My screen name is Sillychicken at BYC, but I'm using my farm name here and on BYH. It means "Watch Your Step Ranch"! Mostly stems from having pooh around, but it can be taken other ways too. 
MY DH and I have been slowly trying to remove ourselves from relying on stores for our food. Partly cause we don't like whats in it, and because it costs so much! And we like to be .... prepared. If one of us losts our jobs, it would be one less thing to worry about.
Currently we can all our veggies from the garden, and we can venison (I do all the hunting, DH isn't as dedicated to it as I am) We started this spring with chickens that are dual purpose. The eggs are great and the 8 hens (2 roos), already produced about 30 chicks for me this summer. The roos and undesired hens will go to canning camp! Canning doesn't require ele to store so we're moving away from the freezer as much as we can. (Did I mention that my DH does all the canning!) This weekend we're going to get enough rabbits/supplies for a small rabbitry. The rabbits will be in the chicken runs. There are some good posts in the rabbit section on here which have been helpful!
We've got meat and veggies covered..... now on to dairy!
I originally wanted Yaks, but they may be cost prohibitive at this time. So I'm looking for options of either goats or maybe a jersey cow or mini (again cost prohibitive) for milk, butter and cheese making.
I am also looking into a living fence to put up around my 10 acres. I am going to use Osage Orange since it's abundant in my area. Not only is it well suited for fencing, but the wood is great for making posts, and other projects, like handles etc. Not sure about burning qualities. I'm not as concerned to use it for keeping my livestock in as undesireables out (will be a few years before it would be "secure" anyway).
The only other things I can think of we need is natural remedies and power/heating needs.. we're still on the grid for this one! oh and a barn! LOL!
I'd like to also grow crops, but not sure how to go about that yet.
I'd love to put up a windmill. Our land layout seems to channel the wind blowing in from the open fields. We've been talking about putting in a solar panel to at least run our well. But I'd love to be making money off the power co for once!!
We also have a 2 acre pond that we're considering putting some bluegill in to try to establish a small population of fish.
Other than owning 4 Cane Corso mastiffs, and being an artist, thats me in a nut shell.
MY DH and I have been slowly trying to remove ourselves from relying on stores for our food. Partly cause we don't like whats in it, and because it costs so much! And we like to be .... prepared. If one of us losts our jobs, it would be one less thing to worry about.
Currently we can all our veggies from the garden, and we can venison (I do all the hunting, DH isn't as dedicated to it as I am) We started this spring with chickens that are dual purpose. The eggs are great and the 8 hens (2 roos), already produced about 30 chicks for me this summer. The roos and undesired hens will go to canning camp! Canning doesn't require ele to store so we're moving away from the freezer as much as we can. (Did I mention that my DH does all the canning!) This weekend we're going to get enough rabbits/supplies for a small rabbitry. The rabbits will be in the chicken runs. There are some good posts in the rabbit section on here which have been helpful!
We've got meat and veggies covered..... now on to dairy!
I originally wanted Yaks, but they may be cost prohibitive at this time. So I'm looking for options of either goats or maybe a jersey cow or mini (again cost prohibitive) for milk, butter and cheese making.
I am also looking into a living fence to put up around my 10 acres. I am going to use Osage Orange since it's abundant in my area. Not only is it well suited for fencing, but the wood is great for making posts, and other projects, like handles etc. Not sure about burning qualities. I'm not as concerned to use it for keeping my livestock in as undesireables out (will be a few years before it would be "secure" anyway).
The only other things I can think of we need is natural remedies and power/heating needs.. we're still on the grid for this one! oh and a barn! LOL!
I'd like to also grow crops, but not sure how to go about that yet.
I'd love to put up a windmill. Our land layout seems to channel the wind blowing in from the open fields. We've been talking about putting in a solar panel to at least run our well. But I'd love to be making money off the power co for once!!
We also have a 2 acre pond that we're considering putting some bluegill in to try to establish a small population of fish.
Other than owning 4 Cane Corso mastiffs, and being an artist, thats me in a nut shell.
