| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Kidsndognhubbyomy |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 06:48:21 AM
So we're moving out of the 'burbs to the country. Either home we decide on (still up in the air) is pretty far from civilization. The 107 acres being more so.
I won't be able to just "run to the store" if I need something.
How do you modify your planning for living out in the woods? What kind of storage will I need? We have 7 in our family and possibly 8 if DHs gma moves in with us, plus one LARGE dog! :)
Hopefully we will move in time that I can get a good garden in for this year. What kinds of things should I plant? How do I go about keeping them over the winter?
Any sites you guys can refer me to?
TIA!
-Kristina |
| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| rain4nights |
Posted - Feb 22 2008 : 07:43:25 AM
Gals, you have great advice for all of us!
I live in a 1brm urban apartment which is a ***5 min walk*** from a grocery. But I hate shopping! I hate being bombarded by the buybuybuy, and I hate the feeling of having my time sucked away. I have been trying to get down from weekly grocery trips to twice a month with an ultimate goal of once a month. Your tips about organizing are great, food storage (which will be easier because we just bid on a house this week, but still in the city), and what to plant (I will soon finally have a patch of dirt to play in) have been tremendous!
Here's one thing I can share though: for the tech-comfortable, there are a lot of great PDA/Palm handheld geegaws out there that can streamline your grocery-list making for you. Some of them have a grocery program built in, some of them you can buy a grocery-list program online for pretty cheap (and well worth it!). I typed the items in once, now I just look around the house and check mark the things to add to the current list, then when I'm at the store, I check them back off. No more re-writing the same items or wasted paper. The program I have let's me make "quick lists" that add a bunch of things at once, so for example, "Co-Op" instantly adds about 10 things that I always want to make sure I buy if I'm going all the way out to my co-op across town. Or "Pizza" adds all the things I need for a home-made pizza.
Of course the PDA gadgets can be a bit pricey (they start at about $99), but they're good for calendars, reminders, task lists, addresses, virtual post-its, paperless checkbook register, and all kinds of other good organizing aids. |
| mikesgirl |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 6:36:10 PM
That's a really good tip - to make friends with your neighbors. You really have to rely on neighbors when you live way out - and they rely on you. I would say that our neighbors in Montana are our most valuable resource. Not only can they fill us in if we have questions on local weather, rodents, wildlife, etc., but they're literally a lifesaver when you're 70 miles from town, home alone, and hurt yourself. We have tried to return favors as much as we can to them, but I think we will have to pay it forward to more newcomers who move out there.
Oh, and another tip, I haven't seen here, is when you stock up (we're stocked up for about a year with canned food in MT) be sure and rotate your food when you buy new so you use up the oldest first. And you'll learn to be really flexible. If you get a taste for something, you just have to do the best you can with what you have on hand - you can't depend on being able to eat exactly what it is you want!!
And buy MJ foods - I stocked up on the biscuit mix and the pesto fry bread when I went over for the summer. It was great - every time!
Farmgirl Sister #98
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| Lazycreek |
Posted - Feb 16 2008 : 11:35:55 AM
I live in the boonies now and have a very large pantry and a freezer. To get started, start saving your grocery receipts and keep track of what you use in a month and 3 months. For example, when I did this, I found that I used 5 frozen orange juices, 10 lbs of chicken breast, 6 gallons of milk, etc, etc in a 1 month period. I now know that one 40 lb bag of dog food lasts my dogs 3 weeks. If I want to have 3 months supply on hand, I had to have a plan to have 4 bags at all times. You could realistically start with a plan of 2 weeks, then a month, then 2 months, then 3 etc.
At some point, you will get your garden going and you will end up buying more basic foods like dried beans, canned tuna, rice, pasta,etc and filling in the rest with your garden. You'll learn to make bread rather than buy. One of the best things I have on hand is freeze-dried milk from a dehydrated food company. Lasts a long time and doesn't taste like typical powdered milk. I use it all the time for milk in my cooking. Has cut down on the purchased milk a lot.
Hope this helps some and sparks some ideas of your own.
Charlee
Believe in the power of your dreams |
| bboopster |
Posted - Feb 01 2008 : 08:36:23 AM
I live within 5 mile of the grocery store but hate to shop. I try to go only twice a month. I mean I really hate grocery shopping it's so expensive, you have to bring it home and unpack it, then cook it (that's the fun part) and eventually you flush it away. So when my 5 children were young and I live in the country I made a monthly menu, general shopping list and made sure to keep the staples on hand. I would also stock up on sale items and use them as the next months guide for menu making. Had one freezer an upright as I found the chest type things get lost in for years. I also came upon a book called Eating Economically is Just Plain Smart, by Mary Jane and Jeff Cardarelle-Hermans. It has many recipes for things that you can make with what you might have in the cupboards. It was a great help when my mind goes blank. I would not necessarily stick to the menu I made day to day but it was a guide to dinner making. I still do this and it's only hubby and me these days. I still hate to grocery shop, well any type of shopping really, except the thrift store and rummage sales Oh auctions too. When we run out of something after years of practice I can usually substitute and we are fine. 
http://www.bboopster.blogspot.com
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Pray for our troops to come home safe and soon.
Enjoying the road to the simple life :>) |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 11:07:22 PM
I stay really stocked up...and I do suggest that you can alot and store dry things too (things YOUR family will eat) as it is pretty scary to count on your freezer in the country. My experience with country living (as opposed to small town living like I am doing now) is that the power is more unpredictable!! I wouldn't be without hens and a dairy animal (cow for me now, but goats in the past) and a garden for sure. I have lived as far as 27 miles from a very small town and loved it. You just learn to really get organized and to make do. You will love it. I can't wait to hear of your adventure!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
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| reddirtchick |
Posted - Jan 31 2008 : 10:11:30 PM
Ahhhh.... Hopefully soon I will be among the ranks of farm girl again! I grew up on a pretty isolated farm/ranch in NW Oklahoma. Since then, I've lived in Dallas and Oklahoma City. We are now "out in the country" by OKC standards, and I only make 1 trip to town a week. However, the dream is to have a quarter, cattle, large garden again SOON! Anyway, I digress...
I agree with the bread machine suggestion. I recently got a sourdough starter from a friend so I don't have to use commercial yeast anymore. It is SO forgiving and easy. I make up lots of pizza crusts in a day and freeze them, make sweet breads, and of course good old homemade bread. I recently bought a grain mill to help with my baking habit to grind my own grains. (Never thought I'd do that). It's really fun to experiment with various whole grains in your breads. I also use it for pancakes, buns, etc.
Fresh eggs and milk would be great. Next farm... My goal is to NOT go to the grocery store! |
| Canadian farmgirl |
Posted - Jan 19 2008 : 07:12:07 AM
We made the move to the country 10 years ago, and wouldn't go back now! I go to town (sounds like pioneers!) once a week, and keeping a list is an absolute must! As soon as we run out of something, my family knows they must write it down, especially since I'm out working part-time and can lose track of our inventory.
Another great thing I use is my breadmaker. We make pizza dough weekly with it, and you can always make bread if you run out of store-bought (besides, it tastes better but they eat it twice as fast!). Dinner rolls and sticky buns...I could go on and on!
Canning is also essential, as mentioned. I make relish and apple butter, in addition to jams and preserves. Keeping powdered milk on hand is wise, especially if you need to use milk for cooking. I even make my own yogurt.
Sounds like a great adventure. Best wishes,
Lori
The freezer is such a wise investment, and they rarely break down. One thing I don't have, though, is a cold cellar. |
| AFMom |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 6:37:20 PM
It has been an adjustment for me living in the country and 45 minutes away from a grocery store. But, I have learned to manage and make do when I run out of things. I do watch the weather a bit more religiously so I can make a run for milk, bread and eggs when we do get snow. Since I have lived here though, I have been going to the grocery store every week. I pick one day and do all my errands on that day along with grocery shopping. I buy at least 2 loaves of bread and keep them frozen until ready to use. I also buy 2 gallons of milk every week too. Sometimes I still run out of milk...but we are fortunate to have a few little Mom and Pop gas station/store/post offices a few minutes away that sell essentials...and that is a lifesaver!!!!! I don't mind paying a bit more to shop at their stores because I look at it as keeping the money in the community and helping them out...if that makes sense. At first I did miss just jumping in the car and driving the 5 minutes to Giant in Va....but now, you couldn't pay me to live back in suburbia....it is just not me. Going grocery shopping and what not once a week is something I look forward too as well. Waiting an entire month would make me stir crazy, but once a week is perfect..gets me out of the house and around others.
Another thing I did to offset essentials is I taught myself how to can this past summer. Now I don't have a garden yet, but neighbors and family were so generous with their produce and fruits it only made sense to learn how to can. And I loved it...I made jam and canned fruit too. Don't worry...you and your family will adjust...and you will be so glad you made this change in your lifestyle. Best wishes, Erica |
| kissmekate |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 1:51:19 PM
I am presuming with all those kiddies at your house, that you are semi/really organized.
To streamline your monthly shopping trip:
One thing you could try is to make a "Generic" standard shopping list on your computer of the absolute basic things you buy/store the most and then leave room next to each item, so you can make a tick mark next to the item. Use this as a basic shopping list. That way you can just glance at your pantry/cupboards/freezer etc. and tick off what you need.
Leave a little extra room at the bottom to write down items not on your standard list.
Keep the list on the fridge so you can keep it handy.
I would think you would save money only going monthly instead of weekely/whenever you want.
I would also buy miles of clothelines rope. Since you will have all that acrage, you can have miles of clothesline to dry your clothes. 
Don't miss out on a blessing, just because it isn't packaged the way you expected. ~MaryJo Copeland |
| Alee |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 11:17:26 AM
I would say with that many people, you might need to turn a spare bedroom into a pantry! :D
How about buying a trailer to go to Costco with?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and I our our new blog:
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com |
| farmgirl blessings |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 11:14:11 AM
We made a similar move and were not truly prepared ... but we adjusted quickly and love it! I wouldn't change a thing. We, too, plan one trip to town each month. We have learned to stock up on necessities when there is a good sale. A large pantry is essential ... or a closet that can be converted. We added shelves to our laundry room to hold extra paper goods so that we only need purchase them during our planned trip. A flexible attitude is a real necessity!
Sounds like a dream come true ... 107 acres and one large dog! He just doesn't know what he's in for, does he? How wonderful!
Best wishes for a smooth transition and lots of joy in the process!
Blessings, Lea
www.farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com
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"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot |
| Kidsndognhubbyomy |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 09:54:35 AM
Yeah, we were definitely going to invest in laying hens and a dairy cow or two.
A deep freezer will be a must have. We shop at Costco almost every week as it is with our brood!
I'm hoping to plan on one trip to town a month. DH works all over the state so if there is a need, I'm sure he can grab something while he's out and about.
Thanks for the ideas! |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 08:58:02 AM
I moved from the burbs of the Puget Sound to Moyie Springs, ID, (pop 656,) three months ago. My advice is that if there is something you cannot live without, buy as many as you can find. For me it is asian food like sauces, rice noodles, curries, etc. Also I am having a real problem buying affordable dog food. Costco is about 100 miles away. I make sure to keep some powdered mild on hand to bake with, just in case. I also made another closet in my house a pantry.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
| Alee |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 08:46:52 AM
I would suggest investing in several deep freeze freezers and getting a Costco or Sam's Club membership. That way when you run to town you can really stock up. You could also consider having a beef steer, meat chickens and laying hens and maybe a milk goat or milk cow. The laying hens and a dairy animal will provide a lot of the spoilable food that we eat day to day without having to run to town! Not to mention with the price of milk being so high the costs of having dairy animals doesn't seem too much! LOL
Also make sure you always have plenty of toilet paper on hand and you can do a lot cleaning wise with simple baking soda and vinegar which are cheaper and take up less room than having a gazillion cleaners targeted for only one thing.
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
Please come visit Nora and I our our new blog:
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| willowtreecreek |
Posted - Jan 18 2008 : 07:47:16 AM
I keep a full pantry and a full freezer. I have never missed anything. I learn to substitue or just do without! For your garden plant what you like to eat. I love veggies but hate lettuce so my garden only has a little lettuce that will be enough to satisfy my husband. Many veggies freeze well. there are a million things you can do with tomatoes and you can can those. Most of my garden gets eaten fresh. I try to freeze peas and corn and then I make some "mixes" that I can throw into soups or stews. We can pickles, kraut, and tomatoes. If you have fruit you can maejams and preserves. Potaoes, onions and garlic will last a while in cool dark places. Herbs you can dry! There really is a lot you can do.
Farmgirl Sister #17
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