the idea is starting to live more....

[Berti]

call me silly.
but after having been through two real hard years, private wise ...I am now finding back what I have been dreaming about for so long.
I already wrote some about it in my intro last week.

it's funny, but now that I have decided to start a little square foot garden on my terrace of 40 m2 and try to become more selfsufficientish, the idea has started to grow into something else........

while having our dinner tonight, I told my youngest aged 13 that tomorrow THE BOOK will arrive and I cannot wait.
joked to her that it has everything about sheep, goats, pigs and chickens....on which she commented, well, that is NO use for us......
I explained it has also stuff for the city dwellers dreaming of such a life....and we have to start SOMEWHERE.

before I knew it, she was talking that she would like to have her own chicken and wouldn't mind in the least to live in the country.
of course, as a single mom, won't be able to buy a farm and stuff.
future will learn if there will be someone with a farm, willing to house us both in exchange for help with the work.

meanwhile, my mind goes crazy about learning how to do canning, make fruitwines (not peapod, please ;) ) and finally find a place where I can come to rest and be happy!

at least, I now dare to dream......
if you feel you have something that might help me on the way, please tell US.......it is no longer just me....
berti

[nessnco]

I understand where you are coming from, I have gained so much from this forum.

I too am a single mother in the city (suburbs we're on 1/8 acre). We now have two chooks and seedlings all over the place waiting for the ground to warm up (we're in winter).

Looking forward to learning and growing.

[the.fee.fairy]

Get as many pots as you can fit on whatever land you have and start planting!!

Then, read some of the homebrew threads and make some wine (there are some lovely recipes on there - i've tried the Ginger and Lemon, the Chai, the Coconut and the Coffee - Lavender still to come).

Then, read some of the other threads in different places and give it a go.

I can also highly recommend chickpea's soap instructions on the front page - you can make soap in your kitchen as long as you've got somewhere to keep it.

I live in a village with a small amount of space, and ive done as much as i can to bcome self sufficient. i'm still not completely there, but i'm giving it a good go!

[mybarnconversion]

That's one of the joys of the self-sufficient way of life ... always plans, dreams and progress (with the occasional set-back :) ) ... keep growing!

[Jandra]

So, now you have found a 'partner in crime' in your daughter. That's great! Having your family support you makes all the difference.

As to any advice to help you on your way. I'd say "don't stop dreaming, but also start *doing* right away." There's so much to learn that it's easy to get stuck in the planning phase. You can bake your first bread today, with stuff you buy in the supermarket. Sure, it would be perfect if you had organic flour and had cultivated your own yeast, but don't wait until then. Get started now with material at your disposal.

Maybe you could even make a plan: decide what veg you can still sow this year in pots and get those in. If you don't have pots: perhaps use drawers from a derelict piece of furniture, or use old buckets. Builders merchants (like praxis) often sell cheap buckets which you can make a hole in the bottom and, hey presto, you've got a great 10 liter planter for € 2. Ugly, but servicable until you have your raised, square meter gardening bed. Or lift a few tiles in your terrace and dig out the sand & replace it with potting soil. Even if you get only one pot with baby salad leaves started, you'll have such satisfaction in seeing it grow and eventually eating it.

Now is also a good time for picking blackberries. DH and I just got almost 3 pounds of blackberries from bushes between a cycling path and a railway track. They're now in the freezer, waiting to be made into jam. It's just great going out to pick the berries, especially if you have company (you daughter?) and get home with sticky purple fingers and a few scratches on your arms. Very satisfying. It'll keep you in self sufficient jam for months.

Also plan what you can do in winter: making wine, experimenting with recepies.

If you put your plans on paper you can keep them from buzzing around in your mind and taking up much needed space there.

Have fun.

Jandra

[Berti]

jandra you are so funny! thanks!

I already bake my own sourdough bread (not organic) and I promise I will have a look in what is possible to still sow just to have a go at it.
There surely should be some things left to sow until frost sets in...

thanks everybody for the heartwarming messages.........it is good to be able to share my enthusiasm here and even be encouraged!!

berti

[red]

once you start thinking this way - it just changes your whole life eh?

Hugh F-W said in his book that if we all took a step in the right direction, the world would be a better place (or something like that)

you just start to look at things differently - how can something be reused.. so i need a new xx and so on.