Hinotori
Sustainability Master
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2011
- Messages
- 6,252
- Reaction score
- 14,695
- Points
- 373
- Location
- On the foot of Mt Rainier zone 8b
Welcome to the group! Just jump right in
New Member Introductions - Questions
- Thread starter sumi
- Start date
Welcome to the group! Just jump right in
milkmansdaughter
Super Self-Sufficient
@Emmanuelle Soumeilhan, welcome to the group! It sounds like you'll fit right in here, and your input on gardening in small spaces will be welcomed. It was just recently a topic here with everyone discussing their plans for this year's gardens. I'll be looking forward to hearing more from you. 
Columella
Enjoys Recycling
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2020
- Messages
- 5
- Reaction score
- 6
- Points
- 13
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
Bihar, North India near Nepal border. Subtropical monsoon, cool and relatively dry winters, hot and dry summers and hot and wet rainy season also known as monsoon season.
2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient?
No one, it's just our traditional way of life.
3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more?
We produce and often sell milk, egg, meat, rice, wheat, corn, oat, millet oilseeds, some spices and fodder for livestock. We also produce some fruits like mangoes, guavas, jackfruit, litchi and strangler fig.
4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs?
We stock rice, wheat and coarse grains for our livestock. We also pickle some fruits and vegetables.
5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
No, but I would love to learn some.
6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yes, we can and we do. I have all kinds of poultry and buffaloes.
7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
Never got around gardening, but I do grow some vegetables like ocra and French beans etc.
8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
We do fish, we are collecting fish now too. We bait and also fish with nets.
9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country?
We have ten hectares of farmland of our own, we also have a big pond in which our share is on 1 hectare we share it with our extended family on my father's side. Country!!!
10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
We don't do anything out of ordinary or 'special', we do what most other people do. We grow our own rice, wheat, pulses, eggs, meat, milk, fish. We are not completely self sufficient in fruits and vegetables and spices though.
11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet?
No, we have a caste that works with wood. They have a virtual monopoly on wood work.
12. Are you interested in herbal medicine?
Yes, very much. But we have to learn a lot.
13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
We live in a very fine place. It's close to a natural forest which is a wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve so there's a lot of land for grazing livestock. Himalayas are also not very far. Some times I wish we had snow, if I had to choose where I could live, I would have chosen Amish County, Ohio.
14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
For cooking, we also use dung cakes as fuel. I know it sounds strange.
15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs?
No, I only like to eat. I am not interested in whole foods, but I do like natural food. Drinking raw milk is a taboo unless you drink it very fresh, within 10-15 minutes after milking. Farm fresh eggs always.
16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Yes, when we take our buffaloes to the forest we often gather herbs, berries, fruits, roots, mushrooms and also hare, crabs, prawn and fish.
17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient?
Well I can caponize cockerels, castrate goats, butcher small animals and birds and fish if that makes a difference.
18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy?
No and no. I like keep stuff less complicated. When there's no electricity, I use oil lamps.
19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
No, we can't afford to turn into complete hermits.
20. Do you make things yourself to save money?
Moonshine counts?
21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending?
We are frugal, but no penny pinchers.
Bihar, North India near Nepal border. Subtropical monsoon, cool and relatively dry winters, hot and dry summers and hot and wet rainy season also known as monsoon season.
2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient?
No one, it's just our traditional way of life.
3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more?
We produce and often sell milk, egg, meat, rice, wheat, corn, oat, millet oilseeds, some spices and fodder for livestock. We also produce some fruits like mangoes, guavas, jackfruit, litchi and strangler fig.
4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs?
We stock rice, wheat and coarse grains for our livestock. We also pickle some fruits and vegetables.
5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
No, but I would love to learn some.
6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
Yes, we can and we do. I have all kinds of poultry and buffaloes.
7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
Never got around gardening, but I do grow some vegetables like ocra and French beans etc.
8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
We do fish, we are collecting fish now too. We bait and also fish with nets.
9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country?
We have ten hectares of farmland of our own, we also have a big pond in which our share is on 1 hectare we share it with our extended family on my father's side. Country!!!
10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
We don't do anything out of ordinary or 'special', we do what most other people do. We grow our own rice, wheat, pulses, eggs, meat, milk, fish. We are not completely self sufficient in fruits and vegetables and spices though.
11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet?
No, we have a caste that works with wood. They have a virtual monopoly on wood work.
12. Are you interested in herbal medicine?
Yes, very much. But we have to learn a lot.
13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
We live in a very fine place. It's close to a natural forest which is a wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve so there's a lot of land for grazing livestock. Himalayas are also not very far. Some times I wish we had snow, if I had to choose where I could live, I would have chosen Amish County, Ohio.
14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
For cooking, we also use dung cakes as fuel. I know it sounds strange.
15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs?
No, I only like to eat. I am not interested in whole foods, but I do like natural food. Drinking raw milk is a taboo unless you drink it very fresh, within 10-15 minutes after milking. Farm fresh eggs always.
16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
Yes, when we take our buffaloes to the forest we often gather herbs, berries, fruits, roots, mushrooms and also hare, crabs, prawn and fish.
17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient?
Well I can caponize cockerels, castrate goats, butcher small animals and birds and fish if that makes a difference.
18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy?
No and no. I like keep stuff less complicated. When there's no electricity, I use oil lamps.
19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
No, we can't afford to turn into complete hermits.
20. Do you make things yourself to save money?
Moonshine counts?
21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending?
We are frugal, but no penny pinchers.
Last edited:
Dreamz
Almost Self-Reliant
Good day again! I am from Puerto Rico. Joined the Army and relocated to the US. Lived in many states from the East coast to Central US. Visited a few times the West coast bit did not like it. Now living in Southwest Michigan. I am a complete city woman but got tired and once became disable, I moved to the country. Have a 1.5 acre. There is a water well but do not use it because it smells bad,tastes aweful and it stains everything, like the shwer,tub and toilets. Even my hair turned orangy. I live on disability and would like to learn how to have a sustainable life with more peace and quiteness. The only down part is that everything is from 30 to 60 minutes away. Proerty has also a propane tank. I do have neighbors but they are not too friendly s I stay to myself. Some neighbors from a street over are more friendly. Maybe is the hispanic that they do not like,but I served my coutry and pay my taxes,so I do whatever I please inside my borders. I broke an ankle 3 years ago and out of boredness, I learned crochet. It is part of my peace. My quietness got interrupted when I acquired chickens. Lesson learned. My dirty dozen are my children and I love them more than I love myself. I also have another child who is my bestie and support. Her name is Pixie and she is scared of the chickens. She also weighs about 9lbs. She is a maltesse mixed with something because she has an underbite,lol
I do not eat vegetables bit enjoy gardening and want to learn to do all that I can. I can always donate the veggies. I cannot sell because there is no traffic on my street. Thank God because it is a dirt road and that alone will keep me busy just cleaning and dusting off. I guess I will add more as it needs or are asked. Thank you all.
I do not eat vegetables bit enjoy gardening and want to learn to do all that I can. I can always donate the veggies. I cannot sell because there is no traffic on my street. Thank God because it is a dirt road and that alone will keep me busy just cleaning and dusting off. I guess I will add more as it needs or are asked. Thank you all.
tortoise
Wild Hare
There are a couple active members in WI with similar climate. Are you near the lake? My family vacationed along the lake in SW michigan. We drove around the lake. SW Michigan was fantastic. I want to go back! The fresh peaches were amazing!
Greetings, I am new, faithful. I rent but as i have a deck and my health has plummeted recently I am very interested in movable container gardening that has bird and rodent deterrents. Herbal medicine is where I am headed to know. I do not have solar tea however, there are a few u could really have fun with. One you walk and charge your phone at the same time. I do have some small solar lights on deck for safety as I have had unannounced nor invited visitors. I have never lived off grid. I really need help with my eyes. Bird mites or rodent mites came down from bathroom vent and there is a mite in my eye. You would be surprised how much this affects your life. I have been to two opticians and an opthomologist. I think the steroids with a small antibiotic included may have not been the best prescription. So, I thought herbal. Get it done. Learn from bounty of nature and here I am, ever sincerely faithful. Thank you. I am a little scared.Please note: answering these questions are optional. These are just some things we'd like to know about you, your interests/hobbies/ skills, etc. Feel free to add or dismiss anything
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like?
2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient?
3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more?
4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs?
5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country?
10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet?
12. Are you interested in herbal medicine?
13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs?
16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient?
18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy?
19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
20. Do you make things yourself to save money?
21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending?
tortoise
Wild Hare
Welcome!Hi...I'm Valerie. Found this site when Backyard Chickens was down for maintenance and they suggested visiting here. I'm looking forward to reading all your great articles and suggestions. I'm just beginning my journey to preparedness; have chickens, a small garden, and I can at least tomatoes in the summer. I have bought a lot of freeze dried food, maybe 6 mos worth, but I'm looking into a freeze dryer now so I can have the wonderful food I cook made into long term storage foods. Not exactly a prepper, but I do have an off the grid room off the garage that I call the Rabbit Hole. If we had to, we could survive there for a while without electricity or modern conveniences.
We live in Washington state, my husband and I, and our family lives in other states entirely, so we entertain ourselves with our small 5 acre piece of heaven, in the forest on the river, and try to actually grow veggies here. That's one grand experiment that generally ends up in hilarious results. Cannot stop growing potatoes!!! Have a lovely crop of strawberries. But can I grow a tomato??? Well, I have, but the weather is fickle. Luckily, I have good sources here for tomatoes to can in August.
We have 15 chickens, 3 are only 3 mos old, and 3 are nearly 8 yrs old, and everything in between. One of our young ones is a cockerel, whom we hope will be able to get along with our rooster.
My husband can build nearly anything we need or want, but we hire the stuff that needs inspections, etc. I can cook with whatever is in the cupboard, as can most people in my generation, but I love trying new recipes and I hate using packaged or canned goods for that. So, in some ways we are just self sufficient in an old fashioned way, and happy that retirement affords us the time to do that.
I guess it is one of our hobbies to become self sufficient at this point. It's not that we need to, it's that we find it fun and fascinating, and who knows? We may need it one day.
mythreesons290322
Lovin' The Homestead
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2014
- Messages
- 33
- Reaction score
- 44
- Points
- 61
1. What state/province/country are you in and what is your climate like? NYS COLD.
2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient? Myself..I love learning anything to help save money.
3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more? I grow perennial’s because you buy it once and have food/medicinal plants for many years ..I grow a fruit orchard of 24 trees, lots of raspberry,blackberry,blueberry, gooseberry,currants,choke cherry, elderberry, juneberry bushes, rhubarb, walking onions, sunchokes, asparagus patch, herb gardens, mint gardens.
4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs? Always..it’s the way I am.
5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these? Yes, I crochet my dish clothes, blankets, make my own tinctures, make my laundry detergent, fabric softener, cleaners, newest is my all natural face cream which is used for my eye makeup remover and dry skin, I plan on going into making all of my own shampoo, deorderant, soaps ect...I’m a visual learner mostly so no I wouldn’t be able to teach I don’t think anyway.
6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds? Yes, I have had chickens for 9yrs, when my boys were younger I was thinking of getting a miniature jersey cow for milk but didn’t.
7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing? Yes,it’s my heart, my passion and I live and breathe it to be honest.. I enjoy anything I can grow as I grow from seed which makes me feel so good to see something I grew yourself..
8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives? I love to fish but don’t touch it or eat it..I’m Weird I know.
9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country? 3-acres we own well, the bank owns lol..Country, no offense to people that live in the city I just couldn’t do it..I like my privacy.
10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn? I don’t have one specialty I do many things to be self sufficient to save money. I think my sons and dh would say my homegrown homemade hot sauce and dandelion wine. I want to learn more about growing and using medicinal medicine.I make my own dandelion salve, comfrey salve and elderberry tinctures but want grow my own medicine.
11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet? Nope..wish I did cause I want a huge functioning chicken coop..I love my chickens!
12. Are you interested in herbal medicine? Answered this but this is very important to me.
13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be? The south where I could grow almost year round.
14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking? Yes, for our heat. Have used fir cooking when we lost power.
15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs? I love to cook, make many of my foods from scratch, grow herbs to dehydrate to make my own seasoning blends. Natural foods, raw milk..my family owned farms and I grew up on raw milk until they sold our cows, yes, homestead fresh eggs from my chickens.
16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs? Yes,since my apple trees haven’t given me squat I forage wild apple trees for all my apple pie filling, applesauce, apple butter, apple juice, dehydrated apple slices (I vacuum seal in quart jars)and apple juice that I can to last until the next growing season..blackcap’s are also foraged to make my jam for the year.
17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient? To many to list.
18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy? No..but, I would love to have solar someday.
19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to? Nope,nada,never.. I don’t think so I love my modern technology.
20. Do you make things yourself to save money? Yes, to many to list.
21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending? I started this lifestyle to save money now it’s just part of who I am.
2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient? Myself..I love learning anything to help save money.
3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more? I grow perennial’s because you buy it once and have food/medicinal plants for many years ..I grow a fruit orchard of 24 trees, lots of raspberry,blackberry,blueberry, gooseberry,currants,choke cherry, elderberry, juneberry bushes, rhubarb, walking onions, sunchokes, asparagus patch, herb gardens, mint gardens.
4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs? Always..it’s the way I am.
5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these? Yes, I crochet my dish clothes, blankets, make my own tinctures, make my laundry detergent, fabric softener, cleaners, newest is my all natural face cream which is used for my eye makeup remover and dry skin, I plan on going into making all of my own shampoo, deorderant, soaps ect...I’m a visual learner mostly so no I wouldn’t be able to teach I don’t think anyway.
6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds? Yes, I have had chickens for 9yrs, when my boys were younger I was thinking of getting a miniature jersey cow for milk but didn’t.
7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing? Yes,it’s my heart, my passion and I live and breathe it to be honest.. I enjoy anything I can grow as I grow from seed which makes me feel so good to see something I grew yourself..
8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives? I love to fish but don’t touch it or eat it..I’m Weird I know.
9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country? 3-acres we own well, the bank owns lol..Country, no offense to people that live in the city I just couldn’t do it..I like my privacy.
10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn? I don’t have one specialty I do many things to be self sufficient to save money. I think my sons and dh would say my homegrown homemade hot sauce and dandelion wine. I want to learn more about growing and using medicinal medicine.I make my own dandelion salve, comfrey salve and elderberry tinctures but want grow my own medicine.
11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet? Nope..wish I did cause I want a huge functioning chicken coop..I love my chickens!
12. Are you interested in herbal medicine? Answered this but this is very important to me.
13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be? The south where I could grow almost year round.
14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking? Yes, for our heat. Have used fir cooking when we lost power.
15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs? I love to cook, make many of my foods from scratch, grow herbs to dehydrate to make my own seasoning blends. Natural foods, raw milk..my family owned farms and I grew up on raw milk until they sold our cows, yes, homestead fresh eggs from my chickens.
16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs? Yes,since my apple trees haven’t given me squat I forage wild apple trees for all my apple pie filling, applesauce, apple butter, apple juice, dehydrated apple slices (I vacuum seal in quart jars)and apple juice that I can to last until the next growing season..blackcap’s are also foraged to make my jam for the year.
17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient? To many to list.
18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy? No..but, I would love to have solar someday.
19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to? Nope,nada,never.. I don’t think so I love my modern technology.
20. Do you make things yourself to save money? Yes, to many to list.
21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending? I started this lifestyle to save money now it’s just part of who I am.
milkmansdaughter
Super Self-Sufficient
Hi Meg! Welcome to the group. There are a lot of gardeners here, and most of us have chickens. Quite a few of us have ducks.
I also have about 3 acres (2 are ours and 1 belongs to the state) chickens, and usually a big garden. I hope you'll like it here!
I also have about 3 acres (2 are ours and 1 belongs to the state) chickens, and usually a big garden. I hope you'll like it here!
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