Our Homestead

Yeah I don't like shopping either.

It seems like you pretty much have it under control!
About the same as here, really. My dehydrator often round 24/7 during harvesting season.
I also plant a lot of butternut squash, it is something that can be kept until the next harvesting season (all year) and still be fine to eat. You just bring it in and store it. No need to blanch, freeze, can, nothing.
Pumpkins can last for months as well.
You can store carrots in buckets with sand, they keep for a very long time too.

As far as shopping is concerned, a shopping list is an absolute must for me, or was. I had a master list that had everything and anything I've ever bought.
Then I had a list that I keep on my desk and every time I thought of something I needed, it went on the list.
Before leaving I'd go over the master list to make sure there was nothing I would forget. 
So even though I very rarely went shopping, I never forgot anything.
I miss the days :)

Between locally raised meat and two large food plots, I need very little from the store. I make everything from scratch, including my own laundry soap, bread, goodies, you name it.

Solar is great. My friend raised her kids in a house without electricity hookup and she used solar. She actually has a fairly small solar panel but it's enough.
Most of her things are on propane though.

We are told electricity is maybe a few posts away. But our plan A is solar. My husband is handy with electricity so it’s should be a good option for us.

As far as the stores go , even though I have the big ones closer by now, I rarely go. Probably about once every couple months just because I don’t like them much. I buy all our food except fresh food in bulk, and diy as many things as I can. So not all that much will be changing, but I always am open to advice or tips that you think might be handy!
My best tool currently for stretching shelf life is a vacuum sealer. I grew up canning but have limited jars so building that stash up is next on my goal list. I save my beans, rice, of different types in large airtight black plastic barrels. They are cured first to prevent bugs. And flours and sugar dried peppers and other dried fruits or veggies ect are vacuum sealed. I keep all my dried herbs is glass jars. One thing I have yet to conquer is fermentation. Aside from some sauerkraut I’m a total newbie to that. Oh and I have a dehydrator.
Anyways that’s a pretty good rundown of my current tools. I think once a week veggie trip is very doable , although also stretching it out to every 2 weeks sounds nicer .


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It looks wonderful!

As far as big stores, you can always make it a daytrip and buy all you need.
I used to go to walmart 3 times a year, so I certainly can give a few suggestions :)

Nowadays I have to go weekly (I don't like it one bit). I help out some friends by bringing them goodies every week, so that's why I have to go weekly.

How about electricity? Will you be able to have a freezer?

Oh yes! It is a dream come true for me
It is only a few miles away from a very small village that only has the basics in a couple window stores. These are stores that people set up in their house and sell to you through a window.
Then to the closest actual town it’s a drive down the mountain , about 20 min and there they have most everything. For big stores like Walmarts and Home Depot it’s a good hour and a half away.

The views are so pretty in every direction. My favorite part about it is that 2 small villages are visible down below. 1 being where much family of my husband lives and the other also full of family is where his mom was born and raised.



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What an awesome picture, and look at that view!!
I bet it feels like a dream come true!

How far will you be from the nearest stores and such?

Your beans looked so perfect!!!
We have now spent more time on the property and the rainy season is starting to dwindle. I have between now and next May to grow as many seedlings as I can for trees and get them all in at the start of the rains next year.

Here’s a pic of my 3 girls during a picnic on the property.



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You'll have many more years :)
I am 60 and I have multiple sclerosis, but it's my love for the homestead that keeps me going, and I just keep pushing myself.
I look forward to seeing your progress!

Here's a recent picture of my beans.

I don’t know how much younger than you I may be, but I’m 33. I do feel like i have quite a few good strong years left in me, let’s hope! Because there’s allot to do!
I’ll be coming back and sharing when we have more progress made. Thanks so much for all the advice!


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Wow that is so very beautiful, thanks for sharing that picture!
It sounds like processing the wool is not an easy process. I'll look for lanolin soap on Amazon.

Lots of work to do there, eh? I have a feeling that you're much younger than I am though, and I bet you have more energy :)
Homesteading is a lot of work and it takes time, but I think you're well prepared, and there is so much information on the internet!
Do you like to cook? I plan on posting some more recipes soon. I love cooking and often invent my recipes. I really should write them down to preserve them.

We're having a bad hail storm here as we speak. I hope there will be something left in the food plots tomorrow!

Oh and about the water, it is far-ish. We will principally be relying on water catchment which is plentiful here as long as you get the systems in. Part will be underground cistern and there are already a couple dirt tanks for livestock that usually last all dry season long or close. I’m also familiar with the methods for using grey water and filtering it through reed beds for recycling it for gardens or animals.
There’s allot of work to do just the get things started and make it livable but we have good examples nearby of others who are making it work great so that’s going to be a help I’m sure . There is also a natural spring on the property but from what we can tell it’s only a small amount for wildlife. We need to further investigate how we can use that for our benefit.


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