My aunt looked at my home canned goods and said I must have more time on my hands than she does. I quickly told her we have the same 24 hours in a day, just different priorities. Thank you for all your canning videos that teach safe canning. I have been building up my pantry for 2 years and have learned so much from your videos.
And, that saying where someone says, "You have the same 24 hours a day that Einstein did?" Well, he had helpers. His wife ran the house, etc. But I agree with you about the priorities. I do it all day long. Do I work on a book for KDP, or can sweet potatoes, etc.
Mellisa I’ll bet she’d be round at your house when stocks get low. I can food all the time as a single person, I’ve got 3 adult children who have all made themselves into families. 2 of them are on the ball and know what’s happening but aren’t realising they need to prep immediately, the other 1 doesn’t believe me when I tell her that her family is in danger and she works for the government. I’m canning for all of them as well as myself they know their mum loves them like nobody else
I live in a retirement community. I have a very small backyard that I am prohibited from digging up the ground without approval of our HOA. No problem. During lockdown, I bought small swimming pools, drilled holes in the bottom and filled it with soil. I then bought grow bags. I even did a hanging cherry tomato row with 2 liter bottles. I gardened for three years until I got tired of my hubby complaining about “the mess”. I gave it all away. This year, I told him I want raised wooden beds for Xmas. I know he bought them. Can’t wait for Dec 25!
I used to live in a hoa community with similar restrictions. I quietly moved my bushes slightly forward. I planted tomato plants behind the bushes and kept them trimmed to the height of the bushes. I planted green peppers between the bushes and kept them trimmed in front and height. We had regular inspections but no one caught on
I have always said it takes more time and more money to live this lifestyle. I work full time and am away from home 12 hours a day - yes, change your priorities to get it all done! 🙏🙌❤️
My husband and I, both in our fifties, live on 2 acres. We volunteered to help an older gentleman tear down a building that was collapsing. He asked us to take as much building materials as we thought we could use. We built 6 raised beds for gardening. We used wood that was too spongey to burn to fill them up, then used smaller branches, unfertilized soil, and topped with good fertilized soil on the top 18 inches. The wood will break down and it kept the cost down for our taller raised beds. Finding ways to cut costs and reusing is part of homesteading also in my opinion. Working with what you have.
Fantastic! We reused old cedar boards from an old fence to build two big and deep raised beds. There's so many opportunities to reuse and make it work with some outside-of-the-box thinking. I love watching homesteader shows because one can glean so much.
My beef with acreages is the big house with a huge 3 acre green, watered, mowed yard which is no longer growing food. They have popped up around us. The water runoff poisons the creeks. Then they call the cops during lambing and weaning season due to the noise, or that my yard with pasture poultry is unsightly. A few years back we had a doctor buy 40 acres then build a beautiful McMansion near the lot line next to a generational hog farm. They sued due to the smells and noises. They lost but cost the farm family time and money. Thanks for listening as I needed to let this out.
That’s crazy! In our CC&R’s it specifically states because we are residential/Agricultural that there will be all manner of noises and smells due to animals and harvesting and people have to live with it .
Now that shows just how stupid educated people can be. Did the Dr. think his McMansionshould shut down a farm? He shouldn't have built next to a farm. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I live in the inner city. I have converted most of my yard to garden space. I compost and collect water. Several neighbors have started gardening, we all support each other. It's been cool that even where we live we can make food and build community.
I LOVE that you are building community! I share eggs with my neighbors and have given seedlings to a young family starting out with raised beds. In turn, I’ve rec’d homemade bread and other small gifts. It’s wonderful.❤
I live on 1/3 acre, in a tourist area. I’m turning 64 next month. I have chickens and several raised beds, containers and grow bags. I swear I have enough seeds to plant a full fledged farm, but seeds can last awhile as you said. I’ve turned to scratch cooking more and more. I’ve taught myself preserving food with a water bath and recently upped my game and bought a pressure canner a couple of months ago, which I love! A year and a half ago I bought a whole house generator, and we have steadily be making repairs on the house, the plan is to have it in tip top condition by the time we turn 70. Also because I live on the Massachusetts coast I can dig clams, gather oysters and even go crabbing. I also when time permits go foraging. Even at my age I love learning new skills. Love your channel! ❤
We had what was called a "hobby farm" for 30 years. Got up early, went to bed late seven days a week. On five acres we had 99 laying hens (not allowed to have more), 50 meat chickens, 4 pigs, 6 ewes and their 9 lambs, two dozen rabbits, two dozen ducks, a couple of goats, and sometimes we added a dozen turkeys and a beef cow. Everybody got fed twice a day...the last job of the evening was to wash close to 100 eggs. On top of that we had a small bakery. We did all our own butchering and sausage making, We also heated completely with wood, (winters would often get down to 40 below occasionally), so we hauled wood. We were on a well that wasn't very good, so we hauled water and were very careful with it. Our garden relied on rain water, and we had barrels everywhere. (and yes, it was packed in 5 gallon buckets, two at a time.). What convinced us to quit and move away? Slaughter regulations. We treated our animals like pets and they died humanely. We could not stomach the idea of packing them into a vehicle to drive them away to get killed. They would be terrified. Now we live in a slightly warmer growing zone with raised beds, a few hens and three rabbits, 2 bucks and a doe, but she won't be bred unless absolutely necessary...it is the manure we want. We finally can grow fruit trees (the other place it was only crabapples that survived the climate), which we are really happy about. Water is not a problem, thank God. Even though we only have an acre of land, we should be able to feed ourselves if food is unaffordable.
There is possibly one problem I see could happen and that is if you want to bred your female, she may not take. The reason why I say that is because I have a female that hasn’t taken from different males. So I hope for your sake that won’t be a problem for you.
I’m in a suberb apartment…for years I’ve been canning, fermenting, freezing…stocking my pantry with what we need when we find sales. I’m 64 would love to have a house and garden. Right now, my balcony does what it can. We live in Southern Ontario, nothing is growing right now…but I do what I can in these crazy times…I have been trying to learn how to make soap..
So true Lisa. You make time for what’s important to you. I have a 7-7 M-Th office job that often spills into Friday. We have 8 - 4x8’ raised garden beds, 7 fruit trees, chickens, goats, and forage for wild mushrooms and berries. We purchase food we don’t grow from local farms and ranches as much as we can. I can and freeze dry. I don’t watch much TV, am not up on the Home Goods styles, or have impeccable makeup. It’s busy but so worth it.
yes, I have found some wonderful cookbooks from the 1920s, canning jars, pressure caners et. the younger folks that go to the sales just walk past these items.there have been quite a few fondue sets at the last sales I went to.
We have lived on the same property for 65 years. It was zoned agricultural all of those years. Then one day, I found out I now live in a recreational zone. Am I supposed to be having fun here now? The only change has been a wood lot and new house. At 70 yrs old, I still don't have anyone to play with in this recreational zone. All of the woods are posted "keep out".
I won't say all city people want to move rural and change the landscape, but a lot of them do. People being able to afford a home is becoming a problem, but if you find your self with a little bit of something there is so much you can do. I would love to have acres of land, animals and a huge garden but that's not in my future - so I have my small garden and I support the farmers in my community that are doing what I can't. Thank you for teaching me skills that don't require a farm. I am may never have my own chickens but that doesn't stop me from having Ugly Chicken in my pantry. Hope your doing well, All the best ❤🥂
I blame that scene from Snow White where she's outside throwing grain to the chickens and interacting with the wildlife who are her little helpers. All with a lovely tune in the background. That's what did it for me. I've been wanting to homestead since I was 8.
Lol. After at least 35 years of homesteading, I am still waiting for the mice to clean my floors... When I was growing up my aunt and uncle had an 8 acre homestead with pigs, chickens, a big orchard and a huge market garden. It was obvious that the work was extremely hard but some of my happiest memories are of summers spent with them.
I live on 10 acres. At 78, I find the axiom of "work smarter, not harder" very applicable. For birthday and Christmas gifts I have started to ask for help with tasks I find difficult. It is a win-win situation. I get the needed task done, I don't have well-meant but un-needed "stuff" entering my house, they don't have to spend their hard earned $$$ on stuff I don't need, and they know that the gift was very, very appreciated.
Oh my god I love you. My family of five is dreaming of a homestead but there is zero available land in our county for a reasonable price/size. We are to the point where we are so desperate we are willing to message land owners we might know and door knock on properties that look like they own land to see if they will sell or lease a small amount so we can start a business to eventually afford more land. The state of land prices is unbelievable.
Leisa... Thanks to you and Phil. I live in MA in Senior Living in 3 small rooms. But thanks to you I have found so much space to prep. I only wish I could make neighbors to stick up. But I wont preach to the choir anymore. Even family members too. But my granddaughters think...as you say. You rock Nana I broke my ankle not long ago and couldn't and did not need to go food shopping for the whole time. Thanks to you and Phil. But I especially liked to video when the 2 of you want chicken shopping for 600 pounds if chicken. He is just so cute. Anyway I have learned from other preppers but have really nir watching them much anymore. Elisa you have taught me more than anyone else. And you care..a actually care about all if us. When you did the hurricane videos and you showed the caring for all of them. And your feelings you showed. All I can say is wow. I cried right along with you. Thank you again. Linda
Do you know how to process animals? And do it safely? How to trap, preserve( without power) how to keep your family alive ( injuries would kill many, along with disease from garbage). Build out of little that you have around you? Start there.
I can, freeze, ferment, freeze dry, cold store, and dehydrate. Plus I eat a lot FRESH!! I have 96 acres. Work 7 days per week for decades, but understand life, We live our life, day to day, season to season. it's not about vacations and "time off". I never understood I was a homesteader until a few years back. It still doesn't matter, as I do what I do!
🌳🌲🏡🏠 I can only dream about having some land. How wonderful that would be, going for walks at home, having my own little forest. Small orchard, a raised garden, maybe small animals. I sure dream about it.😊❤
@@heidimisfeldt5685 and that dream doesn’t need much room! Raised beds, grow bags, fig trees, berries - plus hens, meat rabbits & quail can be kept on a very small plot of land. Just steer clear of HOA’s 🤣🤣
We live in the country now. Purchased a few acres of raw land. Decided to take the cash up front needed to connect to electric and rural water and get a small solar system and set up rain water catchment and filtration for roughly the same price. We can take the money we aren’t spending on the monthly bills (around $150-200/ month) to improve and expand those systems. We used to live in an apartment. We both worked full time and still managed to have a small garden and shop sales to can and dehydrate to put up food. When my husband became bed bound for several months I was still able to keep up most of the things we did, just not as much. It can be done.
Its 530 am and im heading outside, 15 degrees and a little snow to let the chickens out. They are so talkative always but more in the morning . Coffee and chickens evry morning!! Love it.
Ah, then there’s cocktails with the hens in the late afternoon! Fond memories of nibbling on pistachios with one or 2 hens hopping onto my lap to share a snack. 🐓🐓
I am a suburban homesteader. I grow vegies, ferment, bake, sew, put food by, catch water, work leather, crochet, and whatever else comes to mind to make myself more self sufficient. I'm a rare bird in my area, but there are a couple other households in my extended neighborhood that grow food as well. I could have chickens, but choose not to because we share the land with monster racoons, at least one bobcat and a very comfortable Cooper's Hawk. Plus I wouldn't put it past our crows to figure out how to get some yummy chicken meat as well. I grew up in the country and I know how hard it is to work with livestock. No one who has never done it understands the full extent of illnesses and injuries that are involved with livestock. But, I tell you what, I would rather be outside working on something than partaking in most "civilized" pursuits.
Luckily here where we live in Missouri, we don't have to ask permission to work on your house, build anything, get animals, we just do it. We don't have neighbors close to us, so we can go out and beat on a drum or do anything. We have 80 acres right now. and we built our house in the woods so we don't see the road, which is a dirt road. We don't have animals though, we just eat veggies, grains, fruits, Also luckily we finally got a tractor. wow what a nice difference. We are debt free also which helps. We have solar, and we are putting in wind power. Last week we did a huge huge grocery haul, just in case things get crazy. Not only groceries, but other things not edible. We grow in greenhouses, inside growing in the winter months, plus we have three aerogarden devices for having herbs fresh in the winter months. We have five rain catching barrels that we use year around .
You can try to change your zoning. We did. When we moved to our homestead 40 years ago, we were zoned agriculture. Years later they changed us to residential because they changed the amount of acres you could have to be zoned ag. We were haying our acreage and selling hay. Because we made a specific amount of money from that hay, they changed our zoning back to agriculture.
I see a problem with the need to “run to the store” for something being the driving force behind all the dollar stores. I grew up with weekly to monthly shopping trips. We planned trips to save gas and time, we had a list and we stuck to the list/budget. And we didn’t have deliveries or delivery services. When your need for a pizza delivery weighs heavier in the equation than your need for fresh DIY meals, you aren’t a homesteader. 😢
I enlarged your photo to look at your book shelf. I have a volunteer job 3 days a week that resells old library and donated books then $$ donated back to library. I have quite a selection from gardening, dehydrating, bread baking, etc. A friend found my GRAIL of 10 FOXFIRE books. My favorite are my WW2 cookbooks that emphasize wartime rationing. My biggest laugh is the one to explain "how to make moonshine".
My boys are hunters so i have been canning venison but my oldest son brought 2 turkey's to can for them and i am anning the carcasses for them for bone broth. I hope to have it all cannwd for them by the end of the weekend. I tell all my kids that what i do is for a future for their kids because not one of them want to learn how to can. I sell some of my canned foods like pickles and jellies to help pay a little extra of bills like taxes and oil bill. Keep safe out there everyone and keep learning. I also have 8 raised beds plus chickens too.
Sprouting and mushroom growing, it’s affordable in the right climate and oysters are very easy! Studies say oyster mushrooms are excellent nutrition especially if you are in a food desert.
@@giancolabird Here in our small town, we have a free seed library in the public library as well as one at the local community college's library. Both are available to the public. You "check out" the seeds you want to grow and "return" some of the resulting saved seeds.
@@paulawinstead5660 And the next four years are going to be "Drill, Baby, drill!" instead of trying to avert hitting climate tipping points! Please do tell me, how is anyone supposed to do any farming/gardening if we cannot rely on a predictable climate anymore but will rather be confronted with more and more weather extremes? Also, if tariffs really are going to be the name of the game, guess what, it's not going to be the exporting country paying the tariffs, it's the consumers!
I live in a mid sized city and we have a program where you can get two $50 grants for rain barrels. You can also get grants to make rain sink gardens to help with down pours that overwhelm the sewer systems.
My sewing machine is non-electric. I also have a non-electric washer. Instead of sticking clothes in a dryer, I hang out on a line to dry. I only use the electric washer if I have something BIG that needs washing...like pre-washing yards of cloth before cutting.
im in a subdivision with no chickens allowed. I have half an acre and have planted 3 peach and 2 apple trees, blueberries, I have blackberries trellised on one fence, and 6 grapevines on an arbor. Right now i have 6 raised beds. Our yard has a slope, so they are trellised on the slope, and i have plans to add additional beds. I also have large pots i always grow some extra tomatoes, lettuce, celery, etc in. I just picked up a hog today, and we buy a side of beef each year. I buy bushels of corn, purple hulls, peaches, apples, and tomatoes each year to suppliment my garden, as my fruit trees are 3 years old. I can a lot, including meals. I buy my eggs feom local people most of the time. That is notbas easy in the winter when im not going to buy produce and chickens stop laying, so i end up buying from the store. I have 2 rain barrels. Id love land, but we have to live where husband can get to work, and he is not interested in working and coming home to farm and yard work. I buy bulk grains, so really only pick up milk and little items every few weeks. Am i a homestead? no, but im just enough, my friends probably think im weird.
Try rabbits, since you can't have chickens. You are achieving great goals with what you have to work with. Yes, you are ahomesteaders. Take pride in what you are achieving and never give up. Adjust your methods to achieve your goals.
Love what you’ve got going on….well done! Agree with the other 2 comments. You can raise meat rabbits outside, they qualify as “pets” and should be allowed by an HOA. No sound! Quail should also be “under the radar”. The birds are hardy and prolific egg-layers. One male and 4-5 female quail will keep you supplied with eggs and meat. Stay weird! My family thinks I’m crazy🤷🏻♀
We couldn't afford land years ago,cant now. I have 1 acre. Grow apples,blueberries,lemons and oranges. I have 180 sq foot veggie garden with plans to expand. Plus 3 vertical garden systems. I worked my butt off this summer. All with bad back. I keep learning how to preserve more food,how to make our garden better and building a stock pile of food. I dont want to rely on grocery store ever. I buy from local farmers too. Gardening set up was $$$$,but I am growing healthy food.
I’m a suburban homesteader on only 1 acre, but I’m doing what I can. I have chickens, honeybees and goats, as well as a modest but growing kitchen garden and food forest. I’m doing what I can.
We would love to have 50-100 acres also.........but at 60+ - don't think it's gonna happen!! I have a hyrdoponic garden in the house for the winter. Hubby says "buy once, cry once" when it comes to his tools and things for the house. Thanks for your video!
Getting in involved is what I always advise. I started a garden club for the community to help encourage/learn to grow local foods and help each other and the food bank out.
I bought 4 acres, but really only worked 2 which were the most productive for pigs, chickens and vegetables. Yes I worked a job too, but this kept us going.
Just found you, and the 2 vids I've watched so far are very matter of fact, non-panic mongering, and refreshingly non-political or religious. Hoping that's your normal, b/c I'm liking your presentation and content.
I was homesteading for a few years on a rented steading - a few dairy goats, two pigs who were my rotovators, chickens, ducks and geese. I was breeding the poultry for sale mainly and yes, it's graft and I was holding down a fulltime job at the same time. I'd been around farms most of my life one way or another so I knew what I was getting into but my now ex had romantic ideas about what it would be like. When the reality of the muck and bullets 365 days of the year, a close relationship with mud in winter and finding that there was no time off, he fell out of love with the idea and left the lot to me. I'd do it again but on a smaller scale and on my own.
I live in a mobile home park. And I have my spare room as a pantry. I have been canning a lot lol. I have a freezer full of meat when on sale and now turning it into canned beef roast. I have a couple of chickens hidden between my mobile home and shed. I have gardens on my porch and small raised beds. I have berries that I'm waiting to produce. I have quail in my spare bathroom for eggs and meat. I have grey water catchments. The biggest thing right now is I need to work on fortification and a waste plan. You can do it. I know I have a lot more space than a lot of people but use every inch u can.
Hi! I took am in a trailer park😑. Temu sells "collars" for chickens. Next spring I think I will give them a try and squeeze those chickens between the house and the shed. A girl after my own heart 💖😊😊😊
Love this, Leisa! We each must become more self sufficient…in whatever ways that fit/are available to us as individual circumstances dictate. I have a small urban property but my little back yard (80 ft long x 12 ft wide) is more than enough to grow food for my family of two. I can, preserve and am learning to make foods from scratch. I have careful plans to add to my equipment and skill set each year; for me it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Absolutely love your mindset and your many tutorials (canning😍)! People have got to wake up and be ready for the days ahead. Sending you my thanks and best wishes for a full recovery after your surgery ❤
Great advice. I live on a west coast island of about 1200 people. Semi retired, on a 1/3 of an acre. I am establishing a permaculture garden/food forest situation. I come from a back-to-the-land, off grid, farming back ground and I know how hard that lifestyle is. I was weeding by the time I was 5/6 years old. 100 ft rows by the age of 9. I became a horticulturist as an adult, working in garden centres and nurseries. I was 'ruined' for farming, but I have always grown, preserved , or stock piled what I could for my family.
We are a small family on a small property in the suburbs. Thanks to you guys, I'm learning to small garden to supplement and grow bags have been my life saver in his crazy weather. Window gardening and grow lights got me further than i ever expected.
I just added an 8 raised bed garden to my yard last year. Still learning how to garden and hoping to get better each year. I will never have a full scale "homestead" as the most livestock I can have where I live is 4 chickens and even then I have to go through hoops to be able to have them. Thankfully I can at least have rain barrels as water is ridiculously expensive here. I had to cash out some of my earned time at work so I used the money for a freeze dryer. I'm hoping to build up a big stock of homemade MRE's and ingredients for when the garden struggles. I'm trying to do what I can to be prepared for when things are worse off than they are now.
I’ve lived in the suburbs for all my life and have grown a garden for 32 year. I love it and hate it lots of work but keeps me young and satisfied when I see all I’ve grown and canned.😊
We have our greenhouse hooked to solar power, planting a small orchard, grow most of our fruit and veggies, then preserve in various way, and purchase 1/2 cow yearly (empty nesters here) from a local rancher as we only have 5 acres total and no room to grow out our own beef😒 I try and add 1 new skill a yr to my homestead belt.
I just invested in solar panels and an Anker solar battery. So happy I did, I can't make my greenhouse tropical, but I can keep it from freezing. It should have recouped the cost in a year.
@ Right! That’s all we are striving for keeping what’s in their from freezing not providing it a tropical vacation! lol. So far we have been able to do it, but we are just now getting some freezing temps in Western Ky. Fingers crossed for both of us!
My town of 3000 people have also been experiencing the crazy appreciation in house as well as land prices. In MA this means my property's value has surged in value for real estate taxation. Last year my taxes increased $405 and this year they increased another $825...I'm more than pinched. Budgeting for 2025 has proven more than challenging. Grain and other supplies for my chickens, fuel for the cultivator I use in the garden and gas for the car...who knows how much to add when figuring out what to plan for. I'm retired, fixed income. I did one weekly market with jams, pickles and baked goods from April through October and plan to do it again in 2025. Its a lot of work to have what I need weekly for this market. I'm also thinking I need to find the time and energy to do at least one other market during the week this coming summer. I'm hoping I'll have the energy to keep up so I can hold onto what I've built.
Feed is crazy. So about two years ago, I experimented with the layer feed. I thought, "In the olden days, there wasn't layer mash, etc. So the chickens got corn, right? For two years I've only been feeding corn (both whole and cracked - they choose which pan to eat out of), and haven't lost a bird except one to a hawk. I have a couple favorite hens that are over eight years old - no issues. The eggs are fine, nice shells, they lay a lot, depending on time of year. Just putting that out there. Oh, and even today, with a dusting of snow, they are out running around in the pine needles, out in the grass. I save pumpkin goop in the freezer and that is a treat they like, too.
@@palominogirl2732 They got corn but they also got kitchen scraps, and were left out to free range for bugs and greens. They were fed back their own shells broken up and scrambled in their own eggs for the protein and calcium. So corn and scratch were supplemental along with food scraps.
Hang in there Pantry Team! Gotta say I just learnt' how to waterbath butter & jelly out of apple scraps (only a few pints) - am graduating up to pressure canning over the holidays! 💞 Thank you Super L for these awesome vids!!!
We recycle and reuse everything we can - yes it takes time but it’s great to have a stock of basic needs (nuts, bolts, screws, buttons). Seed saving is also a great way to save money and ensure continued food supply. 🇦🇺
Your right I love the corn fields we are 10 acres in the middle of hundreds of acres. I just love it. It's quiet and I enjoy it every day. Wise advice you have helped many of us. Thank you so much. Have a Blessed day and praying you are healing quickly.
It’s definitely not easy. I have to fight, wrangle, separate constantly…. But it’s all worth it to me! And I work 20-30 hours a week plus homeschool my kids. It’s a family effort! We are trying hard to get to not buying any feed at all. We aren’t there yet though! So many good points in your video! Thank you! 😊
Lisa, I live in the middle of my 9.25 acres in a rural part of the state. The land parcels to one side of me are anywhere from 10 to 80 acres and are mostly owned by wealthy folks who (so far) are leasing out land adjacent to mine to farmers, but I'm told will be selling off parcels and building large homes. My 35 yr old Kubota tractor has taken about three big bites ($3K to $5K) in repairs but I wouldn't be able to maintain my land without it. Taxes in my county were reassessed this year and my property taxes doubled. I don't have food animals and have no intention of doing so, though sometimes I think renting a family of goats from someone might be helpful. I do consider myself something of a homesteader, and agree fully that this is not an inexpensive way to live; but for me, the quiet (so far) and the sight of wildlife right off my back porch, fresh air, and privacy are worth the inconveniences. Old saying, "ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice" was never more true than with homesteading.
Egg bound chickens are fun 🥹 We’ve been preparing for this for over 40 years (we were homesteaders before it was cool) The kicker is 2 parents with dementia, didn’t plan for that, I digress. The bears trying to get into the beehives, bunnies eating our food, so now our gardens look like prison yards. The weekenders buy land and have nicer stuff then those that live here, their right, just annoying, lol! We also had to insulate our septic drain field, lack of insulating snow. One reason canning keeps changing and evolving, (I seed save heirloom seeds), is also the soil, water, environment that has changed, it is not our grandmothers garden anymore. Find a passion, skill and trade with someone who is in need (we trade honey for stuff, also, handy to know a guy who knows how to fix stuff) Thank you Leisa!
With everything in the environment changing it is more important than ever to do soil test and add back in what is missing. Don't forget the much needed minerals that have been stripped from the soil.
@@aquadrops6138 Yes, just like a checking account. If all you do is withdrawals, you’ll run out of funds. Need to make deposits also. Thank you for the reminder aquadrops!
Feed costs went up 75 percent in the last 4 years. Feeding 20 cows now for the same price i fed 130 plus ! They keep saying cheep feed, haven't found it yet. Been almost 40 years in this!
💯 agree with you about preferring tending critters in subzero temp to driving in rush hour traffic! Thanks for giving that perspective today, as I was grumbling about the wind chill
I’m an engineer, but taught myself electronic repair skills. Now everything is electronic- that’s a worthwhile skill to repair stuff. Also started an allotment charity and run one now…. Free food. Cleared debt. I’m also on the village council. 😉
Something that has concerned me, was feeding my animals. It really is pretty easy keeping us humans fed, but goats, chickens cats and dogs all need feeding too. I looked around at what I had and what could be used. Someone was cleaning out a rented commercial warehouse, and they had literal tonnes of hemp seed. Looked it up, chickens will eat that. I replace 30% of their commercial feed with it. And I probably have 2 more years worth stored up. I had to cut some small native trees out, and dang it they sending shoots up from the stump. The goats live tree forage. They eat that 2 days a week, along with all the acorns I gather. The goats also love corn stalks, the chickens with eat the cobs. Everything cleans up the gardens. So Im planting mor corn next year, along with pumpkins and amaranth. Ive been cooking the dogs food and canning it up from scraps of animal products and some rice.
Being a mom/caretaker to my chickens for almost 16 yrs I have learn some what I feel is valuable information. YT is a wonderful source of knowledge..by fermenting your chicken feed you can literally cut your bill in half..1-chicken only needs 1-1/2 cups of feed per day..Don’t need to buy pine shavings or hay you can use fresh grass or leaves as their bedding..Chickens temps run 106F they don’t need any kind of bedding on the floor of the coop nor any direct air flow like leaving a small vent open it should be closed ..they should never have a heat lamp during freezing temps unless it’s below 35* or the chicken is to young..it is said if using a heat lamp that it prevents them from adjusting to the cold..Use a heated water dish to keep from freezing and depending on temp you can put a few golf balls on the pan of water as it starts to freeze the golf balls move and prevent it. Everything I mentioned I have never done it’s just what I have learned recently..wish I had known about several of these but everything is a learning curve each and every day for me anyway. I hope this info is of use to someone and that it will help save money. One of my main ones is come this spring is definitely not let my chickens eat at free will like I have for the whole 16yrs I have had them..I bought a feeder at TS that holds 50# bags, I fill it back up as needed letting my chickens eat as much as they want..had I known that each chicken only needs 1-1/2 cups of feed a day I could have saved literally $100’s of dollars..oh then add in fermenting the feed to stretch it would have saved me $100’s if not $1000’s.
I think and act a lot like a homesteader even though I live in an apartment!!! I grow a small amount of food (as much as possible on my tiny patio) with a 1000 watt grow light! However, I may end doing that this year, as it's now costing over $100.00 a month to keep it running 18 hours a day from March thru October, and just not sure it's financially worth it anymore!!! I think that $100.00 a month might may be better spent buying organic fruits and veggies from the local organic farm stand. I do a lot of freezing, canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, and big batch cooking. Finally got 2 shelving units for my 2nd bedroom, extended pantry. Waiting for the holidays to be over, and then it's game on in organizing that room and getting everything in order!!! I'm so EXCITED to get this project done...have enough saved to buy 2 more shelves if needed, after the first part is completed!!! Stack it to the rafters friends it's only just begun... Brightest Blessings!!! 💗
I bought Muscle Racks from Walmart either in December or January, just happened to catch a good sale price of $84.99 for the size I wanted. I was watching another YT channel where she bought 3 units an was able to make two units for storing her canned foods.
Good on ya! I suggest very strongly that you run back-to-back duct tape or bungy cords around the shelving about two inches up so the odd earthquake doesn't send everything to the floor. Best wishes.
Priorities! Working with what you have works. 1/10th of an acre. Planted fruit trees an in ground garden, compost, vermiculture, chickens, rain catchment and cinderblock rsised beds. Canning. Stocking. Prepping any way we can. Working 7 days a week. Where there is will there is a way. Its getting harder for sure. Harder times are coming. We are in stage 3 drought no outdoor watering. Hubby came from farmers his dad lost family land due to hard times in farming. I fear our farmers losing land to the high expenses & the younger gen not wanting it.
I live in Bavaria, Germany. We do small scale homesteading. 8 chickens, 25 meatbirds, we are growing and canning a lot of vedgetables and fruit. We bake bread and make our own pasta. But we never could live just out of our garden. Here raising meatbirds is a lot more expensive than bying chicken in a supermarket. I do it for fun and for better quality of meat. While watching your video I was cooking tomorrows lunch. A stew of cabbage, carrots, potatoes and some smoked sausages. The total costs for a family of 7 are less then 10 €. Making well tasting but cheap dishes once or twice a week helps a lot with the ever rising prices for food. I teach the recepies to my children (11 and 13). Even a small take out pizza here is a lot more expensive.
Other than our cell phone bill and propsbe, we have no utility bills. We have been energy independent for 24 years and counting. We started with car batteries, then marine batteries. We now have a power wsll that we built ourselves buying batteries breakers wires etc. Our water is from our spring, gravity fed and runs year round. We have a hair under 100 acres, and the nearest people are about 6 miles away. Not bad for 2 city people from Brooklyn and Manhattan. We moved here 24 years ago and no plans on moving anytime soon. I'm 63 and 61 hubby. Edit to add....we started with 2/50 watt solar panels. We now have those same 2-50 watt panels and have added 4- 100 watt panels. We bought our 100-watt panels from Amazon and paid less than 120.00 each for them. Our last 2 panels were purchased last October 2023.
@denisewilson8367 my grandparents on both sides are responsible for teaching me what is important in life. My husband was raised by his mom, as his dad could leave Cuba. His mom taught him his values and to respect and appreciate women at all times.
2022 land prices made us faint but the rate was still low. We were the top bidder on 5 small properties that we nevertheless lost to cash buyers. We ended up settling for only a one acre wooded hillside property. Yes you can homestead on a wooded lot. No you can’t have a cow. But I’m processing acorns for flour and “coffee”. I planted other fruit & nut trees ( selected for 2 zones colder because of polar vortex weather anomalies ). Chickens enjoy the shade and the weeds and bugs and the kitchen scraps. Our annual & perennial veg grow in tidy metal raised beds on the only sunny section: the driveway. We are buying firewood deliveries for the wood stove we put in; but we’ve got future firewood options here. Even so, I have planted some coppiceable trees for renewable longterm sources. My main concerns are: that we both work from home and are currently reliant on operable internet to pay the mortgage; and that our New England neighbors are standoffish and living on unproductive ornamental landscape properties.
Boy are you right about a tractor. We are almost to the point where we will have to bite that bullet. Ugh!! Great job ma’am. The hurricane destroyed our driveway and it’s just to big of job.
We got creative this fall and made a dibbler tool to plant all the garlic from another tool (leaf rake) that broke. It saved my energy to not have to crawl along planting the garlic.
LOL at myself. Had to look up "dibbler" tool. I thought it was a word you created to name the "new" tool you made from the broken leaf rake🤣. My mom gave me her dads broken shovel handle that he used many moons ago.(He worked in a greenhouse/nursery/planted/produced/sold veggies at farmers markets in the 30's up until he retired) He had taken the broken staff with the metal handle and whittled the end to a point and used it for making holes in the ground to drop his seeds into. That point, from yrs of use has such a patina and has a rounded instead of a sharp pointed end.
I just came across your show today and enjoyed it very much! When you spoke of the bread bags for boot liners i had to subscribe! For me as a child, the bags were my boots. I've come a long way now and homesteading is my way of life, garden, chickens, food storage and reuse everything i can! Looking forward to more of your shows!
We are Waco, Texas. Before (you know) it was a great small/ big town. Then the TV show, and bamn!!! It is insane the amount of people that are coming here. The rural areas are becoming no more. It is very sad. We would love to move to the country but, it is all becoming apartments. The tiny bit of country left, is way too expensive (3x the price for land). So, we make the most of what we have. Wish we could have the land with the peace, but we know it will be impossible. This is a great important video, thank you!
Exactly this! It's not easy. It's hard! Rewarding, but hard! It feels so good, and we are in the perfect place! It's cold, but I just got my chickens a heater. It sucks already trudging down to the coop, but it is so worth it for the kids too!
Believe me when I tell you, your chickens don't need a heater. If you lose power for any reason they will not be accustomed to the cold and THAT will kill them. They have 104 body temp. They don't need heaters.
@SuttonsDaze I ordered a solar one on Amazon.. I haven't received it yet, should I put in a return? I have been making sure their coop has plenty of wood chips and it seems pretty warm, but I worry. This is our first year with chickens, they were left for us when our friends moved so I'm still learning all I can
@@jessihansen1375moisture is worse than cold in the winter. Ventilation is important. You don't want the wind blowing across their roosts, but you want your coop ventilated enough that a heater wouldn't really do much anyway. The only thing they're really good at is starting fires. I don't even use the heated waterers anymore. Even the best ones froze up when the real cold hit. I use a big rubber dog dish that I can knock the ice out of and dump water in. I'll do that a couple of times a day if it's cold enough that they don't keep it from freezing over themselves. Half the time they'll eat the snow instead of walking to the water dish. They're basically a food fueled heater in a down coat. If you let them free range like I do keep an eye on them when there's deep snow. I've had to rescue a couple that got stuck in places where their feet couldn't get traction, and they couldn't flap their way out. Food, water, and a safe place to sleep. They don't really need much else from us. Don't let the facebook groups stress you out. Plenty of them are just worrying because they're new, too. 😊
Love your site! I live in a rural area and my neighbor just had their farm zoned industrial. Our zoning board only sent letters to adjoining property owners. Grrrrr. You are correct, you need to attend meetings. I do not even have a garden now because of health reasons, however we did have large gardens, and did lots of canning, and freezing food.. remember the old fable..... the ant and the grasshopper? My kids all have thanked me for teaching them to be the ants in life. Lol
I understand I favored signs that say welcome to California: now go home for years. I have a plan to make the most of my yards, vining crops in front with food crops hidden in flowers in containers. Back yard for easily swiped foodcrops that remain out of sight. All container gardening: buckets fabric bags planters cuz pocket gopher!Lining the driveway fence with earthboxes ihave been using for 20 years!!! Garden towers(2) use what you have! I have sliding glass patio doors that were removed and saved. Perfect to make a teepee for early planting! Keep preaching to the faithful Leisa!
I'm an automation engineer. with the right automation, a lot of the homestead can be managed by machines. Im a permaculturist too, looking for communities interested in integrating some technology to their operation
Fact: the city of Gladwin, MI. Has a population of about 3,000. Many residents are lower income or retired seniors. Within the city limits are TWO regular Dollar General, and a new DG Market, which carries more fresh food, fresh meats etc. DG's business model is to build a store every 11 miles or so. In addition to the 3 DG in the city limits, there are MANY stores throughout Gladwin County. It's like we are being invaded!
Well Our deepfreeze is over 50 years old. Never as much as a hick up so definitely not replacing it with a more energy efficient one. I'm on fridge #3 in 15 years... totally regrett selling my well working one for a sleeker, more energy efficient one...
@@carmenfringer4740 There are instances were older is better. My washer and dryer are always old and used, it's easier to repair myself. When my last 15-year-old washer died I bought another used one from the same guy. I don't want circuit boards everywhere in my appliances. That's what dies if there's a power surge if the power goes out and comes back on, and once there are tariffs on China and our trading partners Canada and Mexico, we are going to run into issues with getting replacement electronics and parts. An appliance that doesn't run and can't be fixed is worthless.
The zoning thing is because some people cannot fathom that your neighbor that works second shift and goes to bed at 3 am does not want to hear your rooster everyday at sunrise
I've never been able to buy any land.but I live in a triplex apt.my landlord lets me grow veggies in buckets and flower beds.i buy eggs at chicken auctions and hatch them out for my friends who live outside city limits.i hatched out guineas.geese.ducks.quail.chickens.i also buy my friends rabbits.
You are 100% right. I've been able to get minimal solar, a couple of raised beds, & some combustibles stored for a small dakota pit. Can't see myself chopping up bunnies for meat, & chickens get the code out to our neighborhood like they're riding rockets! So I'm thinking about fish...& a stocked pantry for my wish & action list. Thanks again, Leiza, for your Ugly Chicken tutorial. It helped a lot. Now f only my tomatoes will produce well...😊
We have a big vegetable garden and some fruit trees. We are vegetarian and so we would not have chickens. We bought a canner in 2020 and love it. We have a freezer and a dehydrater. I don’t consider us homesteaders, but we still do lots of things that homesteaders might do. We do what my parents did, garden, can, freeze, etc. If farms are located anywhere near a bigger city, then farms get sold to become subdivision or apartments.
Spot on! I’m in a rural area but live in town and I see the sad sell off of farm land. I’m 69 and have gardened for years. I collect rain water and at times washing machine water. My friends know I want all of their leaves (I buy them a box of bags). I use them for building the soil and mulching. Four years ago I got tired of fighting the weeds and my bad back so I put in galvanized water troughs, drilled holes in the bottom and started growing my garden in them. I have the knowledge to can but choose not to anymore. I have purchased my seeds for next year and have traded extra seedlings with friends for different varieties. I just traded sun chokes for eggs last week. If we have the knowledge on HOW, we can survive AND thrive! Thank you, Leisa!
I work full time, partially disabled, grow a garden and can everything i can get. Yes priorities. I'm trying to get a greenhouse built fire before next season this extreme Temps this year killed everything
I've built homesteads from scratch over the years. It is a frame of mind as well as a life-style. This latest one works for me for the most part. Thanks for the video. You mentioned a couple of points that I hadn't considered.
I've been Prepping since the late 70's so I have nearly 50 years of Preps. A team of close net friends will be here on the farm when SHTF. The other members will bring some preps with them and I am putting stocks in some of their homes in case I have to move or to help them if they can not make it here when SHTF. Retired, I mow with a push mower. I mow the half mile road to the back woods twice a year with the push mower. Loggers left many tree branches on the ground recently so I can cut up firewood to season without cutting any trees down. That will keep me busy this winter. I enjoy mowing and cutting firewood. Keep Prepping my friends. Thank you Lisa for your knowledge.
Our city transplants here do this: They move to a rural area that's been farmed since, oh, you know, the 1700's, because it's 'so pretty'. Then, they decide to get involved in the town hall matters, and want zoning to control agriculture. Egads! That farmer left mud on the road! Worse yet, there might be 'MANURE' on the road, etc. My hay guy lives in a place like this, where the landscape is littered with huge 'Right to Farm' signs. IF you don't like the country, county just the way it is, stay the heck where you are. I have my fingers crossed on this, because my little township is the last one in the county (because mobile homes are allowed) where we don't have zoning. Places I used to ride my horses now have houses on them, and after 30 years of improving my land, I hope I don't have to move and start over because of the transplants, etc.
@@paulawinstead5660 I don't live where the anti-farming stuff is. Yet. But I will be very involved if it starts. So far, our little place of a few hundred people is OK.
I'm commenting because I have a pretty typically urban lifestyle in hopes of showing you can start anywhere. We grow some food on the balcony of our appartment (herbs, citrus, radishes, ...). I keep our pantry stocked, so we can cover our bases if we can't leave the house for a couple of days. As for services, I can clean safely and efficently, mend clothes (and sow them, but I have to aquire a new sowing machine) and do minor repairs (unblock pipes, install lights and sinks, do very minor car repairs on older vehicles). My current goals are towards safeguarding against energy blackouts.
We have to buy hay for our cows & goats. We got 64 bales of hay this year. That's it! We have been in a drought since May. We spent $2k to plant fields & now we are buying hay. Then in a week we went from 70° to 15°. The weather is crazy. Land. We are getting so many city people in our area. Not happy about it.
@First-p1n No what is rude is that they come here and try to change the way of life here to what they had in the city. If that's what they want, then stay there!
Another idea about mulch… some businesses have the mulch dug out and replaced with fresh (think about how thick some pile it on and they can’t add on top of it). We had one business drop of a dump trailer load full of mulch here. Took us 2 years to use it all.
We have to 'not' buy items that have a tarrif. The tarrif is a tax, more for the super rich to steal. Use thrift stores, do not buy processed food from elsewhere.
Tariffs are a bargaining tool to make companies comply and play fair. China and Europe have ripped America off for years much to line our politicians pockets. We have to buy American products. China wants to sell us products and not buy ours and so does the European countries. Tariffs will get the balance back in line. I worry more about the way our country and states charge us property taxes for taxes we’ve already paid because they can’t balance a budget just keep charging us more and different taxes. The federal government needs to shrink by 90 percent and send most things back to states and stop giving our tax dollars away without no say from American tax payers
@@MarcelleBryant-c3u cars, wheat, corn, appliances, furniture. We used to have extra gas until that was shut down and we buy from other countries stupidity
@@MarcelleBryant-c3u This is a minuscule list of what the US exports to China. The list is HUGE and the below pertains to just fertilizers. China Imports from United States of Fertilizers Value Year Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Other Fertilizers $20.17M 2023 Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Potassic $5.62M 2023 Animal or Vegetable Fertilizers, Fertilizers Produced By the Mixing $138.82K 2023 Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Nitrogenous $127.03K 2023 Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Phosphatic $2.54K 2017 Some of other goods that China Imports from United States: Salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime and cement and aluminum.
Fortunately I have recently purchased a small rotovator, also a light weight strimmer. The zip ties are probably made in China. In my country it has been wet for months, seeds are not growing. I have also just bought 2 grow lights to set up in my terrace room.
My aunt looked at my home canned goods and said I must have more time on my hands than she does. I quickly told her we have the same 24 hours in a day, just different priorities. Thank you for all your canning videos that teach safe canning. I have been building up my pantry for 2 years and have learned so much from your videos.
That's great!
And, that saying where someone says, "You have the same 24 hours a day that Einstein did?" Well, he had helpers. His wife ran the house, etc. But I agree with you about the priorities. I do it all day long. Do I work on a book for KDP, or can sweet potatoes, etc.
Mellisa I’ll bet she’d be round at your house when stocks get low.
I can food all the time as a single person, I’ve got 3 adult children who have all made themselves into families. 2 of them are on the ball and know what’s happening but aren’t realising they need to prep immediately, the other 1 doesn’t believe me when I tell her that her family is in danger and she works for the government.
I’m canning for all of them as well as myself they know their mum loves them like nobody else
Yeah… my home-canned foods are healthier than anyone’s store-bought foods!
Eating out of the freezer like every early December, planning for Canuary!
I live in a retirement community. I have a very small backyard that I am prohibited from digging up the ground without approval of our HOA. No problem. During lockdown, I bought small swimming pools, drilled holes in the bottom and filled it with soil. I then bought grow bags. I even did a hanging cherry tomato row with 2 liter bottles. I gardened for three years until I got tired of my hubby complaining about “the mess”. I gave it all away.
This year, I told him I want raised wooden beds for Xmas. I know he bought them. Can’t wait for Dec 25!
Sounds like a Great Idea. ❤
I used to live in a hoa community with similar restrictions. I quietly moved my bushes slightly forward. I planted tomato plants behind the bushes and kept them trimmed to the height of the bushes. I planted green peppers between the bushes and kept them trimmed in front and height. We had regular inspections but no one caught on
I have always said it takes more time and more money to live this lifestyle. I work full time and am away from home 12 hours a day - yes, change your priorities to get it all done!
🙏🙌❤️
Way to go!!!
Get a Green stalk and grow veggies
My husband and I, both in our fifties, live on 2 acres. We volunteered to help an older gentleman tear down a building that was collapsing. He asked us to take as much building materials as we thought we could use. We built 6 raised beds for gardening. We used wood that was too spongey to burn to fill them up, then used smaller branches, unfertilized soil, and topped with good fertilized soil on the top 18 inches. The wood will break down and it kept the cost down for our taller raised beds. Finding ways to cut costs and reusing is part of homesteading also in my opinion. Working with what you have.
It is amazing what you can do with a little ingenuity!
Fantastic! We reused old cedar boards from an old fence to build two big and deep raised beds. There's so many opportunities to reuse and make it work with some outside-of-the-box thinking. I love watching homesteader shows because one can glean so much.
You likely already know this but your base of wood is the basis for what the Germans call Hugelkultur. It's genius!
What a blessing that was!! Yes to repurposing and remembering how neighbors can bless each other as it sounds like you all did! 😊🙌❤️
My beef with acreages is the big house with a huge 3 acre green, watered, mowed yard which is no longer growing food. They have popped up around us. The water runoff poisons the creeks. Then they call the cops during lambing and weaning season due to the noise, or that my yard with pasture poultry is unsightly. A few years back we had a doctor buy 40 acres then build a beautiful McMansion near the lot line next to a generational hog farm. They sued due to the smells and noises. They lost but cost the farm family time and money. Thanks for listening as I needed to let this out.
That’s crazy! In our CC&R’s it specifically states because we are residential/Agricultural that there will be all manner of noises and smells due to animals and harvesting and people have to live with it .
40 acres and built their house next to a pig farm is NUTS!
Sounds to me like the Dr goofed!
Hope the doctor kept his day job! A homesteader he was not! 😅
Now that shows just how stupid educated people can be. Did the Dr. think his McMansionshould shut down a farm? He shouldn't have built next to a farm. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
I live in the inner city. I have converted most of my yard to garden space. I compost and collect water. Several neighbors have started gardening, we all support each other. It's been cool that even where we live we can make food and build community.
That’s wonderful!
that's so great
I LOVE that you are building community! I share eggs with my neighbors and have given seedlings to a young family starting out with raised beds. In turn, I’ve rec’d homemade bread and other small gifts. It’s wonderful.❤
That is wonderful ❤
I live on 1/3 acre, in a tourist area. I’m turning 64 next month. I have chickens and several raised beds, containers and grow bags. I swear I have enough seeds to plant a full fledged farm, but seeds can last awhile as you said. I’ve turned to scratch cooking more and more. I’ve taught myself preserving food with a water bath and recently upped my game and bought a pressure canner a couple of months ago, which I love! A year and a half ago I bought a whole house generator, and we have steadily be making repairs on the house, the plan is to have it in tip top condition by the time we turn 70. Also because I live on the Massachusetts coast I can dig clams, gather oysters and even go crabbing. I also when time permits go foraging. Even at my age I love learning new skills. Love your channel! ❤
We had what was called a "hobby farm" for 30 years. Got up early, went to bed late seven days a week. On five acres we had 99 laying hens (not allowed to have more), 50 meat chickens, 4 pigs, 6 ewes and their 9 lambs, two dozen rabbits, two dozen ducks, a couple of goats, and sometimes we added a dozen turkeys and a beef cow. Everybody got fed twice a day...the last job of the evening was to wash close to 100 eggs. On top of that we had a small bakery. We did all our own butchering and sausage making, We also heated completely with wood, (winters would often get down to 40 below occasionally), so we hauled wood. We were on a well that wasn't very good, so we hauled water and were very careful with it. Our garden relied on rain water, and we had barrels everywhere. (and yes, it was packed in 5 gallon buckets, two at a time.). What convinced us to quit and move away? Slaughter regulations. We treated our animals like pets and they died humanely. We could not stomach the idea of packing them into a vehicle to drive them away to get killed. They would be terrified. Now we live in a slightly warmer growing zone with raised beds, a few hens and three rabbits, 2 bucks and a doe, but she won't be bred unless absolutely necessary...it is the manure we want. We finally can grow fruit trees (the other place it was only crabapples that survived the climate), which we are really happy about. Water is not a problem, thank God. Even though we only have an acre of land, we should be able to feed ourselves if food is unaffordable.
That’s a lot of work!
I live near apple country. So many orchards are now suburban subdivisions.
@@SuttonsDaze You do what you gotta do, no other income coming in for ten years. But it was a good life.
@Andreagardner... Same here in Florida. Massive amounts of orange groves are now subdivisions :(
There is possibly one problem I see could happen and that is if you want to bred your female, she may not take. The reason why I say that is because I have a female that hasn’t taken from different males. So I hope for your sake that won’t be a problem for you.
I’m in a suberb apartment…for years I’ve been canning, fermenting, freezing…stocking my pantry with what we need when we find sales. I’m 64 would love to have a house and garden. Right now, my balcony does what it can. We live in Southern Ontario, nothing is growing right now…but I do what I can in these crazy times…I have been trying to learn how to make soap..
@@leavingayeye5198thank you so much for the heads up! Great advice my friend! Cheers from 🇨🇦…stay safe & toasty!
I'm in Southern Ontario too. Near London. Snowmaggedon lately.
@@tonilynncassidy7117it’s been snowing lightly but sure is cold here…stay safe & toasty where you and your loved ones are!
Add Nitric Acid to the glycerin, and you get Nitro Glyceryn 😂
So true Lisa. You make time for what’s important to you. I have a 7-7 M-Th office job that often spills into Friday. We have 8 - 4x8’ raised garden beds, 7 fruit trees, chickens, goats, and forage for wild mushrooms and berries. We purchase food we don’t grow from local farms and ranches as much as we can. I can and freeze dry. I don’t watch much TV, am not up on the Home Goods styles, or have impeccable makeup. It’s busy but so worth it.
It’s all about priorities.
Yard and Estate Sales are great places to find good garden tools.
yes, I have found some wonderful cookbooks from the 1920s, canning jars, pressure caners et. the younger folks that go to the sales just walk past these items.there have been quite a few fondue sets at the last sales I went to.
Don't forget live auctions!
We have lived on the same property for 65 years. It was zoned agricultural all of those years. Then one day, I found out I now live in a recreational zone. Am I supposed to be having fun here now? The only change has been a wood lot and new house. At 70 yrs old, I still don't have anyone to play with in this recreational zone. All of the woods are posted "keep out".
Hunting land now. That is generally what recreational is used for.
I won't say all city people want to move rural and change the landscape, but a lot of them do. People being able to afford a home is becoming a problem, but if you find your self with a little bit of something there is so much you can do. I would love to have acres of land, animals and a huge garden but that's not in my future - so I have my small garden and I support the farmers in my community that are doing what I can't. Thank you for teaching me skills that don't require a farm. I am may never have my own chickens but that doesn't stop me from having Ugly Chicken in my pantry. Hope your doing well, All the best ❤🥂
I blame that scene from Snow White where she's outside throwing grain to the chickens and interacting with the wildlife who are her little helpers. All with a lovely tune in the background. That's what did it for me. I've been wanting to homestead since I was 8.
Lol. After at least 35 years of homesteading, I am still waiting for the mice to clean my floors... When I was growing up my aunt and uncle had an 8 acre homestead with pigs, chickens, a big orchard and a huge market garden. It was obvious that the work was extremely hard but some of my happiest memories are of summers spent with them.
I live on 10 acres. At 78, I find the axiom of "work smarter, not harder" very applicable.
For birthday and Christmas gifts I have started to ask for help with tasks I find difficult. It is a win-win situation. I get the needed task done, I don't have well-meant but un-needed "stuff" entering my house, they don't have to spend their hard earned $$$ on stuff I don't need, and they know that the gift was very, very appreciated.
Brilliant!
Oh my god I love you. My family of five is dreaming of a homestead but there is zero available land in our county for a reasonable price/size. We are to the point where we are so desperate we are willing to message land owners we might know and door knock on properties that look like they own land to see if they will sell or lease a small amount so we can start a business to eventually afford more land. The state of land prices is unbelievable.
Leisa... Thanks to you and Phil. I live in MA in Senior Living in 3 small rooms. But thanks to you I have found so much space to prep. I only wish I could make neighbors to stick up. But I wont preach to the choir anymore. Even family members too. But my granddaughters think...as you say. You rock Nana I broke my ankle not long ago and couldn't and did not need to go food shopping for the whole time. Thanks to you and Phil. But I especially liked to video when the 2 of you want chicken shopping for 600 pounds if chicken. He is just so cute. Anyway I have learned from other preppers but have really nir watching them much anymore. Elisa you have taught me more than anyone else. And you care..a actually care about all if us. When you did the hurricane videos and you showed the caring for all of them. And your feelings you showed. All I can say is wow. I cried right along with you. Thank you again. Linda
It is wonderful that you have found ways to prep in a small space.
I am intrigued by all your books! I wish you would do a video of the very basic books we all should have.
Do you know how to process animals? And do it safely? How to trap, preserve( without power) how to keep your family alive ( injuries would kill many, along with disease from garbage). Build out of little that you have around you? Start there.
I can, freeze, ferment, freeze dry, cold store, and dehydrate. Plus I eat a lot FRESH!! I have 96 acres. Work 7 days per week for decades, but understand life, We live our life, day to day, season to season. it's not about vacations and "time off". I never understood I was a homesteader until a few years back. It still doesn't matter, as I do what I do!
🌳🌲🏡🏠 I can only dream about having some land. How wonderful that would be, going for walks at home, having my own little forest. Small orchard, a raised garden, maybe small animals. I sure dream about it.😊❤
@@heidimisfeldt5685 and that dream doesn’t need much room! Raised beds, grow bags, fig trees, berries - plus hens, meat rabbits & quail can be kept on a very small plot of land. Just steer clear of HOA’s 🤣🤣
We live in the country now. Purchased a few acres of raw land. Decided to take the cash up front needed to connect to electric and rural water and get a small solar system and set up rain water catchment and filtration for roughly the same price. We can take the money we aren’t spending on the monthly bills (around $150-200/ month) to improve and expand those systems.
We used to live in an apartment. We both worked full time and still managed to have a small garden and shop sales to can and dehydrate to put up food. When my husband became bed bound for several months I was still able to keep up most of the things we did, just not as much. It can be done.
Its 530 am and im heading outside, 15 degrees and a little snow to let the chickens out. They are so talkative always but more in the morning . Coffee and chickens evry morning!! Love it.
Ah, then there’s cocktails with the hens in the late afternoon! Fond memories of nibbling on pistachios with one or 2 hens hopping onto my lap to share a snack. 🐓🐓
I have coffee and dogs every morning LOL
I am a suburban homesteader. I grow vegies, ferment, bake, sew, put food by, catch water, work leather, crochet, and whatever else comes to mind to make myself more self sufficient. I'm a rare bird in my area, but there are a couple other households in my extended neighborhood that grow food as well. I could have chickens, but choose not to because we share the land with monster racoons, at least one bobcat and a very comfortable Cooper's Hawk. Plus I wouldn't put it past our crows to figure out how to get some yummy chicken meat as well. I grew up in the country and I know how hard it is to work with livestock. No one who has never done it understands the full extent of illnesses and injuries that are involved with livestock. But, I tell you what, I would rather be outside working on something than partaking in most "civilized" pursuits.
Luckily here where we live in Missouri, we don't have to ask permission to work on your house, build anything, get animals, we just do it. We don't have neighbors close to us, so we can go out and beat on a drum or do anything. We have 80 acres right now. and we built our house in the woods so we don't see the road, which is a dirt road.
We don't have animals though, we just eat veggies, grains, fruits, Also luckily we finally got a tractor. wow what a nice difference. We are debt free also which helps. We have solar, and we are putting in wind power.
Last week we did a huge huge grocery haul, just in case things get crazy. Not only groceries, but other things not edible. We grow in greenhouses, inside growing in the winter months, plus we have three aerogarden devices for having herbs fresh in the winter months. We have five rain catching barrels that we use year around .
Bravo!!
You can try to change your zoning. We did. When we moved to our homestead 40 years ago, we were zoned agriculture. Years later they changed us to residential because they changed the amount of acres you could have to be zoned ag. We were haying our acreage and selling hay. Because we made a specific amount of money from that hay, they changed our zoning back to agriculture.
Well done!
I see a problem with the need to “run to the store” for something being the driving force behind all the dollar stores. I grew up with weekly to monthly shopping trips. We planned trips to save gas and time, we had a list and we stuck to the list/budget. And we didn’t have deliveries or delivery services. When your need for a pizza delivery weighs heavier in the equation than your need for fresh DIY meals, you aren’t a homesteader. 😢
I enlarged your photo to look at your book shelf. I have a volunteer job 3 days a week that resells old library and donated books then $$ donated back to library. I have quite a selection from gardening, dehydrating, bread baking, etc. A friend found my GRAIL of 10 FOXFIRE books. My favorite are my WW2 cookbooks that emphasize wartime rationing.
My biggest laugh is the one to explain "how to make moonshine".
I keep looking at her bookshelves in all the videos too. ❤
My boys are hunters so i have been canning venison but my oldest son brought 2 turkey's to can for them and i am anning the carcasses for them for bone broth. I hope to have it all cannwd for them by the end of the weekend. I tell all my kids that what i do is for a future for their kids because not one of them want to learn how to can. I sell some of my canned foods like pickles and jellies to help pay a little extra of bills like taxes and oil bill. Keep safe out there everyone and keep learning. I also have 8 raised beds plus chickens too.
Growing food should include sprouting. Cheap, takes little space, requires no lights and is a nutritional powerhouse.
Could you suggest an affordable source for seeds? Thank you
I love sprouting!!! I can absolutely enJOY a sprout only salad as I sprout many things 😊
Sprouting and mushroom growing, it’s affordable in the right climate and oysters are very easy! Studies say oyster mushrooms are excellent nutrition especially if you are in a food desert.
@@giancolabird Here in our small town, we have a free seed library in the public library as well as one at the local community college's library. Both are available to the public. You "check out" the seeds you want to grow and "return" some of the resulting saved seeds.
@@giancolabirdamazon
You should have one of your talks on how people plan on making it next 4 years
It will be much longer than 4 yrs. Nothing rolls back in that way. We all have to adopt to new methods
We will make it much better then we did the last four years!
FOR SURE. disaster incoming.
@@Barbara-jn2gw Disaster has been the name of the game for the last 3 yrs
@@paulawinstead5660
And the next four years are going to be "Drill, Baby, drill!" instead of trying to avert hitting climate tipping points! Please do tell me, how is anyone supposed to do any farming/gardening if we cannot rely on a predictable climate anymore but will rather be confronted with more and more weather extremes?
Also, if tariffs really are going to be the name of the game, guess what, it's not going to be the exporting country paying the tariffs, it's the consumers!
I live in a mid sized city and we have a program where you can get two $50 grants for rain barrels. You can also get grants to make rain sink gardens to help with down pours that overwhelm the sewer systems.
That is awesome!
My sewing machine is non-electric. I also have a non-electric washer. Instead of sticking clothes in a dryer, I hang out on a line to dry. I only use the electric washer if I have something BIG that needs washing...like pre-washing yards of cloth before cutting.
I love hanging clothes on line outside, can't now where I live.
im in a subdivision with no chickens allowed. I have half an acre and have planted 3 peach and 2 apple trees, blueberries, I have blackberries trellised on one fence, and 6 grapevines on an arbor. Right now i have 6 raised beds. Our yard has a slope, so they are trellised on the slope, and i have plans to add additional beds. I also have large pots i always grow some extra tomatoes, lettuce, celery, etc in. I just picked up a hog today, and we buy a side of beef each year. I buy bushels of corn, purple hulls, peaches, apples, and tomatoes each year to suppliment my garden, as my fruit trees are 3 years old. I can a lot, including meals. I buy my eggs feom local people most of the time. That is notbas easy in the winter when im not going to buy produce and chickens stop laying, so i end up buying from the store. I have 2 rain barrels. Id love land, but we have to live where husband can get to work, and he is not interested in working and coming home to farm and yard work. I buy bulk grains, so really only pick up milk and little items every few weeks. Am i a homestead? no, but im just enough, my friends probably think im weird.
Try rabbits, since you can't have chickens.
You are achieving great goals with what you have to work with. Yes, you are ahomesteaders. Take pride in what you are achieving and never give up. Adjust your methods to achieve your goals.
Or try quail!
Love what you’ve got going on….well done! Agree with the other 2 comments. You can raise meat rabbits outside, they qualify as “pets” and should be allowed by an HOA. No sound! Quail should also be “under the radar”. The birds are hardy and prolific egg-layers. One male and 4-5 female quail will keep you supplied with eggs and meat. Stay weird! My family thinks I’m crazy🤷🏻♀
I'd absolutely say that you're a homesteader. We make the best with what we do have, that's what homesteading is about.
@@joannc147 lol to the stay weird! I love it
We couldn't afford land years ago,cant now. I have 1 acre. Grow apples,blueberries,lemons and oranges. I have 180 sq foot veggie garden with plans to expand. Plus 3 vertical garden systems. I worked my butt off this summer. All with bad back. I keep learning how to preserve more food,how to make our garden better and building a stock pile of food. I dont want to rely on grocery store ever. I buy from local farmers too. Gardening set up was $$$$,but I am growing healthy food.
I’m a suburban homesteader on only 1 acre, but I’m doing what I can. I have chickens, honeybees and goats, as well as a modest but growing kitchen garden and food forest. I’m doing what I can.
We would love to have 50-100 acres also.........but at 60+ - don't think it's gonna happen!! I have a hyrdoponic garden in the house for the winter. Hubby says "buy once, cry once" when it comes to his tools and things for the house. Thanks for your video!
Getting in involved is what I always advise. I started a garden club for the community to help encourage/learn to grow local foods and help each other and the food bank out.
I bought 4 acres, but really only worked 2 which were the most productive for pigs, chickens and vegetables. Yes I worked a job too, but this kept us going.
Just found you, and the 2 vids I've watched so far are very matter of fact, non-panic mongering, and refreshingly non-political or religious. Hoping that's your normal, b/c I'm liking your presentation and content.
Thanks, that's how I like to keep it!
I was homesteading for a few years on a rented steading - a few dairy goats, two pigs who were my rotovators, chickens, ducks and geese. I was breeding the poultry for sale mainly and yes, it's graft and I was holding down a fulltime job at the same time. I'd been around farms most of my life one way or another so I knew what I was getting into but my now ex had romantic ideas about what it would be like. When the reality of the muck and bullets 365 days of the year, a close relationship with mud in winter and finding that there was no time off, he fell out of love with the idea and left the lot to me. I'd do it again but on a smaller scale and on my own.
Similar to my last experience LOL. He ran away at 3 in the morning and never came back, after watching me, not lifting a finger at all.
@@denisewilson8367 Lol City boys don't have the staying power
I live in a mobile home park. And I have my spare room as a pantry. I have been canning a lot lol. I have a freezer full of meat when on sale and now turning it into canned beef roast. I have a couple of chickens hidden between my mobile home and shed. I have gardens on my porch and small raised beds. I have berries that I'm waiting to produce. I have quail in my spare bathroom for eggs and meat. I have grey water catchments. The biggest thing right now is I need to work on fortification and a waste plan.
You can do it. I know I have a lot more space than a lot of people but use every inch u can.
You are truly resourceful and an inspiration! I bet you have the best “yes I can attitude” - hats off to you!
That's amazing. I hope the chooks are quiet LOL!
@sheilal3172 thank u
@tsa-wnc thank u. it has taken awhile to get here. But it's worth it.
Hi! I took am in a trailer park😑. Temu sells "collars" for chickens. Next spring I think I will give them a try and squeeze those chickens between the house and the shed. A girl after my own heart 💖😊😊😊
Love this, Leisa! We each must become more self sufficient…in whatever ways that fit/are available to us as individual circumstances dictate. I have a small urban property but my little back yard (80 ft long x 12 ft wide) is more than enough to grow food for my family of two. I can, preserve and am learning to make foods from scratch. I have careful plans to add to my equipment and skill set each year; for me it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. Absolutely love your mindset and your many tutorials (canning😍)! People have got to wake up and be ready for the days ahead. Sending you my thanks and best wishes for a full recovery after your surgery ❤
Keep up the good work!
Great advice. I live on a west coast island of about 1200 people. Semi retired, on a 1/3 of an acre. I am establishing a permaculture garden/food forest situation. I come from a back-to-the-land, off grid, farming back ground and I know how hard that lifestyle is. I was weeding by the time I was 5/6 years old. 100 ft rows by the age of 9. I became a horticulturist as an adult, working in garden centres and nurseries. I was 'ruined' for farming, but I have always grown, preserved , or stock piled what I could for my family.
We are a small family on a small property in the suburbs. Thanks to you guys, I'm learning to small garden to supplement and grow bags have been my life saver in his crazy weather. Window gardening and grow lights got me further than i ever expected.
I just added an 8 raised bed garden to my yard last year. Still learning how to garden and hoping to get better each year. I will never have a full scale "homestead" as the most livestock I can have where I live is 4 chickens and even then I have to go through hoops to be able to have them. Thankfully I can at least have rain barrels as water is ridiculously expensive here. I had to cash out some of my earned time at work so I used the money for a freeze dryer. I'm hoping to build up a big stock of homemade MRE's and ingredients for when the garden struggles. I'm trying to do what I can to be prepared for when things are worse off than they are now.
Smart
I’ve lived in the suburbs for all my life and have grown a garden for 32 year. I love it and hate it lots of work but keeps me young and satisfied when I see all I’ve grown and canned.😊
Great list. New to your channel, love your content.
I wish there was a way homesteaders could find each other locally and connect. Strength in numbers
We have our greenhouse hooked to solar power, planting a small orchard, grow most of our fruit and veggies, then preserve in various way, and purchase 1/2 cow yearly (empty nesters here) from a local rancher as we only have 5 acres total and no room to grow out our own beef😒 I try and add 1 new skill a yr to my homestead belt.
I just invested in solar panels and an Anker solar battery. So happy I did, I can't make my greenhouse tropical, but I can keep it from freezing. It should have recouped the cost in a year.
@ Right! That’s all we are striving for keeping what’s in their from freezing not providing it a tropical vacation! lol. So far we have been able to do it, but we are just now getting some freezing temps in Western Ky. Fingers crossed for both of us!
Makes me glad I live in a trailer park. I have raised garden beds, made more, bought more, I live in a very swclu area. Everyone leaves me alone
I worked 12-16 hour days and grew my own food. You are so tight, it's all about priorities.
My town of 3000 people have also been experiencing the crazy appreciation in house as well as land prices. In MA this means my property's value has surged in value for real estate taxation. Last year my taxes increased $405 and this year they increased another $825...I'm more than pinched. Budgeting for 2025 has proven more than challenging. Grain and other supplies for my chickens, fuel for the cultivator I use in the garden and gas for the car...who knows how much to add when figuring out what to plan for. I'm retired, fixed income. I did one weekly market with jams, pickles and baked goods from April through October and plan to do it again in 2025. Its a lot of work to have what I need weekly for this market. I'm also thinking I need to find the time and energy to do at least one other market during the week this coming summer. I'm hoping I'll have the energy to keep up so I can hold onto what I've built.
Did you know, in U.S. at law, only citizens living OFF the mainland are liable to pay taxes, not mainland citizens! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
Feed is crazy. So about two years ago, I experimented with the layer feed. I thought, "In the olden days, there wasn't layer mash, etc. So the chickens got corn, right? For two years I've only been feeding corn (both whole and cracked - they choose which pan to eat out of), and haven't lost a bird except one to a hawk. I have a couple favorite hens that are over eight years old - no issues. The eggs are fine, nice shells, they lay a lot, depending on time of year. Just putting that out there. Oh, and even today, with a dusting of snow, they are out running around in the pine needles, out in the grass. I save pumpkin goop in the freezer and that is a treat they like, too.
@@palominogirl2732 They got corn but they also got kitchen scraps, and were left out to free range for bugs and greens. They were fed back their own shells broken up and scrambled in their own eggs for the protein and calcium. So corn and scratch were supplemental along with food scraps.
Hang in there Pantry Team! Gotta say I just learnt' how to waterbath butter & jelly out of apple scraps (only a few pints) - am graduating up to pressure canning over the holidays! 💞 Thank you Super L for these awesome vids!!!
We recycle and reuse everything we can - yes it takes time but it’s great to have a stock of basic needs (nuts, bolts, screws, buttons). Seed saving is also a great way to save money and ensure continued food supply. 🇦🇺
Am in Aus, also. NSW. Where are you based, RuthJames?
Your right I love the corn fields we are 10 acres in the middle of hundreds of acres. I just love it. It's quiet and I enjoy it every day. Wise advice you have helped many of us. Thank you so much. Have a Blessed day and praying you are healing quickly.
It’s definitely not easy. I have to fight, wrangle, separate constantly…. But it’s all worth it to me! And I work 20-30 hours a week plus homeschool my kids. It’s a family effort! We are trying hard to get to not buying any feed at all. We aren’t there yet though! So many good points in your video! Thank you! 😊
Lisa, I live in the middle of my 9.25 acres in a rural part of the state. The land parcels to one side of me are anywhere from 10 to 80 acres and are mostly owned by wealthy folks who (so far) are leasing out land adjacent to mine to farmers, but I'm told will be selling off parcels and building large homes. My 35 yr old Kubota tractor has taken about three big bites ($3K to $5K) in repairs but I wouldn't be able to maintain my land without it. Taxes in my county were reassessed this year and my property taxes doubled. I don't have food animals and have no intention of doing so, though sometimes I think renting a family of goats from someone might be helpful. I do consider myself something of a homesteader, and agree fully that this is not an inexpensive way to live; but for me, the quiet (so far) and the sight of wildlife right off my back porch, fresh air, and privacy are worth the inconveniences. Old saying, "ya pays yer money and ya takes yer choice" was never more true than with homesteading.
Egg bound chickens are fun 🥹 We’ve been preparing for this for over 40 years (we were homesteaders before it was cool) The kicker is 2 parents with dementia, didn’t plan for that, I digress. The bears trying to get into the beehives, bunnies eating our food, so now our gardens look like prison yards. The weekenders buy land and have nicer stuff then those that live here, their right, just annoying, lol! We also had to insulate our septic drain field, lack of insulating snow. One reason canning keeps changing and evolving, (I seed save heirloom seeds), is also the soil, water, environment that has changed, it is not our grandmothers garden anymore. Find a passion, skill and trade with someone who is in need (we trade honey for stuff, also, handy to know a guy who knows how to fix stuff) Thank you Leisa!
With everything in the environment changing it is more important than ever to do soil test and add back in what is missing. Don't forget the much needed minerals that have been stripped from the soil.
@@aquadrops6138 Yes!! Like a checking account, you can’t just make withdrawals, you’ll run out. Have to make deposits.
@@aquadrops6138 Yes, just like a checking account. If all you do is withdrawals, you’ll run out of funds. Need to make deposits also. Thank you for the reminder aquadrops!
Feed costs went up 75 percent in the last 4 years. Feeding 20 cows now for the same price i fed 130 plus ! They keep saying cheep feed, haven't found it yet. Been almost 40 years in this!
Yes! So true.
💯 agree with you about preferring tending critters in subzero temp to driving in rush hour traffic! Thanks for giving that perspective today, as I was grumbling about the wind chill
I’m an engineer, but taught myself electronic repair skills.
Now everything is electronic- that’s a worthwhile skill to repair stuff.
Also started an allotment charity and run one now…. Free food. Cleared debt.
I’m also on the village council. 😉
Something that has concerned me, was feeding my animals. It really is pretty easy keeping us humans fed, but goats, chickens cats and dogs all need feeding too. I looked around at what I had and what could be used. Someone was cleaning out a rented commercial warehouse, and they had literal tonnes of hemp seed. Looked it up, chickens will eat that. I replace 30% of their commercial feed with it. And I probably have 2 more years worth stored up. I had to cut some small native trees out, and dang it they sending shoots up from the stump. The goats live tree forage. They eat that 2 days a week, along with all the acorns I gather. The goats also love corn stalks, the chickens with eat the cobs. Everything cleans up the gardens. So Im planting mor corn next year, along with pumpkins and amaranth. Ive been cooking the dogs food and canning it up from scraps of animal products and some rice.
Being a mom/caretaker to my chickens for almost 16 yrs I have learn some what I feel is valuable information. YT is a wonderful source of knowledge..by fermenting your chicken feed you can literally cut your bill in half..1-chicken only needs 1-1/2 cups of feed per day..Don’t need to buy pine shavings or hay you can use fresh grass or leaves as their bedding..Chickens temps run 106F they don’t need any kind of bedding on the floor of the coop nor any direct air flow like leaving a small vent open it should be closed ..they should never have a heat lamp during freezing temps unless it’s below 35* or the chicken is to young..it is said if using a heat lamp that it prevents them from adjusting to the cold..Use a heated water dish to keep from freezing and depending on temp you can put a few golf balls on the pan of water as it starts to freeze the golf balls move and prevent it.
Everything I mentioned I have never done it’s just what I have learned recently..wish I had known about several of these but everything is a learning curve each and every day for me anyway.
I hope this info is of use to someone and that it will help save money. One of my main ones is come this spring is definitely not let my chickens eat at free will like I have for the whole 16yrs I have had them..I bought a feeder at TS that holds 50# bags, I fill it back up as needed letting my chickens eat as much as they want..had I known that each chicken only needs 1-1/2 cups of feed a day I could have saved literally $100’s of dollars..oh then add in fermenting the feed to stretch it would have saved me $100’s if not $1000’s.
I think and act a lot like a homesteader even though I live in an apartment!!! I grow a small amount of food (as much as possible on my tiny patio) with a 1000 watt grow light! However, I may end doing that this year, as it's now costing over $100.00 a month to keep it running 18 hours a day from March thru October, and just not sure it's financially worth it anymore!!! I think that $100.00 a month might may be better spent buying organic fruits and veggies from the local organic farm stand. I do a lot of freezing, canning, dehydrating, freeze drying, and big batch cooking. Finally got 2 shelving units for my 2nd bedroom, extended pantry. Waiting for the holidays to be over, and then it's game on in organizing that room and getting everything in order!!! I'm so EXCITED to get this project done...have enough saved to buy 2 more shelves if needed, after the first part is completed!!! Stack it to the rafters friends it's only just begun...
Brightest Blessings!!! 💗
Sounds like you’re on the right track!
I have automated hydroponic units (tiny) for lettuce and herbs. It keeps the LED lights on 12 to 14 hrs a day, depending on what I am growing.
I bought Muscle Racks from Walmart either in December or January, just happened to catch a good sale price of $84.99 for the size I wanted. I was watching another YT channel where she bought 3 units an was able to make two units for storing her canned foods.
Good on ya! I suggest very strongly that you run back-to-back duct tape or bungy cords around the shelving about two inches up so the odd earthquake doesn't send everything to the floor. Best wishes.
Priorities! Working with what you have works. 1/10th of an acre. Planted fruit trees an in ground garden, compost, vermiculture, chickens, rain catchment and cinderblock rsised beds. Canning. Stocking. Prepping any way we can. Working 7 days a week. Where there is will there is a way. Its getting harder for sure. Harder times are coming. We are in stage 3 drought no outdoor watering. Hubby came from farmers his dad lost family land due to hard times in farming. I fear our farmers losing land to the high expenses & the younger gen not wanting it.
I live in Bavaria, Germany. We do small scale homesteading. 8 chickens, 25 meatbirds, we are growing and canning a lot of vedgetables and fruit. We bake bread and make our own pasta. But we never could live just out of our garden. Here raising meatbirds is a lot more expensive than bying chicken in a supermarket. I do it for fun and for better quality of meat.
While watching your video I was cooking tomorrows lunch. A stew of cabbage, carrots, potatoes and some smoked sausages. The total costs for a family of 7 are less then 10 €.
Making well tasting but cheap dishes once or twice a week helps a lot with the ever rising prices for food. I teach the recepies to my children (11 and 13). Even a small take out pizza here is a lot more expensive.
😜 🤪 😝
Other than our cell phone bill and propsbe, we have no utility bills. We have been energy independent for 24 years and counting. We started with car batteries, then marine batteries. We now have a power wsll that we built ourselves buying batteries breakers wires etc. Our water is from our spring, gravity fed and runs year round. We have a hair under 100 acres, and the nearest people are about 6 miles away. Not bad for 2 city people from Brooklyn and Manhattan. We moved here 24 years ago and no plans on moving anytime soon. I'm 63 and 61 hubby.
Edit to add....we started with 2/50 watt solar panels. We now have those same 2-50 watt panels and have added 4- 100 watt panels. We bought our 100-watt panels from Amazon and paid less than 120.00 each for them. Our last 2 panels were purchased last October 2023.
Sounds like my dream. You are so lucky. But hard work is what it takes to hold on to it.
@denisewilson8367 my grandparents on both sides are responsible for teaching me what is important in life. My husband was raised by his mom, as his dad could leave Cuba. His mom taught him his values and to respect and appreciate women at all times.
2022 land prices made us faint but the rate was still low. We were the top bidder on 5 small properties that we nevertheless lost to cash buyers. We ended up settling for only a one acre wooded hillside property. Yes you can homestead on a wooded lot. No you can’t have a cow. But I’m processing acorns for flour and “coffee”. I planted other fruit & nut trees ( selected for 2 zones colder because of polar vortex weather anomalies ). Chickens enjoy the shade and the weeds and bugs and the kitchen scraps. Our annual & perennial veg grow in tidy metal raised beds on the only sunny section: the driveway. We are buying firewood deliveries for the wood stove we put in; but we’ve got future firewood options here. Even so, I have planted some coppiceable trees for renewable longterm sources.
My main concerns are: that we both work from home and are currently reliant on operable internet to pay the mortgage; and that our New England neighbors are standoffish and living on unproductive ornamental landscape properties.
I hope you are feeling ok. God bless you. We need you.
Boy are you right about a tractor. We are almost to the point where we will have to bite that bullet. Ugh!! Great job ma’am. The hurricane destroyed our driveway and it’s just to big of job.
Thank you, thank you, for the information and the encouragement you are providing in your videos.
We got creative this fall and made a dibbler tool to plant all the garlic from another tool (leaf rake) that broke. It saved my energy to not have to crawl along planting the garlic.
It’s amazing what you can do with a little ingenuity!
LOL at myself. Had to look up "dibbler" tool. I thought it was a word you created to name the "new" tool you made from the broken leaf rake🤣. My mom gave me her dads broken shovel handle that he used many moons ago.(He worked in a greenhouse/nursery/planted/produced/sold veggies at farmers markets in the 30's up until he retired) He had taken the broken staff with the metal handle and whittled the end to a point and used it for making holes in the ground to drop his seeds into. That point, from yrs of use has such a patina and has a rounded instead of a sharp pointed end.
I just came across your show today and enjoyed it very much! When you spoke of the bread bags for boot liners i had to subscribe! For me as a child, the bags were my boots. I've come a long way now and homesteading is my way of life, garden, chickens, food storage and reuse everything i can!
Looking forward to more of your shows!
We are Waco, Texas. Before (you know) it was a great small/ big town. Then the TV show, and bamn!!! It is insane the amount of people that are coming here. The rural areas are becoming no more. It is very sad. We would love to move to the country but, it is all becoming apartments. The tiny bit of country left, is way too expensive (3x the price for land). So, we make the most of what we have. Wish we could have the land with the peace, but we know it will be impossible. This is a great important video, thank you!
Exactly this! It's not easy. It's hard! Rewarding, but hard! It feels so good, and we are in the perfect place! It's cold, but I just got my chickens a heater. It sucks already trudging down to the coop, but it is so worth it for the kids too!
Believe me when I tell you, your chickens don't need a heater. If you lose power for any reason they will not be accustomed to the cold and THAT will kill them. They have 104 body temp. They don't need heaters.
@SuttonsDaze I ordered a solar one on Amazon.. I haven't received it yet, should I put in a return? I have been making sure their coop has plenty of wood chips and it seems pretty warm, but I worry. This is our first year with chickens, they were left for us when our friends moved so I'm still learning all I can
@@jessihansen1375 I wouldnt waste the money. They really don't need it.
@@jessihansen1375moisture is worse than cold in the winter. Ventilation is important. You don't want the wind blowing across their roosts, but you want your coop ventilated enough that a heater wouldn't really do much anyway. The only thing they're really good at is starting fires. I don't even use the heated waterers anymore. Even the best ones froze up when the real cold hit. I use a big rubber dog dish that I can knock the ice out of and dump water in. I'll do that a couple of times a day if it's cold enough that they don't keep it from freezing over themselves. Half the time they'll eat the snow instead of walking to the water dish. They're basically a food fueled heater in a down coat. If you let them free range like I do keep an eye on them when there's deep snow. I've had to rescue a couple that got stuck in places where their feet couldn't get traction, and they couldn't flap their way out. Food, water, and a safe place to sleep. They don't really need much else from us. Don't let the facebook groups stress you out. Plenty of them are just worrying because they're new, too. 😊
@Freeland-Farm thank you so much!! I've had to grab only one hen from the snow so far, but she was so thankful 🤣 we already have 2 feet of snow😳
Love your site! I live in a rural area and my neighbor just had their farm zoned industrial. Our zoning board only sent letters to adjoining property owners. Grrrrr. You are correct, you need to attend meetings. I do not even have a garden now because of health reasons, however we did have large gardens, and did lots of canning, and freezing food.. remember the old fable..... the ant and the grasshopper? My kids all have thanked me for teaching them to be the ants in life. Lol
I understand I favored signs that say welcome to California: now go home for years. I have a plan to make the most of my yards, vining crops in front with food crops hidden in flowers in containers. Back yard for easily swiped foodcrops that remain out of sight. All container gardening: buckets fabric bags planters cuz pocket gopher!Lining the driveway fence with earthboxes ihave been using for 20 years!!! Garden towers(2) use what you have! I have sliding glass patio doors that were removed and saved. Perfect to make a teepee for early planting! Keep preaching to the faithful Leisa!
In Australia farmers who can't sell or don't want to can lease them out or divide it up and lease it out in blocks of land.
I'm an automation engineer. with the right automation, a lot of the homestead can be managed by machines.
Im a permaculturist too, looking for communities interested in integrating some technology to their operation
Just checked and several of our county’s libraries have a seed catalogue to choose from
Thank you for all the wonderful information you share with us all 😊
Fact: the city of Gladwin, MI. Has a population of about 3,000. Many residents are lower income or retired seniors. Within the city limits are TWO regular Dollar General, and a new DG Market, which carries more fresh food, fresh meats etc. DG's business model is to build a store every 11 miles or so. In addition to the 3 DG in the city limits, there are MANY stores throughout Gladwin County. It's like we are being invaded!
Well
Our deepfreeze is over 50 years old. Never as much as a hick up so definitely not replacing it with a more energy efficient one. I'm on fridge #3 in 15 years... totally regrett selling my well working one for a sleeker, more energy efficient one...
@@carmenfringer4740 There are instances were older is better. My washer and dryer are always old and used, it's easier to repair myself. When my last 15-year-old washer died I bought another used one from the same guy. I don't want circuit boards everywhere in my appliances. That's what dies if there's a power surge if the power goes out and comes back on, and once there are tariffs on China and our trading partners Canada and Mexico, we are going to run into issues with getting replacement electronics and parts. An appliance that doesn't run and can't be fixed is worthless.
The zoning thing is because some people cannot fathom that your neighbor that works second shift and goes to bed at 3 am does not want to hear your rooster everyday at sunrise
Amen!
I've never been able to buy any land.but I live in a triplex apt.my landlord lets me grow veggies in buckets and flower beds.i buy eggs at chicken auctions and hatch them out for my friends who live outside city limits.i hatched out guineas.geese.ducks.quail.chickens.i also buy my friends rabbits.
You are 100% right. I've been able to get minimal solar, a couple of raised beds, & some combustibles stored for a small dakota pit. Can't see myself chopping up bunnies for meat, & chickens get the code out to our neighborhood like they're riding rockets! So I'm thinking about fish...& a stocked pantry for my wish & action list. Thanks again, Leiza, for your Ugly Chicken tutorial. It helped a lot. Now f only my tomatoes will produce well...😊
We have a big vegetable garden and some fruit trees. We are vegetarian and so we would not have chickens. We bought a canner in 2020 and love it. We have a freezer and a dehydrater. I don’t consider us homesteaders, but we still do lots of things that homesteaders might do. We do what my parents did, garden, can, freeze, etc.
If farms are located anywhere near a bigger city, then farms get sold to become subdivision or apartments.
Plus the uptick of laws, regulations and fee terms for the farmers many have to give up there farms.
Spot on! I’m in a rural area but live in town and I see the sad sell off of farm land. I’m 69 and have gardened for years. I collect rain water and at times washing machine water. My friends know I want all of their leaves (I buy them a box of bags). I use them for building the soil and mulching. Four years ago I got tired of fighting the weeds and my bad back so I put in galvanized water troughs, drilled holes in the bottom and started growing my garden in them. I have the knowledge to can but choose not to anymore. I have purchased my seeds for next year and have traded extra seedlings with friends for different varieties. I just traded sun chokes for eggs last week.
If we have the knowledge on HOW, we can survive AND thrive! Thank you, Leisa!
I enjoyed your encouragement, thank you
I work full time, partially disabled, grow a garden and can everything i can get. Yes priorities. I'm trying to get a greenhouse built fire before next season this extreme Temps this year killed everything
Cold frames can be a good in between step that can be made with the same windows that will be used for the greenhouse
Great video and great ideas!!!! I need to write these down when I'm not working (with this playing in background). Thanks for doing this one!
This is crucial gold wisdom nuggets you dropped. I’m going to re-listen and take notes. Thank you so much!
I've built homesteads from scratch over the years. It is a frame of mind as well as a life-style. This latest one works for me for the most part. Thanks for the video. You mentioned a couple of points that I hadn't considered.
I've been Prepping since the late 70's so I have nearly 50 years of Preps. A team of close net friends will be here on the farm when SHTF. The other members will bring some preps with them and I am putting stocks in some of their homes in case I have to move or to help them if they can not make it here when SHTF. Retired, I mow with a push mower. I mow the half mile road to the back woods twice a year with the push mower. Loggers left many tree branches on the ground recently so I can cut up firewood to season without cutting any trees down. That will keep me busy this winter. I enjoy mowing and cutting firewood. Keep Prepping my friends. Thank you Lisa for your knowledge.
Our city transplants here do this: They move to a rural area that's been farmed since, oh, you know, the 1700's, because it's 'so pretty'. Then, they decide to get involved in the town hall matters, and want zoning to control agriculture. Egads! That farmer left mud on the road! Worse yet, there might be 'MANURE' on the road, etc. My hay guy lives in a place like this, where the landscape is littered with huge 'Right to Farm' signs. IF you don't like the country, county just the way it is, stay the heck where you are. I have my fingers crossed on this, because my little township is the last one in the county (because mobile homes are allowed) where we don't have zoning. Places I used to ride my horses now have houses on them, and after 30 years of improving my land, I hope I don't have to move and start over because of the transplants, etc.
This is why it's important for you and your long-time rural neighbors to become actively involved in those town hall meetings.
@@paulawinstead5660 I don't live where the anti-farming stuff is. Yet. But I will be very involved if it starts. So far, our little place of a few hundred people is OK.
We just got a 1500 watt solar generator to use for the refrigerator and freezer. Next will be propane heater.
I'm commenting because I have a pretty typically urban lifestyle in hopes of showing you can start anywhere. We grow some food on the balcony of our appartment (herbs, citrus, radishes, ...). I keep our pantry stocked, so we can cover our bases if we can't leave the house for a couple of days. As for services, I can clean safely and efficently, mend clothes (and sow them, but I have to aquire a new sowing machine) and do minor repairs (unblock pipes, install lights and sinks, do very minor car repairs on older vehicles). My current goals are towards safeguarding against energy blackouts.
We have to buy hay for our cows & goats. We got 64 bales of hay this year. That's it! We have been in a drought since May. We spent $2k to plant fields & now we are buying hay. Then in a week we went from 70° to 15°. The weather is crazy. Land. We are getting so many city people in our area. Not happy about it.
Rude
@First-p1n No what is rude is that they come here and try to change the way of life here to what they had in the city. If that's what they want, then stay there!
@@First-p1n a response from a city person who moved to the country?
I live in a suburban area.
Ive been growing quite a few veggies. This year I added canning and making bread.
Another idea about mulch… some businesses have the mulch dug out and replaced with fresh (think about how thick some pile it on and they can’t add on top of it). We had one business drop of a dump trailer load full of mulch here. Took us 2 years to use it all.
We have to 'not' buy items that have a tarrif. The tarrif is a tax, more for the super rich to steal. Use thrift stores, do not buy processed food from elsewhere.
Tariffs are a bargaining tool to make companies comply and play fair. China and Europe have ripped America off for years much to line our politicians pockets. We have to buy American products. China wants to sell us products and not buy ours and so does the European countries. Tariffs will get the balance back in line. I worry more about the way our country and states charge us property taxes for taxes we’ve already paid because they can’t balance a budget just keep charging us more and different taxes. The federal government needs to shrink by 90 percent and send most things back to states and stop giving our tax dollars away without no say from American tax payers
What do we make to sell them?
@@MarcelleBryant-c3u cars, wheat, corn, appliances, furniture. We used to have extra gas until that was shut down and we buy from other countries stupidity
@@MarcelleBryant-c3u This is a minuscule list of what the US exports to China. The list is HUGE and the below pertains to just fertilizers.
China Imports from United States of Fertilizers Value Year
Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Other Fertilizers $20.17M 2023
Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Potassic $5.62M 2023
Animal or Vegetable Fertilizers, Fertilizers Produced By the Mixing $138.82K 2023
Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Nitrogenous $127.03K 2023
Mineral or Chemical Fertilizers, Phosphatic $2.54K 2017
Some of other goods that China Imports from United States: Salt, sulphur, earth, stone, plaster, lime and cement and aluminum.
Fortunately I have recently purchased a small rotovator, also a light weight strimmer.
The zip ties are probably made in China. In my country it has been wet for months, seeds are not growing. I have also just bought 2 grow lights to set up in my terrace room.