Getting Off The Grid - 2018 Plans For The Homestead

2017 was an up and down year for me on the homestead, my first year doing most of everything alone. The lack of equipment and the trial and error of many different things.

I also had my first weekend off grid in this house, no power. A learned lesson that was for sure. So I have intentions of loading up on fire wood this year. I have a couple small trees down in my old home place and one at a rental house that will be a start.

For More click Here : Off Grid For 2 Days 

I can say that 2017 was a learning year in more than one way. I bought many different books to learn how to live just in case that "what if" days comes.

The books : From treating diabetes to a tummy ache. Learning to identify trees to mushrooms. Learning how to tap trees for making my own syrups. Foraging for free foods, we call weeds to Buying an acid meter to make homemade soap. I also invested in tomato cages. The old way of tying them was out of the question to do alone, the cages will last me for so many years to come.

For More click here : Cooking dandelion greens 

I really think I hit bottom when all the mowers broke down and I had to push mow the fields and the rain did not let up till almost winter. I finally gave up and just let it go. I mowed around the house and in the rows of the garden, I did not have a good garden this year because of the warm winter past and the rain, the garden bugs and mosquitoes took over.

For more click here : When the rain stopped

I finally got the green house that I have wanted for years but it was put up just before the first freeze and I put some of the houseplants and a few vegetable plants inside. I began the daily venting to allow steam to leave and I used solar heat, the water filled drums, and all was doing great. Then the worst happened! We got sick. The flu got us this year and no one was able to work the greenhouse. Everything died except the small tangerine tree and it was brought to the house and put inside. I do not think anyone can prepare for when sickness its and I was not able to get out of bed for several days. Another trial and error. I intend to try and do better this year with the green house. 

For more about the greenhouse click here : One Crazy Week

January 2018 

I have several tomato plants growing and a few green bell pepper plants, inside the house by the window sill facing South.

I will be ordering new vegetable seed soon. I would like to try a new vegetable but I have no chosen which one to try and grow. I will start seeds now all the way up till April / May when its time to plant. 

From The Garden :

Right now I am still getting kale, curly mustard and collards. There is supposed to be beets around somewhere, and there are still purple top turnips.

The Plans :

I need a root cellar so I may look into getting one put in this year, as well as solar and well water. If its God will, I will get all three this year.

I do plan to take at least one vacation this year so if I add chickens it`ll be afterwards so I can tend to them.

Do you have big plans for your homestead?

By Andria Perry

Photos By Andria Perry

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