Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Aliza Vanderlip <songbird97520@yahoo.com>]

I dont think that buying land just in case is a wise choice.  By the time the "just in case" rolls around, you would need to already have your sustainable systems in place KWIM?  I am not a prepper but I do have a small dairy farm and my goal is sustainability.  This years goal is to acquire an old non pto seed drill and learn how to grow barley for fodder and straw.  I already use barley fodder in my feeding system but I am purchasing the barley.  Next year it will be to get a small baler - alternatively we can pay/trade our neighbor to bale for us.  We are planning water storage - currently I can pump out of the creek but I want rainwater instead because I have lots of roof runoff at the barn (building is 120' long).  We will be putting in a Rocket Mass Heater this summer in the house - these are really cool by the way - and solar water heating for floor heat and as a preheater as well.....  All these things take time.  And you have to live on a place for a while before you know what it is asking for and what your real needs are.  Not the needs that come with you from the city, but your real yearnings that only come from being on the land and seeing where your heat leads you....  Will also put in a greenhouse this late summer.  What do you love?  do you love to garden?  Do you love to spin?  Having a useful skill that is barterable but that you really dont enjoy will not be the difference that makes the difference.  First you have to know what you are drawn to.  For that you have to experience many many things.....  I actually dont think that there will be a huge tragic thing to prep for other then what is huge and tragic where you live - in my area that would be wildfire, drought and flooding.  They are expecting an earthquake some decade.  It may be damaging. 

Books that I like - I have heard that Harveys new poultry book is great though I have not purchased it yet. - His website is very very helpful and I would for sure go there first - www.themodernhomestead.us - Square Foot Gardening if you are just learning about growing food, or lasagna gardening are great choices to start with.  Strawbale house or cob house depending on your climate.  Google is your friend.  If you are on Facebook there is a wonderful list - grow food not lawns that has lots and lots of pictures of what people are doing with their gardens/houses - it is inspiring.  So if you are inspired to go to the country then go to the country and be inspired.  You can have a piece of paradise where ever you are (city, country, and at sea) as long as you feel inspired - get to know yourself first and what you love and draws you to it - and go there...... 

 

Blessings,

Aliza
www.SomeKindaWonderfulFarm.com
Ashland, Oregon

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Howard Thurman

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From: Lori <bakequery@aol.com>
To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2013 4:57 AM
Subject: [Livingontheland] Prepping

My husband and I are thinking about getting some land to have if things fall apart.  I was wondering if everyone in the group would collectively put together a list of essential things/tools/knowledge/etc. one would need during tough economic times.  We are also wondering what we could learn to do that would either be a skill or produce a product that we could barter for. 

I know there are books about these things but I'd love to hear what all of you are thinking.

How much land would we need?  What states at this moment, have the most living (freedom) and good growing climates?

 

We suspect that our daughter, her husband, and their three children, 8, 5, and 3, would live with us and possibly our son.

Lori

Phoenixville, PA

 

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