How are you self reliant?

[urban dreamer]

I'm not very self reliant. I do have my own chickens, working on a rather large library of DIY's and How to's, I make my own bread, my garden leaves alot to be desired, I'm slowly learning about fermentation and cheese making, I do can, I knit, I can hunt, I am learning to weld, and that's all I can think of right now. I can't do a whole lot in the city. I can't wait to have a farm!

 

[Javamama]

Urban - that's a heck of alot more than most people can do! And you have the desire to learn, which is a huge plus.

 

[urban dreamer]

Urban - that's a heck of alot more than most people can do! And you have the desire to learn, which is a huge plus.

Yea, when the SHTF I'm better off than most people!

I can't wait to move out so I can expand and try some of the other things I wanna do. I wanna make soap, and have goats and a really BIG garden (So I'll have more stuff to can ).

 

[tortoise]

I'm not very self-reliant, but this is what I have done so far:

A garden. Small this year, but we're killing off the grass to expand for next year. I plan to can tomatoes (salsa, sauce, etc), pickles and green beans. My fiance loves fresh peas that they never make it to the table.

Mending. I can make clothes last a long time!

Making clothes. I can sew, knit and crochet, but it's an electric machine, I have to buy fabric. I buy yarn (thrift stores!). I'm giving another try at spinning fiber. I have angora rabbits that provide a little bit of fiber. I would like to be able to make enough yard to knit a sweater for myself.

Rabbits. I have them for meat and wool. I really need to get better at butchering. Offing them for dog food was easy. Butchering for human consumption was very frustrating and hard. I need to practice! However, I do buy rabbit food and wood chips for their litterboxes. I was hoping to feed them more grasses and such, but we live in a little neighborhood where everything is neat and trimmed. I'm not sure where to go to get wild grasses and vegetation for them.

Fishing. We live right by 6 lakes and panfish fishing is good. My fiance and I can both fish and clean fish. But we fish on his motorboat... So not really self-reliant. I guess we would have to fish out of a canoe or paddleboat, dock it on the water and walk or bike there for it to truly be self-reliant.

 

[i_am2bz]

Here you go, bz. http://www.nwbasketweavers.org/pnbaskets/index.html

Thanks, Optimist!

 

[rhoda_bruce]

Now there is a thought. Using rabbits for making yarn. I have only used small amts of yarn lately because the price is too much for me, so I am using stuff which was given to me and a little I bought just to make Raggedy Ann dolls.
I do have rabbits but not the right kind for this project, but I can check into it. I had recently made a comment that I would need a sheep so I could crochet all I want to.

 

[freemotion]

You don't need a sheep. Put the word out. I did. Somehow I now have NINE free fleeces and haven't even started spinning yet! How does this happen??? Of course, not all are suitable for spinning, but I have big plans for all of them this winter. A king-size quilt, and underquilt, pillows, and some yarn from the best fibers.

Ooo, do I have enough??

My first fleece is special, because it came from a friend. Six I found on craigslist for free, and the last two were sort of a trade (I gave something to someone expecting nothing in return, and was offered the two fleeces.)

 

[The_Realistic_Optimist]

This is a great tip. I had no idea you could get fleeces for free or trade. Thanks!!!

I have not yet tried my hand at spinning, but I have a good friend (my step-DIL) who does and she is very good at it, but she purchases the wool and has it shipped to her.

You don't need a sheep. Put the word out. I did. Somehow I now have NINE free fleeces and haven't even started spinning yet! How does this happen??? Of course, not all are suitable for spinning, but I have big plans for all of them this winter. A king-size quilt, and underquilt, pillows, and some yarn from the best fibers.

Ooo, do I have enough??

My first fleece is special, because it came from a friend. Six I found on craigslist for free, and the last two were sort of a trade (I gave something to someone expecting nothing in return, and was offered the two fleeces.)

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I am pretty sure there are people with sheep in my area. I can check into it. omg....if I order a spindle my family will just freak.

 

[Beekissed]

I want to know how each and everyone of you provide for yourself. Do you raise licestock? Do you have a garden? Do you bake bread?

At my self reliant piece of land me and my family:

Raise a huge garden and canned most of it
Raise Laying Hens (18 Pullets and 15 Adults)
Raise Breeding Rabbits ( 2 does and a buck) one doe is pregnant I cant wait!!!
Raise Honeybees (Didnt get honey sadly this year)
Raise Fruit Trees (3 orchards, 1 of which will be replaced this spring with new trees)
I freeze homemade biscuits. We make some cleaning supplies. I just started the bread starter. We are going to raise meat chickens next year. I also plan to refurbish the old Apple orchard with some Cortland, Winesaps, and some type of cider tree. And I would also like to raise (in a tractor) a few heritage meat turkeys. Oh and eventually make honeycomb soaps and candles. What do you do?

Okay...now my spidey senses are tinglin'....who are you and why do you wanna know????? Are you from the USDA????