sure there was an article about how to be completely self sufficient on 1 acre in one of my Mother Earth News magazines...
...don't judge me because I subscribe to Mother Earth News
...don't judge me because I subscribe to Mother Earth News
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 12:57 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 12:59 pm to Salmon
haha, ill try and reserve judgment
I guess my biggest problem with all of this would be having a job as well...
maybe I could just buy vegetables from local farmers and just raise my own meat
I guess my biggest problem with all of this would be having a job as well...
maybe I could just buy vegetables from local farmers and just raise my own meat
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:00 pm to chickman1313
Plants are pretty easy, but you're gonna still have to put chemicals on them to keep the bugs away. You've got to learn how to freeze them properly also
After initial pond stabilization, fish would be easy. You could have a couple of kinds in one pond for diversity.
I just like the phrase "chicken tractor", but chickens seem like a major PITA. Gotta feed and water them all of the time, they shite everywhere, and they're annoying. Chris Adam's parents had some, but his mom took care of them every day.
Cows are also expensive. Goats are cheaper and clean up trash. Basically just let them do goat things.
Also, dig a hole in the ground for composting.
*Owning property next to a legal hunting area would be ideal for meat. Pigs, squirrels, deer, birds, maybe ducks, etc
After initial pond stabilization, fish would be easy. You could have a couple of kinds in one pond for diversity.
I just like the phrase "chicken tractor", but chickens seem like a major PITA. Gotta feed and water them all of the time, they shite everywhere, and they're annoying. Chris Adam's parents had some, but his mom took care of them every day.
Cows are also expensive. Goats are cheaper and clean up trash. Basically just let them do goat things.
Also, dig a hole in the ground for composting.
*Owning property next to a legal hunting area would be ideal for meat. Pigs, squirrels, deer, birds, maybe ducks, etc
This post was edited on 4/14/15 at 1:02 pm
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:01 pm to Salmon
Yea, I think that was a piece by John Seymour. He knew his stuff. Although its geared more towards the English climate.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:02 pm to chickman1313
quote:
maybe I could just buy vegetables from local farmers and just raise my own meat
most local farmers will raise meat as well, they will make most of their money off the meat sales
quote:
I guess my biggest problem with all of this would be having a job as well...
small garden and maybe a few chickens could be easily taken care of with a little maintenance in the evenings
I have a drip system for my garden, so it takes care of itself, and my daughter loves helping me pick veggies for dinner
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:03 pm to chickman1313
quote:
you'd need probably at least 5 acres, with a house, barn, pond...
You'll need more than that to produce any decent amount of livestock, but a modest 50Ft X 50Ft garden would fill you up with all the vegetables you could handle.
If you have equipment already, then it won't cost much to get a garden going. Seeds are cheap.
quote:
I just think it would give me great piece of mind to know where all my food comes from, going to be having a little chickman here in a few months too and want him/her to have great nutrition as well, without all the preservatives, chemicals and what ever the hell else is added to food these days to make it last longer and taste better.
I'll give you something to ease your mind. The US has the safest food production in the world. Don't read food blogs from stay at home moms. They don't understand the science, and over react based on the lack of knowledge.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:03 pm to chickman1313
The reason we became such an urban country is because we were able to be more efficient in growing food. Sure you could live a self sufficient lifestyle but you aren't gonna have a 9-5, and even if you can make that work, you will have no other hobbies. Grocery stores exist for a reason 
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:04 pm to Salmon
quote:
don't judge me because I subscribe to Mother Earth News
My wife does also.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:05 pm to pointdog33
quote:
Don't read food blogs from stay at home moms.
It's usually safe to just never listen to stay at home moms. Too much time. They'll fill your head with natural births and chemtrails until you start voting for Ralph Nader and Nancy Pelosi.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:07 pm to chickman1313
I work with a guy that does this.
It seems that the key is to find energy efficient ways to gather meat. This guy does a lot of trapping to support his family with food. I think he even turns a profit on some of the trapping, getting animals removed for people then he eats it.
I know he hunts and gardens on the side as well.
It seems that the key is to find energy efficient ways to gather meat. This guy does a lot of trapping to support his family with food. I think he even turns a profit on some of the trapping, getting animals removed for people then he eats it.
I know he hunts and gardens on the side as well.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:10 pm to BoogaBear
Canning is key to being self sufficient when it comes to food.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:10 pm to pointdog33
quote:
Don't read food blogs from stay at home moms.
yeah, I've never done that
I don't think what I'm eating is killing me or anything, I just have a desire to be more natural.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:10 pm to chickman1313
I do it for the most part, and I have a nine to five job. You have to plan well to go on vacation.
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:12 pm to Churchill
quote:
You have to plan well to go on vacation.
I bet! what all do you have?
Posted on 4/14/15 at 1:18 pm to chickman1313
I was over generalizing with the mom statement, but for the most if you google anything related to food and its safety, blogs from either unqualified or people with an agenda are the first results.
Gardening is easy to do and locating meat isn't too hard. Check out Kent farms they know what their doing when it comes to beef and are offering some custom fed animals. LINK
Gardening is easy to do and locating meat isn't too hard. Check out Kent farms they know what their doing when it comes to beef and are offering some custom fed animals. LINK
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