any one going self sufficient

buffalobilly · 15-03-2020 4:12pm #1

with all the talk about there maybe a shortage of food is
anyone going to go self sufficient like a few hens plant some
turnips carrots some potatoes we are thinking of wiring off
a 1/2 acre for a few spuds get the old gear out again
never know when the winter comes a body might be glad

Bass Reeves · 15-03-2020 4:35pm

buffalobilly wrote: »

with all the talk about there maybe a shortage of food is
anyone going to go self sufficient like a few hens plant some
turnips carrots some potatoes we are thinking of wiring off
a 1/2 acre for a few spuds get the old gear out again
never know when the winter comes a body might be glad

We produce 90 % more of the beef and dairy in this country than we normally eat probably similar in lamb, we export 50-60% of the fish we catch.

What ever else happens we will not starve to desth

kerryjack · 15-03-2020 5:32pm

I have been doing it for years but had a bad winter pollytunnel plastic gone before Christmas and hens are getting on and stopped laying, have a fat heifer and a few hoggets that could go in the freezer if things go pair shaped.

_Brian · 15-03-2020 6:09pm

We grow some greens and veg, have few chickens and freezer a pig each year, have a heifer id’d for slaughter later this year for freezer. Have a bunch of fruit bushes planted (poorly pruned) dozen fruit trees which are pointless here as late frosts kill the buds every spring. We make all our own bread and cakes.

Going to be honest you’d need allot of time to grow a substantial amount to feed a family. We do it to enjoy it and teach the kids that it can be done because who knows and I really like them to know how food is produced and how much work it takes, you appreciate it more and waste less after tending it.

893bet · 15-03-2020 7:17pm

buffalobilly wrote: »

with all the talk about there maybe a shortage of food is
anyone going to go self sufficient like a few hens plant some
turnips carrots some potatoes we are thinking of wiring off
a 1/2 acre for a few spuds get the old gear out again
never know when the winter comes a body might be glad

There is no talk of food shortage. It is important not to scare monger.

Italy on full lockdown and there is still plenty of food.

kerryjack · 15-03-2020 8:07pm

893bet wrote: »

There is no talk of food shortage. It is important not to scare monger.

Italy on full lockdown and there is still plenty of food.

Relax lad No scare mongering here

15-03-2020 8:50pm

Been meaning to get a veg patch going. Might use the time now...
Any hints on getting going. Currently lawn area. Thinking mostly spuds, carrots, onions, garlic

Aravo · 15-03-2020 9:00pm

Grow spuds here just for house use. Roosters are fantastic I find. Already have a few hens. Grow some parsley, rocket, mint, thyme and trying to establish rhubarb. Also make own plum jam. The spuds take a bit of looking after.

PoorFarmer · 15-03-2020 11:00pm

Do a few bits of veg here every year nothing too hectic swedes, turnip, peas, beans, onion, cabbage, kale and spinach. Most of them easily grown. Always a few hens and ducks lurking around too. Ducks are great for slugs in the garden. OH bought 20 acres last year and we hope to produce about 50% of our total food intake from this in the next couple of years.

Have signed up for a bee keeping course this year and have bought a poly tunnel between myself and BIL which we'll make 2 handy size ones from. Invested in 30 or so fruit bushes: currants, gooseberries raspberries which hopefully will fruit next year and already had 25 apple trees and 50 odd crab trees in since last year. Plenty freacáns around the bogs here too, bit of effort to pick them but tasty when mixed with yoghurt

Plans for few pigs, sheep and more fowl and see how it goes. Had a heifer picked for the freezer (1st time in 20 odd years) but looks like one of the weanling bulls was a bit more developed than I thought cos her and 3 more have shown up in calf.

If it goes well OH will go job share and hopefully we can increase the amount we take from it and eat seasonally.

Water John · 15-03-2020 11:50pm

Children will not be back in school before Sept. Parents and children should start thinking of specific projects that might occupy them or develop their interests at this time. The veg garden could be one.

_Brian · 16-03-2020 12:00am

893bet wrote: »

There is no talk of food shortage. It is important not to scare monger.

Italy on full lockdown and there is still plenty of food.

Yea, 5 days in, 25 to go.

I think without scaremongering of course people thinking about food security amd what they can do is a good thing.

16-03-2020 12:12am

Im thinking of putting in some potatoes for fear loss of job and this lockdown drags on

My job brings me in and around meat factories,after what i seen,i try as much as reasonably possible be self-sufficent in meat

I guess being self sufficent in veg is a good life goal to aim for

squinn2912 · 16-03-2020 1:43am

kerryjack wrote: »

I have been doing it for years but had a bad winter pollytunnel plastic gone before Christmas and hens are getting on and stopped laying, have a fat heifer and a few hoggets that could go in the freezer if things go pair shaped.

How do you get your
Heifer or whatever killed and butchered? Is it easy? I’d love to try some of ours

Water John · 16-03-2020 1:56am

Smaller abbatoirs will do it for you. Did I see previously that someone was charged €180.

uck51js9zml2yt · 16-03-2020 1:58am

Water John wrote: »

Smaller abbatoirs will do it for you. Did I see previously that someone was charged €180.

I paid 250 for abbatoir to kill and butcher to slice it up.

Bass Reeves · 16-03-2020 8:46am

Water John wrote: »

Smaller abbatoirs will do it for you. Did I see previously that someone was charged €180.

It's 4-5 years since I killed one but that was what I was charged

Reggie. · 16-03-2020 9:39am

Water John wrote: »

Children will not be back in school before Sept. Parents and children should start thinking of specific projects that might occupy them or develop their interests at this time. The veg garden could be one.

I'm sending mine out to pick stones. Crown them

CelticRambler · 16-03-2020 9:56am

buffalobilly wrote: »

with all the talk about there maybe a shortage of food is anyone going to go self sufficient like a few hens plant some
turnips carrots some potatoes

Made the move 15 years ago, or at least made a start on it. Not because of any real or threatened shortage, but to be less dependent on having to go to the shops for whatever reason - weather, fuel prices, strikes, civil unrest (I live in France!) ... or plague. And to be able to lay on a feast for any crowd that turns up unannounced.

As I still do a bit of work, and work away from home, I've had to let the hens go, and part of my stockpile is long-life cartons, tins and dried food, but without the benefit of a polytunnel, this week I'm eating fresh beetroot, salad and herbs, stored potatoes, onions and garlic, soups and fruit bottled last autumn ...

Really miss my hens though.

Bass Reeves · 16-03-2020 10:13am

Reggie. wrote: »

I'm sending mine out to pick stones. Crown them

They will love you for that. Real character builder

Reggie. · 16-03-2020 10:36am

Bass Reeves wrote: »

They will love you for that. Real character builder

Crown them

memorystick · 16-03-2020 11:26am

Going to try to breed own chickens for the table. I often reared the day olds that you buy but I’d like to rear a traditional breed that my granny had. Poultry are easy to set. Have a pig in freezer but it’s a disaster. I won’t cut the fat off. Oh jaysus it’s gorgeous. Fruit trees that I have are a disaster. Too exposed. A few lean months would sort out my health problems.

squinn2912 · 16-03-2020 11:45am

I'd love to try one of our own animals they'd be much better than the take what you get muck in the shops. I'm in Armagh. Wouldn't know the first thing about where to go to get it done. I bought pig feed about 4 years ago and I even went to a man and asked him about buying 1-2 pigs. I sensed that he didn't want to sell me any so I left it at that. He asked me to take a rooster (long story but he had maybe 20 birds and wanted rid of one if he could) so I took him. Bas**** launched out of my hand and ran away. Three of us spend three hours chasing him and eventually got him back. Waste of a day. So that's as close as I got. I might take a wee look and see if I can get my hands on a few laying hens for now but if anyone has a clear pathway for me to kill cattle fill me in. Thanks!

PoorFarmer · 16-03-2020 11:59am

squinn2912 wrote: »

I'd love to try one of our own animals they'd be much better than the take what you get muck in the shops. I'm in Armagh. Wouldn't know the first thing about where to go to get it done. I bought pig feed about 4 years ago and I even went to a man and asked him about buying 1-2 pigs. I sensed that he didn't want to sell me any so I left it at that. He asked me to take a rooster (long story but he had maybe 20 birds and wanted rid of one if he could) so I took him. Bas**** launched out of my hand and ran away. Three of us spend three hours chasing him and eventually got him back. Waste of a day. So that's as close as I got. I might take a wee look and see if I can get my hands on a few laying hens for now but if anyone has a clear pathway for me to kill cattle fill me in. Thanks!

The FSAI have a list of approved slaughter houses in the Republic. Maybe some of the ones in Monaghan are near enough to where you're based.

https://oapi.fsai.ie/LAApprovedEstablishments.aspx

I assume the relevant authority in NI have a similar list that you could access

_Brian · 16-03-2020 12:15pm

One thing is it’s very early to be planting much outdoors, even in the tunnel it may get frosted inside for a few weeks.

We have a small tunnel.
I’m planning to get the kids seeding stuff anyway and I’m thinking of rigging a 30w bulb above the bed to keep frost off, running it on a timer it should only use 2-3 units a week which would be less than a Euro.

We tried a wee row of greens two weeks ago and they are just breaking ground now.

uck51js9zml2yt · 17-03-2020 2:37am

We've half an acre for fruit trees and veg. We were out harvesting the last of the veg today.
Need to get a plough and Harrow in when it gets a bit drier.
Planning on upscaling the veg this year. Lots of lessons learned from last year which was our first.
We've also chickens.
Would love a goat but Mrs T. Says no as she knows all about them from home...milk & cheese..and meat.
Have a local farmer who gave me a heifer for the freezer.

JoeCasey · 17-03-2020 4:50pm

Much too wet to plant here. Everything in the greenhouse did well last year.
Tomatoes and strawberries isn't a diet id wish on anyone tho.

Siamsa Sessions · 17-03-2020 10:44pm

I'd like to see all those who complain about farmers try to grow their own food.

As I read someplace, "If you think food is expensive to buy, wait til you see how expensive it is to grow"

_Brian · 17-03-2020 10:46pm

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

I'd like to see all those who complain about farmers try to grow their own food.

As I read someplace, "If you think food is expensive to buy, wait til you see how expensive it is to grow"

That’s a great quote

Stationmaster · 18-03-2020 10:33am

Two pigs just gone to be killed here - first time so excited to see how they turn out. Have a sow as well that I hope to use for breeding. Have hens and hope to put half a heifer and lamb into freezer with the pig later in the year. Veg and herb garden is next on the list but I know feck all about them but we'll give it a go anyway.

Water John · 18-03-2020 12:06pm

How many have you to feed???

Bullocks · 18-03-2020 2:17pm

If the kids are off school for the foreseeable future I think I'll set up a bit of a veg garden with a few bits. It might be the best education they will ever get while they're not actually getting schooled.

kerryjack · 18-03-2020 4:45pm

Great skill to have is to be able to kill and butcher your own meat and we are not left do it in this country. It takes the good out of it when you have to bring them to the butcher. Very disappointed with my last kill 2 good sized hoggets 30 quid each to have them killed and baged. but not much in them, now my butcher is an honest man and I know him with years and there is feck all out of it for him at 30 quid to kill and cut up a lamb and bag it. We should be left butcher our own animals for our own consumption.

Stationmaster · 18-03-2020 5:58pm

Water John wrote: »

How many have you to feed???

I'll be spacing out the killing plus have plenty of extended family to take cuts. My plan/ideal scenario is to eventually sell home reared/organic meat locally so I'll be giving a good bit of out to friends and neighbours too for the first kill.

Water John · 18-03-2020 7:43pm

Grow, Cook, Eat RTE 1 7.30 pm this evening may be of interest to posters.

uck51js9zml2yt · 18-03-2020 8:05pm

kerryjack wrote: »

Great skill to have is to be able to kill and butcher your own meat and we are not left do it in this country. It takes the good out of it when you have to bring them to the butcher. Very disappointed with my last kill 2 good sized hoggets 30 quid each to have them killed and baged. but not much in them, now my butcher is an honest man and I know him with years and there is feck all out of it for him at 30 quid to kill and cut up a lamb and bag it. We should be left butcher our own animals for our own consumption.

My father in law kills and butchers his own sheep. Have seen them going from saying "baa" to being hung in 25 minutes.

He's in Eastern Europe.

uck51js9zml2yt · 18-03-2020 8:06pm

Stationmaster wrote: »

I'll be spacing out the killing plus have plenty of extended family to take cuts. My plan/ideal scenario is to eventually sell home reared/organic meat locally so I'll be giving a good bit of out to friends and neighbours too for the first kill.

Where are you based?

Stationmaster · 19-03-2020 10:54am

Alison Old-fashioned Thud wrote: »

Where are you based?

East Clare

arctictree · 19-03-2020 12:10pm

Bought a few bags of seed potatoes and some packets of peas, beans, turnip and cabbage seeds. Used to grow all the above but lapsed the last few years as other things took over and we just finished a new build on the farm. Am finished lambing now so might have a go at getting a veggie garden working at the weekend.

squinn2912 · 19-03-2020 3:17pm

arctictree wrote: »

Bought a few bags of seed potatoes and some packets of peas, beans, turnip and cabbage seeds. Used to grow all the above but lapsed the last few years as other things took over and we just finished a new build on the farm. Am finished lambing now so might have a go at getting a veggie garden working at the weekend.

Put up photos I’m about a week behind you. I’m looking at hens this weekend and still calving

squinn2912 · 23-03-2020 12:11am

Took a tentative step towards Autarky this evening. What you think of these guys?

furandfeather · 23-03-2020 7:19pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

Took a tentative step towards Autarky this evening. What you think of these guys?

Snap!

Hard Knocks · 23-03-2020 9:33pm

furandfeather wrote: »

Snap!

Have you much or a run for them or just let them wander?

We’ve been toying with the idea

furandfeather · 23-03-2020 9:49pm

Hard Knocks wrote: »

Have you much or a run for them or just let them wander?

We’ve been toying with the idea

Well they just have a small pen attached to the coup until they're settled. They ll have an area of about 14yds by 10yds for them to pick around when they get used to the place
We always had hens growing up I just never got around to getting some since I moved, so this has spured me into action.
All going well I'll have a 1/4 acre of spuds in the ground next week, and I think I'll get 3 calves for the kids to rear- keep them busy!

All good things for the kids to be learning I think

squinn2912 · 23-03-2020 10:28pm

furandfeather wrote: »

Snap!

You’re neater Lookin than me!!

23-03-2020 10:31pm

Capturing water into black IBC's from a shed.
I'm making up a new Polytunnel - the last one went when a wooden roof hit it from a sudden north wind gust.
Hoping to grow a lot of what I eat (Bad word - Vegan here!)
Can't wait for the good weather, looks good this week already.

AntrimGlens · 23-03-2020 11:20pm

These two boys going for slaughter on Wednesday. No pork being made, except some cured bacon and sausages. All charcuterie salami, air dryed hams, nduja, chorizos etc. Not cheap meat, but hopefully the taste will be worth it. £100 to buy them, £500 of meal and a bale of straw plus veg peelings and bread from three houses. Dunno how much it will cost to butcher them yet, I’d imagine another £200. So £400 per pig would buy a lot of chorizo but sure we’ll see.

squinn2912 · 23-03-2020 11:36pm

AntrimGlens wrote: »

These two boys going for slaughter on Wednesday. No pork being made, except some cured bacon and sausages. All charcuterie salami, air dryed hams, nduja, chorizos etc. Not cheap meat, but hopefully the taste will be worth it. £100 to buy them, £500 of meal and a bale of straw plus veg peelings and bread from three houses. Dunno how much it will cost to butcher them yet, I’d imagine another £200. So £400 per pig would buy a lot of chorizo but sure we’ll see.

Would they not do you chops etc as well? Why no pork?
It’s expensive and time consuming but you know what’s in them well worth it. And now you’re in on it

Genghis Cant · 23-03-2020 11:50pm

squinn2912 wrote: »

Took a tentative step towards Autarky this evening. What you think of these guys?

What age are they? They look a bit off laying yet.
I'd say you were sold 2 RIRs, 2 bluebells and 2 light Sussex.

haybob · 24-03-2020 12:12am

Any one have the cure for carrot fly a potion of Jay's fluid
and sheep dip perhaps.
Anyways I was rared up to grow my own and I love it

Keep hens Rhode island red the best layers plymouth rocks the best all rounder, broilers are grand but I found
them delicate for outside

Bronze turkeys are nicer but the white one grow bigger on
Same feeding.

I grown shapes express, both kind of Duke of York, home guard, Queens kerrs pinks records and golden wonders throw a shake of turnip manue to make the spuds to make them floury don't care for roosters
Change ground every year for carotts sand and turf mould dug into new soil
Slug collars were the greatest invention ever
Buy plugs in a garden center no plants they grow better if your not starting them youself

Ramble over

haybob · 24-03-2020 12:18am

AntrimGlens wrote: »

These two boys going for slaughter on Wednesday. No pork being made, except some cured bacon and sausages. All charcuterie salami, air dryed hams, nduja, chorizos etc. Not cheap meat, but hopefully the taste will be worth it. £100 to buy them, £500 of meal and a bale of straw plus veg peelings and bread from three houses. Dunno how much it will cost to butcher them yet, I’d imagine another £200. So £400 per pig would buy a lot of chorizo but sure we’ll see.

Fine pigs
Mind if I ask you some question
Tamworth x saddleback??
We found the tammies lovely animals but a bit gamey in flavour so went back to large white
Any black pudding being made

haybob · 24-03-2020 12:19am

Smoking and cureing fish is next for me

Any thoughts

any one going self sufficient

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