Our main aim firstly has been to provide as much food as we can.
Bacon, Sausages, Hams, Chops, Pate as well as the usual joints.
We have also had a couple of pheasants.
I have bought in Salmon that I smoked, along with some of our meat.
We grew to much last year, we were over run with, potatoes, courgettes, garlic, onions, squash, cucumbers.
Although having too much did mean we had some to barter with.
I also used some of our own garlic, shallots potatoes and ocas for growing on again this year.
We have our own honey from the bees and the by product wax.
Dairy products is still something we are working on.
Fruit we are still establishing, we did get a good harvest of Strawberries and blueberries last year.
Animal feed is our biggest expense, with the addition of extra land we hope to grow hay and some addition crops for animal feed. We did manage to barter some Turkey for straw and hay that has done us through winter.
Heating, Hot water and cooking are done with the Rayburn and log burner, we don't have gas or oil so use logs for fuel something we have plenty of.
I have done away with most kitchen appliances, just keeping mixer and food processor.
We are on mains water, but have a septic tank, we harvest rainwater into IBC tanks for the livestock and watering plants.
We have Alpacas for shearing, there fleece I can spin up and use for garments. I also have plans to use some fleece to make into quilts.
we use manure from the livestock and compost everything.
When we can we barter, if we can make it we will, days out are mostly free at the beach.
I make a little money from making craft items and selling them.
We just prioritise differently .
There is still lots we can do and it will be fun trying.
Take a bow. And start writing that book!
Wow. So very impressive. Congratulations and thank you for giving a target to shoot for.
I wish I had made the choice years' ago to do as you have done!
But, I do compost,try to save water for the garden,garden organically and am about to switch to making my own laundry liquid/soap/skin care etc, once I've accrued (? right word), enough bottles and containers for the laundry liquid/shampoo etc.
I di have hens but, the housing association said I had to re-home them which I did to responsible people. I do miss them!
Living the dream. It is hard work but worth it.
Very nice. A big congratz is due!!!
Wow - you put me to shame! You certainly are self-sufficient!!
You said that you only kept the mixer and food processor. Do you have a fridge?
Well done, Dawn, you are an inspiration.
Dawn - I am speechless at your ability to make the most of your land and your facilities. Very well done.
Can you please give tips on how and when to take cuttings from blueberry bush.
Brilliant post Dawn, you deserve your success because you are a trier and prepared to work hard. Well done.
You are doing great! You are doing what we would have loved to be doing.
Very impressive, Dawn. You should be very proud of yourselves!