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What does your homestead do best?

 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 8306
Location: Upstate New York, Zone 5b, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
4969
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I was inspired by a recent Youtube video from the Farm Hand's Companion discussing Figuring Out the Things Your Homestead Can Do Best.

In summary, the video discusses looking at the things you accomplish on the homestead and narrowing down to two or three enterprises that you do best.

For example, raising hogs and milling lumber could be some of the main things that someone enjoys both during the process and with the finished products the processes create.

What things do you consider to be your favorite endeavors on your homestead? You may not sell the product, but bonus points if it created a stream of income for you.

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M Ljin
gardener
Posts: 3046
Location: Zone 4b/5a
1816
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Potatoes and squash!

Maybe pokeweed too?

One can never be too kind to oneself or others.
Never our fault, always our responsibility

 
Timothy Norton
Steward of piddlers
Posts: 8306
Location: Upstate New York, Zone 5b, 43 inch Avg. Rainfall
4969
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monies home care dog fungi trees chicken food preservation cooking building composting homestead
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For my current setup, I say that raising laying hens and building soil organic matter have been my most fruitful endeavors.

I have a semi-consistent supply of eggs that feed myself, my local family and work family. Tending chickens is a pleasurable endeavor that I imagine I will continue to do for years to come.

Compost/Biochar/Chop and Drop are my second best. I enjoy helping things rot. What a strange thing to say!

- Tim's Homestead Journal - Purchase a copy of Building a Better World in Your Backyard - Purchase 6 Decks of Permaculture Cards -
- Purchase 12x Decks of Permaculture Cards - Purchase a copy of the SKIP Book - Purchase 12x copies of Building a Better World in your Backyard

 
Christopher Weeks
master gardener
Posts: 6940
Location: Carlton County, Minnesota, USA: 3b; Dfb; sandy loam; in the woods
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Potatoes and raspberries are the only things that both: just loves it here AND is something people would recognize as a possible enterprise.

Maybe garlic if I had better weed-control practices and more compost.

Milkweed. Sugar maples in 50 years. Wild mustard, horseradish, dandelions.
 
John F Dean
master steward
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Location: southern Illinois, USA
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sanctuary…for me, my wife, the deer, our shelter pup, and our shelter and foundling cats. We have a slightly s shaped driveway through trees and overhanging vines.  People have told me they are afraid to use my driveway … which makes it perfect for me.

The First Axiom of Life: Don’t do dumb things.

 
Anne Miller
steward
Posts: 19676
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4941
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my property does the best prickly pear tunas.

It also does a lot of acorns that my deer love.  Those deer also like the tunas.

Invasive plants are Earth's way of insisting we notice her medicines. Stephen Herrod Buhner
Everyone learns what works by learning what doesn't work. Stephen Herrod Buhner

 
John Weiland
pollinator
Posts: 3024
Location: RRV of da Nort, USA
982
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John F Dean wrote:sanctuary…for me, my wife, the deer, our shelter pup, and our shelter and foundling cats. We have a slightly s shaped driveway through trees and overhanging vines.  People have told me they are afraid to use my driveway … which makes it perfect for me.



Ha!....yes, I can relate.  Wife's endeavor has been rescue...primarily pigs, but many things that have either wandered onto the property or come along with other visitors for the ride.  We live in a sub-region that does not "do" gated driveways.  But our animals have free run of the fenced property so the gate is a must.  On more than one occasion, a delivery person has opened the gate to enter.....even with large chest outside the gate that says "Please leave all deliveries here".  Most contractors and delivery people are so accustomed here to walk onto a property (with owners typically gone) to install cable services, read meters, etc.  But the sanctuary part is the main focus....from mammals to birds to monarch caterpillars.

“The most important decision we make is whether we believe we live in a friendly or hostile universe.”― Albert Einstein

 
Cristobal Cristo
Posts: 991
Location: Sierra Nevada foothills, 350 m, USDA 8b, sunset zone 7
272
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Sheep, figs, firewood.
 
Joao Winckler
master pollinator
Posts: 465
Location: UK
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Figs and soft fruit, probably. The fruit trees are getting there but they need a few more years yet. The figs though, they just do their thing with very little fuss.

Leaftide - garden planner w/ 876 plant types. Need permaculture testers for fruit trees & perennials. Free Pro month for detailed feedback, even just suggesting plants

 
Riona Abhainn
pollinator
Posts: 1691
Location: Milwaukie Oregon, USA zone 8b
214
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Tasty dinners, starting baby trees from seed/pit, calendulas.

Celtic/fantasy/folk/shanty singing at Renaissance faires, fantasy festivals, and other events in OR and WA, USA.
RionaTheSinger on youtube.
Pop-up garden/vintage+ yard stand owner.

 
Elanor Gardner
pioneer
Posts: 282
Location: Wisconsin Zone 5a
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My current homestead does best at growing perennial foods and medicinal herbs. We are pretty good at caring for chickens and kitties too. We are good at making soap.

Recommended reading material: Romans 10:9

 
He's dead Jim. Grab his tricorder. I'll get his wallet and this tiny ad:
Own 37 Acres in AZ - good water wells - 44% discount, only $22k!
https://permies.com/t/96159/Acre-site-Northwestern-AZ-sale
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