Tuco's journey from "total-reliance" to "self-sufficient"

[baymule]

There are neighborhoods where practically anything goes, chickens, goats, sheep, etc. Then there are neighborhoods that regulate how many dogs you can have. You will have to find that just right spot for yourself.

I used to work for a garbage company as truck parts purchaser and inventory control, general grunt work. If you are looking for steady, home every night work, driving a garbage truck pays pretty decent. It is hard work, but weekends off and holidays. EVERY town has garbage trucks, and most of them are always hiring.

We currently line smack in the middle of town, a few blocks from city hall. Have hens in the back yard and garden in front yard. We are moving 160 miles north of here and we'll be 12 miles from town on a barely traveled county road. I can't wait.

 

[tortoise]

Rabbits are usually not limited in cities. I raised rabbits in 2 cities with strict pet limits and livestock bans.
It is not feasible to grow a significant portion of rabbit feed in a city. Rabbits may be small livestock, but require a significant amount of hay to grow.

I started with big dreams and rabbits in the city. I'm finally out on a farm with goats, sheep, chickens and starting a rabbit project.

With rabbits, the most sustainable way I have found is to get purebred pedigreed rabbits and breed them to show requirements. Depending on the quality of your stock and the popularity of the breed, selling some show rabbits can pay for feed and more. My pet quality rabbits sold for $60. In that breed, you can get up to $400 for a desirable show rabbit. In contrast, you might get $5 for a butcher-ready meat rabbit.

Buying used cages is less expensive than building cages. Stick with wire cages which you can flame sanitize.

Another citified livestock animal, guinea pigs. Apparently they're good little meat animals and there is pet and show markets as well. To find show guinea pigs, google "cavies". Another animal not limited in cities.

Good luck to you! I'll be following your adventures!

 

[Denim Deb]

Around here, you're supposed to have 1.5 acres to raise rabbits. And I know people who live in towns who cannot raise rabbits because they're "livestock". These regulations can be a big pain.

 

[Britesea]

Cuy (guinea pig meat) is very similar to squirrel, I've been told. I've never had squirrel but I HAVE eaten cuy. It was a little greasy, but quite tasty as a shake n bake (I didn't care for it with teriyaki). Like rabbits, they do not do well in heat and steps have to be taken or they will die with great abandon. Also like rabbits, the domestic ones are not as resistant to cold weather as their wild brethren. But they take a lot less space than rabbits; you can keep hundreds in a garage sized space (My MIL had over 500 in a space about that size).

 

[Tuco]

So, I forgot to mention that for the last week or so I've been taking this free online permaculture course. It was somthing that I found on Facebook. Here's a link if anyone else is interested in it. Let me know if this link works or not. https://www.facebook.com/permaculture.design/posts/10151921639593049?email=2

 

[Tuco]

Journal entry : Captains Log
Stardate 11-14-2014
Craigslist is driving me crazy! I've got a handful of items listed on Craigslist for sale. I've got about 30 responses on these items. Sounds good doesn't it? Well, so far, only one person has come through! I've had several people reply... but then I never heard from them again. I've had several people say they'd be here at a certain time... but then they didn't show up. I've even had some of those "no-shows" reschedule another time... and then they no-showed again! Yeesh!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Such are the trials of the Starship Craigslist....

It seems to happen more often than not these days... it makes me more aware and more responsible when I respond to someone else's Craigslist posting.

Hope it gets better!

 

[Denim Deb]

Unless it's a large item, I meet anyone I'm selling something to at someplace local and will only do so if I have a phone number so I can call them. So far, I haven't had anyone not show up.

 

[Tuco]

Got a job! I'll be delivering tires to western Nebraska.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Congats!!