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I was inspired by the @CrealCritter at the Crealbilly Wood Working thread and encouraged by @baymule so here goes nothing - a place to share recent experiences with our sawmill and different wood based/crafting projects. By no means am I an expert or have any skill at what I do, LOL! But thanks...

There's alot going on right now in the world - sometimes it just seems easier to slip into thinking about the negative. Let's count our blessings in the ramblings section, and turn our minds to the good things in life. If something good happened to you today, share it here! From big blessings of...

Happy Easter to you all here at SufficientSelf! Hoping you have a wonderful day and celebrate with your loved ones as best as you can. Appreciate life today, and be glad if you're able to be self sufficient in some way. If you are of faith, take to heart and reflect on how special this day is...

Hi folks, I have a few pieces of buckskin we are trying to get sold that came from this past year's deer hunt- not sure if there would be interest but can't hurt to try. I have not yet smoked them, but the hard work has already been done and they're tanned up and ready to go. $80 a piece...

Sufficient Self, thanks for all you do folks. This is a great little community I am proud to be a member of. Happy Holidays folks, and have a successful New Year!

I had to share but also sort of document for myself as I was glad to have finally learned how. I've been testing using Tulip Poplar for various projects and considered its use for cordage, but didn't really know how to go about making it as I had no experience to the point of how to make it. I...

Some time back I was given a bunch of nearly empty candles from family in order to try my hand at recycling candles. I used one of the candle wicks found unopened from a thrift store and placed it in the bottom of one of my old half-pint mason jars. I lit one of the almost empty candles until...

I used a recipe cut out from a magazine last year (as I still can't convince anyone to get the family recipe!) and tried it out for Sweet Potato Casserole. However it tasted much too bitter and I wondered if it had too much Ginger to it. I typed the recipe out in full for any input as it was...

Had the pleasure of tanning a small rattlesnake recently, though not a pleasure walking up on it laying blended in the Fall leaves (watch your step folks!) Used an alum paste tan after salting/stretching it and am extremely happy with the turnout. Even managed to keep the tail on. Has...

Just a bit peeved currently. We took our vehicle to the repair shop yesterday for a brake light switch replacement, didn't want to get in there with all that mess ourselves. Everything else except brake lights worked, only to have them call today wanting to tack on $300+ more telling us the turn...

I recently picked up something and made that I haven't in a long time. When I was younger, I always had my nose in a book, but bookmarks were somehow extremely rare to find for me. I learned to make my own by using stick glue and pasting whatever I wanted to a piece of cardboard (one or double...

I've had the marvelous privilege of tanning a rare piebald Whitetail deer hide for someone this past week and just couldn't help but share. It's so beautiful, and deserves a share. I didn't take the deer, but boy I'm proud to have tanned the back piece (front was shoulder mounted). Antlers...

Figured I would also try and give these a post as well. We've started making bone needles in the past year, which did really well for us in making a few deer hide quivers. They're shaped well for possibly using for nalbinding. The needles are made from the cleaned leg bones of deer- similarly...

We've got some handmade buckskin we tanned up ourselves- picked up from what people don't like to keep after the hunt. Stretched and lightly smoked. They aren't perfect like commercially tanned hides, but they're unique and hand worked the whole way. It's about a two week process in total. I...

Well, nice to meet you all firstly! I have a journal over at Backyard Herds but this will be a place to post information more on our self-sufficiency plans and doings. I'll answer some questions as suggested by SS to start! I know it will be long, but I would like to give as much info to be...

I was curious to see if anyone here has ever made their own homemade cover scents/attractants? We did a little experimenting with persimmons and acorns for the first time- was not too pleased with the first round of the persimmon scent, but the acorn came out really nice! If you have ever made...

Just looking to connect with any other members, whether old or new, who may be from the great state of Alabama! My husband and I are currently located in Central Alabama on a small farm with chickens, ducks, goats, and dogs!

-SOLVED- Thanks!

I have 19 pieces of dried deer sinew that measure 5" average each. If you pound gently with a rounded rock, you can separate it into small strands for many practical and craft uses. I've included in the images a bundle of already separated sinew to show you what it looks like. Asking $25 for it...

We have a journal that's been kept over on Backyard Herds, but for the most part our adventures would be better kept here. We are the Burnette family from central Alabama, and we live at Wolf Branch Homestead. We currently have 4 dogs, 4 chickens, 7 ducks, and 1 goat (who is about to get a...