[Freesteading-Admin]

Thats really awesome. Would love to see and hear more!

[SpagsUnfiltered]

My neighbor let’s me use his fence line to grow blackberries. At this point I have 4 established plants. This allows me to use one of the property boarders for food production without building or adding more structure.

[MountainFreedom]

Great idea! And they benefit as well!

[Njorun38]

God bless good neighbors. They can be hard to come by, I’m glad you have reasonable ones.

[Kdtexas]

We live on 1.5 acres north of Houston. Having nice neighbors is a treasure.

[SpagsUnfiltered]

It is. All of my neighbors are great. I don’t have many, but the ones I have all get along, all barter among our gardens and all are friends.

[Mottshillhomestead]

all my neighbors are family or military veterans, any are doing samething and are great.

[SugarCreek]

I don’t have neighbors for miles. Sometimes that’d great Sometimes would be nice to have good friends close. All in all I’m happy out here in the woods

[Kaja]

We have 2 acres and are doing the same. Trying to figure out the best possible spot for something can be mentally exhausting sometimes!

[SpagsUnfiltered]

Right? I’ll think I have a plan figured out, then boom, I watch a video from Perma Pastures or Deep South and feel the need to rethink my plan….hahaha.

[potpourri_of_life]

Both of them use what they have and share how to make things work. You don’t need acreage, you need a willingness to work.

[Robin_Holstein]

That is my issue as well. Figuring out just where to out what for maximum efficiency.

[skainsgirl]

Same here. LOL I am a planner and a stickler for detail before I dive in on any project. Started the sketching stage at least to see what is actually possible. Lots of work to be done 🙂

[SpagsUnfiltered]

👍

[Debbi]

Yes – that’s usually how it goes for me too!

[HilltopHomeplace]

We will be moving by the end of September, hopefully if all goes well with inspection/appraisal/closing, to a 2-acre homesite that is completely different from where we live now. Right now we live on an old bar pit site on a lake—no trees, sand, rocks, etc. Our new place is among trees and is an old homeplace site. I’m looking forward to growing things there but need to take a little bit to get to know it. Found lily bulbs in the ground today. Wondering what other secrets it holds. Can’t wait.

[Unknown Member]

Fresh template to start from…lots of fun to make it the best possible way, to get the most out of it with the least input.

[HilltopHomeplace]

Yes, and I’d like to start some perennial type plants here from the get go. Just learning about them but I’d love to pick out some permanent spots to get them established.

[Unknown Member]

That is what we do. Please keep enjoying the videos, there is a great deal of DIY information in nearly all, but if you need some help, we can see what we can do to help you out. Perennials are truly the best, they can thrive on neglect, and provide you food year after year, while giving you much needed time and energy to accomplish other very important ‘must do’ tasks.

[CarolinaCarefree]

And surprises you will find.. Before you jump in and starting digging,, clearing or else,, take time to look over everything that is already there.. we found fruit trees, nuts, grapes and blackberries already established on our land. We are planning around these and will be pruning them to have better management of them. Happy hunting for all the surprises you are in for.

[HilltopHomeplace]

Thank you, you’re right. I’m looking forward to getting to know the property. And though it’s only 20 miles north of where I am, it’s a different microclimate. I live in the flat plains of Louisiana, but the hills start just 2 miles up the road. It’s so weird. Once you come down that last ridge, it’s flat all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. But going north from me it’s very hilly and they get frosts when I don’t. I live in the wide open with no trees, but the new property has trees. Will have to figure out the cold spots in my yard etc. Will be interesting.

[CarolinaCarefree]

Louisiana is a beautiful state. My sister used to live in Deridder (not sure of spelling)and I was able to visit her a few times while driving from Az to NC and back. I loved the whole state. That’s part of the beauty of the world, everyplace has its own types of beauty if you look for it.

[skainsgirl]

It is so flat down there! Loved it whenever I got to drive in Northern St Tammany and Washington Parish. Reminded me of home here in North Louisiana with the rolling hills. Be prepared for hard freezes if you are moving North of Lake Pontchartrain. I used some Christmas lights and heavy plastic with no problems. Constantly covering and uncovering throughout the winter. I will have to adjust quite a bit this winter. I moved at Christmas last year and all my plants had to be indoors.

[TheCannyCouple]

Don’t worry about looks/lawn. Use all of your space! We are planning transferring our whole front yard into a terrace/swell garden/orchard mix. Lots of ideas from Billy at Perma Pastures.

[potpourri_of_life]

I agree. Billy from Perma Pastures has been inspiring.

[Chefdeb]

I think most of us that are city dwellers as I am, will end up using most every possible space to it’s fullest. I am thinking daily about these dilemmas here in Michigan.

[Tootie]

I’m in Michigan also. Ready for better weather. I have a few raised beds but want more and to add fruit bushes and maybe couple apple trees this year. On 1-1/2 acre. Lots of open space yet to do things. And I got four new chicks to replace my two chickens that were attacked n died. Exciting. Have a bunch of seedling started. Ready to start more. Zone 5. So over store food. Have a place to start getting angus beef. All coming together. Thanks to everyone for support and Danny n wanda

[SpagsUnfiltered]

Yes! @Permapastures is awesome sauce!

[potpourri_of_life]

We live on a 1/4 acre and although desire a larger piece of property, we can still grow. This year added chickens. Our town allows 5 but the stores require one to purchase 4 at a time. So, we have 4 LOL
We are planting in various spots, and when necessary, off to the farm stand to bring home what we don’t grow.

[Unknown Member]

Excellent! You will get there, no doubt! Remember, you can save the seeds, where applicable, and use them to grow your own. Chickens are great for fertilizer, prepping your site, eggs, and more. It is a journey, and remember to enjoy the journey! 👊

[potpourri_of_life]

Absolutely!! All the work has brought joy to my heart each morning. Then with the chickens…they come running to me every time they hear me, and throughout the day when I am out in the yard.

[Ken.l.wells]

We’re in the same plot size and our city “allows 3 with a permit.” I’m starting out with rabbits since that’s unregulated then will figure out how to do the “ask forgiveness not permission” route successfully for some sort of fowl once I’ve adapted to the care of the rabbits.

Small steps. Gotta start somewhere, but also don’t want to put animal lives in peril through inexperience.

[SpagsUnfiltered]

I absolutely support the “don’t ask for permission” method…haha. So far no one from the county has messed with me. I have a great working relationship with my neighbors and they benefit from my garden and flock.

Voluntaryist solutions to statist problems!

[Chefdeb]

Indeed, don’t ask but don’t intrude on others space either is my motto.

I treat my neighbors as I like to be treated. Yer house, yer business. 👍 just don’t invade mine.

[SpagsUnfiltered]

Very much agree. I support the idea of property rights, and that means that the government can stay off mine, and I should stay off my neighbor’s. It goes both ways to be consistent.

[Mottshillhomestead]

i fenced our land in and planted holly bushes and cedar trees against the fence, gate is locked 24/7 county cant see my property

[potpourri_of_life]

I’m thinking of adopting 4 more next year, or rabbits. I desire the rabbits because their droppings can be used immediately for gardening. We had them years ago when we were homeschooling our daughters. Best flower gardens ever. But, I also want some rabbit meat, yet my husband is not sure he wants that responsibility, so I am hopeful he has great success with hunting this year.

We don’t havea limits on rabbits either. Just on chickens (although I don’t think the city would check) yet no roosters.

Rabbits are wonderful to have!!

~ Laura

[Ken.l.wells]

Yea, I am going to find out soon enough how much I tolerate the meat-rabbit operation. Worst case, as discussed with my wife, we sell them off as breeders or pets to others.

[SugarCreek]

I have rabbits. Have most of my life. They are by far one of the easiest animals to care for on the homestead and give a lot as they are very multipurpose. Most folks only think of using them for meat but their pelts are beautiful and useful to make things or to sell and trade. I would keep rabbits for the manure if no other reason. Their manure being a cold manure can be put directly on your plants or in the garden. Very valuable if sustainability is your goal…just my opinion.

[Ken.l.wells]

100%. Manure and compost are the primary revenue streams that I am shooting for. Meat will be internal use only (family and/or pets). I’m planning on harvesting on the younger end of the range, so the pelts would be too weak to tan; they’ll be used to make dog treats.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Ken.l.wells.

[SugarCreek]

😉

[JerseyGiantChick]

Stay busy with the rabbits, they are great! My husband was doubting, but on his work they were saying how great it is that his wife keeps chickens and planning rabbIts. So as soon as he told me that, just bought a trio and suddenly there were 3 rabbits. And the fist Nana has here first litter, but only the trio stays.

So curious what to cook, thinking abou a stew because favored by my husband and the taste.

[CarolinaCarefree]

I would find out the laws for emotional support animals in your area and who knows maybe you need more support chickens. Or as Billy (Perma Pasture) might say they identify as dogs.

[SpagsUnfiltered]

That’s really cool! Looks like you have some bad ass production on a small area!

[mamastopp]

About your blackberry “fence”…I also have just such a fence waiting!

Thanks for the idea!! Will try raspberries, if they grow in SC.

[Moes-Way]

Muscadines are wonderful for fences. They grow very well in the south, hence why they are known as the Souths grapes. Makes good wines, juices and jelly!

[SpagsUnfiltered]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing that!

[CarolinaCarefree]

Thanks for this tip. I’ll be using it. Am moving to some land that has a lot of vines already on it but will have to prune them to a manageable size. Might as well put the cuttings to use and root them along the fence line. If you are hungry,, take the ones from the outside of the fence but don’t cross it.

[B.Lynn]

We are in north MS and moved here >20 years ago. It is an older house with a very old and small chicken coop(we expanded). House is close to road sadly, but we have >15 acres(most is pasture from old cotton farm)….the setup is terrible and after watching Billy and William- I want it all redone!! Yikes.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  B.Lynn.

[CarolinaCarefree]

Dad was from Vardaman. And I still have family in that area. Sadly don’t know many of them. Long story. But it is a beautiful area. Just take it one day at a time and try to do at least one thing a day.

[B.Lynn]

Vardaman was the town closest to my father!!!!! Sweet Potato Capital of the world!!!! We might be related. Lol

[CarolinaCarefree]

That’s may be true. And my wife was in awe of the tractors in the sweet potato fields.

[potpourri_of_life]

Everything takes time. Do a little at a time, and you will be blessed. you will be amazed at how fast change can happen when you work at it. Billy shows how to do things in a manner I never would have imagined, but it works.