2006 Self-sufficiency Challenge

[BearCreekFarm]

I've noticed a lot more chatter here and on other forums lately concerning self-sufficiency- seems as if a lot of people are getting worried about survival again.

I propose a "challenge", if you will, for all interested parties, for the 2006 growing season. I'm not suggesting a competition, rather more of an exercise really, to give us a better idea of what it would take to be completely self-sufficient if we had to. Since some of us have jobs which take up a lot of time, I would limit the challenge to self-sufficiency in the area of food and heating fuel only, and food would include food for humans and their livestock. If someone feels ambitious and wants to try to produce their own material for clothing, light source, transportation, etc, we will consider adding a "bonus" category for those areas.

I have been interested in trying to raise some rabbits on a homegrown diet, maybe I will designate a pair of New Zealand does for that purpose, to find out how well they do on a homegrown diet compared to a commercially prepared diet of pellets. And, if I get real ambitious maybe I will raise a few chickens on a completely homegrown diet as well.

So, if you're interested, do some fall prep in your garden, lay in a supply of seeds (no, you don't have to save your own seeds this time, but bonus points if you do), stock up your compost piles, and get your firewood supply cut and ready to go. Plan on keeping records of what you do, how, and when, and the results of your efforts so that you can share with the "armchair" survivalists, or the wannabes who haven't yet reached the point where they are ready to start being self-sufficient themselves. Could be an interesting learning experience for all of us.

[vtfarma]

Your on! We try to do that anyway and this will just give us a little more incentive to get busy being better at it. Thanks, Laurie

[moonwolf]

Originally Posted by BearCreekFarm

Plan on keeping records of what you do, how, and when, and the results of your efforts so that you can share with the "armchair" survivalists, or the wannabes who haven't yet reached the point where they are ready to start being self-sufficient themselves. .

Each will have their own priorities about what they consider being self-reliant.
I'm not sure I understand what is meant by 'armchair survivalists'. I suppose everyone, whether they work in a big city, or rely on their own skills and independence to provide a living for themselves to be 'surviving'.

A 'wannabee' maybe is already one that is striving in their mind to want a different lifestyle than what they are currenlty leading.
I think already there is plenty of sharing of information and experiences goes on the forums here to give a good snipet of what to do to be 'self sufficient'.
When I think of 'survivalist', it isn't the same idea of a homesteader/farmsteader type of mentality, nor is it even one for gaining some degree of 'self sufficiency'. We all survive in some fashion or other.
To me, being 'self reliant' in the broader context of human survival is to find ways to decrease the overindulgence of non renewable resources and not a nebulous 'me vs. thou' mentality between someone not calling themselves a 'survivalist' nor a 'homesteader'. Seems to me we're all in this together. A city friend of mine would say they 'survive' by writing or publishing and their freedom of creativity. Rather than 'putting food by', someone may find that 'surviving' or 'self sufficiency' is by use of their given skills or talents which others recognize to 'survive'.

Back to the idea of a homestead capacity to be 'self sufficient', it's called growing your own food, learning skills to store food efficiently regarding energy usage, driving less of a hydrocarbon consuming vehicle, and a general kindness towards land stewardship. They still pay taxes on land and support 'the system' where others are involved, and always will. So, only so much you can rely on being 'self sufficient'.

I consider it more a Lifestyle choice.

[Sparticle]

Can't wait to see how it goes for you guys! However, since all this property does is flood if I wanted to join in on the fun, I'd better get started building my boat. Actually I'm still in the process of building walkways every where i need to go in preparation for the rainy season. I've got a good patch of land for growing in the back, but that'll have to wait another year. If I make it through this rainy season without too much flooding, then I can start preparing the garden area.

[BearCreekFarm]

Ya know, Moonwolf, it really makes me nuts when someone starts a thread, then other posters rip it apart- what is the point? If you don't want to participate, go away. There is no point to come on here and argue semantics- this is a homesteading forum, and in this forum, I believe that it is safe to say that we all understand the term "self-sufficiency" in the context in which it is used here. If in doubt, I did clarify that we would limit the challenge to food and fuel production. I also clarified that this would not be a contest, simply a challenge. Of course we can't compete, even if we wanted to- there are too many people here at varying degrees of homesteading and self-sufficiency. The challenge is to either begin to practice self-sufficiency, or, if already doing that, to increase your level. It's a learning exercise, that's all. We don't need a debate, an argument, or any negative input here- those who like the idea can participate, those who don't may pass. I think you are extremely presumptious and I resent the intrusion. This is supposed to be a fun and educational exercise- if you don't want to join, please just go away quietly and don't try to ruin it for the rest of us. You are not more intelligent than the rest of us, and your opinions are not any more valid here than anyone else's, you are not a better homesteader- you have nothing to prove here by showing how smart you are. And that goes for anyone else who might feel compelled to offer an opinion- if you have constructive criticism about the particulars of the challenge, then you are welcome to express that. Otherwise, go start another thread about something which interests you. sheez.

[Terri]

Sounds intriguing.

I wonder how much I can slip past my family without them noticing?

I am afraid that I am not strong enough to do it all, and my family would mutiny without peanut butter and red meat, but I will be interested to see what I CAN do without them noticing.

For those who are interested, people plant winter wheat in August for a late June harvest. At least they do in Kansas. I am afraid it is already a little too late for us to plant chicken to harvest this year, to have for next growing season.

[Sparticle]

now that I think about it, I could try to do something in the back for the pigs. So, tonight I'll research what to plant to feed them. Thanks for the inspiration. Wouldn't hurt for me to plant a little garden in the back for me too. I basically just eat veggies anyway.

[HilltopDaisy]

Originally Posted by BearCreekFarm

Ya know, Moonwolf, it really makes me nuts when someone starts a thread, then other posters rip it apart- what is the point? If you don't want to participate, go away. There is no point to come on here and argue semantics- this is a homesteading forum, and in this forum, I believe that it is safe to say that we all understand the term "self-sufficiency" in the context in which it is used here. If in doubt, I did clarify that we would limit the challenge to food and fuel production. I also clarified that this would not be a contest, simply a challenge. Of course we can't compete, even if we wanted to- there are too many people here at varying degrees of homesteading and self-sufficiency. The challenge is to either begin to practice self-sufficiency, or, if already doing that, to increase your level. It's a learning exercise, that's all. We don't need a debate, an argument, or any negative input here- those who like the idea can participate, those who don't may pass. I think you are extremely presumptious and I resent the intrusion. This is supposed to be a fun and educational exercise- if you don't want to join, please just go away quietly and don't try to ruin it for the rest of us. You are not more intelligent than the rest of us, and your opinions are not any more valid here than anyone else's, you are not a better homesteader- you have nothing to prove here by showing how smart you are. And that goes for anyone else who might feel compelled to offer an opinion- if you have constructive criticism about the particulars of the challenge, then you are welcome to express that. Otherwise, go start another thread about something which interests you. sheez.

Well, since you brought it up, I'll tell you something.....I can't stand the word "wannabe". It seems that the user of the word is "better than" the person they are calling a "wannabe". I liked the idea of a challenge, but when you make the parameters so narrow (food and fuel) you immediately disqualify a lot of us. I have asthma so I am unable to heat with wood ~ so I cannot participate?? I already grow most of my food. Redefine the "rules" and you'll get a lot more interest.

[Wolf mom]

I think BearDreekFarm has an inspiring idea.

I think the idea is motivating to do [I]something[/U] rather than do nothing.
So, that's what I'm going to do!

Terri: Peanutbutter? I understand growing peanuts is pretty simple. And natural tastes sooo much better!

[gardentalk]

What about assigning points, based on whether the majority here feel that a said action is in the name of "self sufficiency". Each person would have a "score", if you will. I can see that as being a very positive thing, as people here would learn to save money and time on this and that, and eventually it would become a way of life.

[diane]

Moonwolf.........there are many people on this forum who call themselves wannabes so I don't that anyone should be taking offense at this. I began my self-sufficiency journey while still living in the city by reading and trying things and buying veggies and fruits at the farmer's market and putting them up for winter. I like the idea of a thread of encouragemnt, which is what I take this one to be. If each one of us only made a slight progress into being less reliant on fossil fuel for our food and heat, it would still be better than nothing. I do agree that limiting it to food and fuel might be a rather limited perameter. Maybe someone might just start not using the clothes dryer and that in itself is a step. Maybe someone else will simply start buying and using local food that doesn't have the add on environmental cost of shipping. I agree that this is a lifestyle choice and that we are all in it together.

[patarini]

Your on -- should be intresting since it will be the second year here, but have most of the small animals -- will be hard for me to keep track of since I drive but I will try to live off the property for a year!

[BearCreekFarm]

I have gotten some good ideas from other posters on some of the recent threads, which is what got me thinking of this in the first place. We all talk about our ability to grow wheat, oats, and other small grains, in a crisis situation if we HAD to, but Diane is the only poster I can think of offhand who has actually done this on a small scale. My DH grows small grains, but he uses the tractor and other implements. Someone mentioned winter wheat- DH has been talking about planting it this year- if he does I may beg enough seeds from him to plant a plot in our garden, just to find out exactly how much work is involved in growing it by hand on a small scale. DH says that over on TB2K a woman planted 1/2 an acre of wheat this year and is now faced with trying to harvest it- she is talking about getting her Amish neighbors to do it with their horse-drawn rig because it is too much for her to handle alone.

I really want to get a couple of feeder pigs, but I don't want to have to purchase feed. We talked about growing feed corn, but did not do it this year. I am going to plant jerusalem artichokes this fall, and prepare an area for feed corn for next spring, along with some other root crops, sunflowers, small grains, etc., then, if all goes well, in the fall we can look for some pigs to raise over the winter.

I feel really bad that we did not cut enough firewood last winter to get us through the coming winter- my fault, really, I was in a funk all winter (parents died last year, lots of personal stuff, etc) and had little enthusiasm for it, now I am trying to figure out how we can get through the winter without resorting to using propane (which we have plenty of, and can afford to use, but it seems "wasteful" to me when we could have used wood free for the cutting). We are going to build an attached greenhouse and I am hoping that it will help cut down on our need for heating. Also hope it is a mild winter, lol. The greenhouse will definitely cut down on our need for lighting for plants and in the spring, seedlings, so I am looking forward to that.

This morning I read some of the posts on solar ovens and I think we should make or purchase one- they seem to work well from the reports I have read, and what a great way to cut down on purchased fuel!

Now, off to the garden again, lol!

[BearCreekFarm]

Just checked my mailbox and was suprised by the amount of interest this idea has generated. Some readers have requested a challenge with a little more "structure" to it. Well, I'm game, but my original idea was that we have so many beginning homesteaders here that I did not want to discourage them by turning this into some kind of hardcore survival contest. But, I am willing to organize it a bit for those who have requested it- however, what would be really helpful would be to get some feedback from people at various levels of homesteading. Remember, the idea is simply to increase one's own level of self-sufficiency. So, if you have never had a garden before, and plant one for the first time next year, you will have succeeded in increasing your own self-sufficiency. If you have been producing all of your own food for 20 years, heat with wood, live off grid, etc., then you might find it a little more challenging to increase your self-sufficiency, but I am sure there are ways that you can do it. My guess is that many of us are somewhere in between, which leaves plenty of room for "improvement", lol.

I am open to suggestions as far as what kinds of categories we could create as a means of gauging one's own progress. Again, the idea would be that you take notes on where you are at the beginning of the year, set goals, record your results, and then share with the rest of us.

Hilltop, you expressed some dissatisfaction with the original idea, but I don't see that this excludes you or anyone else in your situation. If you have some idea of what would make it possible for you to participate, how about sharing them? I am sure there are others who are in a similar situation as you. I wasn't trying to make the parameters "narrow" at all, exactly the opposite, actually- I wanted it to be open to those who are just beginning- I did not want then to feel as if they have to be hardcore to be able to participate.

[WhiskeyTFoxtrot]

Great idea but it would be better if the 'contest' were limited to sustainable self-sufficient lifestyle ideas. eg, bayberry candle-making, recipes for forage foods like grubs, roots, and oil company execs.

[9Pines]

This should be a fun thread! On a scale of 1 to 10 and 1 being having NO idea on where to start..and 10 knowing it all and living it... I'd say I'm sitting at a 3.

I've learned to can, dehydrate, and smoke foods to keep for storage. But I still depend on propane, electricity, and gas for the chainsaw to cut wood for smoking.

I have a large pantry and could live off that pantry for a good year if needed. But I'm still depending on my two large freezers way to much for my liking.

I have raised a beef steer, pigs,chickens, ducks and pheasants on this place but have resorted back to depending on the store since I've been crippled up the last couple of years.

As far as growing my own grains, I havent touched that dept. at all. I have however asked farmers to let me go in and gleem what the machines havent. I've feed pigs all winter doing that. Farmers will usually let you go in and get the broken bales, missed corners, and tip-outs from grain hauling trailers.

I do have a wood stove, its just not hooked up to the house. Its in the barn waiting.

It will be fun to report on how we are set at the moment and how we would like to be in a year from now or five years from now.

As far as thinking its to late for putting in a garden.. its not to late to start a compost pile, or deweeding a perticular spot for next years planting. Get that soil fed this year! Pick up seeds now if you can...they are cheaper and still just as good.

Pay attention now on how much you need to plant for your family..and plan all winter on your garden design and quantity.

Canning supplies are on sale now..start picking some up every pay check so your built up by next years garden produce. That is what I did, I picked up two cases of jars every paycheck until I figured I had enough. And to figure that I figured 52 jars of every vegetable I grew. This way I knew I could eat that veggie at least once a week for a year.

[BamaSuzy]

As far as food goes, we need to have food on hand for alls kinds of emergencies anyway....if some of us didn't have much luck with our gardens this year (this was our very worst of the past 20 years) we can see what we have left and fill that in with canned goods from the store, but could buy them in bulk etc. Even though that wouldn't be really "self-sufficient" that would get a lot of us in the mind-set that we need to be doing things for ourselves and not relying on anybody else to "get us through" when we have a tough time.

I will be able to make lots of jelly this summer (primarily apple and grape) and that opens up the possibility of trading some jelly for someone else who had better luck with vegetables, soup, etc. this year...

Also since I make and sell goat milk soap now I could possibly barter some of it for some vegetables around here as well! and since we sell lots of eggs, as soon as this next-to-last newest chicks really get going (they've just starting laying) I should have some extra eggs to barter too....

We could get by right here on our little 15 acres if we had too because we have lots of wood for our firewood...but there's so many other ways we need to improve!

I will use this thread to think about it and make an outline on the several areas I need to work on to make us and our animals truly self-sufficient! Thank you so much for your thoughts and this idea!

[moonwolf]

Fall prep of gardens include adding green manure nutients back with cover crop and spring tilling that in. To save fuel next year, the plan for the garden is to invest in a sweep unit for the garden tractor about $300 and take in about 1000 bushels of clippings over the season for compsting. The fuel savings comes in when the thick layers of material added to the garden eliminates tilling onces establised as the 'lasagne method'. To that sew spring oats and weed whack down, then plant buckwheat and when that grows do same...then plant. The earthworms will be the natural rototillers, thus the savings.

Redworm vermiculture and vermicomposting. Redworms have mutli use, both as high protein supplement for poultry feed either live or desicating into a meal. I don't have viable aquaculture for fish, but if I did, the redoworms would also feed them to an edible size or marketable fresh fish source.

Foraging has to be an important consideration around here for aiding self sufficiency with the boutiful crop of wild blueberries and service berries (saskatoons). These are available over the next few weeks and freeze them whole or until able to store as preserves. Sugar is the main cost outside of the natural picking for these. If one had beehives to start next year, that would supplement in the presevere making and sweetining source, as well as the selling of honey.

Muscovy ducks coming back next spring is the plan. Meat conversion by utilizing garden grown duck feed in the form of greens, squashes, and grains like sunflower and some root crops like carrots or turnips. Very cheap to keep, and the bonus is duck eggs for many uses especially baking and hardy omelettes or feeding to stock or companion animals.

Brush Hog investment to cut down older pasture for renewal and set up to rotaional grazing with paddocks. That's a 2 year scenario, but year one in 2006 could see liming and the cut down of wild growth and brush to prepare for having better pasture following into 2007. Then it's a cattle breed which is known to do well by grass feeding and low birth problems. The alternative is meat goats known for hardiness.

Solar photovoltaic panel investment to remove dwelling from the grid. Payback over 5 years to eliminate electical bills. Minimal lifestyle usage to drive well pump, lighting, and paying attention to what really is 'necessary' for power usage and have a basic system for solar and wind generation that can grow with needs. Greenhouse or 'sunroom' by adding window south facing placement to add for solar passive heating and thermal storage. The spinoff benefit besides seedling plant propagation for the market capacity garden is in less woodlot fuel burning.

Take one less trip per week into town to cut down hydrocarbon fuel usage by at least 10% or more if able.

Most important is to make 'livable' the property by making it the paradise it deserves both aesthetically with plant and tree landscaping, walking or nature/snow trails, and a balance with wildlife and nature with your surroundings. This is JUST in case you can't go on vacation away, and still feel like everyday is worthwhile to be farmsteading or 'homesteading'....the choice lifestyle.

[Ross]

I think this is a great idea that could help focus and motivate people to acheive thier goals! Certainly adding a little competition on a freindly basis can't hurt, and might make it a bit more fun! I think you need to decide on categories and even acheivment levels, even though we're all starting at different points. For example I have a farm, sheep, wool processing equipment, and a retail outlet (farmers market) so maybe it'd have to be assesed on an improvment level rather than just fully self sufficient. A neat idea how can a moderator help? Perhaps a stickie on this board so we can keep a running account of everyone's progress? I'll certainly help anyone get photos online and linkable.

[BearCreekFarm]

I really didn't want this to be a competition, lol!

Ok, what do you all think of this- we will figure out categories, covering a wide range so that hopefully everyone who wants to will find at least a few categories to participate in. We will list various activities within each category and assign point values to them. Each participant will score themselves at the beginning of the challenge, and again at the end. That way, the scale will be to measure improvement rather than overall results.

Here are some ideas for categories-
Food:
gardening:
conventional gardening
organic gardening with purchased fertilizers, etc.
organic gardening with part/all homegrown fertilizers, etc.
starting own seedlings
for those already growing most of their own food we will have a category
for new fruits/veggies/herbs planted for the first time
dairy production
growing hay/grain using hand- or horsepower
seed saving
canning/preserving food
hunting:
firearm
bow
snares
reloading
fishing
foraging
cooking from scratch
makes own soap
keeps bees
meat:
raising own animals/livestock with purchased feed
raising own animals/livestock using homegrown/foraged feed
raising own livestock (includes chickens/rabbits, etc)
Homebrewing of beer/wine/soda/mead/moonshine

Energy:
wood heat
solar
wind
water
energy reduction (using clothesline/rack instead of dryer, walking/cycling instead of driving, etc).

Income-
generating part/all of one's income from own property (farm, garden, backyard, woodlot, basement, shop, etc) using homesteading type skills

scavanging (dumpster-diving, etc).
sewing own clothes/quilts, etc. Bonus if you produce the cloth!!
fiber production (will count if you produce fiber which you actually use or sell. The 870 pounds of fleeces in your attic or closet won't gain you any points, lol!)

That's all I have time for now, but will add to the list later. If there is a category not listed which you feel would be applicable I am open to suggestions.