Priorities?

Oh, I have lots of pictures and lots of stories, so bring it on. I just can't figure out how this froggy goes a courtin from hundreds of miles away not to mention a border. Always something new to learn.

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Only those who are willing to risk going too far can possibly know how far they can go. T. S. Elliot

Well, I wasn't going to say anything, but since you started the humor...

My wife would probably have something to say about you being a "trainable male". She has said that she hasn't had any luck with the one that she's been work on for 30 years! Curt

That's a conversation starter. One gal told me that put me in the same class as unicorns.

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Only those who are willing to risk going too far can possibly know how far they can go. T. S. Elliot

Buy (or build a solar or wood heat powered) dehydrator and learn to dehydrate food. Freezing temps and power outages won't hurt your supplies. Just keep the food in mouse proof storage.

The chickens won't give you eggs during the short days of winter unless you make the day longer with artificial light.

If the lake didn't winterkill, it would already have fish in it. If you can seine the fish out in the fall and freeze them it may make sense to stock it in the spring.

Get the whole solar setup for power. Look into building a wood gas powered generator for power too. Woodgas can also power a vehicle.

Your place is lovely!

Before building a greenhouse you might read "four season harvest", and anything the author has written. The gent raises greenhouse vegetables in the fall, in Maine, and he sells them.

He also has movable greenhouses.

I'd plant extra of everything. Can sell it, barter, give to food bank. Who knows, you might get married and will have at least 2 to feed then.

Nice sun and wind in Saskatchewan in the summertime so learning to dry foods would be very useful. They take a lot less energy to preserve and a lot less space. You do have to experiment to see what you like dried. A few mesh trays, cheese cloth covers and you are in business. A car parked in the sun makes a great dehydrator as long as you crack the windows.

A green house is a must to get a jump on the season.

We did a lot of fruit and fruit leathers when we lived in the Okanagan Valley but now in the Yukon it is mostly berries, fish and some meat. What grows well we eat fresh or from the cold room.

If you are serious about building a greenhouse I would check out this book
http://www.amazon.com/The-Earth-Shel...red+greenhouse
If I were you. In your climate it would be a big bonus. The cold sink and animals in the greenhouse could make a big difference where you are.

Nice looking place you have there.

Larry

here is a website that shows you how to make a neat earth sheltered greenhouse, http://www.motherearthnews.com/organ...z04fmzsel.aspx just wondering how close it is to that book

Being in Mid Michigan I can only Imagine Saskatchewan, let alone North west or East Saskatchewan... Is as cold if not colder climate then here...

So my suggestion is a atrium on the southern side of your home, Incorporating as much thermal mass as possible. Double Glazing to conserve heat, triple being better, like twin wall polycarbonate for the outside and a single sheet in. As much dead air space as possiable between them.

Being in a northern climate the most beneficial light will be from the south, Glazing Being expensive. Only makes sense to have the southern side glazed.

Besides you house saving having to build the North wall, both house and atrium will benefit each other in a thermal balancing act.

I would also consider something like honey comb blinds to limit heat loss when the suns not shining.

I heard it said every square foot of green house can heat three of Interior space.

I will chime in here. Dig down four or six feet. Build a greenhouse with a peaked roof for the ice and snow to slide off. You will not need side walls and the place will be warmer than if you did that far north. Double layer the plastic if that is your covering or choice. Air in between the layers. I have two. I did not use the clear plastic as it tears after a few years. I used opaque white with strands of reinforced plastic running thru it. Hope it goes well for you.

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Big D Farm Blog

My Dad grew way too much, then agonized because it did not get eaten and he could not stand waste. We had so much fruit, esp. sweetpears and plums, bushels and bushels. finally the guys got some barrels and fermented it, rigged a copper coil to my canner and , and ..well you get the drift. Dad was happy. Mother used some of the product for her tinctures.