new to homesteading

erma · #1 01/12/10, 03:14 PM

Hi all! I am very new to homesteading and want to learn everything their is to know about everything. I have 1 1/2 acre of land and we just started to veggie garden last year. Any pointers on what to start with and how for a newbie. I don't even know how to knit and make things from scratch. I'd love to live like little house on the prairie but don't know how to start. If anyone has any homemade recipes of any and all kinds I'd love them and any tips on learning to can and how. I know alot of questions but I am so excited but need some guidnece. HELP!

Callieslamb · #2 01/12/10, 03:24 PM

Welcome! Welcome. You have come to the right place for learning. ( but don't be afraid to teach too!!). check out the gardening forum down the page for help with the garden. Check with the cooking forum - again,down the page for recipes. There is even a fiber arts forum if you want to learn to knit.

START slowly. Do just a bit, learn, then do a bit more. Till up just enough garden space for a few things - keep it well cared-for. Next year, use that experience to do more. It is very, very easy to become overwhelmed with all the work.

What are you interested in doing? Any animals? As for cooking, get a Betty Crocker Cook book (or find free recipes online) and try something in there that looks good. They are simple, basic recipes and there are plenty of them to choose from.

START SLOWLY!!! And have a lot of fun!

Batt · #3 01/12/10, 03:27 PM

Start slow, make some mistakes..Not you, nor anybody else, can do it all at once. Spend a lot of time scheming, dreaming, planning and researching. Then start your next project.

You said you had a garden last year...How did it turn out? Can you do bigger this year? If you can do bigger, can you can some (not all) of it. Kinda get a little practice. Do you have all the varieties you want. Did you remember to plant some flowers? How is your compost pile? Would a few chickens digging around in the compost pile help a little? Did you or will you save your non-hybrid seeds?

See how just a few questions will keep you busy for weeks...Especially when the snow is on the ground.

erma · #4 01/12/10, 03:42 PM

As far as animals I want some chickens for eggs and meat. The garden last year was over taken by bugs and the tomatoes didn't grow. We had corn, green beans, onions, bannana peppers(did great and produced alot), lettuce, patotes and brocci(sp) and carrots( also did well). We sprayed veggie bug killer and it didn't work. I am thinking it was the bad well water we have. We have no compost pile yet but will start one come spring. We are planning to go bigger this year and just ordered seeds. We also have two apple trees that didn't do well last year but the year before that it did great. I want to have a peach tree, strawberry patch and grape plants. Does anyone have any recipes for homemade cleaners? Thanks for the help.

insocal · #5 01/12/10, 03:46 PM

Start slow and simple. Get your garden up and running, and same for your orchard. Stick with plant husbandry for the time being, and get animals after you have figured out how to care for plants and what time and energy and planning THOSE take.

Make lots of "do lists". Have your list of things to do inside when the weather is BAD, and list of things to do outside when it's nicer. Organize your errands.

Learn to knit, THEN learn to spin, THEN learn how to raise sheep and harvest the wool. Basics first.

Home canning: learn how to boiling water bath can first, THEN pressure canning.

The whole point being, don't overwhelm yourself at the start. And you can never do it ALL, so don't beat yourself up trying.

Someday when I actually have a homestead, I am gonna organize my whole life by the book Getting Things Done, complete with my calendar and do lists on Outlook, lol. But that's just me.

erma · #6 01/12/10, 03:54 PM

I'd love to learn to quilt too. I remember my step-grandma have these heavy warm quilts and I wish I had got one before she passed. Does anyone know of any books that teach you to quilt or how to starting learning? I know start slow, I have to remind myself. I get all excited with homesteading.

FarmerChick · #7 01/12/10, 03:58 PM

Welcome
this is a great site for self sufficiency info!

don't take on too much at once. it can get overwhelming. pick one thing and do it right! like your garden.....get that up and running into a great harvest.

learn to preserve/can food. if you have a great harvest you sure want to preserve it and stock that pantry with fresh foods from your own garden!

haypoint · #8 01/12/10, 04:13 PM

Some older varieties of apples produce every other year. One year to build strength and grow and the next year fruiting. Are these old trees? What variety?

Windy in Kansas · #9 01/12/10, 04:22 PM

Welcome to the forums. I'm pretty opinionated at times so always take what I say that way.

I highly recommend the book the late Carla Emery wrote called The Encyclopedia of Country Living. I think there were 9 editions so the later the better as material was added.

While many disagree as they want to save seeds I highly recommend hybrids. They were crossed and bred for desirable traits which is good and more bulletproof when just starting out. The All American Selections (AAS) should grow well anywhere as they are rated and selected by gardeners all across the nation and not just for growth, but for taste, etc. too.

An amusing book that is always beneficial is by Ruth Stout, How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back. She has several, some better than others in my opinion. She has much more country charm in the earlier works and editors or ?? tried to get her too citified in the later works. See, I told you I was opinionated.

It is always a good idea to have a soil test done to see if there is more going on with your garden than just water issues.

Anyway, welcome to the forums. I hope you will enjoy all of them. Windy in Kansas

txquilter · #10 01/12/10, 09:41 PM

Welcome! I'm new too. While I've been involved in homesteading growing up, I've been away from it for over 27 years! I've got a lot to re-learn.

I met a friend at work that was in to knitting and crocheting and she was patient enough to teach me some basic stitches so I'm learning that. I LOVE to quilt and found the best way to learn was to take a beginner's class at a local quilt shop. They usually don't cost too much and you gain valuable information. If you don't have access to this then just go to the library and look through the beginner quilting books - you should be able to figure out the basic steps and start there.

I just bought The Encyclopedia of Country Living and have been reading it like crazy to learn everything I can.

This forum is a great site and everyone here is so knowledgeable so I would say, "read, read, read" and ask questions!

Andreozzi · #11 01/12/10, 11:03 PM

Welcome! Glad you are here

You are on the right path having already oredered your seeds, in the meantime it is winter, a great time to talk that quilting or knitting class (much easier than learning from a book and you might meet people with your same interests. The Relief Society in Mormon Churches often teach free classes, also you can check your local ads. Winter is a good time for trying your hand at baking/cooking homemade recipes, I have tried a few here on HT and they have been great! Winter is also a great time to read books on homesteading, maybe look into how to build a chicken coop

There are plenty of recommendations here as well on ridding bugs from yur garden naturally etc... great time of the year to read

Start that compost pile! Why wait? Start preparing now. Another suggestion, start a worm bed, the worm tea and worms will be good for your garden, it is so very easy and productive for your homestead. Look at your property, determine what areas are best for growing, what area are best for pens, what kind of animals are you going to want, how are you going to rotate them, consider how their areas might contribute to fertilizing a future garden

For example, we have several roosters, we put them in our fenced garden area through fall and winter to naturally fertilize for spring planting. Just some suggestions, most importantly ENJOY!

Tricky Grama · #12 01/13/10, 06:16 AM

Welcome! You'll sure get a lot of ideas & learn a lot too.
I agree-start that compost pile!
Check out the other forums here, homemaking etc, I made the laundry soap & am pleased w/it, for instance.
The gardening & plant propagation is a great forum.
Can you do a cover crop? Probably too cold now in your area.
Keep at it & try not to get discouraged.

Patty

Callieslamb · #13 01/13/10, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erma

As far as animals I want some chickens for eggs and meat. The garden last year was over taken by bugs and the tomatoes didn't grow. We had corn, green beans, onions, bannana peppers(did great and produced alot), lettuce, patotes and brocci(sp) and carrots( also did well). We sprayed veggie bug killer and it didn't work. I am thinking it was the bad well water we have. We have no compost pile yet but will start one come spring. We are planning to go bigger this year and just ordered seeds. We also have two apple trees that didn't do well last year but the year before that it did great. I want to have a peach tree, strawberry patch and grape plants. Does anyone have any recipes for homemade cleaners? Thanks for the help.

Have your soil tested and see if your pH is right for growing veggies. It is amazing what a difference a little lime can make - but go by the soil test only. Plants that don't have adequate nutrients to grow are more succeptible to pest invastion! Soil pH being too low can keep plants from taking up the nutrients in the soil. Also - first year gardens are nortorious for bugs. I think it is often due to soil pH and stressed plants, but if that garden spot used to be tall grass....well, you did invade those bugs' space. LOL!!! Keep at it- it will get better. See if there is a master gardener program in your area- you can either take the class (if you have the time for all the community service hours) or you can ask one of them to help YOU. the extension office also has lots of bulletins on home vegetable gardens as well as back yard orchards and small fruits. Check them out!

I use homemade laundry soap - 1 grated bar of zote or ivory soap, 2 cups washing soda (not baking soda), 2 cups borax.....ta da. Use 1 TBL per load. Maybe use vinegar in the rinse water. Others make the liquid equivilent.

Callieslamb · #14 01/13/10, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by erma

I'd love to learn to quilt too. I remember my step-grandma have these heavy warm quilts and I wish I had got one before she passed. Does anyone know of any books that teach you to quilt or how to starting learning? I know start slow, I have to remind myself. I get all excited with homesteading.

google 'how to quilt'....lots of free stuff out there, no need to buy a book - or check your local library. There is a group of lady quilters that meet every Monday at our library - maybe there is one in your area too. Quilting groups are nortorious for liking to help others.

haypoint · #15 01/13/10, 08:58 AM

You sound a bit like me, 35 years ago.
I wanted to do it all, farm with horses, raise chickens, pigs, milk cow. I wanted to grow all my own food, sell some produce, can my veggies, grow berries and make jams, grind my own flour, bake breads, make candles, sell organic eggs, grow and sell potted flowers, spin wool and make rugs on a loom, catch and smoke fish, cut my firewood, cook and heat with wood, harvest logs fom my own woodlot and operate a sawmill to make my own lumber, pull trees and brush from old fields, build miles of fences, plow, disc and plant crops using horses. Harvest grain and hay, make my own soap, incubate eggs, purchase an array of farming equipment and learn to repair it, grow an orchard, install a wind generator, a water turbine on a stream, build a greenhouse, chicken coop and a big barn.I also wanted to restore an old farmhouse, while making it energy efficent and buy every bit of land that came available.

To do this and pay for it, I would need a good paying full time off-farm job in a very rural area. I also wanted to start and raise a family.

I worked endlessly. Nearly every year the farm lost money. Some years the loss was in 5 figures.
My investment in farm ground was far overshadowed by those that invested in shore property.

I did all of the things I set out to do. I have sucess stories and tales of failure for everything listed above. I've seen like minded folks give a great effort, fail and give up, moving back to the city. Most are now financially set.
I took on more than I should have, but I did what I wanted. I wouldn't encourage anyone to follow my plan.

Go slow, do what you can, but don't expect to get to place where the labor lessens. Don't expect to save money. Your failures will be costly and your sucesses will be costly, too.
Do the things you like, visit Farmers Markets and let WalMart do the rest.

geo in mi · #16 01/13/10, 12:22 PM

Welcome.

Google is your best friend in the wintertime for do it yourself research for some of the subjects you mentioned. Try http://www.freshpreserving.com/ to get the Ball Blue Book--the authority on home canning and preserving. Their website is full of info for the beginner. Also, TSC:http://www.tractorsupply.com/ will give you a look at some of the stuff you "need out there". You can use it as a reference guide--also, stop in at one of the stores and pick up a catalog--you'll get their prices and listings for quick reference. (I'm not saying you should use TSC or buy from them, but at least you will have a reference). Also try some seed companies : Gurneys http://gurneys.com/default.asp?eid=0...cd2=1263405847 Johnnys http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ Veseys http://www.veseys.com/ Vermont Bean Seed http://www.vermontbean.com/

And, of course, the big box stores are just starting to stock their Springtime displays---gloves, hoes, rakes, sprinklers, and lots of goodies

Now's the time to dream and plan! Have fun and keep asking here anytime....

timfromohio · #17 01/13/10, 12:45 PM

Erma - first off, welcome to the forum. Where in Ohio are you? We're in NEOhio, Bath Township.

My advice echoes the others - start slow, prioritize, and build up your successes. Also, there are many good books to look through and get overviews of the different things you mentioned. Carla Emory's "Encyclopedia of Country Living" and John Seymour's "The Self Sufficient Life and How to Live It" are two gold standards in my opinion. You might pick them up from your local library and read through them. That said, read through them with caution as you'll find yourself saying "I want to try that" as you look at each page!

Haypoint - your list of "want to do" sounds like mine! I'll make sure to keep things in perspective.

anniew · #18 01/13/10, 02:06 PM

"search" is your friend and so is the local library. Although it is sometimes faster for someone to tell you how to do stuff...pictures or someone actually standing next to you get you going faster...

erma · #19 01/13/10, 02:23 PM

I think they are old trees. They are full size is all I know. I don't know the name of the apples but one is red and one tree has yellow apples. I just ordered The Encyclopedia of Country Living and waiting for it to come. I can't wait until it arrives. We already have TScard and love that store.
timfromohio we are from Washington Court House. It is farm country down here.
Thanks so much for all the advice and I will start slowly and read every single post here.

firegirl969 · #20 01/13/10, 09:19 PM

Erma, Welcome to the forum!

I second the Carla Emery book. You will love it and will learn alot from it. Also, get yourself a Ball Blue Book. It is the how-to on canning with pictures to get you started. There are lots of you-tubes on how to can, make homemade breads, etc, so start looking. This is the time of year to do your research as it is too nasty outside to get out and do much. Ask questions if you don't understand something, we are just a few letters of a message away. chickens are easy. Fix up a decent coop and a wire run and get a few laying hens to learn with. They are very forgiving. Blessings, firegirl