THE SQUIRREL CHALLENGE: Want to join?

[Sunny]

Anybody else up for a little challenge? Maybe we can even have Nifty, Ann, and KStaven vote on the final results?

How bout it, folks?

Guess you don't want the competition from an innocent mod like myself with a tiny garden patch.

I bet my garden patch is smaller... LOL... Its a patio garden.. But I do my best with what I have..

But I did grow carrots, peas, potatoes.. Among a few other things that I dont remember right now.. It was a test run last year to see if certain kinds would work in pots..

 

[Beekissed]

This year I'm picking up all those walnuts and chestnuts in my yard and keep them for our own and the animal's consumption. All those millions of apple drops? Either will be juiced daily and frozen for canning up in large batches, made into vinegar, or~when too far gone~given to the pig.

I've even going to start collecting baling twine from our discards and from those of others. I want to start storing this commodity.....it can be used for soooo many things! Fire starter/fuel for the stove, for the multiple uses around the place that require a strong string, to bundle twigs from the yard into firewood....well, you get the picture. I've even used them for some very cute Christmas decorations.

I'm going to collect, wash, dry and store the wool that my hair sheep will shed, as well as the feathers from butchering the chickens. I would like to store this for making dog beds, lining a broody nest, making small pillows, insulating my cellar, etc.

If I manage to get bees, I will be using the wax for salves, lip balms, and most importantly...candles. I don't think one could ever have too many good pillar, container, or taper candles on hand in case of emergencies.

I think I will also buy up some plastic sheeting. I don't know why, but the thought crossed my mind today that it has so many good uses and may become something in short supply later on. Same with matches and duct tape.

 

[Henrietta23]

I wish I could grow citrus in my backyard or indoors, but I can't. But I got some at decent prices and made up a batch of 5 Fruit Marmalade while I was cooking down maple sap. Man, was my kitchen sticky! I've now got 8 jelly jars of marmalade and 4.5 jelly jars of maple syrup. My little stash is growing. And the marmalade is soooo good! I made it with lemons, limes, tangerines, blood oranges and ruby red grapefruit. What a color!

 

[Sunny]

I guess I am up for the challange.. But most of my stalking up will come from buying cheaply.. And picking wild blackberries when in season.. And stuff from my small garden.. And picking apples.

Since I have read this thread.. I think stalking up every time I am at the store.. I look for good deals.. And if I need a certain item, and I dont have any at my house. I always pick up at least one more than I needed.. A good way to begin.. Since I am on a tight budget..

I found a good meat sale.. And I bought in large quanity, then wrapped them for individual meals.. I got 30 meals worth of meat.. Maybe more. I have to cut one more piece of beef up.. I know this isnt much. But even if I have to eat half of it before I get next months money to buy more.. I will still be a tiny step ahead..

I bought some cheap canned goods.. Dont have an exact list yet.. Have to straighten up my pantry.. Need to do that in the next few days. But I am very busy this week..

Right now Im planning on where to put my gardening pots.. And what to plant where???

My neighbor gave me some strawberry plants.. Havent counted them yet.. I planted them in an old red wagon that I painted black..

I bought 5 blueberry bushes.. 3 different varietys.. It is a start... They were on sale..

 

[freemotion]

Hey, Sunny, it's a start of new habits. Every new skill aquired builds on previous skills, and it just gets easier as time goes on. So to you!

 

[Homesteadmom]

Hey Sunny, that is exactly the way to start stocking up on a budget, & better late than never I say. Keep up the good work. Great job on all the fruit too. You will have not only food for your family but bartering tools too.

 

[freemotion]

I'm gonna have to post here as I squirrel or I will forget half the stuff! I just made three pints of vanilla extract to keep and have 15 more vanilla beans to store for the next batch.

I won't count the 25 lbs of raw in-shell peanuts I got to can because at the rate I'm going, I will eat them all long before the year is up!!

I just bought a case of 12 canisters of lye for soapmaking, that'll last me years!

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

Dang, free! You'll be caught up to SKR8PN in no time at the rate you are going!

I stocked up on diapers. I will admit, cloth are cheaper, more economical, but I can't fathom trying to rinse them in my toilet..... So I stocked up on disposable diapers and I'm thinking about homemade baby wipes.

My youngest is in for a shock! He'll be 1 in July, and assuming he'll be on time developmentally (he was born early) soon as the kid is walking, bye bye diapers! I found that my second to youngest potty trained faster if I just refused to buy more diapers for him. here's hoping the youngest will be the same way!!

 

[freemotion]

I don't think anyone can catch up to SKR8PN!

I remember my mother rinsing/soaking diapers in the toilet. Those white rectangle ones, not the lovely colorful and fitted ones people use now. Imagine trying to keep them white, especially if they are passed down from kid to kid? She had three of us in diapers at once for a time! (In the family pictures, she looks ridiculously haggard during that time frame )

 

[Beekissed]

Quail, I did cloth with my first one and it wasn't as bad as you think for the rinsing thingy. Just avail yourself of a good pair of rubber gloves and rinse away. I loved the feeling of using soft, cloth diapers with that line-fresh smell on my baby. They wash up very well and they have sooooooo many uses after your kids are grown!

With my others, I was a working mom, so I went with disposables but, somehow, it never felt right after using the cloth, ya know? They were so weird smelling and heavy in the trash.....just different, I suppose.