Need ideas

**DonnainME** · 07-31-2008, 02:35 PM

I want to become more self-sufficient BUT we have very little property and there are a few things I don't think we can do

We have a garden - it will be bigger next year.
We live in Maine and things freeze during the winter.
We don't have much money coming in (only from my biz) so anything we need has to be really cheap or FREE.

What could we do here to make ourselves more self-sufficient?

If we can insulate the chicken house - dh's parents left it - maybe we can get chickens next year. I don't think I could kill them and gut them - so I would have to hire them out if we wanted to do anything but get eggs from them.

We only have 1 1/4 acre of land and some of it isnt usable because it drops off like a cliff.

Also, we are going to cut down some of the trees to help with wood - we only have a wood stove for heating.

I'm getting really nervous about future and things like that - winter and even future years.

all advice appreciated.

**Momof3girls** · 07-31-2008, 02:39 PM

MotherEarth News had a bit about growing apricot and peach trees from seed ( using the pits) I think it was last month's issue. I would start a green house, even if you have to do it in a part of your home. The more fruit trees you get the more self sufficient you are.
Advertise on freecycle that you want cuttings/seeds/plants of any type of fruit/veg and see if you can get some more for your garden. Mulching the area for your garden now will pay off.
I think in your area, you can do some cold raised garden beds?
I think growing ground crops, like onions, garlic and potatoes will also help.

**freebs** · 07-31-2008, 02:59 PM

I would make some rain barrels for water for plants things like that, you can also do a grey water system for watering. maybe look in to a solar hot water heater, it is pvc pipe in a very sunny place, What about some solar cooking? wood heat is great! advertise on freecycle looking for scrap wood that you could burn.

**champagnium** · 07-31-2008, 03:08 PM

I saw your grocery budget is $350 for the month, how many people do you have to feed? We' do about $200-$270 for 2 and a dog, and we eat quite well.

I'm close by in Nova Scotia so I know the whole not being able to grow anything problem.

Does your husband hunt? You can get lots of free meat that way. Also, I know my Dh's friends usually give their extra meat to other people cause they've got too much.

I would advertise on freecycle, and let anyone you know that if they have extra from the garden you could sure use it.

**Buckeye5** · 07-31-2008, 04:25 PM

Just wanted to add that maybe your county that you live in has an Extension Office. They would have info on gardening, canning, and also, you can purchase seedlings and other items pretty cheap thru them. I also, buy the ultra concentrated laundry detergents and Downy softner, and really dilute it in other containers, this keeps the nice smells, and last a lot longer. Also, you can grow chives, etc. in containers inside your house, say like the kitchen window, and snip off the herbs as needed.

**DonnainME** · 07-31-2008, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by champagnium

I saw your grocery budget is $350 for the month, how many people do you have to feed? We' do about $200-$270 for 2 and a dog, and we eat quite well.

Does your husband hunt? You can get lots of free meat that way. Also, I know my Dh's friends usually give their extra meat to other people cause they've got too much.

We feed DH, myself, and a growing 12 yo plus 2 dogs, a cat, and a tank full of fish.

As far as DH hunting - I don't like deer meat so I won't use it. We are planning on getting chickens and 2 pigs next year in addition to expanding our garden. I had not wanted to get fruit trees, but I think I might change my mind on that one.

Reply to other posters - We do have a rain barrel but it doesn't have a lid - we need to get a lid/screen for it. We do have a compost bin also.

This next year we will start seeds inside. We have already started saving egg cartons so in each one, we will be able to have 12 in each carton. We have a table that we are going to use - put it in the kitchen or in our extra bedroom. We have a friend that brought us a TON of seeds for FREE this year - we used some but are saving the rest for this next year.

Thanks for all of your advice - more is appreciated.

**allenwrench** · 08-14-2008, 09:15 PM

Some old classics

Living the Good Life (1954), by Helen and Scott Nearing ISBN 0883652366
Continuing the Good Life (1979), by Helen and Scott Nearing

Also like his greenhouse book.

Get them from your library.

**madhen** · 08-22-2008, 06:12 PM

Be careful growing fruit trees from seed. Most fruit trees are grafted, which means you'll get the parent tree, not the grafted part (that produced the fruit you liked so much). Most citrus trees are okay to grow from seed, if you keep in mind that it can be 10-15 years before the tree is old enough to produce fruit.

Softwood cuttings are faster, and you can successfully grow figs and blackberries that way. If you know of anyone who has a fig tree or blackberry bush, I'm sure they'd let you take a cutting for free, and then you'll have fruit (for the blackberries) in about a year. (Figs take a while longer - most trees grown from cuttings or seed are a long term project.)

Chickens are wonderful. I have a small flock and I collect their eggs. Like you, I'm on rocky, sloping land, so I also have goats. I raise cashmere goats, which are nice because you don't have to kill them for their product (fiber) and they shed it naturally, so you don't have to shear them. Also, nannies produce twins typically, so one goat turns into three, then nine, etc quickly if you either get a billy or can borrow one. Again, my goats are pets and I don't believe in killing my pets, so I don't butcher mine, but goat meat IS becoming more and more popular, so it is an option. Also, because goats do very well on nutrient-poor feed, you can (and should) give them grass hay (as opposed to more expensive alfalfa) and let them browse on whatever you don't want growing on your property. If you shell out about $30 for a business license, you can deduct all costs of feed, meds, etc for your goats/chickens from your income, even if your income is from another source. You should have a business plan set up, however, which includes how you intend to make money from your livestock (or whatever you claim). You don't have to actually MAKE money from them, just intend to.

I have made money on eBay selling the goofiest things. One year, I went around collecting the moulted feathers from the wild turkeys that hang out on my road. (They come in to steal chicken feed.) Mostly they were tail feathers, some wing. People BOUGHT them. They actually out-bid each other for them! I have tried pine cones, acorns, shed feathers from my birds - all acquired free of charge - and they all SOLD. It is downright spooky what people will buy.

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 08-22-2008, 07:31 PM

See if anyone in your area has back issues of Mother Earth News you can borrow. There are tons of ideas and suggestions in them. I'm a life time subcriber and have learned hundreds of things from them. Chickens are wonderful the eggs alon are whole it. Sell what you can use. Or make items like noodles, and baked goods and sell them. If your flock gets too big trade off with someone who will butcher and dress your chickens maybe one for one. You might find somene who can't raise them but can do the deed.
Goats is another great idea as are pigs.

Laurie in Bradenton

**sunshine** · 08-22-2008, 07:46 PM

Many of the Mother Earth News articles are online for free. . . and check out Back Woods Home site too. . . tons of self sufficiency articles in both.

**janis362529** · 08-31-2008, 12:40 AM

Sounds like ou have a lot of stuff going for you with becoming more self suficent( sorry about spelling)I'm in Lincoln county and just starting. Everything we do needs to be landlord approced but so far I have total control over landscapeing and plan on using as many edible plants and have tenative approval on chicks.
Not sure how close you are but I have a few blackberry bushes and I can spare you one if you like. Only problem is the brambles, thorns and major overgrowth so it may take a while to find the base to dig it out.

**madhen** · 08-31-2008, 01:29 AM

You can air-layer a bramble branch. Just wrap some moistened peat moss around the stem, wrap it in burlap and then plastic wrap, and it will eventually root there. Or, if you prefer, you can semi-bury a stem in a pot and weigh it down with a little rock. It will send out roots, and then you can cut it from the main plant.