Member HillsideHomesteader
MemberForum Replies Created
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My parents live in Rogersville, I am near Bristol. I have not formally started or joined a MAG, but my mind is right there with you. Over the last 6 or so months, I have been much more intentional about getting to know people that live very close to me as well as being deliberate about identifying and vetting other like-minded people within about an hour from me. I think the vetting part is very important. As an example, I started a discussion with a nearby neighbor some time ago about being more prepared. Early in the conversation, he had commented that if things got bad, he would just shoot one of the cattle in the area to feed his family, he wouldn’t let them starve. He also said that he would be a good person to run security in the area if things got bad, and I could focus on growing food. I made my mental notes, then “tested” the water a few more times. I went down with my tractor to help clear an area for him that was formerly a garden and a good site for one. All he had to do when I was done was light a match to burn the brush and start the garden. Two years later, the pile is still there. Also 2 years later, I now have cattle on my property. I have not forgotten that early statement he made about feeding his family. I get that part to a degree, but someone that won’t take responsibility right now, instead opting for stealing from someone later, doesn’t rate very high on my scale. He is considered a “threat” in my view, not an ally. I still chat with him when I see him and I am neighborly, but I maintain an observant buffer.
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I use goatskin gloves for beekeeping. From the wrist up is lighter fabric with vent material. I would think they would work well for berries. Dependon conditions, you may find a long sleeve shirt along with the gloves may help due to thelighter cuff material on the gloves
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Freezing does not hurt gas, time does though. Stabil helps. Ethanol gas is more troublesome and shorter lived, I think it’s because it draws moisture out of the air. I store higher octane gas and sometimes non-ethanol gas. I rotate through it and recently started putting filll dates on each can to track age of various cans. If I have questionable gas, I run it through a car, not a small engine. Also, don’t forget about equipment tanks on lightly used equipment. My generator holds 5 gallons, but I rarely burn a full tank. I try to start it every couple months and siphon the gas out and replace it about once a year, running the old gas through the car. Storing ANY fuel for a long period in a partial filled tank or can is not advised as it draws more moisture out of the larger volume of air in the tank
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Cattle like company, so it is best to wait to start until you know you are set up for at least 2. We have had Dexters for almost a year and are rookies. They are very easy to keep and laid back. Right now we are raising them to breed and beef, but chose them with the thought to milk in the future as well. From what I have read, they can produce 1-2 gallons/day while calf sharing (1 milking a day), which is still way more than our family would consume. There is way too much to put in a single response, so feel free to ask more specific questions.
Before we started, a nearby farmer turned me toward Joel Salatin’s “Salad Bar Beef”, which was an outstanding read. I have since read several more of his books. This book is about more than just beef cows and worth a read. I loaned it out a while after reading it and it never came back. I valued it enough that I bought another copy to replace the one that didn’t come back.