Penny pinching

[Rillowen]

Hello all!
I have been floating around the sister sites, and just found this one! Here I was sharing frugality and self sufficient tips, and looking for more, on the other ones when there is an entire site just for that?! My favorite l8ttle known tips are laundry nuts (wow they are more affordable and healthy!), foraging (you wouldn't believe how much of your yard is not just edible, but more nutritious than the store) and using homemade bonemeal, dried banana peel, and fish emulsion for the garden. (Npk)

So how do you make a garden big enough to feed a large family without it eating up all your time? What weeding/ watering tricks do you have? Who all has tried Hugel Culture?

Anyone who grows their own chicken food? I have been studying the nutrition, I think I have some ideas but im open to suggestions!

Anyone do aquaponics? I'm thinking about setting some up. I'm not sure how sensitive a large ibc tank is to external temp changes though. I have a greenhouse and buried pipe plan, but greenhouses are so expensive.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

For years previous to my husband's health issues I had a huge garden, raised goats, pigs, quail and chickens and I worked full-time. I have no idea how I did it then, lol. Now we're retired and I can barely keep up with a few raised beds. Still have the goats, quail, pigs and chickens and a much smaller garden.

At one time I put together a small aquaponic system just to say I did. It was in a storage tote and I had a couple of dwarf tomato plants floating around in it. My biggest problem was that it was placed on my covered back porch where sunlight is minimal at best. But - in theory it worked and "someday" I'd love to set it back up on a much bigger scale.

I occasionally sprout some lentils for the chickens and quail - but in no way does that supply all their needs. I also ferment some of the pigs feed - mostly for the lactating sow since she's a total diva and believes that I should cater to her every whim.