Where do I start?

[Mackay]

You will get lots of great advice here.. but go to the library and get some books on your interests. Winter is a geat time to plan.

I designed my garden. determined how to fertilize it, bought seed, planned the veggie rows, built cold frames all in the winter.

I also reviewed my food storage and developed a new way to compost called Bokoshi in the winter.

I love the winter!

 

[Poison Ivy]

Thank you all for your prompt replies, NOT too sure this is even going the right spot, I'm really not a forum person and my "know how" is quite limited. So if this is in the wrong place please excuse me.
To start my husband thinks we live pretty much in the country, however I grew up in VERY small towns in Wyoming and Alaska so all of this in New Jersey is city to me and I should have made that clear when posting earlier.
We do live on 3 acres but don't have access to it (my husbands uncle owns the property and we can't have a garden or animals, at least not meat animals) BOOO!
I can sew & I always make most everything from scratch, it's the way I was brought up. I enjoy building, crafting, cooking, gardening, nature, and so much more. I want the "little house on the prairie with out Nelly Olsen" life.
I miss elk hunting in Wyoming and salmon fishing in Alaska, I am a firm believer in getting your own~ everything. I don't want to rely on anyone and I want to teach my sons that you can make your own way in life. It just seems so far fetched here in NJ.
My husband and I are going to be buying some land in Florida in the near future and we plan to build a completely "Green" home. We'll see how far our nest egg takes us in the project.
One of my long time dreams is live a summer in Alaska and gold pan, wouldn't that be fulfilling?
I'm not much for the finer things in life anymore (diamonds, cars, money and all the crap we get weighed down with) I just want to work hard, get my hands dirty and sleep well at night
Thanks again for your time,
Ivy
BTW, I have NEVER canned before and would love a link to a good book!

 

[tamlynn]

Welcome! We used to live in NJ- Pine Hill. Boy I wish I still had that half-acre lot, but I don't miss the snow!

What are you most interested in that is feasible for you right now?

I agree that baby steps are the way to go. When I first decided to stop buying bread and make my own, it was a bit of a hassle. I often forgot to plan ahead and we would have no bread. Now it's become part of my regular routine, and I can add something else.

We live in the suburbs on a 1/10th acre lot. I have enough chickens to provide all our eggs, 10 fruit trees, with more ordered for the spring, a great garden, and have learned to make a lot of things from scratch from bread to laundry soap. So wherever you are, you can make SS steps.

There are some beautiful rural areas in NJ if you are serious about moving.

 

[tamlynn]

sorry, posted while you did. Nobody ever like Nellie Olson!

I think most people start with a Ball Blue Book for canning. They also have a website, freshpreserving.com

 

[Blackbird]

 

[FarmerChick]

I grew up in Jersey.....it is a far cry from Wyoming and Alaska lol

if you want that type of life I don't think you will find it in Florida either
haha

why florida? can't you convince hubby to move to Alaska or Wyoming?

just wondering if he would move to a more "county" place....never lived in Florida but I think it is kinda like Jersey in a way, but hotter haha

 

[Poison Ivy]

I am quite equipped to make soap but haven't found a recipe that doesn't leave a thick film on the tub and make my body feel like Tammy Faye Baker's face
I even make my own dog treats I really do try to be green and not buy the things I can make.

 

[Poison Ivy]

Florida, you ask? Well it's a long and drawn out story but I'll zip line to the end, my Sweets and I own a tropical plant business and we need the Florida weather. Last year we went from a thriving business to basically nothing during the winter, heating a huge greenhouse is horrible on wallet!
I would go back to Alaska in a New York minute if my man would let me, however I need to be where there are really good schools for my boys and warm weather and Wyoming and Alaska aren't cutting it in either area

Thank you Tamlynn I'll be ordering that book soon

 

[FarmerChick]

extreme cold weather and tropical plants, yup they equal expensive to heat greenhouses

I don't blame ya on that one.......well in Wyoming you can grow elk right?


Florida is near me, I am NC......florida has some wonderful areas to live....got a few relatives down there and they love it!!

 

[Poison Ivy]

FarmerChick,
Wyoming grows the best tasting elk a girl can imagine, I salivate just thinking about them.
We are thinking about North Port or Sarasota, beautiful area and some really good schools.
I do miss the Wyoming mentality though, very laid back, here not so much
Thank you all once again for your replies, most helpful bunch of folks I've come across in long awhile.