New Member Introductions - Questions

[sumi]

Welcome to SufficientSelf!

 

[Charles Vise]

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?
Middle Louisiana - Summers are hot, and winters are cold !

2. Who or what inspired you to become more self sufficient?
I have been reading Mother Earth News since the first edition, then many other similar magazines. Plus, I was raised on a farm, and I love to pound hot metal on my anvil.

3. In what ways are you self sufficient now and in what ways would you like to learn more?
I keep a couple months supply of emergency food on hand at all times(in case of hurricanes). I would also like to learn more of canning fruits and veggies.

4. Are you interested in stocking up for future needs?
But, of course !


5. Do you make crafts or useful items? Would you want to teach others how to do these?
I manufacture windshield repair equipment, and set up folks in 3rd Wold Countries to earn a living repairing windshields

6. Can you legally keep livestock where you are at? Do you have any? What kinds?
The key word here is LEGALLY... But I do have some chickens.

7. Do you like to garden? If so, what do you enjoy growing?
I like growing ocra, corn, greens, tomatoes... I am also growing some Satsuma orange trees, but still too young to produce

8. Do you fish? Bait or explosives?
Explosives ! HAHAHAHA I grow worms for bait. I also fish for Tilapia when I am in Asia. Although these are grown on farms, these can still be caught wild.


9. How much space/land do you have or rent? City? Country?
I have 1/2 acre in town where I live, and 8 acres in the country

10. What is your self sufficient specialty? Or what one would you like to learn?
I dabble in Blacksmithing, welding, and metal casting. Am I any good? Hmmm.

11. Do you do wood work? Framing, finish, cabinet?
I have built a nice house that my ex wife and her husband enjoy. Right now I am restoring an older home. I like to build other stuff, too, such as cabinets and shelves. My 12 year old and I are building some bunk beds.

12. Are you interested in herbal medicine?
Yes, and I swear by CBD oil

13. If you could live any place you chose, where would it be?
In the mountains of Mindanao, Philippines

14. Do you use a wood stove for heating or cooking?
not at the moment, but i will install one before winter

15. Do you like to cook? Are you interested in whole foods and natural foods? Raw milk? Farm fresh eggs?
yes, I love to cook. I like cooking with food I have grown.

16. Do you forage or hunt for part of your food needs?
I hunt SOME, but I really hate to say goodbye to the animal I have killed. I do it less and less.
But I love to eat meat ! haha ! So I depend on local hunters to supply my needs

17. What skills do you have that help you be more self sufficient?
Gardening, trapping, hunting, metal working, mechanical, carpentry

18. Do you have solar panels? Plans to use solar energy? i installed water heater panels on my ex-wife's house, and plan to do so on mine.

19. Have you ever lived completely off grid? Would you like to?
I have not, but I would like to. When I lives with my brother in law on his farm in Philippines, he had minimal electricity

20. Do you make things yourself to save money?
I sure do!

21. Has trying to be more self-sufficient changed your attitude or habits about money/spending?
I dont know... I've been living this way since I was a child....

 

[Hinotori]

Welcome to the group!

Hop right into the discussions

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Welcome!

 

[sumi]

Welcome!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Welcome!

 

[Hinotori]

Welcome to the group!

 

[Chic Rustler]

I am from CA but have lived in AZ for 18 years this August. I enjoy growing my own fruits and vegetables as well as some herbs. I like being able to preserve, can, and dehydrate various foods. When I can get a lot of food on sale real inexpensive or from our local food bank I put it up. I have made chutneys, sauces, jams, jellies, own seasoning blends, breads, cakes, etc.in
I used to have chickens but live among copper tailings now. Used to have a nice acre lot and decent sized garden area but now am learning how to container garden. I would like to live in the country by a stream where we could fish, enjoy nature, enjoy the peacefulness, privacy, but not be too far from the town or city. I enjoy sewung, crafts, and outside work but am not sufficient enough to teach. We do not have a wood stove. When able we like to drive to the mountains to pick here is and get Spriby water. I look forward to learning new ways and ideas to be more self sufficient.

you will fit right in here. WELCOME

 

[Britesea]

Welcome from Oregon!

 

[Columella]

Welcome Columella -- from Virginia here in USA.

Interesting to hear the differences in lifestyle, livestock and habits in different countries! Near a Tiger reserve?? That sounds different. Here they are in containment, zoos & wildlife parks. Are those fenced in any way?

Raw milk -- you say taboo.....why? I assume you pasteurize yours? I have dairy goats and do drink my milk raw. Chilled fast but, raw.

How many buffalo do you keep? Do you work them or have mechanical units for your farm work? In pioneer days of our country, bison dung cakes were used to burn for heat. Something not normally in use now.

Hey there @Mini Horses good morning. Yes, this difference is what makes this world intresting. Valmiki wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve is the virgin forest of the Terai region. In ancient times these forests covered much of Indo-Gangetic plains, from Pakistan to Assam, but since these lands were settled very early on (early Bronze Age), these forests are mostly gone with just bits and pieces remaining. One of that is Valmiki wildlife sanctuary and tiger reserve. State of Bihar along with other States was affected by left-wing insurgencies and right wing counter insurgencies and struggle between castes and classes was constant with each side committing atrocities on the other. They were not only fighting eachother but there was also a lot of infighting within their own fractions and they were also fighting the State in the same time. There was a lot of crime specially kidnapping for ransom, in our area cattle raiding between Indian and Nepali cattle raiders was very prevalent. I lost a buffalo in a raid in 2015. So long story short this sanctuary never got the popularity it deserved.

Here's the list of massacres that happened in Bihar in past few decades.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAFegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw2T4X8Dl_aFTTDyeZIhgUGl

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