Im a born and raised country girl from Michigan. ( yep they got a more than fair share of snow this year) I married a Military Man so it seems like we move all the time! However, we just bought our first home in IL, within the city limits. Im thrilled! Big garden going in this spring. Getting a few pet rabbits to breed offspring for meat and manure for the garden. Extending the fence line and planting a row of Blueberries instead on the "Nondescript green Hedges"... I really despise plants that arent pretty or edible!!!! I still preserve food, buy whole cows and pigs from my family, make wine, cheese, and beer! Make all my dinners from scratch! you name it, Ill make it! :) As much as I wish I had 20 acres, Im still happy where Im at!
No One said a HomeStead has to be in the country! =)
Good for you!!
You have some great plans. Looking forward to your postings and pics and things progress.
Got our Rabbit Hutch Yesterday! :) All White Oak, Hand Made, 2 Built-In nesting boxes, and large enough for what we need it for (8ft long). Its a heavy sucker.
Thanks Cajun & Darius! Im dying for april to roll around so we can replace/extend the fencing (I have 2 boys and 2 dogs to keep confined haha). Extending out so the Garden is in its confines. Before the new fence goes up we're going to pull some of these bushes out in the backyard...aka hook them up to the truck lol.Tonight Ill be sitting down and figuring the exact measurements of it. Plants in the basement want some real light. haha. Wine will be ready for bottling in a few weeks... I love Strawberry Wine. April will be a BUSY month between fencing/ planting veg/ making a trip up to MI to figure out our meat this year/ PreK reg and Kindergarten Registrations. I have cantaloupe and Jalapeno Seeds if your wanting some. These were great producers for me last year. 1 gallon bags full from ea Jal plant. Cantaloupe had 5-6 melons per vine. I have a pic of me standing next to the Jal Plants somewhere, lol theyre as tall as I am. Im 5' 7". Theye were great producers, so I saved some seed.
Hutch looks great!
That is a nice hutch. Very sturdy looking. How many rabbits do you plan to raise and have you raised them before?
What kind of cantaloupe? I plan to raise Minnesota Midget.
We're going to keep a doe and a buck. Going to get some English Spotteds. Theyre smaller versions of the Checkered Giants. The reason why were going with the smaller breed is that they mature much faster than the Giants. Which is good if your in it for meat. Its been 10 years since Iv had rabbits lol. Luckily if something comes up, help is just a call away.
The Cantaloupe...Iv no idea what type. Its just stardard size. Ill have to check and see if the marker is still out there. If you want some, just PM your address Ill put in an envelope and send.
I always liked raising the bigger rabbits for meat because you could but her them earlier. They were plenty big enough and very tender. I crossed Flemish with Californias. I never kept any kind of records on them but they worked well for us. You can breed rabbits any time because the doe ovulates when she is bred. Also, remember to always put the doe in the buck's cage and not the other way around or she will fight him. I will be waiting to see pics of your bunnies.
Thanks for the offer of the seeds but I will pass. My DH has kidney damage and cantaloupe is off the menu for him even though he loves it. So I will just raise a couple Minnesota Midgets for me. They are small fruitless and very tasty. None will go to waste that way. I wish the Chinese were dwarf. I don't have a lot of room here.
Thanks Cajun, Ill be sure to post pics when we get them. Thanks for the info as well :)
PS..what is a DH?
A lot of people use the abbreviation DH for dear (or d____) husband.
What good is a fruitless melon?
Thanks Pork. I must be behind the times a bit haha.
Badcat, I never made a "proper" welcome to you but I'm glad you are here. We have very few new faces on this forum but I suspect that's because most folks won't put up with the occasional hardships of doing for ourselves.
I put up what I can: meats, stock, soups and veggies, and I make cheese. My efforts at wine and hard cider have been less successful. Like you, I seldom plant anything that isn't edible. I have small shrubs and a few tree seedlings that might eventually become trees, plus lots of berry vines and elderberry bushes. The elderberries make a great medicinal for colds and flu, and a great wine. My newish small hazelnut finally put out a good crop last year but the birds (or some other critters) got to it first.
I've thought about raising rabbits, but haven't put that thought into action. I'd like to have chickens too but my health (and finances for a pen) have not cooperated. I seriously considered milking goats but soon realized I wasn't up to the commitment of milking twice a day all year long without a break for some occasional vacation days.
Thank you Darius, I realy like this site. i was on here years ago but just found my way back last month. I just love to do things my self from DIY to Preserving. If it can be done Ill give it a go.
Tell me what goes wrong with your wine? I might be able to help. Iv not done Cider before, but my container will be empty soon :). You should share how you make things with the elderberries for colds and flus. My oldest just started school and Iv never been sick so much in my life! Seriously thinking about getting a flu shot next year, however I havent had one in over 8 yrs. I kind of like it that way. Eventually that hazelnut will bear so much fruit the birds and squirrels wont be able to eat them all! Hopefully next year youll be able to enjoy them! :) Im looking at planting a cherry tree in my front yard, Ill be in your boat soon hehe.
Rabbits are pretty easy, plus you get meat and fertilizer. Chickens are easy as well, have you thought of letting them go free range? I see your in the Mtns so Im sure you have a plethora of predators (bear, wild cats, coyotes, fox, birds ect). Could you make a small hen house out of pallets? My aunts run free in MI, but there is a barn for them to hide in and a german shepard running around chasing any predator off. Goat Milking, you can get away with doing it once a day. I know iv called her a few times while she was milking. I know she doesnt do it in the AM (leaves at 4 am for work) If they ever go dry breed them, after she weans the baby, just start back up.
Elderberries are rich in vitamin C and also contain vitamins A and B, flavonoids, amino acids and carotenoids, they are helpful in treating colds, coughs, flu, asthma, upper respiratory infections, and tonsillitis. They are also used for antioxidant activity, to improve heart health, lower cholesterol, and improve vision.
Other ingredients that make this syrup therapeutic are:
Raw Honey, an alkaline-forming food, antioxidant, antibacterial, and immune builder.
Cinnamon, a natural cough suppressant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory.
Cloves, a powerful germicidal, antiseptic, general stress reliever, blood purifier, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial.
Dosage:
For prevention take 1 tbsp per day (kids 1 tsp per day, because of the honey it is not recommended for infants).
When taking to treat cold or flu symptoms take the standard dosage 3 times a day for 2-3 days
For other natural remedies check cold and flu soothing tea or benefits and uses of coconut oil
http://www.edibleharmony.com/cold-and-flu-soothing-tea-remedy/
http://www.edibleharmony.com/coconut-oil-uses/
Ingredients:
2 cups of water
½ cup of dry elderberries
½ cup of raw honey
1 cinnamon stick (optional)
8 cloves (optional)
In addition to these ingredients, feel free to add ginger, Echinacea and/or golden seal
Preparation:
In a small saucepan combine the elderberries, cloves, cinnamon, and water and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to med/low and simmer for about 45 minutes or until the fluids are reduced by half.
Allow the mixture to cool and strain, making sure you squeeze as much juice our of the berries, you can also blend this and run it through a nut milk bag.
Mix in the raw honey and whisk until fully dissolved.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.
************
I use fresh elderberries, and usually omit the cinnamon and cloves, plus I can mine in a water bath.
There are many recipes online but I avoid those steeped in vodka because I give my neighbors a few jars for colds and flu... and they have small children who don't need the exposure to alcohol.
I'll try to post later this week about making wine. Too much on my plate right now.
Ty Darius, Im going to print this off and keep it in my cookbook. I see tons of elderberries growing around. Next time Ill be stopping to pick a bucket load of them for this. Im not a fan of nyquil and dayquil.
Take it easy if your plates full! I know you said DH had some health issues, you two are in my thoughts! xx
No DH, just me, and the health issues are mine.
Take care of yourself and feel better! Looking forward to you coming back in full health! In the meanwhile I have seeds and kids to grow :)
PP, that was supposed to be small fruited variety. Darn autocorrect.
Started putting some Water Sealant on my hutch today. Finding someone with the rabbits Im looking for is proving to be hard, but Im NOT giving up! :) Ill be checking on some leads in the next few days. Hoping my hutch is finished by the weekend. Weee!!!!
That is a really nice one. Have you thought of putting a piece of tin under it to catch the poop so you can move it easily to the compost pile?
One year I had a bale garden. I cleaned out under a friend's rabbit cage and made a paste write the poop and some water. I smeared it thick on top of the bales and watered through it everyday. I had some beautiful plants that year. :)
Thinking about using some of the underbed tubs underneath to catch it. I can just see the kids cutting themselves on the tin. :/
Yes Im looking forward to using it in the garden. I bet your plants looked great! :) Need to go sort through some emails, friend is helping me find some bunnies. TC!
Good luck with your search.
Did you find any bunnies?
I thought of you a few days ago. A guy who lives not far from the barn where I keep one of my horses, has some rabbits he keeps on the ground in a pen like a dog kennel. I was passing by and saw one of his rabbits was out. I turned around to goo tell him. He said he knew it was out and had been trying to catch it. I saw it back in the pen today so I am glad he was successful. I know there are foxes around his place.
Iv sent messages to a couple of gals and so far no replies. I know a gal down here who just had a litter of californians, went there last weekend to get some meat from her. Theres also a small animal swap here in a few weeks Im going to. Still looking :) Thanks for thinking of me :)
I should put some pics on here today of whats happening around here. TC!
Veg Plants are on 30 day Eviction Notice :) Everything is ready here except planting, rototilling and getting that new fence up. All of which will get done in the next 3 weeks or so. Taking the time off to find rabbits. Strawberry wine is ready to be bottled, waiting on corks to get here. Hutch was supposed to get moved sun, Mother Nature had other plans. As in Freezing Rain and Snow. Itll get done. Im about due for making another 5 gal bucket of laundry soap. 6x batch of BBQ Sauce is made and waiting for the grill. Spring is almost here and Ill be ready for her!
That hutch could pass for a piece of furniture. It looks great. Your seedlings are way ahead of mine. I have only potted up my okra but I have a few more things that are ready. I had to replant a few things that did not sprout. You also have more seedlings than me. In the past I have been overambitious planting more seedlings than I had room to grow so I am making a continuous effort this year not to do that. I have a little greenhouse like yours but mine has a translucent green cover.
I sure hope you can find some bunnies. Shame to let such a nice hutch lay empty.
Theres tons of rabbits around, Im taking my time because of temperament. My kids are little and I dont want something that will tear into them. Last thing I want, is them to be afraid of rabbits. Want to get my oldest in 4H for them. :) The gal I met offered me all the bunny poop I wanted so Im not in a hurry for fertilizer.
Sorry, posted a double of a pic. Iv started Daylilies and some other lilies from seed. The rest is veg. Theyre all mixed in downstairs. Youll get em all going Cajun! I have 2 freezers and 2 fridges here to store it, but i think this year Ill pressure can a bunch of vegetables.
I really want to learn to can. I have lots of jars. I pickle stuff.
Do you have a pressure canner/cooker Cajun?
No. I could only do water bath stuff.
If you can get ahold of one do it :). If its used, make sure you clean up around the safety vent and unscew the petcock, run a pipecleaner through it. Lime and hardwater buildup can clog it. If steam cant come through that petcock, it wont be good.
Good way to test one..
Fill 1/2 full with water
Bring to a boil
Make sure the petlocks counter weight is screwed all the up (away from lid)
Put on lid and lock into place
You should start seeing steam coming out the holes on petlock after 10 min.
If theres no steam and your pressure gage is going up, turn off the stove and dont touch it..nothing, not gauges, lid, dont move it at all. Let it sit until the next day. Find the blockage and clean again.
If steam is coming out, this is good :)
Twist the weight down a turn or two.
It should start building pressure.
Now is a good time to check the seal, if you see steam coming out from around the lid. Bad seal.
Now this is where youll have to figure out your stove. Once mine gets to about 10# of pressure I turn the heat down to about low/med and maintain the pressure. Prob a good idea to play with it before you do anything in it.
Heres a site I like to find u pick farms on, but they have a good pic of the parts.
http://www.pickyourown.org/pressurecanners.htm
My pot is from the 50s, wooden handles and all LOL Still works great :)
I wish I had a gas stove. I actually have one stored in the shed but we have no gas hookup at this house.
Do you cook on the woodstove?
Might have some bunnies on sat. :) Caling the gal tonight
We have an electric stove. It is a nice one with the flat ceramic top but I would father gas. Much easier to control the heat.
Good luck with the rabbits. I saw some for sale here for $20 each. They are Flemish Giants.
I have the same type of stove.
Im upset to hear about Darius! She cheered me on for these Rabbits, I got them Sat. Still no names, I think Ill name my doe after her. I hope no one finds this insulting, its not meant to be. =/
Congrats! They are real beauties. What breed? I think Darius would feel honored.
I got the English spots Iv been searching for. :) Thanks Cajun
Iv been busy! Found the Cherry Tree Iv been searching for. My Northstar is happily planted in my front yard :D. Im expecting about 6 cherries this year lol. Im thinking I might be expecting baby bunnies as well lol. My fat doe rabbit lounging around.. Been showing the buck. :) Lot of normal stuff going on, aka making laundry soap, fabric softener ect...
Hubby has been building raised veggie bed for me :). My baby corn and raddishes are starting to pop up :D We got the fence replaced a few weeks ago. composter is in too :D Not even counting all the flowers Iv planted out front. :) Grapevines are leafing out big and bushy, looking forward to seeing how many bunches I get this fall! 9 maters and counting, 8 sw peppers and counting.. gotta bunch more seed in the ground today between making cheese and doing housework.
Those beds are really nice. What are you filling them with?
I have lumber to make two more beds I will grow my beans in this year. I cut the end pieces today and got the drill out to screw the boards together. I needed to change the bit and of course the Chuck was not with the drill like it should have been. So I had to make a trip to town to buy a new one. I also bought a pair of safety goggles because I am grinding on the last two pieces of gutter to plant some more strawberries.