21ch Homesteading

21ch Homesteading

• 1.
  modern homesteading PLAN THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD By John Stuart, Carol Mack and Megan Phelps Turn your dreams of country living into reality. E ver since 1970, when Mother Earth News was founded, readers have been writing in with questions about homesteading and stories about their own experiences with rural living. We get calls and e-mails ev- ery week confirming that thousands of Americans still dream of going “back to the land” to learn to grow their own food, build their own homes, generate electricity from renewable sources and live a self-reliant lifestyle. Tatjana Alvegaard Often, people ask us “What should I do first? How can I learn what I need to know?” To answer these questions, we’ve gathered advice from people with decades of experience with different kinds of homestead living. Although many people dream of Livestock Basics buying several acres in the country, you Suggested minimum space Type for one animal Types of food Benefits can start homesteading wherever you Bees One hive, or wooden beekeeping box Pollen, nectar Honey, wax, pollination are. Heidi Hunt, an assistant editor at for (Average 20,000 bees/colony) garden and orchard Mother Earth News, frequently talks Chickens Housing: 3 to 4 square feet/bird Pasture, greens, insects, cracked Eggs, meat, pest control to readers who are considering buying corn, a balanced poultry ration land in the country. Hunt homesteaded on a farm in northeastern Washington, Ducks Housing: 5 to 6 square feet/bird Pond access optional Pasture, greens, snails, insects, cracked corn, supplemental pellets Eggs, meat, pest control where she built a cabin, gardened and Goats Housing: 20 to 25 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure, spent many hours chopping wood. She Pasture area: 0.2 to 6 acres supplemental grain in the winter; salt control of brush and mineral mix says she always recommends learning Sheep Housing: 15 to 20 square feet Pasture in the summer; hay and Meat, milk, manure, as many homesteading skills as possible Pasture area: 0.2 to 8 acres supplemental grain in the winter; wool, “mowing” grass, before moving. “Planting, harvesting trace-mineralized salt at all times weed control and preserving food are skills that can Pigs Housing: 48 square feet Pasture, corn and soybean Meat, manure, with exercise yard meal, small grains (wheat, oats, barley, etc.) “tilling” garden spaces be practiced almost anywhere,” Hunt says. Cattle Housing: 50 to 75 square feet Pasture, supplemental feeds such as Meat, milk, manure In fact, many aspects of homestead- Pasture area: 1 to 40 acres shelled corn, soybean meal, molasses and rice bran, crop residues, hay ing work as well in the city or suburbs The acreage and feed requirements above are general guides. The lower ends of the pasture suggestions are for rainy areas, the high- as in the country. Solar panels, straw er figures are for arid regions. The types of food that animals need can vary widely depending on the farming methods being used. bale building, wood heat and collect- ing rainwater are all possible in the city Whatever your homesteading plans, “Learn the skills and find out what’s or suburbs, and even raising chickens is Hunt says it’s important to focus on involved. Each new homesteading ac- allowed in many cities. Just be careful your priorities. Decide which parts of tivity requires new tools and skills, as to check all relevant zoning and local the dream are most important to you. well as a certain amount of money and ordinances before you get started. “Then, do your research,” she says. energy.” www.MotherEarthNews.com
• 2.
  modern homesteading PLAN THE PERFECT HOMESTEAD Some of these activities require more pursue larger projects, there are many wind power. To learn about building, money and time than others — another ways to learn more about your interests. options range from volunteering with reason why it’s a good idea to start with For potential farmers, apprenticeships Habitat for Humanity to attending smaller projects, such as learning to and volunteer opportunities on organic straw-bale building parties and natural garden before buying farmland, or do- farms can be invaluable. Renewable en- building workshops. ing some basic home repairs before de- ergy workshops around the country help ciding to build your own home. If you people learn about small-scale solar or Homesteading Resources Barnyard in your Backyard Recommended BooKS by Gail Damerow Country Skills The Encyclopedia of Country Living, The Big Book of Preserving the Harvest by Carla Emery by Carol W. Costenbader The Have-More Plan, by Ed and Carolyn Robinson Four Season Harvest, by Eliot Coleman Living on an Acre, by the U.S. Department Vegetable Gardener's Bible, by Ed Smith of Agriculture You Can Farm, by Joel Salatin Home and Energy WeB ReSoURceS The Natural House, by Dan Chiras Mother's Homesteading Articles. Search more Renovation: A Complete Guide than 30 years of articles on homesteading at by Michael Litchfield www.MotherEarthNews.com. The Solar-Electric House, by Steve Strong ATTRA: The National Sustainable Agriculture Wind Energy Basics, by Paul Gipe Information Service www.attra.org Personal Accounts Cooperative Extension Offices The Good Life, by Helen and Scott Nearing www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/ Just the Greatest Life, by David Schafer U.S. Department of Energy Rural Renaissance, By John Ivanko www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/ and Lisa Kivirist renewable_energy USDA Summary of Land Prices Food and Farming usda.mannlib.cornell.edu/reports/ All Flesh is Grass, by Gene Logsdon nassr/other/plr-bb/land0805.pdf www.MotherEarthNews.com