This weeks preps check-in

Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Homesteading & Country Living Forum

Help Support Homesteading & Country Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
Finished weeding both gardens! Yeah. Too bad they grow right back.... also planted cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes and sweet and hot peppers. Would have kept going but got rained out. Tomorrow will be the melons. Got to make a salad tonight with dinner with two lettuces, spinach and radishes from the greenhouse. Also roasted some of the asparagus and sprinkled it with parmesan cheese. I don’t know why but working in the garden is so satisfying to me.
 
Brent S said:
I don’t know why but working in the garden is so satisfying to me.
Click to expand...
boXbcgc.png
 
Yesterday after lunch I got the brush cutter out and got it running. Had to change out the fuel lines and change oil. It's a walk behind unit and works great for clearing out the new fence line. It'll cut a 3" tree, anything larger will take a chainsaw. I'm putting in a new fence around the house and barn area. Over all it'll be about a quarter mile of fencing. The good thing about this fence line is that it's relatively level ground, and I'll be able to get the tractor in to most areas to dig the corner post holes. A few holes I'll dig by hand because of the rock. Where the fence crosses the road by the shop I'm going to put in an electric gate opener.
It warmed up enough yesterday that I actually broke a sweat.
 
KateMTx said:
I have been learning how to do some fixes on my car. The other day it wouldn't start. I'm trying to figure out if it's the battery or the alternator.
Click to expand...
Any skills that you can learn to become more independent is always a good thing.
You might consider buying a portable load tester. You can load test batteries, alternators, regulators and starters.
 
Kevin L said:
My girlfriend wants us to move, and she found a small house in the boonies in central Florida that's within our price range.

It has land, a well, and a septic system.

I have the idea that a solar powered electrical system can run the well for running water post SHTF.
Click to expand...

Yep. I’ve even seen storage tanks with float switches in case of longer term no sun.
 
Arcticdude said:
I think it's always wise to have a backup generator. I prefer diesel myself. They're cheaper to operate and will last much longer than a gas or propane unit. Most liquid cooled diesels runs at 1600 rpm vs. 3600 for an air cooled generator. With diesel you can buy off-road diesel and not pay the fuel tax.
I have a 12 kw Perkins diesel generator with auto start connected to my solar system.
I'd also recommend adding at least one large pressure tank to your well.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I'll certianly do that....but what's a pressure tank, by the way?
 
Kevin L said:
My girlfriend wants us to move, and she found a small house in the boonies in central Florida that's within our price range.

It has land, a well, and a septic system.

I have the idea that a solar powered electrical system can run the well for running water post SHTF.
Click to expand...
Sounds like it could be a nice little place for after SHTF. You might get eaten by alligators though.
 
Today I went and looked at some pure bred Red Angus cattle. I ended up buying 4 bred cows, a young bull and a heifer. It'll be a couple weeks before I can get them home due the road conditions.

Update: I bought a 2 year old pure bred Red Angus bull today. This one will be ready to go to work as soon as he arrives. What a job...
 
Last edited:
Sounds good Kevin L. 1 acre is more than enough to grow food for a large sized family. We have about that size plot and only use about 1/10 of that for food production and it more than feeds 2 people with only 4 months of decent growing conditions. Add to that foraging and hunting/fishing there is plenty to eat from the nature reserve. Florida will be great conditions for a productive garden.
 
KateMTx said:
I have been learning how to do some fixes on my car. The other day it wouldn't start. I'm trying to figure out if it's the battery or the alternator.
Click to expand...
You can
Kevin L said:
1 acre. Not much, but it is almost next door to a vast nature preserve.
Click to expand...
i am a big believer in buying what you can afford. Sure, I would love 50 plus acres, but am not willing to go into debt for it. Not to mention that the upkeep on a larger property takes more time and money. I have always felt that looking at as many properties as possible is wise, and buy with your head, not your heart. Look at the value, not the cuteness of a place. I would always rather buy a distressed place to get a better deal on it too.
 
Brent S said:
You can

i am a big believer in buying what you can afford. Sure, I would love 50 plus acres, but am not willing to go into debt for it. Not to mention that the upkeep on a larger property takes more time and money. I have always felt that looking at as many properties as possible is wise, and buy with your head, not your heart. Look at the value, not the cuteness of a place. I would always rather buy a distressed place to get a better deal on it too.
Click to expand...
Good advice Brent. I'm a firm believer in being debt free too. The only exception would be if the larger property could produce an income. For example, does the property have any merchantable timber, possible firewood sales, grazing land for cattle, sheep, goats etc.
As long as the potential income could exceed the mortgage, then it might be worth going in debt over. Most importantly, have a plan to pay off debt as soon as possible.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top