Hello from Lebanon (near Nashville)

Hello everyone. I bought Mel's book several weeks ago after deciding to try to live off my land. I am using found and drastically on sale materials to build my boxes because my goal is to be able to still stay home with my homeschooled kids as a single stay at home mom. This years goal is to get as many boxes on the ground and full from the pile of cinder blocks I have had in the backyard for 5 years. They make a perfect 4 foot square if you place them right. I have made a "dream plan" that I hope to have on the ground in the next 3 years. Ultimately I want to be able to buy very little from the store in terms of food. I even found a great recipe for bulk pizza sauce that freezes. I will look for it and place the link in the recipe section. I have little spare time and limitations phyisically but I roped my bf into helping me. He works full time so everynight I have him do something. Next year I hope to buy 4 kids (goats) from the neighbor down the street for milk and meat. Move onto larger animals after that. There is a lot of bartering here in TN expecially in my "neighborhood" as everyone is some kind of farmer or gardener.

I am so glad to find the square foot gardening because I was dreading plowing again. You wouldn't believe the amount of weeds when you use row gardening.

Sorry I rambled. I got half a box full today after finding the vermeculite finally. I put it in the db. But it took me about 2 months to find it.

This year I only plan on growing herbs and quick growing salad stuff because I am a little later for a lot of things.

THanks for listening
Jennifer

Hey Jennifer! Just a little down the road from you here, my son goes to Cumberland! Envious of your plans, the "front and back 40" sound cool, and goats are a hoot. Hubby said I'd be seeing the shining face of a divorce lawyer before chickens in my backyard. But I can dream!

[quote="jhayford"] Next year I hope to buy 4 kids (goats) from the neighbor down the street for milk and meat. (unquote)

I am so glad you clarified that. But I am sure you could get them (the kids) for free if you ask nicely,

Your idea sounds great and it will get better each year. You bf I am sure will appreciate the results and kudos to him for supporting you. (Do treat him nicely and give him a day off now and then). Your children will benefit so very much, you are doing a great thing for them.

All the best, Jennifer.

Mamachibi

Google Chicken Tractors they keep the stink way down and the chickens or ginneas (i prefer these) will keep the tick population down and also make the eggs taste much better. You can make a tractor's for 4 -24 chickens or more but the would be a semi I gather lol. You can make them out of found stuff to. Old bike wheels and scraps of lumber.

And my bf is wonderful. He helps me a lot and then gets his day at the range almost once a week. That is his chocolate. I hope to talk him into deer hunting in the back yard this next season. Next year I have to figure out canning lol. But I don't want to think about that now because I will obsess over it. Right now I have three obsesions homeschooling 2 kids high school and middle school, teaching my autistic 7 year old not to be afraid to sit on the potty, and gardening. I think that is enough. BTW high school is not easy to homeschool ever with a college degree lol. Did you know they still have to learn geometry geesh (just kidding I just hate it).

Jennifer

Oh, it's not the stink, it's the neighbors. We're in a housing development that doesn't even allow edibles "within view of another homeowner." He doesn't let me hang out laundry anymore and I just now (after living here 5 years) got approval for four SFG boxes in the back yard!

Oh i see. That is why I left California....too many people in your business. lol Well eggs are cheap at good ol wally world amd Aldi's has them for like 39 cents i think
Jennifer

I get my eggs (and meat and "pet milk") from West Wind Farms. They deliver to the East Nashville Farmers Market and have good quality, safe food.

PS - we are also ex-Californians!