My current home doesn't have a verandah or even a porch but I dream of owning a little farmette again, with a verandah overlooking chickens, goats and gardens. Absolute heaven!

Self-Sufficient on 2 Acres?

As a family focused on becoming self-reliant or self-sufficient, the topic of this post weighs heavily on my mind. I've posted about this before, but things change.

We've run out of money. We're late in finishing the goat house and chicken coop... would help if the wind wouldn't keep blowing things over! We still need to build a "bank" of quail cages and rabbit hutches. (10 Coturnix quail coming on June 21). Still have more trees and bushes to order. And the seedlings and tree-sticks we need to get into the ground are sooo far behind and just got more a couple of days ago!

So... with everything that is going on ... wondering if commerce stopped tomorrow or next month or next year, would we be able to take care of ourselves (relative to food) with what we already have, or have ready to plant soon? Not just us humans, but also our rabbits, quail, chickens, dogs and goats?

Sure we have 2 acres, but we had to use the entire perimeter (in 20 feet) for windbreaks so that space is lost. Decided to use the fenced-in 1/10 acre for our "garden" (herbs and veggies) and the critter pens. Scatter the front and back 1 1/2 acres with nut and fruit trees and bushes. Fill in any space possible with various kinds of 3-sisters gardens (corn/bean/winter squash, and sunflower/cucumber/melon) and other grains.

Would still need to buy hay... but... your input? Here's what we have or will have:

Grains (gluten-free):
-amaranth
-corn
-millet
-quinoa

Fruit:
-apple
-blackberry
-blueberry
-cherry
-jostaberry
-pear
-peach
-nectarine
-raspberry
-strawberry

Nut/Legume (plant protein):
-beans, all kinds
-hazelnut/filbert
-lentils
-peas (maybe next year'll be better)
-walnut

Vegetables:
-asparagus
-beet
-broccoli
-cabbage
-carrots
-cucumber
-eggplant
-garlic
-lettuce
-melon
-okra
-onion
-pepper (bell and hot)
-radish
-rhubarb
-rutabaga
-spinach
-squash, zucchini
-squash, winter (4 kinds)
-swiss chard
-tomato
-turnip

Herbs:
-basil
-dill
-lavender
-oregano
-parsley
-rosemary
-soapwort
-stevia

Flowers (Edible):
-marigold
-nasturtium
-pansy
-rose
-sunflowers

Still intend to get:
-bees (wax, honey, pollination)
-elderberries and grapes
-solar and wind power capable
-worms
etc... see: http://vikkisverandah.blogspot.com/p/our-homestead.html .

I don't can much; I dehydrate almost everything.

So... what do you think?!?!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

You tried to take on way too much way too soon. As a follower I have been thinking this all along.

Vee said...

MEB: I thought long and hard about this comment. At first it hurt a little, but after I gave it some thought, I realized you were right. You are part of the reason we've decided to pare things down and re-prioritize some of our plans. Thanks for the kick in the butt.