I was taking inventory of our butchering kit yesterday. When I opened it I saw it HAD NOT been cleaned since we used it last. Now, I KNOW I wouldn't have put it away with out cleaning, so that leaves TWO people (PH and PD#1) as the culprits. I took out each item (knives, sharpeners, bone saw, etc.) and washed everything in hot soapy water, as well as, the case itself. I dried everything, carefully, and thought I'd sharpen the knives before putting it back together. Now, being a good TEXAS girl (formerly a Marylander) I know how to shoot, pretty well, I might add, so these piddly knives are nothing right? SIGH
I cut myself. On the finger next to my pinkie, on the left hand, right at the knuckle, a huge SLICE. I didn't even really notice until I saw blood pooling on the counter. I started thinking "what has spilled?". Then I noticed my hand. Great! Just what I needed, I hadn't even finished the dishes yet. I had to take a break and get the bleeding stopped, then adding the liquid skin to keep it closed.
So, while I THOUGHT I was getting ready for the chicken butchering, it was really my own self I was planning to butcher. I sure am glad I cleaned the knife before cutting myself. After sitting in all that YUCK from the previous butchering, no telling what disease I would have developed.
Lesson learned? I'll leave the knife sharpening to PH. It's much easier to doctor his cuts then my own.
**I happened to be at a friend's ranch today and we were talking chicken butchering. She is a PRO at it, and I really wish she would come help me (HINT, HINT). She started laughing when I told her how we were planning to butcher the chickens, and told me I had picked the bloodiest way to do it. It figures!
PH made me the killing cone and all. Well, we've never done this before, so we may decide next time to go a different route. I'll keep you posted, once it happens, around Valentine's Day. It may look like a repeat of the St. Valentines Day Massacre. I'll try not to take pictures.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Ten Year Plan
I thought I'd list my 10 Year Plan here, and back date it to the time we purchased our property in 2007 and if goals were met:
2007: Look for 10-20 acres (mostly cleared), with a small wood lot, water feature (creek, pond, etc.), existing well and electricity (PHs requirement).
* purchased 10.5 acres on a land contract, dry creek bed runs through property, but when it rains it is bank to bank, and it funnels into the pond at the back of the property. Natural drainage (two thumbs up), cleared with a small number of trees for shade.
2008: Fence land, put up barn, move animals - DONE
*also started converting 45 foot shipping container to a cabin for weekend use, at first, then full time (this was unplanned and not in the goal)
2009: Complete container conversion and move into container cabin. - DONE
2010: Complete cross fencing, establish garden - DONE
2011: Secure additional fencing - DONE
Secure garden from goat - still working on this, they are wily buggers
Produce 200 quarts of produce from garden (canning it) - managed to only can approx 75 quarts)
Acquire more chickens (egg and meat) - DONE
Buy Calf - DONE
Buy Pig - DONE (bought 3!)
Start house - STARTED September 2011.
2012: Keep working on electric fencing
finish housing shell by June ??
acquire turkey pullets in April
additional calf or breed heifer in Fall
butcher pig (around April)
Breed boar and sow (keep one, sell rest)
Butcher meat chickens (around Valentine's Day)
Purchase another group of Freedom Rangers (June)
. Pay extra payment on land,
move into house and live in it while completing inside (by December)
Plant pumpkins (end of July)
Plant wheat (November)
Set up fuel tanks on stand, and store a small amount of fuel
Increase food storage purchases
2013: Non-electric water source (solar jack pump, windmill)
Pay one extra payment a month on land.
Butcher calf.
Increase garden size.
Harvest wheat, evaluate yield
Plant larger wheat field ??
grow field peas for cover crop and food source for animals.
Food storage
Church members to build own BO living space
2014: Install solar panel (small at first to run a few items), move towards off grid living.
Pay extra on land a month.
food storage
2015: Be totally off grid, pay extra on land.
food storage
2016: Pay extra on land
food storage
2017: Have land provide enough income to pay yearly taxes.
I'll add more as I think of it, and as PH and I discuss our goals more.
2007: Look for 10-20 acres (mostly cleared), with a small wood lot, water feature (creek, pond, etc.), existing well and electricity (PHs requirement).
* purchased 10.5 acres on a land contract, dry creek bed runs through property, but when it rains it is bank to bank, and it funnels into the pond at the back of the property. Natural drainage (two thumbs up), cleared with a small number of trees for shade.
2008: Fence land, put up barn, move animals - DONE
*also started converting 45 foot shipping container to a cabin for weekend use, at first, then full time (this was unplanned and not in the goal)
2009: Complete container conversion and move into container cabin. - DONE
2010: Complete cross fencing, establish garden - DONE
2011: Secure additional fencing - DONE
Secure garden from goat - still working on this, they are wily buggers
Produce 200 quarts of produce from garden (canning it) - managed to only can approx 75 quarts)
Acquire more chickens (egg and meat) - DONE
Buy Calf - DONE
Buy Pig - DONE (bought 3!)
Start house - STARTED September 2011.
2012: Keep working on electric fencing
finish housing shell by June ??
acquire turkey pullets in April
additional calf or breed heifer in Fall
butcher pig (around April)
Breed boar and sow (keep one, sell rest)
Butcher meat chickens (around Valentine's Day)
Purchase another group of Freedom Rangers (June)
. Pay extra payment on land,
move into house and live in it while completing inside (by December)
Plant pumpkins (end of July)
Plant wheat (November)
Set up fuel tanks on stand, and store a small amount of fuel
Increase food storage purchases
2013: Non-electric water source (solar jack pump, windmill)
Pay one extra payment a month on land.
Butcher calf.
Increase garden size.
Harvest wheat, evaluate yield
Plant larger wheat field ??
grow field peas for cover crop and food source for animals.
Food storage
Church members to build own BO living space
2014: Install solar panel (small at first to run a few items), move towards off grid living.
Pay extra on land a month.
food storage
2015: Be totally off grid, pay extra on land.
food storage
2016: Pay extra on land
food storage
2017: Have land provide enough income to pay yearly taxes.
I'll add more as I think of it, and as PH and I discuss our goals more.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Preparing for Butchering
We have 5 weeks left until our Freedom Rangers are at the age to butcher. I am praying they put on more weight in that time. They sure do eat a lot, and drink LOTS of water.
We are starting to assess what we need to accomplish the butchering of these chickens. We have never butchered chickens before, so I am relying on advice from those who have. I plan to set up the outdoor kitchen/butchering area behind the cabin. I have:
a table
the grill to heat water
picnic table
sink to connect to hose
killing cone (PH made one from plans I sent to him. I was so excited! He said it was my Valentine's Day present ;-)
butchering knives (I cut myself today cleaning the butchering knives and case - glad I have that liquid skin)
2 stock pots for heating water
2 gallon size Ziploc bags to place butchered birds in
I need:
large wash tub
tarp to catch feathers when we pluck
buckets for catching blood
I need to look back over my list to make sure I have everything gathered. I don't want to wait until the last minute. http://foodwaterandfire.ludlowsurvivors.com/chickenkill.html
The weather has turned chilly again. I woke to rain this morning, so coupled with the cold it has been a frosty day, and required the fire in the stove to be burning all day. I am thankful we have such a large supply of firewood. I am also thankful that the barn is finished and that the horses and goats now have shelter out of the rain, wind and most of the cold. I have worried about them for 3 years, though they appear to have done alright.
We are learning about the French and Indian War in our history study, plus we watched a documentary on Israel this morning. It was very enlightening to me, and I learned a lot. We also watched an older Disney movie called "The Light in the Forest" with Fess Parker. It takes place around the time of the French/Indian War, though surprisingly PD#1 said the documentary we watched last week "The War That Made America" was much better ;-) I agree. We will be receiving Part 2 later this week. We were recently gifted with two boxes of VHS tapes, mostly educational/documentaries covering foreign countries, world religions, composers, artists, history with a few older Disney movies thrown in. The school where one of my sisters teaches was getting rid of all their old VHS tapes and she brought me what she could. We watch a lot of documentaries, and I spent three hours the other evening putting documentaries in chronological order in my Netflix account.
I've been baking a lot lately, and greatly need to replenish some of my food stores (like chocolate chips, baking soda, brown sugar and VANILLA). Bread is on the agenda for tomorrow. I fear the cold won't let it rise, so it may end up sitting next to the wood stove tomorrow.
Well, off to bed..
What have you done this week to prepare?
We are starting to assess what we need to accomplish the butchering of these chickens. We have never butchered chickens before, so I am relying on advice from those who have. I plan to set up the outdoor kitchen/butchering area behind the cabin. I have:
a table
the grill to heat water
picnic table
sink to connect to hose
killing cone (PH made one from plans I sent to him. I was so excited! He said it was my Valentine's Day present ;-)
butchering knives (I cut myself today cleaning the butchering knives and case - glad I have that liquid skin)
2 stock pots for heating water
2 gallon size Ziploc bags to place butchered birds in
I need:
large wash tub
tarp to catch feathers when we pluck
buckets for catching blood
I need to look back over my list to make sure I have everything gathered. I don't want to wait until the last minute. http://foodwaterandfire.ludlowsurvivors.com/chickenkill.html
The weather has turned chilly again. I woke to rain this morning, so coupled with the cold it has been a frosty day, and required the fire in the stove to be burning all day. I am thankful we have such a large supply of firewood. I am also thankful that the barn is finished and that the horses and goats now have shelter out of the rain, wind and most of the cold. I have worried about them for 3 years, though they appear to have done alright.
We are learning about the French and Indian War in our history study, plus we watched a documentary on Israel this morning. It was very enlightening to me, and I learned a lot. We also watched an older Disney movie called "The Light in the Forest" with Fess Parker. It takes place around the time of the French/Indian War, though surprisingly PD#1 said the documentary we watched last week "The War That Made America" was much better ;-) I agree. We will be receiving Part 2 later this week. We were recently gifted with two boxes of VHS tapes, mostly educational/documentaries covering foreign countries, world religions, composers, artists, history with a few older Disney movies thrown in. The school where one of my sisters teaches was getting rid of all their old VHS tapes and she brought me what she could. We watch a lot of documentaries, and I spent three hours the other evening putting documentaries in chronological order in my Netflix account.
I've been baking a lot lately, and greatly need to replenish some of my food stores (like chocolate chips, baking soda, brown sugar and VANILLA). Bread is on the agenda for tomorrow. I fear the cold won't let it rise, so it may end up sitting next to the wood stove tomorrow.
Well, off to bed..
What have you done this week to prepare?
Friday, January 6, 2012
Ham and Bean Soup
I made ham and bean soup today, it's still cooking away in the crock pot. You may not think this is significant, but it is! I don't like beans. I found this recipe online, and it looked good, despite the beans. I even TASTED the broth to see how it was...I lived!
The "plan" is to have PH try it, if it likes it great, we'll have it tomorrow. If not, I'll can it and it will become part of my emergency food, " if you are starving, you'll eat it" pantry. It smells good, and the taste...needed more salt it was kind of BLAH.
PH is finished with barn construction, but has been welding a couple of hay racks for the horses out of scrap pipe. Pretty cool! I had mentioned to him I wanted to buy some from the local feed store, but FREE is always better.
What have you done to prepare this week?
I've decluttered and gone through items to make room for more storage.
Inventoried the freezer
Talked to my FIL about hog butchering (he's a wealth of knowledge)
Started preparations to make deer jerky for the first time
More later, coyotes are prowling gotta go....
The "plan" is to have PH try it, if it likes it great, we'll have it tomorrow. If not, I'll can it and it will become part of my emergency food, " if you are starving, you'll eat it" pantry. It smells good, and the taste...needed more salt it was kind of BLAH.
PH is finished with barn construction, but has been welding a couple of hay racks for the horses out of scrap pipe. Pretty cool! I had mentioned to him I wanted to buy some from the local feed store, but FREE is always better.
What have you done to prepare this week?
I've decluttered and gone through items to make room for more storage.
Inventoried the freezer
Talked to my FIL about hog butchering (he's a wealth of knowledge)
Started preparations to make deer jerky for the first time
More later, coyotes are prowling gotta go....
Monday, January 2, 2012
Goals for 2012
I saw this idea on another blog, and while I post every now and then what I'd like to accomplish I thought I'd put it in one place.
1. Butcher first pig that we purchased in 2011 as part of last year's goals.
2. Purchase turkey poults to breed and butcher
3. Find a way to get water out of well without electricity.
4. Finish house shell.
5. Re-stock pantry, and first aid kit.
6. Have PH bring fuel tanks from work and start to fill for gasoline preps.
7. Purchase additional kerosene for oil lamps.
8. Set up beehive.
9. Can 200 quarts of food.
10. Expand garden
11. Purchase Berkey filter
12. Purchase two solar panel kits plus solar lights.
1. Butcher first pig that we purchased in 2011 as part of last year's goals.
2. Purchase turkey poults to breed and butcher
3. Find a way to get water out of well without electricity.
4. Finish house shell.
5. Re-stock pantry, and first aid kit.
6. Have PH bring fuel tanks from work and start to fill for gasoline preps.
7. Purchase additional kerosene for oil lamps.
8. Set up beehive.
9. Can 200 quarts of food.
10. Expand garden
11. Purchase Berkey filter
12. Purchase two solar panel kits plus solar lights.
How to Clean a Woodstove and Chimney
Due to severe backdraft issues we thought maybe (after 3 years ) it was necessary to clean out the stove pipe. PH used a rechargeable drill to remove ALL the screws from the stove pipe. Make sure to place these all in a baggie so you won't lose them.
PH then removed the stack attached to the wood stove on one end, and the Magic Heat heat exchanger on the top. Then he detached the Magic Heat from the elbow pipe that went out of the wall. The piece through the wall he left in place. He used the wire chimney brush while I held the bucket under the opening and rain the brush through several times. We were SHOCKED at how much cresote came out of just the horizontal pipe.
Next on the list was removing the outside elbow piece, removing the bracket screws that hold the upright pipe and attached rain hat. Once those were on the ground, PH carefully cleaned each piece. He even washed the rain hat to remove all the creosote build up from the wire screen.
Once the pipe was clean, he reattached the pipes and screwed everything back together. I then cleaned the inside of the stove, and replaced any broken fire bricks. Next on the list (for another day) will be taking a wire brush to the outside of the wood stove and reapplying stove black to the stove.
It is wonderful to be able to sit here tonight with a fire (it is in the 30s here) without smoke pouring until the room. Last night I kept a low fire burning, but had to sleep with the front door cracked so most of the smoke would go outside. Much better to have ZERO smoke inside the house ;-)
PH then removed the stack attached to the wood stove on one end, and the Magic Heat heat exchanger on the top. Then he detached the Magic Heat from the elbow pipe that went out of the wall. The piece through the wall he left in place. He used the wire chimney brush while I held the bucket under the opening and rain the brush through several times. We were SHOCKED at how much cresote came out of just the horizontal pipe.
Next on the list was removing the outside elbow piece, removing the bracket screws that hold the upright pipe and attached rain hat. Once those were on the ground, PH carefully cleaned each piece. He even washed the rain hat to remove all the creosote build up from the wire screen.
Once the pipe was clean, he reattached the pipes and screwed everything back together. I then cleaned the inside of the stove, and replaced any broken fire bricks. Next on the list (for another day) will be taking a wire brush to the outside of the wood stove and reapplying stove black to the stove.
It is wonderful to be able to sit here tonight with a fire (it is in the 30s here) without smoke pouring until the room. Last night I kept a low fire burning, but had to sleep with the front door cracked so most of the smoke would go outside. Much better to have ZERO smoke inside the house ;-)
Happy New Year!
We had a great time of fun, food, family, friends and fellowship New Year's Eve. This was our third year to host a bonfire, and we had a good crowd. About an hour before midnight the guys headed to the bridge by the creek to set off the fireworks. It was a pretty good display, and along with the neighbors setting off theirs gave us an exciting, fun night.
It's always interesting to see how I can host a party with as little money spent as possible. Providing food for the pantry/freezer makes the night less stressful. I made BBQ wings, wild hog sausage, nachos, bread, iced tea and everyone brought snacks like cookies, brownies, and more.
The wood stove is smoking bad, and back drafting into the cabin. It figures this happens when the nights are really cold. In order to be warm enough to not freeze we have had the fire going, but I have to sleep with a fan blowing from one end, and the front door cracked to keep the smoke going out of the house. I still woke this morning at 4 a.m. cold, and with my eyes burning. Once it is light, I'll let the fire die out so that the stove and pipe can cool. PH will take the chimney down so it can be cleaned. We are quite certain that after three years this may be the problem. Everything we read says to clean it yearly, but after 20 years of heating with wood we have found this to not be accurate for us. The first time before we found out it needed to cleaned we went 10 years without doing it without any problems. We only cleaned the chimney because we purchased a newer stove. But I think it's necessary this time....
I purchased a few food preps, and focused on my medical preps to keep stocking my first aid kit. Having an extensive first aid kit came in handy when PH sliced his hand open on the tin roofing while working on the barn extension. He is adding another side roof structure over the horse pens. Originally we were going to let the horses use the first barn extension to shelter out of the elements, but PH had enough materials scavaged that he wanted to use them up, and not let them rust away on the ground. So, instead of moving the pens under the first extension he is building another over the pens themselves. The first extension will be used for church worship services, a work area for PH, and a shelter for the log splitter, garden tractor. etc.
Back to PH's hand....it was worse then we first thought and really should have had stitches, but PH doesn't go to the hospital for such minor issues. I was able to clean it, and use my "Liquid Skin" to close up the injury. I bandaged it and he was on his way. Because he was still working he kept breaking it open, so that evening it was seeping pretty badly. I doctored it again with peroxide, Neosporin and a bandage. By yesterday afternoon, it was looking pretty good.
PH and PS#1 (age 23) were able to get the framework up and will concentrate on finishing up with the roofing later today. It's not even 5 a.m. and everyone else is still sleeping. I LOVE the quiet of the house early morning and late evening. Very peaceful.
I pray this new year brings blessings, and we are in much prayer for our nation. It's going to be a bumpy ride for sure this year, but working on relying on the Lord for our provision and security is a never ending theme with our family.
Hope everyone had great Christmas and New Year celebrations in the loving atmosphere of family and God.
It's always interesting to see how I can host a party with as little money spent as possible. Providing food for the pantry/freezer makes the night less stressful. I made BBQ wings, wild hog sausage, nachos, bread, iced tea and everyone brought snacks like cookies, brownies, and more.
The wood stove is smoking bad, and back drafting into the cabin. It figures this happens when the nights are really cold. In order to be warm enough to not freeze we have had the fire going, but I have to sleep with a fan blowing from one end, and the front door cracked to keep the smoke going out of the house. I still woke this morning at 4 a.m. cold, and with my eyes burning. Once it is light, I'll let the fire die out so that the stove and pipe can cool. PH will take the chimney down so it can be cleaned. We are quite certain that after three years this may be the problem. Everything we read says to clean it yearly, but after 20 years of heating with wood we have found this to not be accurate for us. The first time before we found out it needed to cleaned we went 10 years without doing it without any problems. We only cleaned the chimney because we purchased a newer stove. But I think it's necessary this time....
I purchased a few food preps, and focused on my medical preps to keep stocking my first aid kit. Having an extensive first aid kit came in handy when PH sliced his hand open on the tin roofing while working on the barn extension. He is adding another side roof structure over the horse pens. Originally we were going to let the horses use the first barn extension to shelter out of the elements, but PH had enough materials scavaged that he wanted to use them up, and not let them rust away on the ground. So, instead of moving the pens under the first extension he is building another over the pens themselves. The first extension will be used for church worship services, a work area for PH, and a shelter for the log splitter, garden tractor. etc.
Back to PH's hand....it was worse then we first thought and really should have had stitches, but PH doesn't go to the hospital for such minor issues. I was able to clean it, and use my "Liquid Skin" to close up the injury. I bandaged it and he was on his way. Because he was still working he kept breaking it open, so that evening it was seeping pretty badly. I doctored it again with peroxide, Neosporin and a bandage. By yesterday afternoon, it was looking pretty good.
PH and PS#1 (age 23) were able to get the framework up and will concentrate on finishing up with the roofing later today. It's not even 5 a.m. and everyone else is still sleeping. I LOVE the quiet of the house early morning and late evening. Very peaceful.
I pray this new year brings blessings, and we are in much prayer for our nation. It's going to be a bumpy ride for sure this year, but working on relying on the Lord for our provision and security is a never ending theme with our family.
Hope everyone had great Christmas and New Year celebrations in the loving atmosphere of family and God.
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