Salem OR... Kimchi, sauerkraut and bees self sufficiency

Thought I visited often this is my first post. Would love to meet people in my area... COVID19 will end. Right?

I make and sell Kimchi and Sauerkraut organic now, locally sourced “un sprayed” later. The smoke and ask and 7 days of twilight has not been kind to our cabbages or kale. Though the chickens have really enjoyed the 7 billion aphids on the kale.  I had to harvest all the cabbages at once so gave huge batches of both kimchi and sauerkraut in crocks. Far more than I can sell to my usual customers and refrigerator space is going to be a concern in 3 weeks so if anyone between Albany and Portland is interested check my Craigslist post.

About us. We, my husband Kevin and I, live in urban Salem, Oregon. Over the past eight years I have been slowing filling every inch of out 1/4 acres with food. The house next door , which has stood empty for  the past five years, is for sale and we have made an offer. Hoping  for the best. The two 1950’s era houses sit on almost 3/4 acre and could easily House four families. Wanting to start a small intentional community. I’ll post pictures if anyone is interested in my ramblings.

Today’s ramble is about economic self sufficiency...
I’m trying to build some income. In Autumn, aside from Fermented foods, this year I am also make Keto friendly cooking sauces and condiments.  We will see how it goes...

In the winter I make or recycle and decoratively l paint bee hives. I make the Ware’ hives I sell from from recycled wood that I get from local mills.  

In spring it’s (almost) ALL about the bees. I offer set up and a year of support and education when I sell hives. I sell organic Asparagus, strawberry starts, worms (not a big seller) and worm castings. Some years I sell plant starts, but so many people do this now I didn’t bother this year. Might start offering exotic or interesting plants. I grew an interesting heirloom tomato’s one a plum/paste that stayed green and a cherry/plum variety  “Atomic” from Bakers that was quite a hit and I saved seeds.

In summer I do what needs to be done on a farm just on a smaller scale. So far we haven’t been selling honey after our friends, family get their jars we give the rest to our local food bank.

Then it’s Autumn again. We have Chicken, beess two Pyrenees and two giant cats. Five kids. age 20-42 (finally) all grown and living their own lives.

Time to get back to cabbage shredding...

Aggie Mae, I'm not in your geographical area, but I do want to welcome you to Permies. It sounds like you and your husband have planned well and worked hard. I'm glad you've decided to join in. You'll find like minds and hearts here.

Yes, just sold a house, moved out here, am fairly close to you and would be interested in helping to create intentional community.  I am a semi retired social worker, avid gardener, meditator, do contact me at letthetaoflow@gmail.com if you like, thanks

I'm a young farmer looking to build roots in the Pacific Northwest area, currently in oakland CA but it's not too far off. I'm 23, very hard-working, very passionate about perma projects, soil building, food producing. I regularly test covid negative. If you are looking for a short term worker for some projects I think we could see about details. I have a pickup truck, currently working in landscaping.

Hi Aggie, I am just a bit south of you! I would love to become more acquainted. I'm in my 30s and a single mom to a 12 year old. I'm wondering what the situation might be for filling that house next door. I'd love to build an intentional community with others, but am admittedly a little leery of renting a living space from someone I'm building an intentional community with-- that creates some power structures of landlord/renter that can lead to heartbreak. I'm currently in a small rental house in Albany with a garden in its early stages (just moved in here a bit over a year ago, and the outdoor space was a mess when I arrived), and five muscovy ducks we raised from fluffballs this spring. Hope to chat sometime! Feel free to send me a Purple Moosage here on Permies. :)

Aggie, where can I find the slicer you are using to cut the cabbage?  Do you have experience with other ways of slicing and like that slicer best?

R Parian wrote:Aggie, where can I find the slicer you are using to cut the cabbage?  Do you have experience with other ways of slicing and like that slicer best?

I'm not Aggie, but it looks like a mandolin slicer. Just pop that into a search engine and you'll find all kinds of places to buy it and in a variety of price ranges. The photo here is from Amazon.

Thanks for the tip!  After searching for other similar ones, I think it might be this one: OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer

In the portland area looking to farm.  How is this going thus far?