Home Production

[SmallFarm]

For clothing production you should have scissors, needles, thread, pins, if possible a treadle machine, fabric. yardstick, measuring tape. Quilt frames would be good, along with batting. The ability to use those things is a necessity. Bedding is a must. Ability to knit and crochet and weave would be very helpful too.

Believer

I recently taught myself to crochet granny squares. Not many guys would admit it, crocheting being a "feminine art", however it does wonders for my trichtotillomania. I am now officially addicted to crocheting and I love it.

[bbrown]

As far as the treadle sewing goes...it would be nice, but up here it would cost a good $500+ just to buy one and at LEAST that much more to ship it in. One option people don't think about is that your electric sewing machine, while perhaps a pain, could operate without electricity simply by turning the wheel by hand. Not the most fun, I'd admit, but if you have two people it could go rather quickly (Or I'm sure someone could work up a home conversion kit to make it easier to turn in some means). Even if you did it yourself, it would be much faster still than trying to sew by hand, I think. Of course that also requires other supplies like bobbins and replacement needles, but they are going to cost significantly less than a treadle! I do wish we lived in a place with antiquing around, though, so I could get one.

[believer]

Not saying that everyone should have a treadle sewing machine. It's just IF. Perhaps even more important than knowing how to sew, is mending. When I was a little girl, we mended everything, including socks. How many people know how to mend anymore? All little girl dresses and most adult ladies dresses had large hems. We got clothes too big, so we could "grow into them." We grew into them, then out of them. That's when the hem was let down. When I grew too tall for that, my mother added a ruffle. Then it became a hand me down for someone else. People have gotten away from that kind of fruggle living I'm afraid, and many don't know how. How many of you out there know how to mend socks so that you won't cause pain to the wearer? The time will come when we need to know that.

Believer

[bobhenstra]

Before we got neighbors we let our chickens and rabbits roam all over our 5 acres. It was convient and easy! All we supplied them with was fresh water. Then we started getting neighbors, along with neighbors come complaints, so we had to box our critters in. Thats when we had a big family, 7 kids. But now I'm all alone on my five acres, in my cabin I built myself and darn it, I'm really enjoying life as a semi hermit. I've turned all my property over to my kids and own very little myself. Just my guns, ammo, food storage, fishing equipment (though my kids are fighting over that), and my little Toyota Corolla! I have a pickup and 5th wheeler here, but they actually belong to my oldest son. If AHBL before I die, I'm prepared with more food than I can eat, so I'm not worried---Bring it on!

Bob

[shadow]

How many of you out there know how to mend socks so that you won't cause pain to the wearer?
Believer

While serving at the end of my mission in Quesnel, B.C., the ward mission leader knew I was about out of time. I never said anything about when my time was up, but the custom in Canada was to take your shoes off when entering a home. My socks at times showed there wear I guess. He asked me to take my socks off so he could darn them, I reluctantly obliged not fully knowing what "darning" meant. He grabbed the trash can and while throwing my socks into it said "Darn socks!". Then he gave me a new pair. That's the easiest and best way I know how to "darn" or mend socks.

[believer]

Shadow,

That's a cute story.


Believer

[Rincon]

Removed

[Songbird]

For clothing production you should have scissors, needles, thread, pins, if possible a treadle machine, fabric. yardstick, measuring tape. Quilt frames would be good, along with batting. The ability to use those things is a necessity. Bedding is a must. Ability to knit and crochet and weave would be very helpful too.

Believer

I recently taught myself to crochet granny squares. Not many guys would admit it, crocheting being a "feminine art", however it does wonders for my trichtotillomania. I am now officially addicted to crocheting and I love it.

What is that???

[Songbird]

Chickens and rabbits both can be raised in a basement. You keep the smell down by placing the pens above boxes of dirt and plain old earth worms. The worms make short work of chicken and rabbit poop. Just remember, you must have a years supply of food for each chicken or rabbit, worms gotta take care of themselves--- Guinea pigs can be raised in place of rabbits, and are easier to raise for meat. Trouble with Guinea pigs is they also make great pets, kids love them till---stew time------

If you decide on rabbits, pick a small breed. Both rabbits, chickens, and worms-- love fresh lawn clippings, chickens also love worms, so keep the coop floor well above the worm bed. Plan on 1.5 hens per household member. Place chicken pens as close to a window light on the South side of your basement as possible, and plan on at least 14 hours of light per day for continued egg production, some type of artifical light works just fine.

Teach your kids to be very quiet around the animals, mommy rabbits will eat their young if they are frightened.
Bob

Wow, that is great information...Hmmmmm where shall I put the chickens? Do you let them run around?

[SmallFarm]

What is that???

Hair-pulling disorder. I twist my hair so bad it forms knots, which I then pull out. It's a nervous habit like biting your nails. Most people grow out of it in their adolescence, I never did. It's not so bad if I keep my hair real short and my hands busy.

[bobhenstra]

Chickens and rabbits both can be raised in a basement. You keep the smell down by placing the pens above boxes of dirt and plain old earth worms. The worms make short work of chicken and rabbit poop. Just remember, you must have a years supply of food for each chicken or rabbit, worms gotta take care of themselves--- Guinea pigs can be raised in place of rabbits, and are easier to raise for meat. Trouble with Guinea pigs is they also make great pets, kids love them till---stew time------

If you decide on rabbits, pick a small breed. Both rabbits, chickens, and worms-- love fresh lawn clippings, chickens also love worms, so keep the coop floor well above the worm bed. Plan on 1.5 hens per household member. Place chicken pens as close to a window light on the South side of your basement as possible, and plan on at least 14 hours of light per day for continued egg production, some type of artificial light works just fine.

Teach your kids to be very quiet around the animals, mommy rabbits will eat their young if they are frightened.
Bob

Wow, that is great information...Hmmmmm where shall I put the chickens? Do you let them run around?

No, you keep them in wire cages tall enough so they can stand up, but a couple of square feet of floor space for each chicken.

The rabbits can be allowed to run around on top of the worm beds, just supply sturdy boxes for the does to nest in, you do have to keep your prize buck penned up. as soon as a doe has young she can be bred again. The young rabbits we always called friers are allowed to run free with the does.

You must dampen the worm beds, but don't keep them damp on top for long, the worms need water also, but the rabbits have feet that don't like being continually wet. Best thing to do is dampen them at night, give the water a chance to seep down before the rabbits are allow to run freely. Some split the bed in half and dampen one side, rotating every other night. Some people I know put pea gravel on top of the worm beds, but that allows the poop to build up and start stinking. I don't advise it. Rabbits can (quietly) be raised outdoors the same way. Teach the kids to not pop up and frighten the rabbits, keep them calm!

I used a normal garden hoe to scrape the wire bottoms of my chicken pens. Not all the poop falls through. Took about 5 minutes a day to feed, water, scrape, and gather eggs.

Bob

[singyourwayhome]

[quote="Zowieink]I have, this year, been and continue being a container planter. Started with flowers, then tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, onions, celery (this is a really pretty plant), mint, and edible flowers. Then I took out most of the ornamental landscaping and made areas for vegetables (still working on this for this fall garden, summer is to hot at 110 or higher). When you only have about 2000 or 3000 square feet in your back yard, what can you do.

Suggestions :-s[/quote]

Zowie: when my sister lived in Henderson, Nevada, she met a mom, Brandie, out there who is big into self-reliance. Her garden is incredible, especially for what she can fit in a small space. It sounds like your climate is similar to hers, too. Her garden can be seen on her website, http://theprudenthomemaker.com/ediblelandscaping.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (photos of the whole garden) http://theprudenthomemaker.com/thekitchengarden.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; (lists of what she grows, and helpful links)

Yeah, I know the website has almost the same name as mine (http://www.theprovidenthomemaker" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;), but it's really not me. (Someday I hope to make my website as beautiful as hers, though...!)

[Zowieink]

Those are great. Gives me hope, although my yard is considerably smaller than hers.

[ChelC]

I have a fun book called "Country Wisdom and Know How" that is full of all that stuff we used to know how to do. It's not super in depth on any one subject, but is a good starting place for a lot of different things and worth having in your library. I'm one of those weirdos who loves doing things home made. I'd like more feedback on the cheese thing though. I've never had good luck making cheese.

[bbrown]

Chel,

I haven't started into aged cheeses yet (bought two different starters for when I do, though), but I've found with goatkeeping that this website extremely useful and she has a HUGE section on cheese making: http://www.fiascofarm.com/dairy/index.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Catherine