Wanted: homesteading ideas

[northgirl]

I finally have a opportunity to buy a chunk of land so I need some input and workable resourceful ideas. Here are the facts:
Extremely cold winters, sometimes -40 and short growing seasons
Land size will be aprox. 1/4 section
I want animals but only if they provide a need or service
Power may be limited

My goal is to eventually gain self sufficiency to a large degree so I welcome all ideas on ways to live, survive off the land and gain independence(money, food and energy ect.)
Thanks in advance!!! :baby04: .

[anniew]

how big is a section?
what are the average temps for the summer? How long of a frost free season do you have?
What are your water resources? Any pasture/haying possibilties? What compass exposure? What are your skills? What equipment do you have or can you obtain?
What size household?
It's hard to give advice without some background.
Ann

[WayneR]

Northgirl,
A couple of suggestions, please:

Get the book '5 acres and independence' from the library and read it a couple of times before you do anything.

If you are local to the area in which you want to live, consider the large ammounts of feed, fuel and other preparations needed to flourish in the climate you describe. The ability to replenish these requirements can be expensive, in labour, time and money.

Don't know what size a 1/4 section is.

As you speak in the first person, it sounds like you would be alone in a potentially harsh environment.

A warmer climate would lessen the potential financial and physical hardships you describe. Employment prospects may be as harsh as the winters, where you want to live.

[GrannyCarol]

A section is a square mile, 640 acres. A quarter section is a nice chunk of land.

Do please tell us more about what sort of land it is, particularly the water situation.

[Shirley]

I would have a greenhouse if I lived where there is a short growing season.

[Windy in Kansas]

I have never lived where it gets that cold. About the coldest I've experienced is -20º or a tad lower.

With those cold temperatures you shouldn't have many garden insect problems, at least I wouldn't think so.

A long haired breed of cattle should do fine with care.

The short growing seasons will be somewhat of a curse for gardening and growing many vegetables. I would look into season extenders via hoop houses, hot beds heated with composting manure, etc. There are quite a number of books available on season extension.

Personally I just wouldn't look to such a cold climate to homestead in. Animals l take more feed and shelter where it is colder, as will you. You will also spend much of your time laying in a yearly supply of firewood if you go that route. Will the varieties of trees in the area in the area serve well for firewood?

Will you be using fans to distribute heat whether it be furnace blower or circulating fan aimed at or away from a wood burning stove? Extra electricity if you don't have one of those powered by a Stirling engine.

Fish and game may be one of your best bets for keeping a well stocked larder. Are you okay with hunting, butchering, and eating such?

Another thing to keep in mind that homes or cabins will take extra money to build because of added insulation needs, deeper foundations, etc.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to point out what you will be facing.

Welcome to the forums.

[GrannyCarol]

The greenhouse idea is a good one, I've seen plans for adding them to the sunny side of the house and putting heat sinks into them for heat storage. Then it can add heat to your house in the winter and extend your growing season.

There are all sorts of interesting alternative houses out there. Some of them are inexpensive, some of them are designed to be "off the grid" right out of the box.

Are you going to build your own place? Will you need to be careful with funds? I would definitely lookinto alternative housing.

With good shelter, normal livestock will do alright. Consider possible predation though. You will probably want a good Livestock Guardian Dog, or two. There are varieties of sheep that are very hardy and I'm sure goats too. You would have room for cattle and horses. Any livestock you get will need fresh, open water available to them all the time, so plan for that. It's a LOT of work to haul water by hand, esp. for a large animal. Ducks handle cold very easily and are quite hardy and healthy. Some breeds (Khaki Campbells for one) lay as well as chickens. They need water to make huge messes out of year round though. If you will have a pond and can keep part of it open, ducks are great. They will need protection from predators.

Find all the good books you can and read a lot! Homesteading in cold weather country is hard work, but I'm sure it will be very rewarding if you are up for it!

[Maura]

You will be feeding hay for a longer period than grazing, consider that. You will need a good sized greenhouse to extend the growing season of your vegetables.

The quality of land you buy will help to determine how profitable the land is. Sandy loam is best. Clay is worst where the winters are cold because it takes so long for the land to drain and warm up. Also, big puddles in the spring for your livestock to slosh through, it's awful watching a two day old lamb splashing through puddles. If you have wet ground, tile it. Sheep need shade in the summer, equine need shelter in the winter. One structure will serve both needs.

[northgirl]

Sorry about not giving more details...
So yeah its 160 acres, hopefully I will find one with both pasture and raw bush. The greenhouse is definite and as for a dwelling that is not important yet. As for the soil itself I haven't decided on how important my growing needs are (there are two differant classes in my area class 2 and clay yuck!) As for the harshness of my climate we are used to it. The ground is frozen from end oct. to april/may. Money is not a huge issue but i will be looking to find easier solutions that don't require huge costs. I was a homesteader when I was a child and now as a adult I want to try again. So what I want to know is what makes a working hobby farm...example...llama gives wool and protects...goats give milk, excess milk can be made into soap.
I know its a big undertaking but I would love more ideas!!!

[northgirl]

oh and a quick personal bio...i do hunt fish ect. i grew up in this crazy place and my options are great for development of land(pond, barns, greenhouses ect.) I currently live on 1 acre here and I am stifled! I have 2 dogs one is a blue heeler(sheep and cattle dog) the other is a pup but is also a working dog, now i need more land to put them to work. I love animals and have skills in all areas indoors and out. My home will have modern amenities wood stove electricity and well water so it won't be a trial in that area.Thats it and thanks to all!!!