GETTING READY...........

Things have been a little crazy in the last 2 years getting my business up and going and the last 12months moving it closer to the house.

Because I love what I do it doesn't seem like work at all.

I have noticed though I am not as prepared as I used to be. Prepared for what you ask?

Life and all it throws at you.

In 2011 we had the most devastating floods where people were killed, here stranded at our house was 16 people and we had plenty of food and produce to feed them.

If that same thing happened now and only 3 of us living here we would run out of food in 24 hours.

Yes I got off track for a while but am back on the path of being more sustainable and self sufficient.

Around 3 months ago we invested in 9 geese and 10 ducks...

The reason being was I couldn't keep up with the mowing and the grass in the food forest was knee high. Well they had that grass down within 2 weeks and I have not had to mow since...

We have a acre yard and no mowing...

 They are the quietest geese and will feed from my hand I am totally in love with these beautiful animals. They have the run of the farm but if I'm not on the veranda by 8am they are waiting at the bottom of the steps for their breakfast all 19 of them hahaha.

We now have 7 sheep both Bridget and Brenda had twins this year. We still have a little meat left in the freezer from last year. We will put 3 in the freezer and 1 is going to Cassie.

The piggies are growing and are doing a great job of cleaning the land for us.

They are both bound for the freezer as well. They are electric fence savvy and this way we move them to land we want cleaned up.

The glass house has been great for keeping plants in over winter and I love this room...

Sometimes on cold days I will go out there just to get warm and potter about.

We have bananas all year round now with the 6 different varieties we have.

The fruit trees are also doing well and keeping as in fruit we really only have to buy apples.

I have been a bit slack in the vege garden. Not much going on but herbs, plenty of herbs.

This is mainly because our daughter and hubby have a farm and they keep us in all the veges we need. I am getting ready to plant summer crops. Over winter we had kale, tomatoes and lettuce self seeding every where so were never with the basics.

With all the cabbages we get I have been making sauerkraut lots of it as we love it.

 Also making lots of pickles and relishes with all the gifted produce.

Back into bread making as well, I have started a sour dough and am 

making the first sourdough loaf today. 

We have our wood stove in and Bruce just needs to hook it all up and I will be able to bake my bread in it.....

As you can see we are getting there. I also did a big grocery shop this week and the shelves are full.

My main hindrance is I hate going to the supermarket, so getting self sufficient again will cut down on the times I need to go.

Do you stockpile? What measures do you take for natural disasters or just the fact that you are house bound and can't get out...

Enjoy your week

Mandy

"Bellis" and Brisbane

If there was a bad blogger award I think I would win that!!!!

You know when life gets so busy in the garden there is not time for not much else, except going to Brisbane to see the open garden of ABC Gardening presenter Jerry Coleby Williams, Bellis.

It was a wonderful example of a sustainable inner city garden.

 I realized that I should put a lot more in my vege beds as I waste a lot of room.

There were so many people that there were areas of the Garden I didn't get to as it was gridlock

on the narrow paths

He had Guinea pigs to keep William and Harry busy and native bees, which is on my list

of things to get.

There was this wild spinach growing all through the garden that looks like a weed 

I am always pulling out, I will have to look into it and check.

Then it was of to South bank for a look around.

Some lunch

 I had Chili mussells yummo...O and a glass or 2 of wine Hey by this time with these 3 I needed it.

After lunch we looked through Queen Street Mall, and on the way home stopped at the Woolloongabba Antique Centre, it was a hit with the boys, I didn't get any thing but Bruce found a few bits he wanted.

Spring doesn't feel far away now what with open gardens and day trips with great weather.

I have got a lot done this winter though and will share later on.

Have a great day All.

Mandy

A Spend Free Week and Around the Farm........

We have some new members of the food chain here.

Finally we have new chickens after all our rare bread ones were taken in the new year.

Why so long to get some? I really,really wanted rare bread ones again,but they are soooooo expensive.

So I decided to just get any chooks I could for now and slowly buy my rare bread ones 

a few at a time....For now though I am getting eggs again and I am happy.

Meet Martha (black) and Penny (brown)

These lovely girls are saddle back pigs, and they are so pretty and tame. Now we now that they will end up on the table

and every one says I shouldn't name them, but happy animals are what we are about and William and I can't be down  playing with them saying "Hey you" now can we.

As soon as the animals see me they all come running for there food. We have 2 sheep ready for 

slaughter, Starlight and Origin...We still haven't got a new ram after the chicken and sheep disaster at Christmas. I think I will have to buy some new lambs in spring for next year until our ram arrives.

 I was like the Pipe Piper of cows they weren't letting me get away with out something to eat, they followed me all the way to the gate and then bellowed at me. I am looking forward to the time they will be ready to eat as well, for now though we get our meet from a local organic farmer.
Next on the list in meat chickens, but that won't be until after winter, this time next year we will be very close to producing most of our food here on the farm.

This week I am challenging myself to a 

No Spend Week....

It is Thursday and I'm doing well, the cat is now eating weet-bix and almond milk as I have run out of cat food!!!!!

I am cleaning out the fridge and pantry and making some interesting meals.

I have a few things still in the vege garden that we are eating, won't belong before all the crops are ready to harvest.

We do have to go to Stanthorpe this week end for William to play soccer. We are taking the 

caravan and staying at the free site there, food I will take with me from home.

Well that's the plan.....I'll let you know how that goes!!!

It is interesting having a spend free week as I'm seeing that I tend to go to the shops

when I run out of something instead of making do with what I have..

Has any one else tried to to have a week with out spending money?

I would love to hear how you went....

Blessing to all

Mandy

The End Of My No Spending Week.....

HOME PRODUCTION....

This is self explanatory isn't it, production in the home.

In the last week we have talked about ways of being in control of our lives, whether that be spending less and more wisely, cleaning green, using less disposables and so much more. In all these areas we are producing something at home. As I look back I see that I have learnt alot of new skills, knitting, soap making, recycling, budgeting and lots more.

Each day is a learning curve for me, I love to learn new things and reading other blogs is great inspiration for this.

Here is some things I would like to do in the next 12months.

1. I want my garden to be more of an edible garden...
2. Learn to weld, there is so much I could do with a welder....
3. Pottery, make my own pots and cups, just the feel of clay in my hands is something I know that I would love.
4. Shop less, try to only grocery shop every fortnight.
5. Mend clothes, I have always said my sewing machine doesn't do mending. lol.
6. Knit socks....store bought ones just don't last do they?

That's some of the things that I can think of , I know there is alot more practical things I need to learn as well.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

My no spending week finished today. With Greg coming home tomorrow I went to town a day earlier but that's fine..I did have to spend through the week as well.

1. Pocket money.

2. Postage...I had to send David some things he left here and also my Paper bag swap was posted..

Not to bad really I am really pleased with how I went and next time I will be more organized. If I start to shop every 2 weeks well then I will have every 2nd week as a no spend week...

Remember this???? It is what my Paper bag swapper sent me. Well it is all made and should be in the plane on its way to New Zealand by now..When my partner receives it I shall show you what I made her. Personally I will be checking the mail box as soon as the mail lady has been because I know that my parcel is on it's way to me as well...If you have never participated in a swap I recommend to give it a go....it is so much fun. If you click on the paper bag in my side bar it will take you to the links.

Well I am of to bed I have to get my beauty sleep as tomorrow I pick up Greg....I have to tell you I feel like a giggly teenager I'm so excited that he is coming home...Let me tell you that my bed has been a cold lonely place lately....O.K. enough of that kind of talk... Righto gotta go as each year I need more and more beauty sleep soon won't be enough hours in the night.........

Blessings to all.....

Mandy

Electricity and Water......

Thanks for all the comments regarding yesterdays post....

We all have different ideas and this is what is making every-thing so interesting I think. Today you can see we are discussing water and electricity. Lets look at electricity first shall we.. I would encourage you look at http://www.down---to---earth.blogspot.com and read Rhonda's post on meter checking. She talks about reading your meter and keeping an eye on how much you are using..Yesterday our meter man came to read our meter, this gets done every 3 months. I will be taking note of my account and I have set a challenge to lower the amount of power we use in the next 3 months.

Ways I will be saving is.......

Doing larger loads of washing instead of small ones....Turning of lights when not in use. I already use the new fluorescence bulbs.....Turning of appliances when not in use...computer, T.V. D.V.D players...There are probably different ways that others can cut down as well air conditioner, heating, clothes dryer, hot water. I am interested to see if our hot water usage has changed as our new washing machine heats its own water...How cool is that.. Let me know of any areas that you think are important that I have missed..

Water..

Water is an area that we didn't have to change at all...Living out of town we have only ever had tank water to use. Our children have always shared bath water youngest to the oldest. Now only the two boys have baths and they share the same water. The girls all shower now but know to have quick showers. We have always had a water saving head on our shower, a couple of years ago I got this you bute tap that goes between the shower bar and wall fitting. With a flick of this you turn your water off, shampoo your hair, shave your legs then when you flick it back on the water is the same temp..We have saved even more water with this. Above is the house tank, last year we put 2 big tanks on the big shed in the paddock and these are always full. Fresh rain water will never be a problem for us again. One thing I do want to do is collect my grey water, now it goes into the grass and gardens. We need a new septic and I want to get a Home Sewage Treatment System. These are upwards of $6000..I think they are well worth the output though as then you have water a plenty for the garden. Now many of you probably live in town, you can read your meter and try to cut down of your water. Many town homes here are being built with tanks on them, this can run the washing machine, toilet and even showers..

How is your no spending week going? I know next time I will need to plan things better and may-be not do it in school holiday time. So far though we haven't spent' so far so good...

Blessing to all

I'm looking forward to reading the different blogs on today's subjects....

Mandy