Where to start?

candice293 · #1 04/20/13, 01:30 PM

I am an almost 23 year old who is interested in homesteading I've read a lot but I want to know where everyone thinks you should start. I'm learning to compost and I have planted vegetable seeds and herb seeds. We(BF and I) will be planning our garden soon. I live in southern ontario so we can't put anything in the ground until after May 24 weekend where it's free from harsh frosts. Maybe some homestead basics will help.

Candice

Maura · #2 04/20/13, 05:37 PM

Learn to do things yourself. This is to save money as well as be more self sufficient.

You may want to consider extending your season on some plants. We've had success keeping spinach and kale going in the fall by putting a frost cloth on the plants. If you create some sort of greenhouse effect on your garden the soil will warm up sooner for you in the early summer/spring. Also learn to garden as efficiently and lazily as you can. Look up lasagne gardening. The less work you have to do, the more likely you are to keep up with your garden. You can get just as much produce out of a small garden that is cared for than a larger garden that is not.

ebook · #3 04/20/13, 07:19 PM

We started our farm about 6 years ago now and we are making a pretty good go of it, but there are many ... many ... many mistakes that I could have avoided if I would have placed more emphasis on learning from others in person. I read a lot of books, forums, websites, etc. and then I just threw myself in head first. In hindsight I wish that I would have also spent some time working at other peoples farms ... even if they weren't doing everything the way I would want to. Now I am trying to play catch up and I volunteer myself at neighbors whenever I can.

That is a little piece of advice I share whenever I can.

bassmaster17327 · #4 04/20/13, 09:12 PM

Don't get discouraged by failures and mistakes, most of the time you will learn more from a mistake or failed attempt at something than you would if everything went perfect. Don't try to do everythig right away, start small and work your way up to doing more

candice293 · #5 04/20/13, 10:40 PM

Thank you for sharing everyone, I really appreciate it I'm trying to learn about everything. There is quite a bit about it online and I love researching it all. Doing my gardening i'm starting everything from seed and it's been quite fun.

countryfam06 · #6 04/21/13, 03:05 AM

I started doing my plants from seeds about six years ago, instead of buying plants! The one tip I have is to place a oscillating fan on them. I found that growning my own from seeds they seemed strong but once out in the garden they would fall over or bend very easly with the first big wind gust that would come threw potentialy killing the plant or stunning it. So withthe plants having intermittent wind on them streagthens them quite well. Best of luck in your garden.

sheepish · #7 04/21/13, 04:22 AM

There are a lot of frost hardy plants that can go in before the May 24 weekend in southern Ontario. Cabbage, spinach, and kale should be planted soon. Radishes, parsnips and turnips won't mind frost. Onions, peas, beets and potatoes can be planted by early May for an early harvest. Lettuce can stand cool. For herbs you can plant anytime perennials like chives, sage, thyme, oregano, mints and horseradish.

Callieslamb · #8 04/21/13, 06:19 AM

You already HAVE started. You read, you're applying what you've learned. As more topics become interesting to you, repeat that process. Once you have your garden process down a bit more, start looking at ways to preserve your harvest.

Look around for canning classes in your area. In the US, we have the University Extension service that often offers such classes. Save money for a freezer. Etc, etc, etc.

jcatblum · #9 04/21/13, 06:59 AM

I think a garden & a few chickens is a great start. Education & money are the best things you can do to benefit yourself. Homesteading is expensive to start. The more you can save now, the more you will enjoy homesteading in the yrs to come.

geo in mi · #10 04/21/13, 07:46 AM

Welcome to the forum. You will find a lot of ideas here and on the gardening forum. If you haven't seen it already, here is one place you can go: http://mgoi.ca/index.php?pr=Home

And another: http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/index.html

For seeds, I really like Vesey's:http://www.veseys.com/

Hope these will give lots to study,

geo

Big Dave · #11 04/21/13, 08:16 AM

WELCOME. You have the tools now you need the foundation. Do what you are doing. If you are able get a copy of 5 acres and Independance. It has a lot of information relevant to what homesteaders want to accomplish even though it was written several decades back.

ralph perrello · #12 04/21/13, 04:27 PM

Purchase the book "Encyclopedia Of Country Living" by Carla Emery. Amazon.com about $20.00 US. It gives you a good start on knowledge you need. It also gives references to other books to learn more than is in her book.

Start gathering canning jars now at garage sales and flea markets. Pints and quarts are the most useful size. Be sure the top edges are not chipped. Buy canning jar rings and lids when you can find them in the stores. While gathering jars keep your eyes open for a pressure canner at a modest price. Price new ones first so you know what a used one will be worth and bargain down as low as you can go.

fffarmergirl · #13 04/21/13, 04:44 PM

Candace, our official last frost date here is June 15 and we still grow and put away a lot of food. I think we probably put away enough food to live on - we just have to get in the habit of eating it, instead of habitually going for the store-bought food.

I bought the "Farmer's Wife Comfort Foods Cookbook" and really like it because the recipes are fast and simple, easy to clean up after, and any ingredients that they require other than what you grow in your garden are cheap. Also, they're small recipes so you don't end up with too many leftovers. It's a depression-era cookbook.

The more I cook, the more I enjoy cooking - which is a good thing, because you spend a lot of time in the kitchen when you're trying to be self-sufficient!

Maura · #14 04/21/13, 06:12 PM

I'm in the thumb and today DH picked kale leaves from our covered garden. There are some plants that will overwinter and pop up at this time. You just have to go pick them.

candice293 · #15 04/21/13, 06:16 PM

Thanks to everyone replying you are really helping me! That's one thing I'd have to start doing is cooking I don't cook at all now and I want to learn how to preserve food especially with the bounty we are going to have this year. My mother in law wanted me to plant a bunch of tomatoes and a BUNCH of tomato plants is what she is getting, however she'd rather just have all tomatoes in the garden and not much else.

ronbre · #16 04/21/13, 06:32 PM

you can start some seeds inside on the windowsill now and transplant them out later. good luck

cwrabs · #17 04/21/13, 06:38 PM

I would recommend also with your gardening, pick up old tools and such for maintaining it. (hand plow, etc) Don't always count on gas powered equipment (tillers) due to cost and expense of using and maintenance.

Vosey · #18 04/21/13, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by candice293

Thanks to everyone replying you are really helping me! That's one thing I'd have to start doing is cooking I don't cook at all now and I want to learn how to preserve food especially with the bounty we are going to have this year. My mother in law wanted me to plant a bunch of tomatoes and a BUNCH of tomato plants is what she is getting, however she'd rather just have all tomatoes in the garden and not much else.

Cooking is so much fun! And a wonderful expression of love for your family and friends. To me, food cooked outside the home is never as satisfying. Although an occasional incredible restaurant meal or pizza can be scrumptious!

The first step to cooking is finding simple recipes of things you like. The more you cook the better you'll get at reading a recipe and knowing that you'll like it or how to change it so it suits you. Don't let the disappointing meals let you down. In time, you'll find you don't need recipes at all, all the knowledge you've learned will morph itself it you being a fantastic cook.

When I was learning to cook I subscribed to a couple of cooking magazines I liked. My rule was to make 2-3 dishes from each issue to justify the cost. I'm sure there are good magazines or books out there now that focus on garden produce. I should add that learning how to substitute things in recipes so you don't run to the store for ingredients is important too!

And don't ever say, "I can't cook", if you love food you will absolutely be able to cook.

Dusky Beauty · #19 04/21/13, 11:14 PM

A solid bit of advice is that not *everything* works for *everyone*. Differences ranging from work schedules, property features and location, experiences, available resources, and natural affinity has an effect on whether a self sufficiency experiment succeeds or fails.

Here are some lessons I have under my belt, your mileage may vary!!

-I am not a naturally gifted gardener. I have a lot of book knowledge, but not a lot of natural talent at coaxing things to grow. People newer to horticulture than I, do better on the tips I pass on to them than I do!! LOL
I try to stick to the book with my growing season, with bonus points for veggies that are the things people always complain about having too much of, zucchini is a good example. Once the plant is going strong, even I can't really screw it up.

I also pop for nursery garden soil in containers where the nutrients are already perfected. Self amending is pretty difficult where I live. Shortcuts to reduce my workload are golden.

-Breeding my own turkeys is not a good use of my time, or feed bill. In today's economy, hatchery industry and my geographical lack of forage, I am money and effort ahead to order a dozen turkey poults, feed them for 4 months, and butcher them out. Most people report similar findings on chicken. Takes a lot of time and if it takes a lot of bagged feed to get your extra roos to a decent table weight, you're better off ordering boxes of fast growing broilers.

-Building projects take a lot longer than you think they will in real life.

-Plant food trees and shrubs as soon as you can afford them- the more time you can give them the better.

-"Cheap" animals are often anything but. I got lucky in that my free dairy goats came from another member of this forum who kept her animals in great condition and her herd clean and healthy.
I take a lot of quarantine precautions when I take poultry rescues.
Most people who pick up bottle calves, goats or chickens for "cheap" or "free" suffer for their rash decision when they get their animal home and it turns out to be sick, or a problem animal.
Whenever you buy an animal from another person buy from someone knowledgeable (buying from someone ignorant of the animal they have is very risky!) with a good reputation, a reasonably clean barn or habitat, and NO sick or dead animals sitting around in the pens with the others.
Seriously.. a breeder aught to expect you coming, if sick and dead creatures doesn't phase them, you wonder what ELSE goes on you're not seeing!!

-Ask lots of questions.

-Take time to enjoy your home. Take frequent walks through the day to your barn and pens just to watch your creatures be themselves and pass out pets & treats. Sit on your lawn/porch and listen to the sounds of nature.

-Vinegar does everything. There is an apple cider vinegar cure for every ailment, and a white vinegar recipe for every cleaning task.

tabbidawn15 · #20 04/22/13, 01:57 PM

Do it slowly.
I'm 20, and the week I turned 18 I went out and bought six chickens, ordered seeds online and moved into my rental home. It was great!
Until I realised I had terrible soil, that chickens can fly and that possums love chickens.
So then I had a dead garden, dead chickens and felt really guilty.
My next "project" consisted of buying books, building a compost bin and building a predator proof chicken coop. After about six months I tried again. I decided on a few silkies and a series of small container gardens. This worked out much better!
Two years later and I now have a large healthy in ground garden, a great healthy, safe flock of chickens and a few ducks. Even a pet goose. Now instead of planning things to start one after the other I say, "This year I will focus on this, and maybe next year I can start on that." I could have saved quite a bit of money and the lives of dozens of plants and a few chickens if I had just started that way.
You're going to make mistakes, and thats fine. It's how you learn. But a little common sense and planning can save you from making too many and getting discouraged.

Also I agree with Ralph, buy "Encyclopedia Of Country Living" by Carla Emery. It is an amazing informative and entertaining book.
I call it my Homestead bible.