30 Day Homesteading Challenge - October 2021

[Trying2keepitReal]

I prefer Dukes mayo (no sugar added), although I wish they used a different oil.

Never heard of it, but the no sugar is awesome!

 

[Britesea]

They're out of NY. For a while, I was able to buy it at Walmart, but they don't seem to carry it anymore. I'll probably have to order it online now. I don't understand why everyone thinks sugar is indispensable in mayonnaise. The original recipe never had a speck of it.

 

[tortoise]

Calling "uncle" today. I found the top of my dining table today! Kitchen counters are still piled with dishes, as DS14 still is mysteriously unable to get them clean. I have a meeting to prep for tomorrow and I'm way behind on my writing deadline at the end of the month. This challenge is taking a back seat today. Maybe for a few days.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Sometimes life gets in the way.

 

[tortoise]

Sometimes life gets in the way.

I think you meant to type "always"?

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I think you meant to type "always"?
You are 100% correct!

 

[tortoise]

This challenge has been more challenging than I expected because of its design/order/pace. I have objections. Can I play it like bingo please?

Here's my update. I'm going to call this challenge completed. A similar challenge is worth repeating. It feels good to try something new and make some new goals.

1. Replace one meal - IDK which one, my goal in SS living is not depending on grocery stores, so this is a constant
2. Repair a hole - I found holes and I know how to darn them, but it hasn't bee a priority lately.
3. Plant [another] edible - 2 trays microgreens, 6 1020 flats of greens started in winter greenhouse
4. Identify [another] edible - I bought two books on foraging in my region and shelved the topic until spring.
5. Replace one pantry item - flour, vanilla extract, almond extract, granulated sugar
6. Begin a ferment - sourdough starter, kefir
7. Bake bread - check, check, check, check, check
8. Research animals - have sheep, still researching better ways to move and manage them. I want to DH to build a chute, I have ideas and picked up Temple Grandin's book on moving small herds/flocks. Also did some prelim research on AGH and decided that's still distant future.
9. Kitchen practice - sprouted whole wheat bread, blanch almonds, grain mill/make flour
10. Save kitchen scraps - made bone broths and kept the batch going 18 days until the first bone disintegrated, saved the good bone for future batch, otherwise I was lazy and gave kitchen scraps to chickens/goats.
11. Start compost - n/a? only thing I could think of was building a hot box for my greenhouse, but that's low priority / not happening this year.
12. Build one thing.
13. Sew something - I have the tools, supplies, knowledge and no time for it.
14. DIY cleaner - I don't need cleaner now. I make a vodka/vinegar/water unscented cleaner. DH hates it.
15. Reuse waste - I used a box to make a thing for DS6's violin lesson? does that count?
16. Relax
17. Dehydrate - sprouted wheat berries, spinach, bread cubes and bread crumbs
18. Line dry - I got my drying rack out of the basement. Is that good enough?
19. Shop local - I switched to getting cream line milk in glass jugs. It's not terribly local - 100 miles away. I buy it from a local bulk food store. I am switching from granulated sugar to local maple syrup and local honey.
20. Find a class - I read books.
21. Write a goal - growing grains
22. Library card - n/a. check?
23. Get a fruit tree - not the season for it. Some young apple trees were girdled and didn't survive 2020. I picked a local nursery to buy fruit trees from in spring.
24. Buy in bulk - 25# wheat berries.
25. Meal plan - meal planning is the most anti-SS activity IMO. I plan by opening the fridge and picking out the things that will spoil first and then figure out a way to convince my family to eat them.
26. Connect with others - I'm going to have to count a private message to a forum member who lives in my area, even though we haven't met in person. Between 4-H and living in a rural agriculture area, I feel connected enough even though I'm not really. if that makes sense?
27. Plan garden - check!
28. Budget for garden - purchased seed
29. Watch documentary - who has time for that? I read books?
30. Reflect - every day.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Yay! You did good!

 

[flowerbug]

Yay! You did good!

agreed.

 

[Hinotori]

For documentary, try Alone in the Wilderness.


Well it's not really one, but, it's soothing to watch and shows a guy living mostly self sufficient.