Hoping This House is Still for Sale in 2 months!

 

 

I have been looking pretty hard just to see things that are available when I came across this little beauty!  While this is nowhere near as large as the house I posted about the other day it is way more to our style and liking!

 

The yard is not all that big but well, you can't have everything at least it is pretty and a wooded setting, kind of hidden away on the very edge of a decent sized town.

 

Me and hubby fell in love with this place and it was listed in Novemeber so I am really hoping it is still there in 2 months at tax refund time.

 

I am not sharing the link because I do not want someone to snatch it up because you wanna know the price?

 

 

$4,900

 

Yup that is correct!

 

It is 1300 sq feet and the fireplace in it will help big time for heating it!

 

Now, just to keep everyone away from it for 2 months!........

 

Even if it needs some work ( from looks of photos, it certainly does) it would be worth it if the structure is sound!

 

What do you think, could you see my family in a place like this? :)

Back to the Basics: DIY Laundry

 

 

While most don't sit around dreaming of the good old days in the form of washing laundry out by hand, this is what I have been doing all week! For us it is a savings of $20 a month as I typically hauled it to the laundry mat once a month.

 

For every way I find a way to save a few dollars, I plan on putting the savings up in a sealed jar and ear marking jars for a few certain funds.

 

Here is how I am doing it:

 

1.) I found an old phone line cord I do not need and tied it up in our bathroom indented closet that is the area meant for a washer and dryer to go in our place. I tied it around the middle wood piece that divides the cupboards that is meant for laundry soap and other laundry types of storage. The phone cord fit perfect from one cupboard across to the next forming a very small but usable clothes line for winter drying.

 

This makes it to where I have to wash something daily for my family of 5 BUT I should be able to do it in one day in the summer when I put up an outside clothes line and can hang  a lot more clothing!

 

 

2.) I take dirty clothes and hang them across the line to see how much will fit, when they reach across the line, I then take them and put them in a 5 gallon bucket. This ensures I do not put more in the bucket than I can hang to dry.

 

3.) I put a little laundry soap in and put hot water in, let soak for 10 to 15 minutes.

 

4.) I take a plunger and then plunge the clothes ( the bucket sits in the bathtub to make sure I don't make a mess and for easy filling and emptying of the bucket.  I plunge about 10 minutes.

 

5.) I empty the whole bucket in the tub, then wring the water out of the clothes putting them back in the bucket.

 

6.) I fill with cold water and plunge again about 10 minutes.

 

7.) Again I empty the whole bucket into the tub, wring the water out of the clothes and put them back in the bucket.

 

8.) Fill again with the cold water for a second rinse, plunge 5 to 10 minutes, empty bucket and wring the water out of the clothes really well and hang on the line.

 

9.) I have a large plastic sheet left over from winterizing the windows I cover the floor with under the line to make sure any clothes that may drip, will not ruin the floor.

 

 

The next morning I turn the clothes over on the line and put up when dry and get another batch done to hang.

 

 

No it is not romantic, nor is it convenient but it will save some money and I actually prefer doing them this way for the main point that I HATE going to a laundry matt where I feel like it is 2 hours of idle wasted time. I also hate hauling several bags and baskets all around in blustery cold weather which is NOT my idea of fun.

 

I like doing laundry at home on MY TERMS in between doing other things!

 

This way though does get them just as clean as a $2 washing machine and I don't need the $1.50 per load to dry!

2 Eggs a Day!

This whole week our ISA Brown hens have been providing us with 2 eggs a day with their brown eggs seeming to finally be regular in egg laying production. We have 3 ISA Brown hens and 1 Araucauna Hen although the Araucauna is not laying yet.  The ISA Browns are known for laying all winter long without artificial lighting which prompted us to choose them.

2 eggs a day for now is plenty for our egg consumption though and will not have need to buy any more supermarket eggs! YEAH this makes me really happy even if it is a small step towards self reliance. We love having chickens even if only a few and in the spring even have plans to plant a small "chicken" garden for them!

I am hoping soon it will go to averaging 3 eggs a day but for now, will make do with the 2 a day, of course it will fun in the spring when I allow them to hatch out a small batch of chicks too!

There is nothing like country fresh eggs!

No Fridge Update

Well for November we went 12 whole days without the refrigerator and for the most part did not miss it although we did use a cooler ( free ice from hubby's work) for milk and plain yogurt. Eventually I would like to get rid of the cooler as well but not sure if this would work in my family as they do not like almond milk that I could make as needed.

At the end of 12 days however, I did plug it back in, for a couple reasons, one of which I already had wondered about starting it in November.  For one I needed the freezer portion because to be honest I DID NOT want to wait the day before Thanksgiving to get my Turkey while I could get it NOW on sale.

I did miss being able to buy meats on sale to put in the freezer.

The other reason was I had gotten a surprise phone call from our Landlord asking me if we liked Venison. He plans on shooting one for us during this season so I wanted the freezer on knowing I could get venison any day during hunting season but not knowing if or when.

Looking at it from a mathematical stand point, do we want to save $8 off our electric bill or save $40 or more on meat?

The obvious won out.

Knowing December will bring another holiday meal I do not think we will be trying this experiment again until January although I do not know, my family really likes their refrigeration and I really like the freezer portion of stocking up on meats.

Yes I could totally rearrange and change the way we eat, but to me old habits die hard and I do not at this moment WANT to change eating Turkey for Thanksgiving, I LOVE turkey as does the rest of the family!

Yet it was interesting to do the 12 days and I applaud the others that have given it up, I am not really sure that this family wants to give it up as a permanent fixture.

Maybe cheap homemade vegetable oil burning tin can lamps in lieu of electric lights is more up our alley?

But then again I have not given up completly on this project and as I said, perhaps in January we will try again...........

For now I am drooling over the Turkey in my freezer and the possbile venison that will be joining it soon..........

Free-Ranging Chickens

Our babies are all grown up now! With the garden halted to an end where the blight came in and finished off our tomato's ( that's okay, we harvested TONS before the blight took hold!) it has gotten to where we now can let our chickens out to play!

Seems like just yesterday we got the little balls of fluff and now they are all big and grown up and really enjoying being let loose to free range and glean the garden left overs! I love it when the chickens can run around on their own, gleaning what they need for their own diet, getting lots of exercise and enjoying the sun and wind.

I do have more roosters than I would like and I am still trying to figure out if it is in me to butcher, but not ready to jump on that band wagon yet. Ovcr the years we have had chickens off and on, and I never could bring myself to kill them after raising them from chicks, but at some point I know I have to come with terms with what to do with the extra roos.

To  refresh your memory we have

3 Araucaunas   where now is evident we have one rooster and 2 hens

3 Silkies-- 2 are roosters for sure, I THINK the other one is a hen I HOPE HOPE HOPE but verdict is still out.

3 ISA Browns-  1 is a hen for sure but I am not sure on the other 2 as they have bigger combs and waddles but no crowing yet............should know in a couple of weeks as they should start laying eggs in October some time!

That is my daughter in the one photo with her White Silkie Rooster named Champion!

And then our dog Sophie who can not figure out why chickens do not herd like sheep although she tries to keep them together! LOL  She really wants to be friends with them but she is scared of them and does not like getting pecked on the nose!

Okay now HURRY up eggs I am getting impatient!

Canning Without A Canner

When it became time to make pickles , with tomato's not too far off I pulled out my large canning kettle my mama had given me, put water in it and set it on the stove. In no time at all I noticed the top of the stove covered in water, lifting up the canner I spotted the pin drop hole leaking water everywhere.

Fine, I already had my cukes all cut up and jars all ready to go so what was I to do? ( Wasn't sure I trusted the canner anyhow with a little rust that had been forming in it!)

Well I have only been doing small batch canning anyways so I got out my trusty one and only 2 quart stainless steel pan and put some water in that. After I had my pickles packed in jars I put them in the pan and covered it well with aluminum foil. ( The lid won't fit with jars placed in it)

This worked fine enough to where I did not feel compelled to rush out and spend money I did not have on a new canning kettle. I can place 3 quart jars in it at  a time or 4 pint jars which is about what I tend to process at any one time anyways.

This did create a problem with tomato's however as I could not peel them and cook them in my 2 quart pan I needed hot water in and keeping everything hot is imperative! Also I can not use the pan to heat my jars in.

So I pour hot water into a kitchen sink for the jars to stay in until ready for use.

I peel all my tomato's in the afternoon and place them in my slow cooker which I put in my fridge until the evening hours which I then plug in and put on low to cook all night. I do this with either just regular tomato's or a batch of salsa for winter storage.

The next day when ever I am ready I get my jars in the sink with hot water and bring the 2 inches of water in my 2 quart pan to gentle boiling, pack the jars and process for the 10 to 15 minutes depending on what I am processing.

It has been working beautifully and working with what I have already on hand!

Growing Our Own Part 3

On our Growing Our Own Goals this year, thing seem to be progressing at a steady pace and I am quite pleased with how it is coming along. We were able to get the outside pen attachment for the chicken hutch so the chickens can enjoy some outside yard time of foraging and scratching the way chickens are meant to be.

One nice thing about this set up is it is easily portable so the chickens while being contained (safety from predators, wandering on to neighbors propertys AND keeping them out of the garden) they can also be free ranged by simply moving the pen around the yard.

It is still a little crowded for what we have but then again we were suppose to only have hens and out of the 9, at least 3 of them are roosters. Sexing chicks is only about 70% accurate so with quite a bit of room for mistakes.........this was bound to happen. One is already crowing! So need to figure out if I will sell off the roos or butcher them......decison is out at the moment while I make up my mind.

We do have future plans of setting up one more moveable chicken pen.

Our garden is doing pretty good considering the sandy soil ( will take time with composting and chicken manure to improve) and serious lack of rain keeping everything bone dry. I water often but the sand just drys out so so so so fast!

We have been eating greens for weeks now, I have been basing my recipes for meals off the garden with the garden being the main focal point, the star attraction for meal planning. I have put 3 meals worth up in the freezer for winter eating and will be putting several more up this weekend. I have also given our elderly neighbor 4 meals worth so far.

The zucchini are starting to come in along with the tomatos, spaghetti squash, peas and banana peppers so we are getting excited with the anticipation of adding them to our menu!

The Kohlabri is starting to form it's globes and the green onions are coming along nicely too and it won't be long before the cukes start producing!

It really is amazing how even a small garden can cut down so much on food costs!

Happy Self-Reliance!

July Roadmap for Your Self Sufficient Journey by Frugal Farmer

I am sharing this from Frugal Farmers Facebook Page as I think it is a great list to work through for July! Enjoy!

As each of us progress on our personal journey towards self-sufficiency, we need tools to serve as roadmaps to guide us on this journey.

Sit back, relax and take a few extra moments from your busy schedule to read this roadmap for your future. I know it will be well worth the time.

Use this checklist as your own guide. Modify it to suit your own personal needs. I believe most you will find most of the things on this checklist useful. Depending on where you are at on your journey, some of these items will not be applicable to you. You may have already accomplished these goals are not quite ready for some. If you find you are not ready for some of these items this year, they will be repeated in future checklists and you always have next year. Refer back to this checklist throughout the month.


This checklist is designed for my specific local area of East Tennessee (Zone 7a). For our friends in the Southern Hemisphere this would be your January Checklist. Friends in other growing zones should modify this checklist for your zone.

- Continue to develop family plans to take control of your future. Avoid using credit cards and live below your family budget. Find at least one new way to save money and apply this savings to pay off existing debt.

- Develop a written list of goals and objectives for the month of July. This list should include financial goals, family goals, learning goals, health goals, project goals etc… Make sure your goals are realistic, achievable and measurable.

_ Continue to develop family emergency plans and build emergency supplies to include water, food, lighting, and alternative cooking.

- Continue to shop local whenever possible. Supporting your local businesses keeps your money local and supports families in YOUR community. Take advantage of local farmer’s markets in your area. Continue to build a network of people in your local area to trade and barter goods and services.

- Practice your trading and bartering skills. Conduct at least one trading or bartering deal this month.

- Take advantage of summer yard and garage sales. Go early to beat the heat of the day and find the bargains before the “professional” yard sellers show up.

- Learn one new skill. This should become a monthly goal as you continue on your path towards self-sufficiency. Becoming self-sufficient means learning to learn new skills and taking care of things yourself instead of hiring or paying someone else to do it for you.

- Find AT LEAST one new recipe to cook from scratch. Not only will this help with your financial goals, but you will know the exact ingredients involved in preparing this meal.

- Research at least one new herbal or natural home remedy to improve your overall health.

- If you are a smoker, continue to look at quitting. This will not only improve your overall health and well-being, but you can apply the savings to paying off debt or purchasing items needed to continue your journey towards self-sufficiency.

- Ensure you get out in your herb and vegetable garden every day. Weed as needed. Pick beans every day to keep production at peak. Pick cucumbers, squash and zucchini when they are small. Larger fruits from these vines are less desirable. Pick okra when they are 2-3 inches long. Continue to pinch suckers from tomato plants to focus energy to fruit development.

- Learn how to save your own seed from heritage/heirloom plants. Save your seed for next seasons garden and be sure to save some to share with others. This will allow you to swap seed with others and build your seed collection.

- Keep a close eye on herb garden. Pinch back herbs such oregano, basil and mint to keep them compact and from bolting.

- The heat of the summer can be deadly to pets and livestock. Ensure you provide fresh drinking water for your pets and livestock and check it during the heat of the day. Consider providing inexpensive tarp shade shelters for your animals.

- The heat of the summer can create challenges in your garden. Ensure you water your garden adequately to ensure you get a good deep soaking. Mulch will assist in weed control and maintain moisture. Consider soaker systems if you are not currently using one. A general rule of thumb is one inch of water per week when you do not receive adequate rainfall. Melons, cantaloupes, and gourds will require additional water during the heat of the summer.

- As one crop finishes producing, pull the plant/vines and add to compost pile. Condition your soil with additional compost and plant additional crops. Consider those types of crops which thrive in the heat. Also consider timing and plant crops that will mature well before your average first frost date. Black eyed peas, purple hull peas, crowder peas, and pink eyed peas are suitable for planting in the first week of July.

- Continue to add material to your compost piles/bins. Turn compost piles/bins weekly during the summer. All compost must be kept moist. Add water to your compost as required to keep it active and alive.

- Begin planning you fall garden now. You will want to focus on those cooler weather crops. Now is the time to begin looking at hoop houses or greenhouses to extend your growing seasons. Construction should be completed prior to the 1st of October so the clock is ticking on getting this project completely by then.

- If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to clean your fireplace chimney or wood stove pipes. Gather additional firewood to ensure it is seasoned for this winter.

- Ensure you have all of your canning supplies for the remainder of the season. Shortages of canning supplies can occur during the peak of canning season.

- Prune or remove trees with blight. Do not put diseased trees in your compost piles. Burn these types of garden waste.

- Conduct a home energy audit to reduce your electric consumption. Replace you HVAC filter when you receive your utility bill. Search online for additional energy audit guidelines.

- If you plan on a summer vacation, avoid the typical “tourist” type vacations. Look at every available low cost/no cost options in your area or region. Be wise about lodging and meal cost during your vacation—plan ahead. If you are staying in one location for multiple days, consider a place with a kitchenette, buy your own groceries and cook in your accommodations. Avoid the temptation of buying meaningless beads, trinkets and t-shirts.

- If you haven’t developed a long-range project list yet, do so. If you already have one, look it over and make necessary modifications. This should be a written plan that is prioritized. Get the whole family involved in making and modifying this list.

- If you haven’t done your touch up painting yet, this is a great time to do so.

- If you have a garage or shed, chances are you have accumulated a lot of “stuff” and put it in there to get it out of your way. Time to clean out the garage. Have a yard sale and sell some of this “stuff” that has been collecting dust. Donate any items that do not sell to your favorite thrift store. Dispose of anything considered junk.

- Change oil in small engine equipment to extend the life of your equipment. Store used oil in suitable containers. Save this oil to use as chainsaw bar lubrication. Sharpen lawn mower blades to ensure they are cutting your grass instead of tearing it.

- If you do not have a clothes drying line yet, install one. The summer heat will dry your clothes quickly outdoors. Drying clothes on a line actually saves wear and tear on your clothing. Every time you clean out the lint trap on your dryer, you are actually cleaning out bits of your clothing. Now would also be the ideal time to clean your dryer’s exhaust pipe. Lint will collect in these flex pipes and reduce efficiency and lead to potential fire hazard.

- Inspect and repair gates, fences, and fence posts. Take advantage of summer weather and make necessary repairs.

- 4th of July sales are a great time to stock up on supplies. This is typically one of the best times to find great deals on things such as charcoal briquettes, paper products, and grilling meats. You can add some of these items to your emergency kits and stock your freezer during deep discounts. Check your local grocery stores 3 or 4 days after the 4th to look for “reduced for quick sale” meats not sold during the holiday period. July is typically the best month to stock up on butter due to heavy butter production during June.

- Begin looking at Christmas holiday gift ideas. Avoid the temptation to buy into the over-commercialization of any holiday. Handmade gifts of the heart have much more meaning than some overpriced trendy gadget. Begin searching for ways to create your own personalized gifts.

- Volunteer for a local community project. Each of us has a responsibility to give something back to our communities. Find something that sparks your interest and somewhere you can build additional skills of your own.



Copyright 2012
John P. Pearson (AKA Frugal Farmers)

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