Youtube homesteader Appalachia's Homestead discusses the issues of feeding a family self sustainably off a homestead. As well as the very real issue of sometimes crops fail, sometimes weather ruins crops, sometimes the knowledgeable primary farmer is sick or injured. What do you do then? She is not answering the questions so much as just interjecting the reality into the fantasy of a self sustaining homestead that so many have. And giving helpful advice on how to realistically look at how much you have to provide by doing the numbers on what you eat, suggestions on making sure you have some back up foods stored, that you share knowledge so no one person down stops all work on the homestead.
I really like this series, and rather interestingly it was never intended to be a series. Her life just sort of had these 3 things happen in a short period of time. Turning what started as one video into 3 on a very important topic where she could illustrate these issues.
There is a lot of things folks should consider how to cope with and deal with if and when they come up.
A conversation simply to make you think about your own self-reliance. What would you do? The goal here is to simply make you think!
Enjoy & thanks for watching and yes... that carrot was de-lish! xo
Would you starve? This question has many angles and facets for your to consider if you are truly attempting to be self-sustainable. It's NOT so simple. Crops fail. Foods spoil. Storms can fully wipe out your gardens and you can't always hunt or forage. Think ahead and always have multiple plans!
There are many aspects to consider for the success of your homestead and self-sustainability. In this series, we have discussed: 1. Food 2. Weather and now... 3. Sickness. Can everyone pull the full weight of what all needs to be done if your main source of work or knowledge is down?
Since there are a lot of folks trying this life and coming in with a lot of hopes and dreams, and often not enough realistic idea of what it takes, I think this series might help a lot of folks. I know it has me thinking a lot considering I am starting a homestead solo. I do plan to eventually bring others in to the homestead, because I know realistically doing it by myself is just setting myself up for failure. Thankfully I do have a good group of friends who have voiced a wish to come help me in the beginning phases. And I do have family within the state. So even though I am alone, I have some folks I can lean on a bit to help me.
But the issues of crop failure, and weather damaging crops, I am sure I will end up experiencing once I do get to that part of homesteading. I'm not even worrying about planting anything until next year. So I have plenty of time to build in infrastructure and don't have to try and rush to get anything in the ground. While I would love to get some fruit and nut tress in this year, it seems much smarter to wait and see where I really want them rather than next year realize I put them in the wrong place.
