IL Newb

[Land of Lincoln]

Hello from Illinois everyone.

I'm a new SS member here and a newbie to this entire self sufficiency lifestyle. I've always been interested in gardening, diy projects and what not, but just recently have really begun to embrace this entire homesteading type of living. I'm incorporating as much as I can think of into leaving as small of an imprint as I can.

Just moved into an older house on a little over 2 acres and just love it here. I have a few raised beds that I've prepped as well as I could for spring planting. Just planted a couple of dwarf peach trees that I'm very much looking forward to seeing grow and bear fruit in a few years. There are 6 mature grape vines that were here when I bought the property and I enjoyed some of those earlier this summer. I've built a compost bin that's way too small considering the acreage I have out of old pallets I got from work.

Currently in the process of building a chicken coop for some laying hens I hope to get in the spring. There's an old well on the grounds here that I haven't even looked in yet but am hopeful is useable for water. I've got so many things racing through my mind that it's hard to focus on a single thing at one time sometimes. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, intrigued and always yearning to learn something new.

Everything I've read and researched says to start slow as to not get burned out or overwhelmed if something doesn't go quite as planned. I agree with that but knowing my personality, I'll go nuts if I'm not doing SOMETHING. My wife thinks both of my oars aren't in the water sometimes, which is probably true, but this is something that really has taken hold of me and has me excited for what the future may bear.

Sorry for such a long introduction, I can be a long winded old fart sometimes I guess.

I look forward to learning from you all because I'm about as green as a newbie can be.

 

[MoonShadows]

 

[Lynn Manes]

Hello from Illinois everyone.

I'm a new SS member here and a newbie to this entire self sufficiency lifestyle. I've always been interested in gardening, diy projects and what not, but just recently have really begun to embrace this entire homesteading type of living. I'm incorporating as much as I can think of into leaving as small of an imprint as I can.

Just moved into an older house on a little over 2 acres and just love it here. I have a few raised beds that I've prepped as well as I could for spring planting. Just planted a couple of dwarf peach trees that I'm very much looking forward to seeing grow and bear fruit in a few years. There are 6 mature grape vines that were here when I bought the property and I enjoyed some of those earlier this summer. I've built a compost bin that's way too small considering the acreage I have out of old pallets I got from work.

Currently in the process of building a chicken coop for some laying hens I hope to get in the spring. There's an old well on the grounds here that I haven't even looked in yet but am hopeful is useable for water. I've got so many things racing through my mind that it's hard to focus on a single thing at one time sometimes. I'm excited, nervous, anxious, intrigued and always yearning to learn something new.

Everything I've read and researched says to start slow as to not get burned out or overwhelmed if something doesn't go quite as planned. I agree with that but knowing my personality, I'll go nuts if I'm not doing SOMETHING. My wife thinks both of my oars aren't in the water sometimes, which is probably true, but this is something that really has taken hold of me and has me excited for what the future may bear.

Sorry for such a long introduction, I can be a long winded old fart sometimes I guess.

I look forward to learning from you all because I'm about as green as a newbie can be.

Welcome. I'm new here too, and like you, just doing a small part to have a bit of sustainable living here also. I was born in Sterling, IL, but never really looked it up to see wherre it lies in the State. I lived in a very tiny farming community until I was 12, when the family moved to RI where I grew up. We still have family and friends back in IL, though. Good luck with your endeavours.

 

[Land of Lincoln]

Found this lil' fella hanging out in the raised beds a couple weekends ago. Don't know if that's a good sign or not but it was kinda neat watching him hop around. Maybe he was helping me by eating some bugs?

 

[lcertuche]

So lovely to meet you. It sounds like you have a great place to begin. Do you plan on keeping any critters. I have chickens and hope to get some rabbits, and maybe pigs soon. I would love some goats but I don't think it is possible here. Anyway time will tell. Raised garden beds are great and the fruit trees are a great jump into self sufficiency. This is my favorite web site now. Everyone is friendly and helpful. Welcome!

 

[Land of Lincoln]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.


My little stick fetcher helper decided he just wanted to carry his tire around today so I had to fire him.

 

[NH Homesteader]

I need to do some serious gardening thinking over the winter to get prepared for spring. But I can't handle having another forum to keep up with so happy to have people here to bug with all my questions!

 

[Land of Lincoln]

Good morning.

@baymule - I saw the link to the easy garden site and of course had to join. That looks like a place I will visit often as well as here. Thank you for posting.

@sumi - right now the only critters I have plans for are chickens. I live on the outskirts of the city so I have to follow city ordinances so my chickens will have to be contained, I can't allow them to free range. My solution to that might be one of those moveable runs, I believe they're called tractors or something of that nature.

I'm also interested in raising worms for the vermicompost and also interested in some honey bees but those two areas of interest will have to take a back seat for a while. The land that I have is pretty much a blank pallet at the moment with exception to the few raised beds, the grape vines and some mature trees so I've got a lot of options.

I'd also like to start an herb garden, something I've always wanted to do but just never have done it. There's just so much I'm wanting to do that it seems overwhelming at times. As stated, I'm really just starting out and finding this site should be an invaluable resource for me.

 

[Mini Horses]

Welcome from VA.

You might want to make a list of the things you "think" you want & why. Then refine your thoughts into a reality check & timeline. You have the winter to work on these things and thoughts.

Of course you are considering raising your own food -- list what you hope to accomplish, such as veggies, fruit, eggs, meats -- then refine that into WHAT it will take to do that. Often these things help us to "control" our initial overdo work. Then seriously consider how, where, when these things can happen -- your land layout, neighbors, size of gardens/beds, how you will work/maintain them, what you will be able to grow seasonally, etc. Once you have written down what you think you want and what it takes to get there, you can settle into action.

Yep, chickens will be a fantastic start -- eggs, meat, amusement, easy containment. With 2 Acres, you can easily place the coop where they can free range within a fenced perimeter.

Good luck on your journey and keep up the good thoughts.

OH -- your helper doesn't need to be fired -- he only wanted a play day!!

 

[NH Homesteader]

Welcome, it's great to have you here. I've done both, jumped in head first and taken longer to think about things. Chickens are a relatively easy way to start with livestock.

Sounds like you've got a lot of great, positive energy. It's a great journey to be on! Looking forward to hearing how it all goes for you!