http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/forum/gardening-and-herbs Discussion, Q&A, and marketplace for DFS class participants, instructors, and community members. en-US Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:40:17 +0000 bbpress 1.0-alpha-6 q http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/search.php http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/topic/advice-requested#post-50 Sat, 05 Feb 2011 23:32:24 +0000 admin 50@http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/ <p>As a long time homesteader I would recommend keeping things simple and on a scale you can deal with. Cooperative efforts that benefit all parties are great. Cutting firewood for shares comes to mind. Hard work that is far easier as a small group. Sounds like you have some apples. pruning and picking are big jobs. Lots of folks could use apples. Maybe some work for a share of the harvest. A thought about grains. If for animal use they do not need to be thrashed. Chickens do a good job of it on their own. Bees can be difficult and expensive to get into but if one is willing to give up some production for ease look into top bar hives. If there is a food co-op in your area it is a good place to find like minded people.</p> <p>Dan P DFS board </p> http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/topic/advice-requested#post-49 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:44:30 +0000 admin 49@http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/ <p>Diana -</p> <p>I am forwarding your messages on to some of our instructors and organizers and will report any feedback I receive. Obviously your question is as broad as your property! Right off the bat, your plan of breaking things up and developing a routine sounds like the sane way to proceed. If your goal is to be self-sufficient, maybe you could think about calculating your needs. How much produce, meat, honey, etc. do you actually need? I think that many would-be homesteaders make the mistake of way over planting and end up producing a vast excess, or more likely, becoming frustrated with the scale of the project. Then, start with things that are easy to store and grow: potatoes and other root crops, winter squash, tomatoes and green beans for canning or freezing. Raising a few chickens is also a great place to start-- chick hatcheries like Murray McMurray will sell you assortments of different kinds of chickens and other poultry.</p> <p>Grains seem more difficult as a starting point - the mechanics of harvesting, threshing, and milling would require some thought, and the same would go for bees. I would recommend reaching out to like minded folks in your area. Are there beekeepers in your area? Actively farming old order Amish communities are also important preserves of knowledge and equipment, and they are usually open to helping out if you approach politely.</p> <p>The scope of your project also makes me think of permaculture design texts, such as Bill Mollison's &quot;Permaculture: A Designers' Manual&quot; or &quot;Edible Forest Gardens&quot; by Jacke and Toensmeier. Permaculture will encourage you to think big about your property as an organic whole - these books are big and expensive, but are a lot of fun for someone contemplating a whole farm.</p> <p>Feel free to post more specific questions or responses to this forum.</p> <p>Jacob Hundt<br /> DFS Board </p> http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/topic/advice-requested#post-48 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:47:00 +0000 Diana Burns 48@http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/ <p>I live on a 250 acre farm in Ohio whose main crop is apples. We have plenty of room for growth. I am overwhelmed however at the amount of space and what to do to be more self-sufficient. I have an alloted space about 60x100 fenced in for a garden. I would like to produce as much of my own food, including grains, and maybe have some for sale in our produce market on the farm. I also would like to have chickens, goats and bees. I have a moderate amount of food preservation skills and love gardening. I just feel like I can't get a grasp of where to start and find myself in a state of prolonged procrastination. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I think if I had a plan that broke things into manageable chunks that I could develop a routine and become more productive. </p> http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/topic/small-farms-conservancy#post-23 Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:17:20 +0000 admin 23@http://driftlessfolkschool.org/forum/ <p>The Driftless Folk School is proud to announce it has joined the Alliance Program of the Small Farms Conservancy. We feel the mission of the SFC is consistent with our own and that the alliance will benefit both organizations. The mission of the Small Farms Conservancy is to protect, sustain, and inspire small farming worldwide. As with DFS, education is central to the work of SFC. We encourage all supporters, instructors and students to learn more by visiting the SFC website <a href="http://www.smallfarmsconservancy.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.smallfarmsconservancy.org</a>. </p>