Life in Southeast Alaska

The Have More Plan

I have this week off of work and am really enjoying my free time.  Rod is hunting this week - will get back on Friday.  It has been really cold here the past couple days - clear but down in the single digits!  It is supposed to warm up to 26* tomorrow.  I hope he and the guys are staying warm in the cabin!

Today I pulled out my old issues of Mother Earth News.  Issue #2 from March 1970 is fantastic for homesteaders!  It has excerpts from the book "The Have More Plan" by Ed and Carolyn Robinson which was originally written in the 1940's.  A lot of the information is still relavant today.  They talk about their experience moving from the city to the country, but are still close enough for Ed to commute to work every day.  They share how they did things, and how to avoid problems they ran into.  They encourage everyone to produce at least some of their own food.  One reason is for more nutritious food - the fresher the better and the healthier the soil is that the food is grown in, the higher the vitamin and mineral content.  Another reason is to have the physical contact with the earth and livestock which is a great stress reducer.  Other reasons to produce some of your own food are the basic security it provides, cooperation of family, greater enjoyment of life, and the direct economic benefits. 

So I have been motivated to draw out our property how I would like it to be - with fruit trees, berries, chicken coop, bee hive, compost pile, vegetable garden, flowers, deck, small barn for goats, etc.  We have some of these things now, but they aren't placed in an organized, most efficient manner.  A couple months back Rod suggested we do this - and he is right.  It is much better to have a plan of where everything should go!  Don't you just hate it when he is right?!  :o)

You can read these excerpts from their book on the Mother Earth News website - they are quite inspiring!  I hope you have as much fun reading them as I did.

Why We Moved to The Country
A Letter to Wives
What Sort of Place in the Country Do You Want?
Setting Up a Homestead
Houses Especially Designed for Country Living
Plan A "Harvest Room" With Your Wife
Finding a Suitable Place
A Little House Can Grow
Score Card of What to Look for in a "Have-More" Homestead
Water, Sanitation, Electricity, Roads
Landscape Your Place - Increase the Value 20%
Plans for a Small Barn
The Importance of Raising Part of Your Family's Food
A Good Garden With a Lot Less Work
Vegetable Planting Chart
Herbs
The Kind of Berries and Grapes Money Can't Buy
Two Ways to Have Tree Fruits on a Small Place
Fresh Eggs From Your Own Hens
New Easy Way to Raise Tender Chicken
Geese Grow on Grass
Turkeys Can Be a Profitable Side Line
Ducks are Easy to Raise
Squab
Rabbit - 8 to 14 Cents a Pound
Ham, Bacon, Pork, Lard
The Miniature Dairy
The Modern Dairy Goat
A Family Cow
A Few Sheep for the Small Place
Veal and Beef on the Homestead
Our Little Sugar Factory
Have More in Winter Too!
Winter Gardens - Cold Frames, Hot Beds, Small Greenhouses
Grow Your Own Fish
The Woodlot
Transportation and Power
Housekeeping on a Homestead
Homestead Mechanics
Earning a Living in the Country

Untitled Comment

10:49 AM, Thursday, December 6, 2007 .. Posted by Sara

I actually bought this book recently. It is a really cool book with so, so much information especially for people who are just starting out. It was the only one left on the bookshelf at Atwoods the other day and I snatched it up. I've been reading it almost every night.

Blessings,
Sara

Thank You!

6:21 PM, Thursday, December 6, 2007 .. Posted by hcorbin

These are going to be some great reads!!!!
Heather