Answering some of your burning questions

I am trying to be a good guest at Small Farm Girl's place, so haven't had the time to answer questions in comments. So until I have my own Internet I will attempt to answer them in a post, like this.

Thanks to KF-in-Georgia, Small Farm Girl was able to find the scream we were hearing. Turns out it is red foxes at play. Foxy Holler?

Composting toilets. The cabin already has a septic system in place. If it didn't, we had thought about doing a composting toilet. But alas, we really don't have a lot of money, and with a system already in, we will be happy with it.

I am not sure when we will be getting our own Internet. We have to wait for the solar to come in since satellites use electricity. But it sounds like it might be difficult to get it down in this hole. We shall see. 

I have never batfished, as you have described it. We use to throw keys up for the bats to smack into when we were kids though.

Mosquitoes haven't been too bad. The bats help with that. However it's been very chilly here at night. So strange, wearing a sweater in August! 

A zip line is in the plans.

Red foxes are dangerous to chickens.

Can anyone ID this weed?

Ladyhawthorne suggested that it was pepper grass. And indeed that's what it looks to be.

I am having a hard time locating this weed anywhere. Not sure if it is because it is still young,and has yet to bloom. But I have a lot of it, so need to put a name with it. Right now it is about 2 inches tall, shrub like clusters.


Thank you.

A reader's question, needing readers answers

One bolt short of a tool box asks;


Hey,

Love the blog, you def have a new follower.

I was wondering if you knew what kind of plants are good for heavily shaded gardens? we have a tiny tiny city garden, but it is surrounded by big oak trees which i suspect are sucking the life out of everything, couple that with it not getting an ounce of sun and me being a complete novice, i've no idea what to plant in there, everything from last year died.

thanks for your help!!




My short answer was;

Welcome!

Only thing I can think off right off the bat is going to be your cool weather veggies, carrots, cabbage, broccoli ect. It depends on how hot your summers gets. Most these do well with filtered sunlight.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most of you know, I am dealing with wide open plains, I only have maybe two trees on the entire homestead that are taller than Husband, so my experience with shaded growing is severely limited. I did have a friend who was able to grow sun lovers in her shade last year, while those of us without it, suffered. But it was the only year she was able to get sun lovers to really grow in the spot. 100f in the shade will do that I guess.


But as I have a vastly diverse readership, I thought that a couple of you might have conquered this special problem and be able to help out.

The most googled questions for this blog, answered

Does Monsanto own Whole Foods?

No.


What is a chicken gullet?


I remember when I first started butchering, this was a panic item as the books told you to remove it, yet didn't say where or what it was. A chicken gullet is the esophagus, not the craw or bag filled with feed. Just pull it out.


How to bleed a pig.


You open up the major artery in the neck. Usually with a very sharp knife.


What part of a wild hog do I butcher?


All of it.


What is the best why to remove pig hair and the black pigment?


Scald and scrape is the best way to remove hair. The skin pigment will not come off, sorry about that. You will have to remove the skin to be rid of it.


Why slit a goat's throat?


You need to be rid of as much blood as possible from the carcass. Otherwise you will have pooling, discoloration and ruined meat. There are other places to bleed an animal out, but being able to hang it from the hind-legs, makes the neck the easiest and most efficient place to bleed out.


How to create GMO's?


You can't do it without a lab. You need to use gene slicing technologies to create them.


Sexy butcherer?


Apparently that would be me as seen on a flickr photo. Not sure why. . . 


How to water bath can Green Beans?


I answer that question way back in the beginning of time.  You really shouldn't because of potential illness. But if you must, a min of 90 minutes. And 10 minutes of hard boiling before you eat them. 




And then we get into how to butcher (insert animal type here)? This time of year I am the butcher queen of the internet.

in order of hits


Hog
Goat
Turkey
Duck
Chicken
These post are actually about my first times.

Feels like -15F

Feels like a tingly numb to me.

Skin exposure outside is dangerous right now. Everybody is bundled tight because we have to go outside. Wichita has a balmy 7F, here at the Neophyte Homestead we are at 2F. The floor is cold, and yes I am wearing socks.

I had an interesting question yesterday, I was asked if I was seeing an increase in people coming over (blogs) that were worried about the 2012 predictions. I answered it truthfully as I perceived it, but it did get me wondering, why have so many people sought me out.

Many people find me through google, my butcher posts are the most clicked on links. Some of you have come over from other's blogs, while some have found me through newspapers (ezines)


So I was wondering if you could enlighten me, as I said this question got me pondering. I know some of you have been here since the beginning, and some just for a very long time and you stay because of my looks and money, but what of the rest of you? If you don't mind me asking.

What got you looking for Homesteading or Prepper blogs? (If you feel like you will be teased for your answer, I will punish the bullies swiftly and efficiently, or go ahead and leave an anonymous comment)

Can't help but think about money

There are some things that you hear about, that concerns spending a whole lot of money, that just makes you out right sad. And today, is just another one of those, that makes me think.

$150 million dollars.

I started thinking about that monetary amount late last night. And then began thinking about what I could do with all that money.

I would pay off all my readers mortgages, that's a given. Then we would all have "disposable" income and be able to help get this economy going (were my eyes rolling like a teenagers?)

But what I would love to be able to do, is buy a large chunk of land, and rent out the Neophyte homestead to someone that needs it. And on that large chunk of land would love to open a school of sorts. Some thing that would teach and help families and individuals learn the basics, literally from the ground up. Everything from building a home to milking various animals, to gardening and butchering, to marketing and selling. The one thing I have learned over the years is that doing new things is always simpler if there is someone there to show you, and help you along.

But it seems a little silly when you write it down.

Your turn, what would you do with the $150 million?

I did see your questions on previous posts, and will be working on them over the week.

The Back Forty Wants to Know!

1. Do you have a particular favorite breed of chicken, and if so what is it and why do you prefer it? Or if more than one, which ones, etc? I love bannies, Frizzles to be exact. Bannies are great mothers, and although tiny, great canning meat. As for the large breed birds, I don't have a preference, except I really don't care for Leghorn roosters. Those are some mean suckers!

2. Do you use your chickens for your family, to sell, or both? Meat, or eggs, or both? All of the above.

3. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to start out raising them, other than reading some good books on the subject? Reading is super important, but nothing beats hands on experience. Chickens are one of the easier livestock's to deal with. Just make sure you have some good fencing to keep neighbors and other animals out.

4. Do you primarily keep your chickens in a coop/enclosed chicken yard, or do they roam your property? My birds roam, but I do lock them up at night, in a yard and coop.

5. Do you ever let them into your garden? If no, do you have a fence or something to keep them out? I do allow them in the garden before anything starts to fruit, after that they stay out unless they want to get eaten. I have a fence that keeps all the animals out until I want them in.

6. Do you ever use a chicken tractor, and if so, is it for meat birds only? do you use electric/ net poultry fencing? I'm interested in which has worked for you and which has not. What has been your experience with pastured poultry 'a la the Joel Salatin sort (follow behind the livestock grazings at the optimum time), if that applies? No, I do not use a tractor, but have thought about it.

7. Do you keep chickens year-round, or raise them for seasonal processing? Year round

8. How many chickens of a certain type do you raise at one time (what works best for you as far as how many to raise at a time?) It varies. I raise 30 chicks at a time. Sometimes a few of those die, some times my adult birds go missing, and sometimes we cull.

These questions come via, The Back Forty. She would like as many chicken wranglers as possible to answer. So, got 'em, answer 'em.

Some News is Boring News

Not much to report. I am still processing those apples and pears. I have potatoes and peanuts as well as carrots to deal with.

We had our first hard frost last night. Still to dark out to tell you what kind of damage it has caused.

We have found ourselves in a mundane week. Finishing this and that, and not really starting anything new. We are prepping for trick or treating. I love Halloween! My youngest is going as a flying monkey. I have the wings that we made for his bat costume last year, just a few modifications and making a tail, and VIOLA! A flying monkey. The middle child wishes to be a goat herder this year. I know. . . awww. But wait, he will have a goat horn through is belly, lots of hanging guts and blood. hahaha! He is so my child. The oldest is going as an anime character. Please don't ask me to spell the guys name, it is in Japanese.

It has been awhile since I opened a Q&A here. Rules are simple, ask me anything. Need a recipe, want clarification on something, or just curious, go for it. I will answer the best I can.

Tell me this. . .

Please explain to me what type of tutorial you are wanting for the Alfredo sauce. I am sans a camera right now as it was stolen. Are you wanting step by step instruction, or do you want to wait until I have a camera?

VIVA FRUIT BUTTERS!

Yes, that would be a shameless plug for my post today on the group blog. Saturday's are slow.

Back in those Idealic days

I am not in the mood to lecture. This post began as such, and I found myself just not up to the argument. We had a long day of hauling things around, rearranging things, and weeding the garden. As well as my youngest going to the dentist.

So today I will leave it up to you. It has been a while since we have done any Q&A, but with the shear amount of people stopping by and reading my blog, I am sure more then one of you has a question. If not, I will chalk it up to everyone feeling just as exhausted as I do today.

You got me. Can you answer this?

From Robbyn

A second specific question for Phelan and all: I have very little experience running my own business. We had a corporation for a while, so I have a little exposure. I was wondering about if there is some tax advice (no, i'll not hold anybody liable) about having something considered even on a small scale an "official Farm." I mean, do you have to declare something a farm or ranchette? Does this require different tax considerations? Who do farmers ask for advice on such things? I see that in some places you have to have licenses to sell produce at a roadside stand or elsewhere...is there some advantage or disadvantage in being an "official farm" or can an individual just do it? Is it better to NOT be an "official farm" as far as not having to jump through government hoops and regulations?

A lot of questions, but we're in unfamiliar territory, and would like to be reading up...and learning from those who know already from experience.

To be honest, I have no clue. Laws will vary from State to State, as will the benefits of being a farm. You might want to check with the local extension office and your tax advisor on this. If you do not plan on doing any commercial growing or selling, I don't see any benefits to becoming a legal farm. But that is here, not your state. The only benefit my homestead would get is a tax break on feed.

Anyone else have an answer for this question?

Why a Donkey?

From Kelly

Phelan, You mentioned owning a donkey. I've noticed that other homesteaders also have donkeys and I have been curious to know what their practical purpose was on the farm. What are your reasons?

We will own a donkey this spring. We have a sheep named Donkey.

Firefly is coming to us from Marina. He's a gorgeous thing. The reason we decided to get a donkey was primarily expense related reasons. A good work horse can cost in the multiple thousands, while a good work donkey will cost only in the hundreds. We wanted something that could be multi purposed, work and guard duty. And a standard sized donkey was the best we found. Llamas and the like are well used, we had thought of those, but we prefer not to deal with the spitting and the exotic animals laws that we have here in my county.

The most practical reason to have a donkey on your homestead is for guard duty. They will not put up with any predators that might wonder onto your land looking for an easy meal. Male donkey's (Jacks) can be very aggressive, killing dogs with on swift kick, and they do not back down. We will also train him to a cart, I have no shame taking him into town to go shopping, and train him to the plow. As long as you have land to graze, we feel a donkey is our best economical choice.

For the story on getting our donkey, check out this series from earlier last year, entitled, The Quest for the Demon Donkey. Scroll down to the end of comments for the links to the continuation.

What is a Neophyte?

This seems to be a popular question among school kids and extension office workers.

Merriam-Websters definition of the word is;

Pronunciation:

\ˈnē-ə-ˌfīt\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English, from Late Latin neophytus, from Greek neophytos, from neophytos newly planted, newly converted, from ne- + phyein to bring forth —

Date:

14th century

And that is what I am. I am new to this Homesteading thing. Over the years there have been somethings that I have figured out and conquered, in a way. But there are many other things that I have to learn. I doubt I will ever stop learning . Or making mistakes.

Q&A

From Robbyn

Hi Phelan :)
Oh I have loads of questions. One of them is if you knew THEN what you know NOW, and you were like my husband and myself, poised at the point where we ALMOST have some land, what would you be doing to prepare for starting out. We're trying to make some gradual lifestyle changes towards what we hope will be permanent. I'm wondering what you'd be focusing on as far as how to set up your first "homestead"...what things you wouldnt do at the outset...what things have proven invaluable...what you'd not waste time and money on in your initial excitement.
We don't anticipate being a large producer of anything or having a substantial income from our property when we get it...but we do want to substitute our present outgoing expenses with things that are self-sufficient and sustainable and can be done ourselves. And we're willing to work hard (we do anyway in other ways right now). Anything advice-wise, anything from what kind of structure you'd build to live in, if you'd begin with focus on the garden and then add animals, etc...what basic tools (I know you did a series) would you begin with...etc
We certainly have ideas on all these things, but they are just that...and arent proven. We'd like to know what mistakes you'd NEVER want to repeat and what things you would ALWAYS be glad you've done.

:) Thanks! As if you can fit all that into one post?? hee hee


I think the question is a post itself. HA!

Lets start with the land hunting. If I knew that I would be homesteading, we would have done things a little different. First we would sit down and make a list of the things that we would like to have ( a wood lot, a pond and/or creek, etc. . .) Once we found a land that was close to our needs we would ask for some info like if the top soil had ever been stripped, how high is the water table, the quality of the water, what animals had been there, what crops if any had been farmed there, what were/are the building codes for the county, what are the animal restrictions, does a covenant come with the land? (this is besides the basic questions) If all the answers were correct for my needs then I would want to pay cash straight out, no debts.

Fencing and barns would be one of the first priorities after a house (if one wasn’t already on it) As for what type of house, that would be the Underground home that I have talked about here before.

Immediately I would place in a garden, before any animals. If you are not use to organic gardening, you should really try your hand at it before getting animals. A trained dog and a couple of cats for the house and barn. Then move on to the types of animals that we deemed “needed” to survive ( donkey, sheep, chickens, and cows are on my priority list. I love our goats, but won’t eat them)

Items for canning, and just about all the tools I have listed in the series are musts for me. I am sure there are some out there that I have yet to try, but the basics are the best. I would highly recommend an expensive pair of field scissors and knife. You will use that more then any other tool.

Some things I wouldn’t waste my money on are some of the so called homestead helpers. If it is made of plastic, don’t bother. Scrimp and save for the metal items. Also be aware of your seed purchases, sometimes you can go a little crazy with them. A good rotor tiller is also something I would go ahead and spend some money on, depending on the soil you can break the cheaper ones blades (fun fun) I would have purchased a small tractor as well (something I hope we can some day have)

You will need to work hard, and if you are like us with limit income, you will be unable to do everything you want. Start out slowly, and by all means talk to people. I know I have said it so many times, but telling people your plans will earn you their free junk. All my canning things I got for free. Look through papers, and garage sales as well as auctions, a lot of the items needed to homestead can be found cheaply in those places.

There are many thing I would never want to do again, like shocking myself, or butchering a bird for the first time. (But I will do it the 2nd time on) As for things I will always be glad to have done, simply pick a post. I am glad to have been able to do all the things, at least once, the good, the bad and the oh so very ugly.

You will make mistakes, many mistakes. And this is why I blog. Those homesteading books (and yes even Carla Emery’s) don’t tell you everything that can happen. We will do stupid things (Hey it sounded good at the time) we will fall, only to brush ourselves off and fall again. But if this is the life you truly wish to have, it is all worth it in the end.

Now Robbyn, talk a deep breath, and ask a more specific question, please, I feel like this answer of mine is no answer at all. (look to my sidebar, there is several drop down boxes, any of which might clarify some of my answers, like the housing) If we can take one subject at a time, I may be able to help more.

All weekend I will be answering questions.

Busy Busy Bee

The one thing that I like about winter is that I am not so busy. The bad thing about winter is that I am not so busy.

I thought that today and throughout the weekend we could play another round of Q&A.

This has been a hit and miss around here, so if you don't have any questions, that's fine. But if you do have a question please leave it, or email me.

Need me to expand or clarify something on a post? Have a handful of chestnuts you don't know what to do with, or just want to know a little more about the author, feel free to ask away.

Question

Because you guys are great with answers.

If you missed it, The Modern Homestead is back up and running. One of the members has 2 questions that no one seems able to answer. I was hoping you would know the answer(s)

1. Any one got advice on using a foster does to raise up bum calves?

2. Kardosh and Wishard turkeys, What's their differences? What sets the two strains apart?

I tried to do some research on the 2nd question, and their seems to be very little info on them.

Scroll down for todays regular post.

Question

Does any one know how long it takes for Long Island Reds to start laying. My good neighbor and I have 6 month old birds, their combs are puffy and red, indicating that they should be laying, yet we haven't seen one egg. We are hoping for any moment now, but it seems longer then the other breeds we have.

Can any one ease our minds? We are ready to cull them shortly.

Why? Because. Why! Because I said so! Why? Go ask your dad.

6 am. My youngest child just informed me that one of the chicks got so fat it blew up. He even supplied sound effects for me. He has now put the kitten in a box and carrying it around, squealing with mischievous glee. Is it ever too early?

We have been attempting to get the same amount of things done in a shorter amount of time, due to this fall schedule. New experience will come when I am able to get some of these other projects accomplished. And it doesn't help that I just got another writing job. Don't get me wrong, I am thrilled about it, but it means less sleep.

It has been awhile, but today is Q&A day. Gotta question about who what when where why? Need a recipe? or just want to know who I think will win in a fight between (insert famous person/monster/animal here) and (insert famous person/monster/animal here). Or even leave a comment about a topic you would like a how to post done on. If I have done it I will tell you about it, the good bad and bloody.

Edited to add. Those of you interested in what Soul Ties are, there is a definition here. I have asked given to expand and explain how we break them.

Q and A

It has been a long while since I did a post purely on questions and answers. I thought it might be time for another one. Though I have always encouraged questions in any of my replies, some of you, in the past, have waited for one of these posts.

So feel free to ask away. As long as it is within reason, I will do my best to answer it. And remember you can post anonymously if you wish.

Question

I was wondering if there was a Homesteading Blog award? I did a search and found nothing. If there isn't, would my fellow homesteaders be interested in something like this? If so, I will be happy to host the first year. Also, I have an in with a local basket making and handmade gift company that would be interested in donating an "award" or two.

Please let me know what you think.