Comments on: WHAT’S NEW FOR THE NEW YEAR? PROJECT #1 http://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/ One family's journey towards a sustainable, more self sufficient life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:09:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Dianahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-45014 Diana Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:01:03 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-45014 I know I just posted but I forgot to mention that we have a chicken building and place for goats. I hope to have both soon. Advice with this also gladly appreciated. We live in Ohio. I know I just posted but I forgot to mention that we have a chicken building and place for goats. I hope to have both soon. Advice with this also gladly appreciated. We live in Ohio.

]]> By: Dianahttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-45013 Diana Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:59:42 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-45013 I have been trying to become an active blog member for some time but I have been having quite a lot of difficulty. The comment I would like to share is 1. I love the work you do and stand for; 2. I and my husband are caretakers for a 250 acre farm. We have cattle and I have a large garden area-approx 80ft x 140ft. I feel overwhelmed with such a large area to work with and would appreciate any suggestions for utilizing every inch of my garden to produce as much as possible. My goal for 2010 is to be as self supportive as I possibly can. I also have my sister-in-law on board which is a plus. The farm is mainly used for apple sales as we have near 2000 trees, many heirloom varieties. Love the multitude of information you provide and look forward to any assistance/advice from anyone. I have been trying to become an active blog member for some time but I have been having quite a lot of difficulty. The comment I would like to share is 1. I love the work you do and stand for; 2. I and my husband are caretakers for a 250 acre farm. We have cattle and I have a large garden area-approx 80ft x 140ft. I feel overwhelmed with such a large area to work with and would appreciate any suggestions for utilizing every inch of my garden to produce as much as possible. My goal for 2010 is to be as self supportive as I possibly can. I also have my sister-in-law on board which is a plus. The farm is mainly used for apple sales as we have near 2000 trees, many heirloom varieties. Love the multitude of information you provide and look forward to any assistance/advice from anyone.

]]> By: Kay Grahamhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-42884 Kay Graham Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:38:30 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-42884 We are homesteading in Canada so not everything you write in your blog is applicable. The spirit is the same, though. Thanks.Brenda, we justify our "toxic smoke" because it comforts the neighbors to see it and to know we are home. 'Course they live half a mile away, across the lake. We are homesteading in Canada so not everything you write in your blog is applicable. The spirit is the same, though. Thanks.

Brenda, we justify our "toxic smoke" because it comforts the neighbors to see it and to know we are home. 'Course they live half a mile away, across the lake.

]]> By: Brenda Walkerhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-38895 Brenda Walker Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:42:32 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-38895 How do you justify all the toxic smoke that your woodstove is producing? Not a green choice! How do you justify all the toxic smoke that your woodstove is producing? Not a green choice!

]]> By: Hope Carrillohttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-36620 Hope Carrillo Sat, 29 Aug 2009 19:23:38 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-36620 On January 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm, Sharon Says:"9) Order all your seeds now so backordered seeds or slow order filling doesn’t disrupt the plans. Order any food preservation items well in advance of being needed too."Personally harvesting all of my own seeds is the way I go every year. Not only is it truly sustainable, but I find it saves LOTS of money and I ALWAYS have plenty to share out with friends and family or sell at the farmer's market.SAY NO TO G.E. FOOD!!! :)Hope On January 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pm,
Sharon Says:

"9) Order all your seeds now so backordered seeds or slow order filling doesn’t disrupt the plans. Order any food preservation items well in advance of being needed too."

Personally harvesting all of my own seeds is the way I go every year. Not only is it truly sustainable, but I find it saves LOTS of money and I ALWAYS have plenty to share out with friends and family or sell at the farmer's market.

SAY NO TO G.E. FOOD!!! :)

Hope

]]> By: abubakarhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-28931 abubakar Thu, 30 Apr 2009 06:29:10 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-28931 i have been growing vegetables for 4 years now. last year i got 4500 pounds of vegetables. my plot size is 50'x45'. this year i am growing vegetables vertically and even on my roof to increase my produce. i have been growing vegetables for 4 years now. last year i got 4500 pounds of vegetables. my plot size is 50'x45'. this year i am growing vegetables vertically and even on my roof to increase my produce.

]]> By: Mikehttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-26626 Mike Wed, 25 Mar 2009 18:07:02 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-26626 I'm very interested in urban self-sufficiency. How'd the 10,000 pound challenge work out? Got stats or stories? Any lessons learned? I agree that high productivity is needed. How many people did you feed with your garden? Are you also tying it to meeting all nutrition and medicinal needs from your garden alone? (see "Gardening for Maximum Nutrition" by J. Minnich and "Super Nutrition Gardening" by W. Peavy for facts and some figures) I'm very interested in urban self-sufficiency. How'd the 10,000 pound challenge work out? Got stats or stories? Any lessons learned? I agree that high productivity is needed. How many people did you feed with your garden? Are you also tying it to meeting all nutrition and medicinal needs from your garden alone? (see "Gardening for Maximum Nutrition" by J. Minnich and "Super Nutrition Gardening" by W. Peavy for facts and some figures)

]]> By: Gloria Parkerhttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-24342 Gloria Parker Sun, 01 Feb 2009 21:30:27 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-24342 We have had a vegetable garden for the last 4 yrs. Each year it gets bigger. Now we need to plant closer together for more production. I can & freeze what we don't eat. It is so much better than anything you can but at the store. We have had a vegetable garden for the last 4 yrs. Each year it gets bigger. Now we need to plant closer together for more production. I can & freeze what we don't eat. It is so much better than anything you can but at the store.

]]> By: Charlie Paolinohttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-19449 Charlie Paolino Mon, 17 Nov 2008 19:35:03 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-19449 You have inspired us to dump the lawn and build raised beds..2000 square feet...we are no where near your productivity but your in depth site provides inspiration to us to keep planting! Thanks!Charlie and Pam Nyack You have inspired us to dump the lawn and build raised beds..2000 square feet...we are no where near your productivity but your in depth site provides inspiration to us to keep planting!
Thanks!

Charlie and Pam
Nyack

]]> By: homefirsthttp://urbanhomestead.org/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/comment-page-1/#comment-17986 homefirst Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:02:15 +0000 http://d17095.u24.sustainablehosting.com/journal/2008/01/01/whats-new-for-the-new-year-project-1/#comment-17986 Hi there,I have jsut recently come over your site. It is inspiring to see how you guys are using what you have. I grew up feeding my many pets off of what our yard provided and what I could grow. This stuff has been my passion since I was about 15 years old. Then I lived in the city but just recently my husband and I bought 2 1/2 acres in N.C. Now all those years of living the country life in the city has paid off. I now have the knowledge to live my life to the fullest in the country.We just got a garden planted this year for the fall. The collards are the best I have ever tasted! It is 25 x 42 feet with in about 2 years we plan to have about 30 by 80 by then I will be out of the military and staying at home with my children. We put in three fruit trees so far and are planning 6 more. And put in 3 raspberry, 3 blackberry and 2 fig bushes. We also bought 4 hens, a rooster and three guineas, and are getting 5 chicks from the neighbors of unknown sex.Next year we plan on building the goat yard and getting two female milk goats and one male. Hopefully within a couple years we may be able to get a couple beehives also. And next year we plan on starting a strawberry patch about 30 foot long x 20 feet.The goal is to have enough food for us and enough food to sell off cheap to local family and friends. That way we help them and they help us in these tough times. We will be on one income in one year and have all these projects to set up before then. Also plan to have a stock full of potatoes, carrots, onions, canned goods and dry goods on hand for that time so that we can adjust without too much shock.Though we have 2 1/2 acres I still use the raised bed intensive gardening technique. He asks me why do I do that when we don't need to. My answer is why use more land if it is not needed. That land can be used for something else. Plus it is less I have to hoe and water. I just like the look of it also.As for 10,000 pounds next year. Most likely not going to happen...this year...but I do plan on getting a scale and seeing what I can grow. Have to start somewhere. Do you guys weigh the chicken eggs to? I am taking another challenge of yours and that is to grow at least one meal a week. When the chickens start laying I am planning a weekend breakfast of omlett, with oregano, chopped onions, green peppers and tomato. Someday that will include homemade buttermilk buscuits with homemade homegrown preserves or honey. Oh for that day. But I have this day and I am happy with that. You guys keep those hands dirty and keep on posting please!Thanks,homefirst Hi there,

I have jsut recently come over your site. It is inspiring to see how you guys are using what you have. I grew up feeding my many pets off of what our yard provided and what I could grow. This stuff has been my passion since I was about 15 years old. Then I lived in the city but just recently my husband and I bought 2 1/2 acres in N.C. Now all those years of living the country life in the city has paid off. I now have the knowledge to live my life to the fullest in the country.

We just got a garden planted this year for the fall. The collards are the best I have ever tasted! It is 25 x 42 feet with in about 2 years we plan to have about 30 by 80 by then I will be out of the military and staying at home with my children. We put in three fruit trees so far and are planning 6 more. And put in 3 raspberry, 3 blackberry and 2 fig bushes. We also bought 4 hens, a rooster and three guineas, and are getting 5 chicks from the neighbors of unknown sex.

Next year we plan on building the goat yard and getting two female milk goats and one male. Hopefully within a couple years we may be able to get a couple beehives also. And next year we plan on starting a strawberry patch about 30 foot long x 20 feet.

The goal is to have enough food for us and enough food to sell off cheap to local family and friends. That way we help them and they help us in these tough times. We will be on one income in one year and have all these projects to set up before then. Also plan to have a stock full of potatoes, carrots, onions, canned goods and dry goods on hand for that time so that we can adjust without too much shock.

Though we have 2 1/2 acres I still use the raised bed intensive gardening technique. He asks me why do I do that when we don't need to. My answer is why use more land if it is not needed. That land can be used for something else. Plus it is less I have to hoe and water. I just like the look of it also.

As for 10,000 pounds next year. Most likely not going to happen...this year...but I do plan on getting a scale and seeing what I can grow. Have to start somewhere. Do you guys weigh the chicken eggs to? I am taking another challenge of yours and that is to grow at least one meal a week. When the chickens start laying I am planning a weekend breakfast of omlett, with oregano, chopped onions, green peppers and tomato. Someday that will include homemade buttermilk buscuits with homemade homegrown preserves or honey. Oh for that day. But I have this day and I am happy with that. You guys keep those hands dirty and keep on posting please!

Thanks,

homefirst

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