Anyone on the forum into homesteading, living simple and sober?
One of the things I am finding helps me a lot is focusing on homemaking / homesteading.My BF has a small 2 acre “farm”… lots of veg gardens, chickens, solar power, wood burning gritty kind of deal. We put in a big herb garden over the summer. Getting into things like canning, freezing, meal planning, living simple and frugal has helped me feel more settled being back here in the USA (I did all those things on my farm in Laos) and therefore a settled Kelly = a sober Kelly. By the grace of God. That an AA.
Would love to connect with others interested in this way of life. Ones who can work all day and NOT need a drink at the end of it. LOL.
Hey there! This is something that I am just getting into. Not the farming as I have no room for an actual farm, but I am interested in gardening. I have recently started canning, and thrifting with my mom, and cooking from scratch. I am really drawn to the simplicity aspect of it.
Great thread idea! I can’t wait to see what other input you get!
that’s my draw too… it’s a lot of work but I love the simplicity of it. Mindfulness.
I wish I had more time, I still work but at least it’s from home so I can juggle things. I’ve been learning everything about gardening in the North East from YouTube. LOL.
Do you have any garlic going yet? Could likely still get some in the ground for next year. One of my favorite things to grow…so simple and so necessary for cooking.
Do you compost? We have been composting for decades. One of my happy things for gardening is making our own compost…a huge boost for gardens. Plus, we have very little trash, win/win.
I’m debating doing this! Our local garlic is so pricy and it’s such a wonderful staple. I’ve been reading a bit about it and that you plant in the fall. Curious if it would do ok in my small raised beds!
We just planted garlic. It was a last-minute addition over this past long weekend…so I just used the ones I bought at the grocery store LOL but they already have greens coming up so this week I need to make sure I mulch them well. I was going to buy some seed garlic (I’m new to garlic) but not in the budget this year… maybe next.
I kinda sorta compost… right now any scraps or food waste goes to the chickens. I saw something online from this youtuber I watch, Self Sufficient Me, and he set up a bin in the chicken pen so the chickens eat/poop on that area specifically and work the compost… want to look into that. Chickens wont be outside much longer though… getting cold here. Already had a few frosts.
I just watch youtube and get ideas LOL. It’s free. my BF already had the veg garden and chickens, the herb garden was my idea because I love cooking so much…
I bet it would, it isn’t planted deep and roots don’t go down too far (tho they definitely get set in) and it doesn’t spread out, so you can plant quite a bit in a more compact space. Be sure you get a kind that is hearty for your area (as opposed to just planting from bulbs at the grocery store). Your local garden/farm extension service could likely point you in the right direction for which grows well in your area and where to get. Traveling onions are also a great staple. Harvesting garlic is very rewarding.
Garlic is rewarding, it is okay if some green is showing thru now, it generally comes back in the spring if mulched well, as you mentioned. I love the smell of harvested garlic.
I adore composting, so simple, yet effective. If you have any horse folks in the area, they are usually looking to get rid of manure as well, so also a great place to pick up some poop if you don’t mind transporting. Never raised chickens myself, but I am a big egg lover. Luckily always lived near chickens. Do you have any issues with keeping the predators out?
We do actually farm and ranch. Its a big enough operation, I haven’t found the time to maintain a garden even close to big enough to be sustainable. I tried for a while, and it became apparent I was not smarter than a chicken.
But, we produce our own meat and eggs, grow commercial grain crops, put up hay for the animals, cut our own firewood. We finally got Starlink this month, but for the past 15 years there hasn’t been enough cell or satellite service to warrant owning a TV.
You haven’t really lived until you have spent a week trying to work an office job remotely while tending to frozen newborn calves in your living room.
OMG- all owning goats ever taught me is that I cannot build a fence!! They are so difficult to contain!!! If I owned goats, I am not sure sobriety would be an option.
Hi, I started growing my own fruit and veggies this year and also made pickles, chutneys and sauces.
I dont have a great amout of space but use every square inch I can.
There is another thread you might like called the gardening thread. @SassyRocks just got my garlic in this week ive just put it in 3 rectangle containers.
Ive just checked and I am 7th on the list for an allotment which will give me much more space. @Thirdmonkey might like this thread.
I love this. Vegan I probably couldn’t do but adding in more raw and unprocessed is definitely a goal. I’m hoping to build some sort of community and get to know more people IRL and online with these values. It’s been hard adjusting back to life here and starting over with everything… so I hope to find my tribe. Where I live in upstate NY there are some but still searching. Being an introvert doesn’t help.
The price is a big motivating factor for me. Honestly. Although we definitely had to invest in something’s … I hope in the long run it works in our favor.
I saw something online from this youtuber I watch, Self Sufficient Me, and he set up a bin in the chicken pen so the chickens eat/poop on that area specifically and work the compost… want to look into that. Chickens wont be outside much longer though… getting cold here. Already had a few frosts.
