Homestead mailing list

["Robert Walton" <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

> TOOLS
> About how many years do they last, and would it be a worthwhile investment 
> to buy extras (i.e. picks, shovels, hoes, machete, etc.) and/or extra 
> handles.
>

That depends on how well they are made and how well you take care of
them. For me handles are the thing that needs replacing, you can make
your own handles if you have sapling trees.

I don't think that you can have enough hand tools. Just make sure you
have a place to store them before you get too many. I made that
mistake. The first homestead building probably should be a tool
shed/workshop.

There was a really good tool discussion here not too far back. Does
anyone remember about when it was so she can find it in the archives?


> Where does one even get an old fashioned plow and harness system these days?
>

Good question. Sometimes you can find that stuff at auctions. Your
going to be competing with people that want to put it out as a lawn
ornament, though.

> FIELD CORN
> Is anyone growing their own as feed for chickens?  There is limited 
> vegetation and bugs here, and I know chickens eat grass, bugs, etc..  What 
> else can I feed (grow myself) to feed the chickens.  I can grow alfalfa 
> here.  Anything else?
>
> One thing I haven't figured out is field corn sweet corn grown to the dried 
> stage? Or it is a different variety altogether.  What kind of corn becomes 
> corn meal?

Field corn grown to maturity makes corn for use for feeding you and
your animals. If you can grow grass and alfalfa, I'd go with that
also. Your animals eat the grass, and the chickens eat grass and bugs
and scratch the animal dung. Even if you just have some chickens and a
donkey or mule, the chickens would benefit from pasture.


Rob - Va