NEWBIE'S POST FIRST GREETING POST HERE!!!!!!!!!!!

[mischief]

Hi from New Zealand.

We have been cruising this site for awhile and decided we like the atmosphere here.
I"m a Kiwi, my partner is from Texas.

Just started a permaculture style garden which really suits me much better than straight  line gardening.
BF's a long term prepper with most of his preps in the wrong country.LOL

Hope to keep learning and maybe have afew ideas to exchange.

[Dystopia]

Hello All,

I've been a PO believer since about 1975 (I was 15) Of course I didn't know about PO I just thought the way the world was going was way FU (business depending on unrestrained/constant growth, population, watching prime farmland being turned into mall parking lots and subdivisions...) I've always been pretty independent minded and meanwhile my family is still jetting around acting like it's gonna be 1999 forever and rolling they're eyes when I talk about what I've been doing (rendering lard, raising & butchering livestock, stocking up and cooking with whole grain, wildcrafting etc, etc...) Basically I've stopped talking about what I'm doing any longer but I have the feeling when TSHTF they will be knocking on our door...

I'm extremely fortunate to live in a rural situation with a SO who has been on our land for decades, we have 2 springs on the property and heat with wood with lots of wildlife (wish coyotes tasted good but at least they make warm coats) We have many friends who farm and have been in our area for generations. Our biggest problem at this point is keeping taxes, insurances and overhead paid so that we can keep the farm. My SO doesn't want to believe in PO but thats mostly because he has (adult) kids plus now we have a grand child.

We only got on line in Feb and I can't believe it took me so long to find this site! Thanks for all the good information and hope I can contribute something. Best to all.

[graveday]

Wow, welcome to all you great sounding newbies.  Yep, it is hard talking to others.  Hell, it is hard talking to some here, but that is another story.  I envy you your two springs, Dystopia.  Water is the key mineral.  Now, if you have a salt lick too, you are set.

[Dystopia]

Fortunately one spring is close to the house the others a hike through the woods but it's still clean water. I've been trying to figure out the salt situation, it's mostly sand locally so I'll just be stocking up.

[SouthEastFarmer]

Welcome Dystopia!  sounds like you have great setup going.  Have you tried feedinng the coyotes to the chickens (there's a beautiful irony there)?   if they won't go for it directly, try the maggot trap as an in-between.

Some info on this and other good stuff on permaculture in general on the permies website, if you are looking to get out of the modern farming style
http://permies.com/

[graveday]

Welcome Dystopia!  sounds like you have great setup going.  Have you tried feedinng the coyotes to the chickens (there's a beautiful irony there)?   if they won't go for it directly, try the maggot trap as an in-between.

Some info on this and other good stuff on permaculture in general on the permies website, if you are looking to get out of the modern farming style
http://permies.com/

It appears you guys are ahead of the northwest on this score, but then you have been at it longer.

[Dystopia]

I've seen the maggot trap for the chickens just haven't gotten to the point of really doing it... but who knows what 2010 will bring and thanks for the link graveday!

[Dystopia]

Thank you for the link SouthEastFarmer

[graveday]

I was about to say it was SEfarmer, but what is this maggot trap?

[Dystopia]

Putting cut up roadkill/garbage in a bucket (with lots of holes drilled in it) mix with leaves then hang it in your chicken yard, as the maggots crawl out of the bucket to pupate, then the chickens eat'um up  good protein

[graveday]

Turning flys into eggs.  Is this up there with turning water into wine?

[Dystopia]

Eggs and really good tasting chicken. but I'd love to be able to do the water into wine thing, but hopefully flies wouldn't be involved...

[SouthEastFarmer]

here's a link to some maggot trap info:
http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Feeding-Chickens-Maggots.html

there is controversy on the potential for disease to zap the chickens, however, so be warned.

The black soldier fly larvae may be better.  this video is so cool:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/C-zAbzRx29I&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/C-zAbzRx29I&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

a demo of the chickens getting the harvest:

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/vbFCr18symo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/vbFCr18symo&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18&amp;rel=0</a>

[Dystopia]

Thanks again SEFarmer not much I can do till spring but I'll check the soldier flies out.

[graveday]

Wild how they can make the fish move.  If the timer is to be believed the whole thing only took 24 hours.

The little girl was too cute.  "Sorry guys."  "I think you need more grubs."   My daughter used to be like that.  At fourteen she may find them gross, but she can still deal with wounds on any animal.