Wisconsin Homesteaders
 

I was just wondering if anyone knew of a site or group, maybe even a thread on here i have missed. I was looking for a common meeting place for Wisconsin Homesteaders. I would like very much to find more like minded people in Wisconsin, in particular close enough to me, that we can pool ideas, share stories, help each other out, and such.

I have been lucky enough to talk to a few of you a little bit more in person and would just like to continue and expand upon that type of community.

I'm west of you. I'm in Monroe county. Very close to Jackson county. I have gone to the annual get together at mullers lane farm. I highly suggest you go. I plan on brining 4 other families this year. It's 4 hrs south of us. Great weekend!

When and where is that? Im by Marshfield in Wood county.

We are from Stratford in Marathon county.

Hi, New here and just purchased an old homestead in Gordon that we plan on restoring and eventually homesteading. I have a big job ahead of me since this home has not been lived in for over 40 years and needs a lot of TLC including some foundation work and a new well.

Our plans include restoring the property, out buildings, raised gardens, chickens, guineas, and small livestock to make this area as self sustaining as possible.

I would appreciate meeting others nearby to locate resources or mentor me through some of our goals.

Here is a link to our Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peter...23258151172664

I am in eastern Wisconsin, although we have a farm in the western portion of the state also. Getting there is a work in progress..

NW Wisconsin here

https://www.midwestrenew.org/energyfair

Mrea energy fair is next week in Custer, lots of home steadying types will be there

I have met several from here over the years at the MREA Fair like Ardie and a few others from years back.

My homestead/hobby farm is in Sheboygan. Just sold my milk cow (hand-milking this past winter was a blast, believe me!), but have cows, chickens, orchards, gardens, etc. Last year had pigs, ducks and guineas, too. This year, I'm scaling back due to a newborn in our family-->although my saturdays generally involve 10 hours of working the farm, so my wife might debate whether or not I scaled back.

This fall I'll be adding two steers to be trained into my oxen team. Next we'll add lambs and honey bees.

Primarily farming with permaculture methods. Everything is organic and no herbicides/pesticides. Trying to build the soil so that my grandchildren can enjoy what I leave behind.

We can, pickle, make soap/detergents/lotions, burn wood as a primary heating source, and learn new things constantly.

Nice to know we're not the only ones trying this in WI!

Spring is right around the corner... Just waiting for the weather to start to warm so I can get to work on all my outdoor projects. So much in the works this year hope to get a lot of it done.

Everyone else ready for spring?

Im near Ashland.

Green Lake Co... near Oshkosh. I live in town... garden and wish I was in the country!

Debbie

I'm a few miles from the hills in Pierce Co.

Central WI. Close to Mike (who started the thread).

Not from WI but I find like-minded people at the farmer's markets, extension service classes, feed store, etc.

Anyone do a Vegetable stand?
 

We have always done a very large garden, grow way too much for us to consumer and feed a lot of it to the animals. This spring I will be setting up a "self serve" vegetable stand out by the road. I told my boys (14 & 9) that if they keep it cleaned and stocked from the garden they can keep the profits as long as they spend it on farm related stuff... (I know my youngest will be buying rabbits)

I'm originally from WI. Grew up in Waukesha county, then moved to northern Oconto county. That wasn't far enough so we continued north to the MI Upper Peninsula in NW Iron County, so I'm not too far from my fellow Sconnies.

I'm in Wood County

We also used to live in Waukesha county; first Menomonee Falls as a kid (and met my DH there!) and then much later, Town of Delafield on the west end of Pewaukee Lake. Miss the muskie fishing on that great lake!

I am just South of Eau Claire County.

Happy Valentines day everyone.

Got a sweet gift from our goats this morning, a little Toggenburg kid named Valentine. She's a cute little fuzzball... and the best part, that means we can start milking our goat and expand our herd. Baby steps.. or in this case, kid steps.

I am willing to trade with anyone in my area, if you are looking for an item let me know, I have too much and I know I can't use it all. I also sharpen knives and have the equipment for it, it's a nice money maker for us.

I'm also looking for someone in my area to trade plants for, just to make my homestead nicer. I have penoies in red white and pink, lots of hostas and everything else.

That sounds like a great plan Coco. I'll have to take a look and see if I have anything worth trading. lol

I was just talking about learning to sharpen knives and stuff this morning. Found an old sharping stone wheel in the shed. I'd like to find a fairly cheap anvil too and try a little metal working.

I don't have an anvil but I do think I have a 5 inch blank out in the shed.

I also have a metal lathe that is way beyond what a person would have a want for, Hubs bought it to make a cannon on it LOL , I also have some cub cadets and attachments, a few tractors and stuff, much more than a person would think that they need .

I also have canning equipment, jars and etc, also many fruit trees,pear and apple. berry shrubs if your looking for picking to sell at your road side stand.(raspberries and blueberries ).

Since we're on the topic of trading... anyone have some metal t-posts they are looking to trade or sell? I need to fence off a new field for my Highland cattle and could use quite a few of them.

South central wi

Welcome BigBlue!

I'm in Florence County - near Iron Mountain MI. Giant Pine Mountain Intercontinental Ski Jumps are going on this weekend. Glad I am indoors!

Make that two of us in Florence County. Chix and I have been friends for, um, 27 or 28 years. Am I right?

Originally from Wood County between Rudolph and Vesper, lived by Auburndale for a while (and my husband was from Blenker).

I'm not too far from you LisaBug and Chixarecute. I'm northwest of Iron River.

Lisabug, we met back in '86, yes? As I recall, you were pickling eggs. And your DD was just a bitty mite.

NWMike, as the crow flies down US 2, that's not far!

South Central Wisconsin here.

I would really appreciate gardening discussions local to WI. I'm new to gardening and it doesn't help reading all these warm-weather folks when our ground is a cold, hard rock right now!

WIWinterman, you can see the ground? Ours is a bit buried under white stuff. Hope it's gone by the end of April.....

NWMike, you aren't far from us. Colder than us in that area, too. Highs here around 25 tomorrow, beats the heck out of most temps lately.

Chix, so I was pickling eggs? I remember you and dh pulling in on your motorcycle asking about making hay. Time flies.

Very cold. -32 this morning, -49 factoring windchill.

Gardening will be interesting this year. I went with cold hardy varieties, and early producers to accommodate the short season. I need to strengthen the soil though. I'm in the market for manure if you know of any. I have a dump trailer to transport.

I actually pass through Florence frequently. Looked at a lot on the corner of Shannon Rd and 139, but ended up settling further north.

too cold for me... our momma goat decided she wasn't having any more of the birthing barn, she broke out last night and took her baby (1 week old) with her so they spent the night out in the corral by the other animals. Had to throw together a quick spot for the baby to sleep so I took an old doghouse and filled it with hay. This morning the baby was sleeping inside and mom was sleeping (blocking) the door. hopefully we only have another week of this bitter cold so I don't have to worry all night about the baby. Wife was making her a sweater today. lol

Northern Washington County here. We keep layers year round and raise meat chickens and turkeys during the summer. We have a bunch of fruit trees, gardens, dogs and cats. Keeps us super busy while working outside the home, too.

Lisa, we've got a good 6-8 inches of "snow" across our yards. Mostly the crispy icy stuff after the freeze-thaw cycles. I'm glad to have it!
Indeed, looking forward to March and April. I haven't started any plants yet!

I'm in Oneida County in northern WI :gaptooth:

We got about 1/2" of snow in 15 minutes here mid-day. Now blazing SUN! So fun living here minute to minute haha:)