Ding Fod

We have worked up a rough sketch of our needs for the year. (2 people)

We have a very basic diet with not alot of meat but some. There is an emphasis on grains and stir frys. But we try to focus on storeable staples and dry goods. Processed foods are almost completely out which has simplified this. We dont use any sugars and our primary fat is olive oil which unfortunately we have to buy. Rice and oats are a good staple for us that we are unable to grow feasibly but have mitigated by stocking up as they both store well. Garden seeds store fairly well also depending on type but seedsaving saves time and money to populate your garden in perpetuity. Excess broccoli and kale seed provides good winter sprouts. We are getting close on much if not most of this but the deficiencies listed are not easily attainable for our area.

Annual food production needs

Staples
300 lbs potatoes
Tomatoes 20 quarts
Buckwheat 40/150lbs food/fodder
Wheat 50/300lbs food/fodder
Corn 25 lbs
Onions 300
Garlic 50
Apples/Applesauce 7-8boxes
Quinoa 30lbs

Garden crops
Asparagus 9lbs
Beans 60qts/
Beets 12lbs
Blueberries 6lbs
Brocolli 12 heads
Cabbage 15-20 heads
Carrots 40lbs
Eggplant 20
Green onions
Horseradish 3
Kale unlimited
Leeks 20
Lettuce Unlimited
Peas 10lbs
Squash 10-15
Peppers 10 plants
Zuchinni Unlimited 3 months (4 plants 30 zucs)

Extra Misc Fruits/Vegetable crops Limited quantities
Apricots
Brussels
Cherries
Collards
Currents
Cucumbers
Huckleberries 3 gal
Melons 5
Okra
Parsnips
Pears
Peaches
Prunes
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Swiss Chard

Herbs
Basil
Dill
Thyme
Chives
Sage
Oregano

Proteins
Venison 2
Chickens 40
Fish 100 servings
Eggs 70 dozen
Goatmilk/kiefer/cheese (150gals)

Deficiencies
Mushrooms
Hard beans/Lentils 30lbs
Salt
Vinegar
Honey 8gal
Tea 20lbs
Wine
Lemons
Misc spices
Musturd/Mayo
Oats 50lbs
Olive Oil 10 gal year
Olives 6qts
Nuts
Banannas
Rice 60lbs
Dog food 400lbs
Hay 45 bales
Chicken grain 1200lbs $250

Looking ahead to spring planting starts, I would love to hear what plants are working well in MT. Specific short season variants, organic/non hybrid seed saving etc. Also, how much yield are you getting per year. Im curious how much food folks are harvesting and putting away freezing, canning drying etc.

Ive made some headway with the staples like potatoes, beans, maters, onions, and squash. Any local recommendations

I like the balance of Oats and Wheat. Buckwheat and Millet are crops that can be grown for chickens and they love them. BW can be rotated with winter wheat in the same year to increase yeilds. Also, giving the birds a couple months off in the winter months without light seems to help them stay healthy in the colder days.

I would try vinegar or H2O2. Make sure the dog isnt eating feces, his own, yours, chickens/cats etc.

from the permaculture angle your best bet may be mulberries and persimmons. For storage you may want to look at spring buckwheat rotated in the fall to hard red winter wheat. The two seem to work well together, grow well in diverse climates, need little attention or water, and two crops a year. You may want to look into amaranth and sorgum as well. If you are stuck on corn, try the Painted Mountain corn out of Bozeman. Short season dent style corn is differant enough and may pollinate too early to be an issue with Monsanto's softkill death crops.

Oats and Wheat has proven a balanced enough diet for our birds. They are fed about 8mos a year and then free range for 4mos. Suprise! they even lay w/o soy! Who would have thought that possible?

Make a paste from linseed and wood ash, paint on and let dry. It acts as a insecticide and petrifying agent. You'll not live to see the day it rots.