Sisyphus Acres

My Homestead Style

Your Homestead Style

02:17 PM, Jan. 2, 2007 Posted in Homestead 101

Belle started a wonderful homestead getting to know you quiz that I thought you all would enjoy.

1.Do you pasteurize your milk?

We still buy ours, though it is from a local dairy and yes it is pasteurized.

2. Are your hens laying?

No hens L

3. Do you still use your clothesline in winter?

 No. But when we build our new front porch we are going to rig an indoor clothesline.

4.When is the last time you left your homestead?

 Today to go to work.

5.How many dairy animals do you have?

  None.

6.Laundry soap-homemade or store bought?

Store bought.

7.How much canning did you do this year?

  4 dozen cans of jams and jellies.  No veggies this year because I don’t have a pressure canner yet, that’s this spring’s major purchase..

8.What type of meat is in your winter store? Home grown or store bought?

 Pork, Chicken Beef ~ store bought ~ we are exploring “buying in” to animals on a nearby farm.

9.Plumbing- outdoor or indoor?

  Indoor!

10.How often do you tend to the animals each day?

N/a

11.Chickens-free range or chicken house.

My dd and I homestead with my folks, my mom is afraid of birds ~ so no chickens.

12.Chickens- butcher yourself or have it done?

 N/a

 13.How big was your garden this year? 

 35’ x 50’ for veggies and 15’ x 15’ for herbs ~ but with the excessive rain veggies didn’t produce well, herbs did fine (except basil).  We broke ground on our new garden ~ 45’ x 70’ and enlarged the herb garden to 15’ x 25’ (or so)

14.How many acres is your homestead?

   2+

15.Do you rise with the chickens?

    Nope.

16.Last time you made a new quilt?

  Last spring, but planning my new one, to be sewn on my treadle machine.

17.Last time you did any sewing?

   Just before Christmas.

18.How many wild berries did you pick this summer?

Hmmmm…wild, probably only a few quarts ~ but cultivated, we picked 18 lbs strawberries, 27 lbs of blueberries, and 2 qts raspberries

19.What kind of jelly or jam did you make this year?

 Strawberry, blueberry, double-berry, apple

20.What wild animals did you kill this year(for food)?

  none

21.Washing laundry- by hand or machine?

 Machine.

22.Is using the computer a waste of time for you?

No, but sometimes it takes too much of my time, I have severely cut back the time I spend online.

23.Most hated chore on your homestead?

Mowing, I would like the whole yard to be “edible landscaping” to eliminate mowing altogether!

24. Favorite chore on your homestead?

 Weeding…weird I know, but I find weeding relaxing.

25.How do you plow your garden?

      Tiller

26.How often do you hoe your garden?

It was daily, this year we are gong to try photodegradeable mulch.

27.Do wild animals raid your garden?

Raid, no.  Visit, yes.  Last year right after first planting, big Moose came a stomped through my garden…lol… deer visit, but I plant lots of onions around the perimeter so they don’t tend to stay, same goes for the raccoons.  So far the bears have stayed out back and haven’t played in the garden.

28.Favorite homestead pastime?

Swinging on the back porch with Hannah and “exploring” the land.

29.Do you like being a homesteader?

Definitely, still have a long ways to go to get truly “home” ~ working our way towards simplicity and an all-natural lifestyle.

30.When was the last time you purchase any food item from outside of your homestead?

Dec 28 ~ we also are far from self sufficient, though hopefully we will get close (all but meats/dairy) this year.

31.How close is your nearest neighbor?

One across the road, one 1 ½ acres behind, and side neighbors 2 and 5 acres ~ we are in the country, but on a main road. 

32. What color is your barn?

Blue, and being used as a workshop.

33.How many of your animals are bred at this time?

      None.

34.What were the last three animal births on your homestead?

      none

35.How much TV do you watch at your homestead?

Too much at this point, but we are working on it.

36.Can you make good bread from scratch?

Yes I can, but I do prefer using the machine for efficiency of time.

37.Are you afraid to go  outside at night?

       No. but I do keep an eye out ~ we do have “local” bears, we have either a bobcat or a lynx that prowls around the yard (can’t tell by the paw prints, right in between size-wise), and a “mountain lion” has been rumored in the area ~ so I do freely wander, but keep a keen eye out.

38. How do you define homesteader?

Someone who lives as God would have us, keeping Him and family as priority ~ and in doing so living close to the land, living naturally, being good stewards of what God has provided, and being good neighbors, building community all around us.

39.Were you raised in the city or country?

39 Questions

{ 12:21, 2007-Jan-3 } { Posted by maa }

I had fun reading your answeres. We also have a treddle sewing machine. We havent used it in a while though.
Sounds like you are living in a wonderful place with all that wildlife being around you.
maa's mom

Wow

{ 07:52, 2007-Jan-3 } { Posted by HSBFrontPorch }

A treadle sewing machine. That adds a little bit more to the difficulty level I would imagine.
~Nancy