John F Dean

master steward
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since Sep 04, 2017
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Biography
In the early 1980s I quit a secure job in administration, bought 10 acres, and began homesteading. At some point we decided to relocate to an area with more job opportunities and in a warmer climate. We presently live on 11 acres. We have Nigerian Dwarf Goats, KuneKune Pigs, bees, and an assortment of chickens. Our driveway is the boundary between zones 6a and 6b. Annual rainfall for us is at 46 inches. We have been together 50+ years.
We don’t consider ourselves to be an expert on anything. For some, homesteading produces serious income. For us, it is fun. We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves in the adventure we created for ourselves.
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southern Illinois, USA
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Recent posts by John F Dean

I am examining how I built my back deck and stairs.  I overbuilt at critical points so that if a board rotted without being noticed it would not end in disaster.  I am envisioning a person going up the ramp by themselves and having a board fail.  It is clear I will build it myself.  Past experiences have told be that if I  hire someone, they will take shortcuts I don’t want to take.
2 hours ago
Anyway, I found the nitrate free bacon at a grocery store about 30 miles away. I normally end up in the area about once a month, so it should work out ok.  

It is the old administrator in me.   Managers run their operations for today and next month.   Administrators run their operations for 5 to10 years from now.
1 day ago
Rumor are rumors. A coworker of mine bought a used Class C RV, drove it to Alaska and back to Indiana ….then sold it for more  than he paid for it.  Sounds like  good investment to me. I wouldn’t buy one , but they might be great for someone else.
1 day ago
This year I am experimenting with starting all plants whose seeds normally attract  mice, birds,etc indoors.  We will see how that works.
2 days ago
A History of English by Barbara Strang.  Is is a historical linguistics book.
2 days ago
Hi Anne,

That backs into my primary concern.  I have plans to stop raising pigs.  I am 76, and my plans are to have the pigs gone by the time I am 80.  I had a concerning incident with the boar a couple of months ago.  I got in his pen to make repairs, and he felt the need to come up and use me as a scratching post. He had no intention of harming me; but things could have gone very wrong. Normally I toss a cup of grain into the opposite side I will be working on. This time the need to rub up against me was stronger than the need for food.  Anyway, I was struggling to keep my balance.
2 days ago
I am in the the process of putting one in to bring water from my pond to my garden.  I a far from finished, but it looks as if I will be have problems with getting a decent water flow.
2 days ago
Is there such as thing as commercially available nitrate free bacon?  If so, where can I find it?
2 days ago
I am dying from giving myself salmonella, but at least I lived to see this thread.  Great work everyone.
Amazon has it.   For the hardcover I would have to mortgage my homestead (about $165).
3 days ago