Hey everyone, I have been reading and dreaming about "homesteading" for the last 30 years. Finally, this last May my dream became a reality. It was time to put my knowledge to the test!!!!! I have learned many things these last4 months, and here is but a few of them. Tomatoes need to be tied up better, they are easier to pick when you don't have to stand on your head!!!! Spiders aren't so bad!!! Your dogs can and will eat your chickens!!! Your chickens will eat the cat food, and the cat will try the chicken food!!!Mulch, Mulch, Mulch. Weeds are a green manure too!!!! mow,mow,mow!!! I love to give produce away to friends, as much as they love recieving it!!!! And yes I do love living on my little country "homestead" What have you other newbies learned? Susan

-- Susan n' Emily, in Tn (animalcrackers55@hotmail.com), August 31, 2001

Answers

I have learned so many things. But, I would have to say the most important is that I will do everything in my power to continue this way of life. The second, is to keep a sense of humor about all the mishaps from things not yet learned.

-- Nancy (NAWoodward@lakewebs.net), August 31, 2001.

I have learned I HATE TICKS!!!! Everything else I love! I can even stand still while a snake wiggles by but I HATE TICKS!!!!

-- Teresa (c3ranch@socket.net), August 31, 2001.

Hope that you won't mind an old homesteader butt'n in here. Here is a little something that I've learned: It is very important not to think that just because you have learned from your mistakes and that you will do right the next time, does not necessarily mean that you will be able to prevent all misfortunes from happening. If you are too hard on yourself for the things in life that we do not understand or that we cannot control, then all of the things that we are all "Homesteading" for mean nothing. May God be with you always.

-- Lawannea S. Stum (Whitedoveranch@yahoo.com), August 31, 2001.

Congratulaions !!! on finding this wonderful life style !! We have been homesteading for over 20 years now, not totally self-sufficient, but don't do too badly either. You will always continue to learn and yes, make mistakes. That's the fun of it all. Good Luck in your new Lifestyle...you will never regret it !!!

-- Helena Di Maio (windyacs@ptdprolog.net), September 01, 2001.

well, if it's true that one learns from ones mistake, then i am probably an absolute genius by now :) lol just kidding.

i think it's vitally important to keep a sense of humor, no matter what happens. it sure helps the blood pressure and family life.

gene

-- gene ward (gward34847@aol.com), September 01, 2001.

Everything takes longer and costs more than I thought it would. I don't own the homestead, it owns me.

-- paul (wprimeroselane@msn.com), September 01, 2001.

These are all things I did NOT do this year but will MOST DEFINITELY do next year. Peas need to be on a fence, planted in east/west rows. If you plant them north/south the west wind will blow the rows together and you'll have one big tangled mess of a pea patch. The garden needs to be weeded CONSTANTLY unless you can mulch the whole thing with wood chips. Watch the weather and plant corn when you KNOW it will be WARM for 2-3 days at least. Stake the tomatoes (better yet, cage them) the same day you plant them. Fence in the tomato patch with chicken wire so the chickens can't eat the tomatoes.

Also: I have worked harder (and enjoyed it more) than ever before in my life. I have gotten to know my nine-year-old daughter better and discovered in her a kindred spirit for homesteading. The to-do list is never empty. When we are able to go hunting for our own place, I know a little bit more about what to look for: I want an old- fashioned BIG kitchen with a large sink and a pantry opening off of it. There should be a cellar dry enough to use as a summer canning kitchen with hook up for another stove and a large utility sink. I really don't care what condition the house is in, since we can fix it ourselves. I'd like a dirt road I'm not afraid for my kids to ride bikes on. Some of the land should be woods and there should be some sort of stream running through it somewhere. The whole place should be sort of unkempt so we can work together fixing it.

-- Cathy N. (keeper8@attcanada.ca), September 01, 2001.

Teresa, I also hate ticks! If you don't have some free ranging guineas and/or chickens, I hope you will make that a priority! They really do help out.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), September 01, 2001.

Congratulations on living your dream!

I've learned that one can get attached to pet chickens.

I've learned it's a hassle to make more than one trip to town in one day.

....that grasshoppers can ruin beloved plants.

....it's peaceful to have a plump cochin rooster settle down in my lap for pettings on a cool autumn day.

....country neighbors can be nosey.

....to live under the same roof with spiders and crickets.

....how to empty a dead mouse from a trap without gagging.

....that dogs LOVE a chicken dinner.

....that dogs and electric wires aren't best friends.

And i've learned that the country air smells so good...so good that i never want to move back to town!

:-)

-- Buk Buk (bukabuk@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

I have learned that sheep will come back of their own accord eventually. I also learned that when a utility trailer full of manure blows a tire that one shouldn't try to drive it home! I learned that an affectionate ram will butt every chance he gets and to not clean chickens with someone who rushes the job. Weeds will always take over because I am lazy(mulch mulch mulch) and stunted transplants won't bounce back as often as you'd like.

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), September 01, 2001.

I have learned only ONE thing. That Mom and Dad were right! I was raised the same way I live now. Things like, make sure the hogs have water, gather the eggs before they freeze, milk the cow the same time every day. And don't ask why. Just do it. The list could go on and on.

-- Belle (gardenbelle@terraworld.net), September 01, 2001.

I have learned that no matter how long I've been at this stuff I will NEVER know it all and there'll constantly be something new that I've got to learn or do. At least I hope so anyways.

You're either growing or your dying.

={(Oak)-

-- Live Oak (oneliveoak@yahoo.com), September 01, 2001.

Hello Susan n' Emily, I have learned that with hard work, time, patience and a little luck, one can build a substainable homestead. The best route to go for us was to buy undeveloped land. We sat on the land and just watched for the best places to build our house, toolshed, chicken coup, gardens and outhouse based on the flow of rain water, or the direction the wind was blowing , or where the animals traveled. Once we learned these things, we began our construction using as much of the materials that the land offered. The trees we cut were used to build the pole barn toolshed and fence posts for our chicken moat. The rocks we gathered were used to build our cellar. The flat stones became the floor to our greenhouse. We used recycled materials to build our outhouse, toolshed and chicken coup. We learned that we can eat from our gardens, take eggs and meat from out chickens, hunt and forage on our land for most of our nutritional needs. Meli bakes bread, makes quilts, makes soap. She cans and dehydrates our harvests. We burn wood for heat. It all has taken lots of hard work and has made our bodies strong and healthy. In addition to all that, our minds are sharper and our souls are more at peace. These are our early years at homesteading and we know that we have a very strong foundation to build upon on. Sincerely, Ernest and Meli

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), September 01, 2001.

I've learned that we usually do everything 3 times before getting it right (or satisfactory to us). I've also learned that city folks are sometimes wierd about getting chicken eggs that have dark yolks--go figure! They usually think because the eggs are brown that makes them have dark yolks--when I've tried to explain why they are dark (because of their diet)they don't seem to believe me. I've found out that I should give my extra eggs to other country friends who don't have as many eggs coming in--they appreciate them more!!! Anyone else ever have this problem?

I've also learned to heed other people's advice; oh how I wished I had dehorned my Billy goats when they were kids--why didn't I do like JD's book said--why oh why--etc. I love them, but what a pain and now 6 or 7 years later their horns are HUGE! That's why I love this forum--advice from someone who has already experienced things is priceless.

-- Sharon (spangenberg@hovac.com), September 01, 2001.

I've learned I still know nothing and have much to learn. I find that really annoying.

-- Uriah (Uriahdeath2@netscape.net), September 02, 2001.

Me, I hate chiggers, worse than ticks.

I have learned to listen carefully to others, especially those who have lived in the area for a long time. This includes people who think I'm crazy for trying to be self-sufficient. People who have lived in the area know the seasons, the wind patterns, land fertility, who else has machinery or knowledge you need, who owns the land you are interested in, and all kinds of other things. Even if you don't think the information is useful right now, someday it will be. The biggest asset that came with our house is the friendly neighbor who has lived here all his 50+ years.

-- Sam (samh4321626@cs.com), September 02, 2001.

I have learned that we will NEVER be "caught up" and will always be "behind" in what there is to do. The sooner I get used to the idea, the sooner I will stop feeling like such a "failure" all the time.

-- marcee king (thathope@mwt.net), September 02, 2001.

The to do list is never ending , no matter how hard you try .Face it , if you get a third of what you planned on getting done done you are lucky .Sheep and goats do not under stand fences ! All meat should have a name {daisy ,porkchop,salem } .Farm dirt does NOT wash out .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@slic.com), September 03, 2001.

That farm dirt part is sooo true. Man, I do not know what is in my clay but, geez louise, it won't come out for love or money! There was something else that I wanted to agree with but now I forget...DOH!

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), September 03, 2001.

OH YEAH! Eggs...my first laying flock were Araucanas so they laid the green shelled egg. More than one city friend was afraid to eat them because A) I must have done something wrong for the chickens to make them lay green eggs B) the eggs would have green yolks (too much Dr Seuss?)C) they were just squeemish about something not from the store or with a colored shell. How very odd, no? :o)

-- Alison in N.S. (aproteau@istar.ca), September 03, 2001.

I've learned that when you plant vine plants (cucumbers, melons, squash, etc) in the garden, use a high stake or an electric fence post (about 3' high) so that you will know where to water the vines at later. Same thing applies to tomatoes if you don't have them in a cage.

-- fred (fred@mddc.com), September 04, 2001.

I have learned that you will go from 10% of your time and energy being invested in acquiring food and preparing it, - to 90% of your time and energy being invested in acquiring and preparing food.

-- homestead2 (homestead@localnetplus.com), September 04, 2001.

Hmmm....I've learned that I have to be a little of everything....a carpenter...a mechanic...a plummer...a vet...a gardener...a farmer...a roofer...

heck...I've also learned not to walk in the house with my muddy shoes on!

-- David (Upstate NY) (davidkennedy@hotmail.com), September 05, 2001.

I've learned that I still have an awful lot to learn.

Wishing you enough.

-- Trevilians (aka Dianne in Mass) (Trevilians@mediaone.net), September 05, 2001.