Friday, February 3, 2012

IDC- the beginning

As I posted yesterday, I'm participating in the Independence Days Challenge. The trick is to keep track, on a weekly basis, how I'm/we're doing in certain specific categories to help reach self sufficiency- or at least preparedness for an emergency.  The challenge officially kicked off Feb 1 but here is the first week.  I'll be keeping track Saturday- Friday and posting every Friday- or at least trying to.  So, this report has a bit of pre-challenge January in it.
Plant something- Amazingly YES!!  I planted some lettuce seed in an old window box.  It's currently sitting on the pantry shelf near the (usually) sunny South door.  On nice days, I'll move it out onto the deck.  We'll see how it goes. If all else fails, I can put it under the grow lights on the seed starting racks.  I'll probably be starting some parsley soon but that's for another week.
Harvest something- only eggs this week.  But we've gathered 34 eggs this week.
Preserve something- I dried some orange zest for future use.  That's about it.
Waste not- recycled and composted, as usual.  Anything chicken-friendly goes into the chicken bowl rather than into the compost.  I even cut some clippings of the oat 'cat grass' and gave it to the chickens since it was getting a bit out of control. At least with the cat grass Spaz has been leaving my lemon grass alone!
Want not- Hmm, not much in this category this week.  We really haven't made any purchases.  Oh, wait, can I count my new drip hoses?  They arrived this week and will be hooked up to the water barrels this coming summer for the garden.  That is definitely a 'planning for the future' kind of thing.
Eat the food- Let's see, we ate several quiches out of the freezer that I made ahead when we had surplus eggs.  We're getting down to the bottom of our beef and will probably need to contact our Amish Farmer for more.  And, I made a shocking discovery!  I do believe that this year, for the first time EVER we will run out of tomatoes!  I did inventory today.  Tomato Sauce: 7 quart jars, 2 pint and a half jars;  Diced Tomatoes:  12 pints, 1 pint and a half.  Even with rationing one jar of sauce a week, we'll run out in March.  The diced tomatoes will last a little longer but not much.  Ack!  I'm going to have to re-think my garden plan for a few more tomato plants. I really need another 40+ quart canning year.  Hopefully those soaker hoses will come in handy if it turns out to be a dry summer again.
Build Community Food systems- started selling eggs at work.  I sold three dozen this week and have an order for another next week who wants to become a regular customer.  I just hope the girls keep it up.
Skill up- not much here.  Have been doing some reading and research on medicinal herbs since I am determined to finally build my herb spiral this spring and want to figure out what else to plant.  I may have to order seeds for some of the more uncommon things I want (gasp- and I thought I was done!!) I also need to move some herbs from in front of the porch to somewhere more sunny this spring.

Now, we're waiting to see what Mother Nature has in store for us this weekend. There is a winter storm headed this way but we're so close to the rain/snow line that no one seems to know what will happen.  Probably icky slush.  Blah.  But, we're warm in the house.  I've got French bread ready to go into the oven and will be making some spaghetti in a bit. Mmm....  Oh, that reminds me.  I need to bring up some herb butter from the freezer for the bread.  More "eating the food".

8 comments:

  1. Great starts!!! ....I bet there is lots of wildcrafting of medicinal herbs you could do. I'd start with a field guide of your area :-)

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    1. dr momi- I've done a great many walks out with my field guide already. We've got quite the diversity here and more is showing up every year. This land had been heavily grazed for over 50 years and it's amazing what is coming back after only a few years of no grazing. We've got a wetland here (which, in my opinion does NOT make good grazing land) and the diversity is amazing!! Sadly, I've got a lot to learn on my herbals- but it's something I'm working on.
      Judy

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  2. Hi there. :). Just joined your page after seeing your comment on my page. I like what you've got going here. The Indepenence Day Challenge sounds awesome and I think I'll give it a try as a first timer. We'll see how I do. I've struggled to grow things for years and I think I might have a slight tinge of green on my thumb through all the brown. :)

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    1. Welcome Mamamcmann!! The IDC is a great idea, even if you don't have a green thumb. It is also fun to read through the other participants accomplishments and get ideas of your own. It's a great way to not feel alone in what you're trying to do (kind of like blogging- you find those like minded people out there!!)
      Oh, and I see on your site that you're new to blogging- welcome to the blogosphere as well, You'll find lots of great people out here!
      Judy

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  3. I have a couple chicken questions. I really want to get some when we finally move back to our own piece of land. My mom tells me that her family quit having chickens because it cost more to feed them then they got back in eggs. Are they expensive to have, like having pricey "pets"?

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    1. Oo, I'm not sure I can really answer that question well. The initial outlay was expensive since we had to build a coop and get equipment. We did the construction ourselves which saved us money but we also built to last. There would be plenty of less expensive ways of building a coop than we did, even with repurposing as much construction stuff as we did.
      As far as daily maintenance, I can get a 40 lb bag of feed for about $11 which lasts them about 3 weeks (I've currently got 10 hens and a rooster) I also feed them kitchen veggie scraps and such as well as some cracked corn from my Dad at the farm. It takes a while for them to mature enough to lay so you've got several months of feed with no 'reward'. Even now in the middle of winter, when they've slowed down, we're getting 30+ eggs a week, which I think is a pretty good return.
      Could I purchase 3 dozen eggs a week at the store for cheaper- probably... but the cost isn't why I'm doing it. I have the satisfaction of having eggs from my own hens. I KNOW how they have been treated and what they have been fed (unlike factory farm eggs which are pretty cruelly produced if you ask me). And they taste much better and are much fresher than the eggs I could purchase. I'm fortunate enough to live in an area where there are enough farmers with chickens I could buy farm eggs- but I wanted to do it for myself.

      I guess my answer comes down to the fact that you have to think about WHY you want chickens. Is it a cost saving thing or is it a self sufficiency, sustainable idea in your head.

      Ultimately, everyone has to decide for themselves if the cost is worth it.

      Hope this helps.
      Judy

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  4. You've done well on the first IDC!! :)

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  5. I may need to jump on this, too! Even if it's not blogged ('cause hey, I've not done that in a loooong time!) it'd be a great motivation tool!

    PS.
    You are a very inspiring person!!!

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Glad you stopped in. I would love to hear from you.