Self Reliance Ideas

[tortoise]

How about some "perennial" garden plants like table onions, rhubarb, asparagus, and berry bushes?

A water-conservation project? Ollas? Rain barrels?http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2010/08/06/every-drop-counts-2/

 

[TanksHill]

Maybe you should try to learn a new skill? Something that would come in handy... Sewing, crochet, make those viking leather shoes. How about a wood working project? If you don't have the tools I would say hand tools may be the next thing you should work on.

g

 

[k0xxx]

Aquaponics is a neat project, or just raising fish in containers. Now that summer is almost over, I've been looking for a used swimming pool to raise channel cats in next spring.

 

[Wifezilla]

My "ponding" experiment has been pretty interesting. Even got the rosy minnows to the point of reproducing for a while there. Then they started disappearing. Turns out perrigrin falcons like minnows and we have a family of them living in the neighbor's tree

 

[k0xxx]

We had a similar experience with our "pond". Actually it's more of a big hole that a friend dug with his back hoe, about 15 ft. across and 12 ft. deep. We put about 25 channel catfish in it, and it first they were doing well. Slowly they started disappearing, and we saw a lot of raccoon tracks around the pond and then we watched as herrings would stop and feed. We still see a few catfish, but most are gone. With a pool, I plan on putting electric fencing around it, and bird netting over the top. I've also talked with our friend about increasing the size of the pond to about 25x40.

 

[ORChick]

We had a similar experience with our "pond". Actually it's more of a big hole that a friend dug with his back hoe, about 15 ft. across and 12 ft. deep. We put about 25 channel catfish in it, and it first they were doing well. Slowly they started disappearing, and we saw a lot of raccoon tracks around the pond and then we watched as herrings would stop and feed. We still see a few catfish, but most are gone. With a pool, I plan on putting electric fencing around it, and bird netting over the top. I've also talked with our friend about increasing the size of the pond to about 25x40.

Herrings can be pretty good eating too, though not so large as catfish
I have heard of people with decorative ponds putting a piece of wire mesh just under the surface of the water - it doesn't detract from the decorative qualities of the pond, but birds and raccoons can't steal your fish.

 

[k0xxx]

Herrings can be pretty good eating too, though not so large as catfish

Unfortunately, we had stocked the pond with fingerlings. Most never made past 8 inches long. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[savingdogs]

How about ducks? We added them this year. Meat and eggs and humor and they can do a lot of foraging. We got muscovy and cayuga this year, ended up liking the personality of the muscovys more and got rid of a pair of cayuga including the drake.

Muscovy meat is a delicacy and the eggs are great, especially yolky and eggy tasting. When you sell duck eggs, you can sell them for more than chicken eggs. We also sold our excess drake whose personality we did not like with a hen for a profit as we did not think we would like their taste as much.

 

[FarmerChick]

Im looking for some projects for next year. The goats are out (expense, time, etc). I have a garden, orchard, laying chickens, rabbits, and honeybees. Any other idease?

are these personal or for making a little money too?

animals (to me) are a hard way to make any money

but for self sufficiency they play a big part---you can eat eggs and meats u make yourself

for some little income, plants are good to sell at markets flowers, maters, etc in those 6 pack containers

self sufficiency includes fixing the house etc to make things more user friendly like solar where u can, rain barrel system etc etc

 

[Beekissed]

Hair sheep? Not expensive, low maintenance, easy lawn care, nice addition to the homestead.

....and pretty!!!