Firewood: Like currency in the 'bank'

There are a handful of hunts in Arizona that have over-the-counter tags, but they tend to be pretty hard hunts, with limited elk numbers. They're in areas where Game & Fish doesn't want any elk, either because they compete too much with other species or they're causing problems with agriculture. I may buy an over-the-counter elk tag if I don't get drawn, and try my luck in the fall, but most of the areas have some real drawbacks. Too warm (80-90 degrees even in fall, so you're scrambling to get the meat out before it goes bad), no vehicular access, dense thickets, and/or a whole heck of a lot of private land to negotiate around. (In AZ, you also can't shoot within 1/4 mile of a structure without permission of the owner of said structure.)

I'll find out in a week or two if either me or my father got drawn.

Speaking of money in the pocket, too, I had planned on going out looking for sheds this week (and working with the pup to get her trained to find them). You can sell any elk antlers you find here, and they sell for very good money. Unfortunately, I'm laid up with a nasty chest cold right now. Uggg. Never fails ... when I get sick, I get sick for weeks, too. Very frustrating.

When I had my 100 acres my Father in Law said I couldn't make a living off it. I had about a third of it in Soybeans and Corn. Had Pasture for Calves and Hogs.

When I figured what I made off the place first I took Rent that I didn't have to pay on the House. Figured Firewood for Heating. Garden and Milk from two Cows. Plus I figured Deer I killed and money I made from Trapping.

Figure the place paid for its self and plus.

My Father in Law You can't figure Income like that. You have to figure what you are Taxed on.

This place yes we are making Payments but we would at least have to pay rent which would be about the same but it will be paid for. We do have Garden. Can get Firewood Free or very Cheap. Hunting and Fishing close by. Most time I use Muzzleloader, mostly because it is fun but also very cheap. I do raise Chickens and Rabbits seems I break even with them.

I find most the time I spend money on things I like to have but not necessary.

big rockpile

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All this may well save money. But a lot of people fail to count all their expenses. For example chain saws and fuel and fencing and property and stock or plants that died, or time researching, pasture seed, fertilizer, and tools, etc, etc.

Doesn't mean it isn't worth it, but maybe not as economical as we think. I often think the most economical way would be to live in a very small house on a small lot, and work within walking distance and grow a garden with no machinery.

I have spent too much on fencing and tools and on plants that died or didn't produce because I didn't know what I was doing, etc, etc.

Even if not economical, I have enjoyed it, and I get exercise, and might live longer.

One more question is how many of us are completely self-sufficient. If any of us try to sell our services, or work somewhere for pay, we are out of luck if everyone is trying to avoid using anyone else.

There are a lot of things I'm not interested in, or don't have the tools, or the expertise, for which I like to pay someone else. And they can pay me to do what I'm better at. One reason I got married, I suppose. I don't like to cook, and she doesn't like to run a chain saw.

Having looked around today's world, I assure you almost NOBODY is even trying to be more self sufficient. You'd be flying to get them away from their electronic addiction of choice.

If you have skills, you'll never have to worry about finding places to apply them.


Yeah....I hear that a lot.

Here's a famous quote on that:

A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.

-Robert A. Heinlein



I was fortunate to marry well.

We both like to cook, and both use a chainsaw.

We do many of our own repairs - appliances, auto, etc. We have a garden and freeze/can as much as we can. I have friends who have beef and we get some from them as well as eggs, etc. Have another friend who hunts and we often get venison from them. We heat mostly with wood. We can usually get some free cut hardwood, and just have to split it. We rent a splitter ($75 for the weekend) and split 4-5 cords of wood in the late summer/early fall. Hard work but worth it.

Staying home to work in projects saving a whole lot. No gas used, no temptation to by unneccessary stuff.
When my neighbor broke up a bunch of concrete, I took it and have made 6 raised garden beds by stacking it and filling with mostly composted manure.

But I admit that I always pause these days to think if the risk of injury in doing a repair is worth the savings. My 'ow' factor has gone up as I get okder.

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As we have done in the past, we will be gearing up to grow most of the fruits/veggies we eat all year around. In addition, DH hunts, fishes, crabs, clams, harvests oysters, and we also pick wild mushrooms. We are heating with wood and won't have to buy the logs. Either we use our own downed trees, neighbor's downed trees, or cut some down as needed. We won't be using that much firewood here. DH is an Industrial Mechanic/Welder/Machinist, so he does almost all the work around here (including engine repair, rebuilds, etc...). I can, dehydrate, and ferment. In addition, I cut our hair, so we don't pay for that. We have a septic, well, no HOA fees, and we are into bartering.

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Alot of people that say this don't often realize the difference between capital investment and COST ( not suggesting that you are necessarily making this mistake). They count the full price of their equipment as a total loss against any gain. Thats not realistic.

The cost is the depreciation of the equipment, not the total sale price. This misunderstanding is usually how people wrongly come to the conclusion that they 'cant make money farming'. Farmers that are producing goods and are sitting on tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, land, and commodities, are profiting big time. Its just that most of us today can only comprehend value in terms of cash in hand, rather than hard assets.

Better than currency in the bank. It's like actual money. Stored energy is true wealth.

That and when the bank collapses you will still have your firewood, those digital numbers in the bank will be gone.

I'm at the point now where firewood sales and a few saw logs cover living expenses for the year, the rest of the farm pays its own way and for expansion.

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Another source of "income" for the homesteader is buying used...garage sales, thrift stores, Habitat ReStores, and my latest find, Good Will Outlet stores, where you buy most items by the pound. If you put in a few hours garage saling or spend a day with a friend cruising the GWO stores, you can get much of your clothing, bedding, kitchen items and home repair/building items for pennies on the dollar.

I could not afford the high end down comforters and quilts on my bed if I hadn't found them at GWO and regular GW stores. I could get by with something less, but why when I can use $300 comforters I bought for less than $5 each? Looking around my home and farm, I can point to item after item I bought used for very little money. I have bought very few items new. If I'd had to buy everything I use new, I'd still be working and in debt, instead of debt-free and retired!

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