miss_thenorth
Frugal Homesteader
As you may or may not have noticed--I have not been on here much in the past few weeks.
With the kids home for winter holidays, I can't spend alot of time on the computer, and still give them the attention they deserve. That being said, I have also found it liberating to not be on the computer so much--there are many other things that I have found to do that would not have otherwise got done.
Also, I got myself a full time job and I start on Monday Jan 12. This is all in part of becoming more SS, as it will help us pay down debt--or at least not get into any more debt, as our basement needs fixing among other things.
Hubby and I have had serious talks about our future,and we have decided that as soon as he retires we will be moving back up north. Our plans are to buy some land now (or soon)and use it as a hunting/vacation spot until we retire, then build an off grid home, and live off the land --so to speak.
So we have devised 15 year plan.--fix basement, pay off mortgage (our only real debt), buy land up north for reasonable amount of money (cash)
He has decided to hold off on the plane until we retire (which is a good thing b/c I am not working to buy him a plane.)
Within the next 15 years, we will obviously have other large expenses, like new vehicles,etc., but we buy used and buy cash. Without any unforeseen major expenses, we will be debt free in 10 years. and that is with me only working three of them. The other five will be for saving money to build our off grid home.
I am sorta looking forward to working. It will help us achieve our goals quicker, although I will miss being home with my animals, but what are ya gonna do. Two of my rabbits are now pregnant, and they should kindle the last week in January. Of my 9 laying hens, I am getting consistently now-8 eggs a day. I have customers for my extra meat rabbits, and customers lined up for meat birds, and sell extra eggs to guys at hubby's work,so essentially we can eat rabbits, eggs, and chicken for free ( the profit I make from them offset the cost of raising them enough so that we eat for free.)
With my garden being a bust last year b/c of unseasonable amounts of rain, we are in the process of building up the garden area (we would move it, but three acres don't stretch very far-hence the garden has to stay where it is, so we are dealing with the possibility of it flooding again, and building it up). Hopefully even with work, I will still have time to maintain the garden.
I have found a bred dexter cow for a really good price, but will have to hold off on her until we see how my work schedule goes--although she won't be ready to milk till summer--I have to see whether i will have the time to dedicate to her and the calf with working. If all goes well, then a lean-to shed will need to be built in one of our paddocks for her.
Plans for this spring include building a "pigpen"--as soon as the ground thaws, as the weiner is coming this spring. Also, we are building a set-up so we can process our own meat birds. It has to be efficient b/c we will doing 25-50 at a time.
Although we process our rabbits in our workshop, we could benefit from doing them in the chicken shack --we'll see. I have toyed around with the idea of tanning the hides from the rabbits, but I can't seem to get the hides off in one piece--they just rip on me.
My project for this weekend is a solar heater
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-produce-easy-free-home-heat.
My dining room is the coldest room in my house, and ironically gets the most sunlight.--french doors facing south, and large picture window facing west. the kids and I will build this on the weekend. I have all the materials except plexiglass, and I am trying to think of a way around it-(it;s expensive) I think I will use thick plastic--the kind you wrap insulation in walls with and reinforce it with welding rods or something that we have lying around)
Well, right now, I am off to make some "make ahead meals" for the freezer so my family doesn't go into shock from having to make their own meals. On the list today are lasagna and shepherd's pie--two of each. also, I am making pita bread, normal bread, cookies and muffins. Better get going...
With the kids home for winter holidays, I can't spend alot of time on the computer, and still give them the attention they deserve. That being said, I have also found it liberating to not be on the computer so much--there are many other things that I have found to do that would not have otherwise got done.
Also, I got myself a full time job and I start on Monday Jan 12. This is all in part of becoming more SS, as it will help us pay down debt--or at least not get into any more debt, as our basement needs fixing among other things.
Hubby and I have had serious talks about our future,and we have decided that as soon as he retires we will be moving back up north. Our plans are to buy some land now (or soon)and use it as a hunting/vacation spot until we retire, then build an off grid home, and live off the land --so to speak.
So we have devised 15 year plan.--fix basement, pay off mortgage (our only real debt), buy land up north for reasonable amount of money (cash)
He has decided to hold off on the plane until we retire (which is a good thing b/c I am not working to buy him a plane.)
Within the next 15 years, we will obviously have other large expenses, like new vehicles,etc., but we buy used and buy cash. Without any unforeseen major expenses, we will be debt free in 10 years. and that is with me only working three of them. The other five will be for saving money to build our off grid home.
I am sorta looking forward to working. It will help us achieve our goals quicker, although I will miss being home with my animals, but what are ya gonna do. Two of my rabbits are now pregnant, and they should kindle the last week in January. Of my 9 laying hens, I am getting consistently now-8 eggs a day. I have customers for my extra meat rabbits, and customers lined up for meat birds, and sell extra eggs to guys at hubby's work,so essentially we can eat rabbits, eggs, and chicken for free ( the profit I make from them offset the cost of raising them enough so that we eat for free.)
With my garden being a bust last year b/c of unseasonable amounts of rain, we are in the process of building up the garden area (we would move it, but three acres don't stretch very far-hence the garden has to stay where it is, so we are dealing with the possibility of it flooding again, and building it up). Hopefully even with work, I will still have time to maintain the garden.
I have found a bred dexter cow for a really good price, but will have to hold off on her until we see how my work schedule goes--although she won't be ready to milk till summer--I have to see whether i will have the time to dedicate to her and the calf with working. If all goes well, then a lean-to shed will need to be built in one of our paddocks for her.
Plans for this spring include building a "pigpen"--as soon as the ground thaws, as the weiner is coming this spring. Also, we are building a set-up so we can process our own meat birds. It has to be efficient b/c we will doing 25-50 at a time.
Although we process our rabbits in our workshop, we could benefit from doing them in the chicken shack --we'll see. I have toyed around with the idea of tanning the hides from the rabbits, but I can't seem to get the hides off in one piece--they just rip on me.
My project for this weekend is a solar heater
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-produce-easy-free-home-heat.
My dining room is the coldest room in my house, and ironically gets the most sunlight.--french doors facing south, and large picture window facing west. the kids and I will build this on the weekend. I have all the materials except plexiglass, and I am trying to think of a way around it-(it;s expensive) I think I will use thick plastic--the kind you wrap insulation in walls with and reinforce it with welding rods or something that we have lying around)
Well, right now, I am off to make some "make ahead meals" for the freezer so my family doesn't go into shock from having to make their own meals. On the list today are lasagna and shepherd's pie--two of each. also, I am making pita bread, normal bread, cookies and muffins. Better get going...
(I mean that in a good way 
