Jason closes his journal... Thanks!! I love you!!

[Dace]

I am sure that your boy will have a great adventure away from home
It is such an odd empty feeling to have a child out of the house for a while.

Every once in a while, you mention your SS fund. Can you explain that to me?

 

[modern_pioneer]

I spent the day at camp as nothing more than a fire tender. All the boys were off taking charge of making classes on time to earn merit badges. They were in and out, the new Scout Master took off for a shower and a Leadership course. I was instructed to assist the boys but not to take control.

So a fellow scout noted a problem with a another troop member who is highly ADHD, and had a fire starting approval. Said scout asked me if he could go down to the trading post for a slushy, understanding some of the problems with ADHD, I didn't mind. Said scout came back with several treats and a fire starting kit. I noted that he needed to clear his fire starting kit purchase with the Scout Master.

The SPL took the kit for safe keeping until the Scout Master approved, and so at no time did I need to advise the boys, they did a great job.

DS, Lil'J was to busy to sit and talk, he was off taking a coarse, came back for a few minutes got his wallet (chore money he had earned) to buy something at the trading store. Pen in hand, tablet, wallet, he was off on a mission. When he came back to camp this evening he had completed two merit badges coarses today, and had purchased yet another merit badge book with his own money. You have no clue to know how proud I was to see him working so hard, he is a good kid, but a bit of a dud at home. But there he was with one of his buddies, Ben, teaching him how to get a merit badge he had gotten last year.

To be honest, I felt a bit cheated, now I was second fiddle. It wasn't till I left that I understood everything, as I was driving home, I got all proud of him. I'll take that...

Every once in a while, you mention your SS fund. Can you explain that to me?

Dace, if you read back in my journal, you will find that I am on year three of a five year plan. Long before finding this board, my goal was to be as SS as possible, like my childhood living on the farm that I was raised on.

I have an SS fund, this fund is money I can use to progress my SS living. I often barter as noted, and have to put back in my SS fund whenever I can. I take great pride in bartering and selling goods to support my SS ideas, but I refuse to pay in money from my own wallet.

For me, being SS is a choice, not a lifestyle, but I see no difference. I was raised on goats milk, plowed my first field when I was 9 y/o, and share the pride with my brothers/sisters of FFA and 4-H, and the county Fair.

I made a choice to be SS, hence my SS fund. I could drop this whole SS idea three years ago, before it even got started.

Consider it a personal goal of mine, to be SS these past three years. I am making a go at it while making it pay for itself.

I have done pretty good so far, I think....

What do you think?

 

[modern_pioneer]

Check out my videos...

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=selfsufficientjason&view=videos

 

[TanksHill]

I have an egg fund. Whenever I sell eggs I put the money in a big jar that sits on my counter. I use that money for bargain hunting and buying things for my chickens and garden. It makes me fell better about my spending.

Glad to hear your son is dong well at camp. One of my goals for next fall it to get my ds more involved in his Cub scout Troop. We joined but things have been a bit crazy and we have not gone for a while.

jay my canning cupboard looks like a pickle store. I have made every pickle and relish possible for the past 3 weeks. Who knows if they taste good. I have not had much luck with the flavors. Not zingy enough for me.

Glad to hear your wife is getting involved. My dh is the same way. He will help whenever needed. He even goes as far as bragging about my accomplishments. Small steps.....

I have done some peach, apricot and strawberry jam but it won't hold a candle to those giant berries your producing.

Have a great day. Gina

 

[Dace]

I think that is an awesome idea. I will have to give some thought as to how to fund my own SS goals. I will never be truly SS, not really my goal, but I do want to produce more of my own food...so buying fruit trees and building out my garden are good expenses I can try to cover/barter. I will go further back in your journal to learn more.

Thanks

 

[modern_pioneer]

That was the only big berry that even look right, most of them are deformed and look ugly. But hey, who cares what they look like if there in jam.

My blackberry plants are loaded this year, I had side dressed them last spring, fall, and again in spring this year. If we hadn't hit in zone 4 for three weeks this past winter, I am confident enough to say that I would have enough to sell to John for 2.50 a pint. I also nurse some wild blackberry plants as well. I have already sold him 12 quarts of Ozark strawberrys for 2.00 a pint, I put that money back into my SS fund. I will have another five quarts ready Friday.

Zuc squash is coming in along with some bells, banana peps, and maters are getting just the right size for fried green maters, one of my favs. I found a green mater relish in my ball recipe book I might try this year. Romas are looking good, carrots will be ready to harvest in a few more weeks I think.

Gooseberrys are getting ripe and I will pick those and make some more jam tokeep and sell.

I talked to Mark about all those blackberry plants on his property I found while deer hunting last year. He told me to have at them. you know what that means, more jam to sell to those city folks.

The girls got into one of my tater baskets and killed almost half the plants

I almost have enough post for my garden fence, and I have yet to spot that ground hog, who hit my peas plants. I already had harvested about three pounds, my snaps are growing on a fence at another part of the property, I think there to far for him to find. I have harvested a couple pounds from those already to.

My corn is looking good, both different plots. I am guessing I will harvest at least 12 bushels this year, double what I harvested last year.

I am still considering growing my own grains, wheat, barely, and oats. I know I need some help in learning how to grind them, the best bargain system to purchase and so forth. Paul Sr. is giving a new spot to use next year. I am giving him 30% of the food I am growing as payment back to him. I have a simple grain thrasher design that I will build to harvest the grains once their dried. Theres nothing wrong with hand thrashing the plants, it will be a new SS skill for me to learn.

I gotta get to frees house for a couple days......... :bun

 

[TanksHill]

I think I saw that hand thrashing on an episode of Little House. Men were all off looking for work and the women had to dry and thrash the wheat by hand. Gosh I love those ladies.

I found that my wild berry vines have fruit on them. Not sure what they are but I am going to try and cultivate them. If they don't rip me apart first. All these berries you have make me sooooooooo jealous!!!

Next years grain project sound like a true SS adventure. Document it all for us.

g

 

[modern_pioneer]

I think I saw that hand thrashing on an episode of Little House. Men were all off looking for work and the women had to dry and thrash the wheat by hand. Gosh I love those ladies.

I found that my wild berry vines have fruit on them. Not sure what they are but I am going to try and cultivate them. If they don't rip me apart first. All these berries you have make me sooooooooo jealous!!!

Next years grain project sound like a true SS adventure. Document it all for us.

g

Its a good read, I have been reading it for years.

I don't have time to post like I use to, gardening, and putting food up is my main goal. We are at the dawn of canning season. Ladies, I am going to check out for a while. I have some real SS business to attend to.

I look forward to visiting with you all when I can, basket taters part two is still on. Watch for the video, it will be there.

I love you all, best wishes in whatever you do. I can tell you it will be late fall before my return. If I fail to report early winter call the police, send out a search and rescue team to find me.......

A few last hugs........ Jay....................

 

[justusnak]

Jay...we will miss ya..but I TOTALLY understand. I am still waiting on my first round of canning. This cool weather has really slowed things down a bit. I am headed to get the sugar and vinegar I will need hopefully SOON!
Elderberries are coming in strong, so my first round of jellies will soon be cookin!
Take care Jay, be safe...and see ya in the fall!

 

[TanksHill]

Good luck with all your summer projects. Take care and we will see you when things slow down a bit.

g