Lancelot Acres

Homesteader Questions and Answers..

I found this on http://www.homesteadblogger.com/countrylife/ and I do love to read these, so I thought I'd answer them too...I hope Karen doesn't mind that I 'borrowed' it from her blog... (Thank you Karen!)

1.Do you pasturize your milk?

Right now we buy from the store, but yes, we pasteurize when we are milking.

2. Are your hens laying?

Yes, but not very many, of my 8 hens I get about 3 eggs per day because of lack of sunlight in the winter.

3. Do you still use your clothesline in winter?

Not usually...it's usually very wet here.

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

Monday, New Year's Day to spend the day visiting my parents.

5.How many dairy animals do you have?

  One (a nubian doe named Rosie)

6.Laundry soap-homemade or store bought?

7.How much canning did you do this year?

  None.  I was at the end of a very hard pregnancy and our garden went to the weeds because of it...I probably wouldn't have canned anyway...I am missing it now!

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

Home Grown...we have chicken, pork, beef and fish caught on DH's vacation in Canada last August.

9.Plumbing- outdoor or indoor?

  Indoor

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

 DH tends once right now, twice in the summer months...I am busy with a new baby so he is covering my chores and we cut down on what we could...not milking really made things easier for us right now, but I miss the milk.

11.Chickens-free range or chicken house?

 Free range when we are home, covered house/pen when we are going to be gone during the day or until after dark.

12.Chickens- butcher yourself or have it done?

 We have it done by an amish place in Indiana, they are very reasonably priced so it is worth the drive down there...DH is talking about doing it ourselves one day soon...we'll see.

 13.How big was your garden this year? 

We had about 20 tomato plants and 10 green peppers, some kohlrabi, cantaloupe, watermelon, squash, pickles and zucchini.  We ate out of the garden when it started to produce, but we really let it go this year.  DH was too busy working over time and doing animal chores, and I was feeling lousy with a hard pregnancy...

14.How many acres is your homestead?

   10 acres

15.Do you rise with the chickens?

    Yes...baby usually needs to nurse about that time...before baby, I tried to sleep in, before pregnancy I was up milking with the chickens.

16.Last time you made a new quilt?

  I haven't, but would like to someday.

17.Last time you did any sewing?

  Not in a very long time...I do mend things when they need it, does that count?

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

None...I did buy strawberries and blueberries for the freezer though

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

None this year, blueberry last year and hopefully this year.

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

  None this year, DH decided since we had 3 full freezers that we really didn't need the venison right now.  We do have fish in the freezer, but I don't think that counts as wild animal...

21.Washing laundry- by hand or machine?

 Machine.

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

23.Most hated chore on your homestead?

vaccinations, disbudding, whethering, hoof trimming...and cleaning out the chicken coop...

24. Favorite chore on your homestead?

 milking, kidding, and harvesting/canning

25.How do you plow your garden?

      Tiller

26.How often do you hoe your garden?

27.Do wild animals raid your garden?

28.Favorite homestead pastime?

Sitting on the porch swing throwing the chickens food and watching DD5 play with the animals.

29.Do you like being a homesteader?

Yes indeed! 

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

Sunday...we grocery shop each week and stock up on the sale items.

31.How close is your nearest neighbor?

I can just see the roof of our closest neighbor's house...they are right next to our lower pasture.

32. What color is your barn?

 aluminum/gray

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

      About 20 does...I THINK all but 3...my dairy doe is taking the year off, her doeling is just a pet (she has misformed teats), and Sonic, our boer doeling from last year is too small. 

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

      Goats, Chicks, Cats

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

Too much.  DD5 has been watching a lot since I had the baby and we are taking a break from school.  I'd say the TV is on about 3 hours per day, maybe 4 if we find something good to watch in the evenings...

36.Can you make good bread from scratch?

       Not really, but I do use the bread machine a lot, does that count?

37.Are you afraid to go  outside at night?

       Sometimes, but I often have to do it anyway...scared because I'm scared of the dark, not because it's dangerous. 

38. How do you define homesteader?

Someone who tries to live a simple life.  One who tries to raise their own food and depend on themselves for their needs.

39.Were you raised in the city or country?

A little of both I guess.  I did have chickens growing up, but we weren't far out of town.  We had 2 acres and dad and I always kept chickens for eggs and because we just loved to watch them...