Cyber Monday, Tree Standing, I Need Your Help!!

I hope you will take sometime out tomorrow and visit our Trading post and make some purchases there for this years Holidays. I have a few plans to use the money including building a website domain, and funding a couple DIY winter time projects. We have yet to do more than $75 in a single month, and opening the store I hope we can start generating some revenue to support more projects and giveaways.

All of the mods are friends of mine and have been working as volunteers as I do also. I depend on the two Company's I own to pay my personal bills, and I am booking for March of next year all ready. So as you now see, I am not looking to make a living from this blogging and teaching. Don't get me wrong if I could make a living at it, that would be wonderful, but that isn't in the plans right now.

It doesn't matter what you buy when you follow my links, you will still be contributing if you follow my links. I really would like more support in order to build the website well, so we can have our very own place. I own the domain already however I have to pay to have it built, and I want to have it built correctly.

I secured the deer stand the other day and also cleaned and bore sighted my weapon. I decided to hunt this year with my Winchester .270 Rifle. With a nice Scope, this is a very dependable weapon that kills with one shot. I got it in 2008 and killed my first doe that year with it.

As always, I will shot and kill the first legal buck I see, and I have done some scouting and located a nice area the deer have been bedding down in. I hope I get my kill in tomorrow...

Canned Deer Meat Video Part 2 Completed

I finished editing the second, last video in my two part series on cooking canned deer meat. the recipe shared, is a recipe that has been in my family for a long time, I don't know how long. Its good and it will make you satisfied and happy. Be sure to cook with a little one and friends and pass the recipe on.

Currently, I am working on the maple syrup video, which has proven to be a lot of work. I also will be re-working my cold frame, which has been a on going learning lesson for me.

Canned Deer Meat Video Completed

I hope you enjoy both parts of this video on deer meat.... Just a self sufficient reward!! I really enjoy canning food, and its rewards. I have a sense of pride when I set a meal out that I have grown, gathered, hunted or harvested. I know the food I am setting on the table is good, wholesome, minimally processed, healthy food.

If you think I am kidding about how food is factory processed, please purchase Food Inc. and see how the food your eating is made.

If your a chicken lover, I found a funny sticker that you might like... I purchased it for my truck... and one for my coop door..
My utube channel

Discussion 1 Billion Without Food 2011, Now With A Population of 7 Billion Coming, What Can You Do?

As we consider our diets, and the food we eat, lets consider production of the food. If your reading this than you already know that the Earth is at a point where the global population is 7 billion mouths to feed.
Companies are already making smaller packages of food, though the price has remained the same, the amount of product in a package has been reduced. Some companies have reduced the amount of product by as much as 28% in the last couple years.
People are becoming more aware of the crisis, even books are starting to tell the now untold story of the great Famine that is coming.
One of the smartest things you can do is learn how to grow, gather, hunt, and take care of yourself. I often think when I hear folks discuss where food comes from. I was shocked when I watch Food INC on hw some of the store bought food is grown, some how a cow with its side completely open, eating and processing food while looking at its insides, just isn't right. That is a animal that was being raised for its meat.

The wife and went to a restaurant because we had been out away from home, we don't go out often, so it was a treat having a meal presented to us already cooked. Now, if I hadn't seen the movie prior to eating that steak, I would have not questioned the food we were eating. So here is the fact, the steak that I got tasted like manure smells, I am not saying it taste like chit, I am saying it tasted the same as the manure smells, there is a difference. Now, I did mention it, and it was replaced, with the same tasting meat I had the first time. At the meal I ate all my breads and veggies just to get some substance in me.

I wonder how the world can support our population now as it is, and projected is 11 billion by 2045. I wonder if the GM food wil be so bad that we won't get any thing from it that will help us build our bodies. Rather just sustain it to allow it to live. Think about that for a second, I know there is nothing as good as a fresh right off the vine tomato, the taste it has compared to one bought at a store is night and day.

There are many aspects to think about the human race, and we know from the sexless blind blobs of fish  in the Oceans around China, that birth control also has its own effect on the environment. I would agree that we, humans are taking, taking and taking from the earth without solutions being made.

You and I can make a difference, and I know many people on line, as well in real life that are taking charge and doing something to be more self sufficient. Being self sufficient is the key word here, if you want the best food, learn to grow your own  make a step to learn, teach yourself, re-use everything you can, teach your children, teach your grand children.

There isn't to many reason not to grow something, even if its a 2 foot square plot, or a couple mater plants on the patio.... You can do something to help feed your own, and the rewards are wonderful. Some of my fond memories are those days of riding on the fender of Grandpa's tractor, and picking and clean veggies with my Mom and family on the farm.

When the boy and I made some sausage together year before last, I remember his face as we ate it. He mentioned how good it was, and how it was the best sausage he ever ate. It was good sausage made from pork and pheasant meat with seasonings. It might not have been the "best sausage" in the world, but it was good. I am sure that is a memory that kid will hold well into his adult life, and for his sake, I agreed it was the best sausage in the world.

One out of every seven people will be starving, I doubt we will be able to keep this pace up for hundreds of years to come.....

Self Sufficient Living Get To Know Me, Making Ends Meet. Part 1

So if your just joining me and if your interested, I want to tell you a little more about me. If you didn't know, I am self employed and I am a Coppersmith/Master Craftsman. I have never been sure how those titles should fit together, so they are just there on their own. Some of you might be scratching your heads wondering what a Coppersmith is and whats that all about. I am a tradesman/crafter who works the metal copper, making many different things. If you want to visit my site you will see all the wonderful items I have made through the years.
In the beginning, times were pretty lean/tough, but I just kept coming up with ideas and my work was getting out there. My work is all around the world, and has been in magazines many times.
Currently as I expand into a new level of my work, the artistic side, ideas and designs have begun to flow from me. Some years ago the creative side kinda got left behind when I got caught up with so much going on at once, and it wasn't until I visited Charles Rohlfs traveling exhibit did it come back to me.
I designed a rain chain some years ago, and saw that others were coping my design and ideas. Today if you google the metal peddler, a company is paying to advertise under my name. It did make me mad at first, and my wife reminded me it was a sign of success.
As I continue to read about Rohlfs, I find that we have some common interest as well as ideas and insight. I happened upon a man named Sam some years ago, a metal worker as well, industrial type stuff, who had in his shop what I would say was a gem to a Coppersmith of these days.
Covered in dust/rust in the back corner of his shop was a metal working stand that had all sorts of metal forming stakes on it. I asked if it was for sale, he said 800 dollars and I could have it. I didn't have the money at the time, however would return later over the last couple years to see if I could buy it. My guess is that he found out how much it was worth and decided not to sell it to me.
The wife asked what I wanted for my 40th birthday, I told her that I wanted that stake set. She said that was fine, she has always supported my ideas and works of art and such. So finally, I went down and told Sam I was turning 40 y/o this year and he had my present. I suppose he has fallen on hard times by the looks of his shop, and maybe he just knows I would/could use them.

So I wire brushed them and cleaned them up, these could not have come to me at a better time. My stuff will no longer just be drawings, I got to get it done. I can't express to you the level of joy I have to now own these. I will need to make Sam something at some point in the near future. I also have my wife to thank for letting me have such a present 3 months before my birthday!!

So What Is My Self Sufficient Fund?

Well years ago when I started my to live self sufficient (SS) I decided to start out with a fund of 1500.00 and see where that could get me and I would figure the rest out. Buying the 1954 harvester super C and 48 inch box tiller put a huge hit in that amount, and after purchase of more jars for canning, I have since stayed below the 1K mark but with sales of goods from canning, bartering and trading have kept that going.

The funds are to improve my garden and level of planting and producing food to consume or sale/barter with. The eggs are still being sold to friends and that money goes back into their food fund as well as my SS fund. I have raised my prices to just below what the super market are selling their organic eggs locally here. Their selling theirs for 3.69 a carton, so I am selling mine for 3.00 a carton.

Each improvement I make to my property/garden comes from my SS fund, and its doing okay, not as much as I expected. I didn't tap any trees as I was going too, I need to design a cooker to cook the sap down.

An Awesome Useful Book To Have.

I have in many post suggested buying Country Wisdom & Know-How as a tool to use to help you along in your journey of living as self sufficient as you choose to do. Here is a picture of mine, note how well used this book is.
This book is filled with more than how to garden, it has recipes, crafts, elixirs, quilting, canning, soap making, lotions, home repairs, animal assistance/health, meat sectioning for small and large game, chicken/duck rearing and under ground storage. To be honest it's just filled with information that will help the novice self sufficient person. Whether your just starting a self sufficient lifestyle or whatever level your at, this book is a must have.

At a small cost of $12.97 this book is worth its weight in gold. Instead of purchasing several dead tree books (paper books) and spending loads of money, purchase this book first. I have personally cooked several recipes from the book, yum yum pigs bum!!!

If you purchase this book, I look forward o getting some feedback from you here on my blog.

Deer Meat Canning, Another Self Sufficient Way To Put Food Up.

Here is some photos of different ways I like to eat my deer.

The pictures is the canned deer meat I put up last January, the big tough doe I harvested during muzzle loader season. I like to let the canned meat to sit at least 8-9 months on the shelf before I eat it. When pop the jar open I remove the fat and the dry parts if any sitting out of the juices. Deer fat doesn't taste nice to me.

I will get my 14 cast iron pan, dump the meat and its juices from the jar into the skillet, add salt/pepper, garlic powder to taste, pinch of brown sugar, a drop of molasses, and 2 tablespoons of butter. While mixing these up I will add 2 cups of 2% milk. While I wait for this to heat up, I will add 1 1/2 tablespoons of corn starch to a little cold water. Once the pan gets boiling, I keep stirring adding the corn starch quickly while stirring.

Once it gets to a thickness I like, I pull it off and dump it onto bread, rice, taters, even corn bread now. I never ate very much corn bread growing up, as of a matter of fact hush puppies was the closest thing and we had those with fried smelt. But later, in the south, I would learn to like eating corn bread.

I cut my meat into small chunks after removing the blue skin, raw pack my jars leaving a head space of one inch, place hot lids on top, band, drop them in a pressure cooker for 90 minutes. Just another wonderful self sufficient way to food in the pantry.

Birds Up Inland Game Birds

After waking up this morning, off to hunt, worked the draw again to pick up 3, I said 3 sliders. Giving that him and his girlfriend were looking to harvest a few birds, I took the left side (high stomp ground) and moved on.

First one I kicked up, I shouted "bird in the air" , and nothing....

It flew right, and nothing, so I turned my left side shoot ask around and followed through, with respect to their air space. Waited..... Nothing ...... So I blasted a ask shoot as it was leaving my range.... He followed up a shoot some 5-10 seconds later, I was wondering what he was shooting at?

That was the first slider..... Two more would follow before we finished my suggestion of working the draw.

I like working draws when hunting inland game birds, they have shelter, food, and water.

So we chased a ghost bird that he thought he shot, well maybe not, critters not killed tend to scramble off and hide.

Rolling my eyes, thinking what? I headed to another finger looking for a lift off by myself.

I kicked it around, finished the drive, and sat at the top end drinking some water. I had to go number one, and so started to do so, when one lifted just behind me...

I had my gun in my hand while my rifle was beside me, I don't think pee could kill a game bird. At that moment, I beg to differ......

I was able to harvest another ring neck, while my gun was put away...

I didn't bag my limit today, but I learned hunting with city slickers that don't care isn't a good hunting practice.

Yes, I have since washed my hand, and it is clean..

Hunting And More Free Food From Foraging

What I failed to mention is hunting small game, that's the trade.

I can hunt small game, field fowl/rabbits if I leave the hens alone to retire, rather than let them lay for a year and harvest them.

Before I get on bragging about my big ole nuts, I do like DW thoughts of harvesting a free range turkey for Thanksgiving dinner. This hunting thing, it is what it is, has been a battle between DW and I for some years.

I'd be a sucker if I said she wasn't coming around. But I also have to give up some chicken/dumplings, that does seem fair.







Free hickory nuts I gathered

We Have Eggs!!!

They have been up to good since three days ago. I found ten eggs today, checked their combs three days ago, felt like a couple were ready to go. But thought about age.... I missed this one.....

As with all young chickens, the eggs will get better, but another step towards being SS has been rewarded.

Guineas Go Free Range

I put the Guinea fowl in the coop today with the chickens, this is temperary living quarters for them. They aren't big enough to free range yet, or are they? Their 6 weeks old this week. I really want them to be able to fly before I turn them loose, to get away from any preditors on the ground.

Last weekend Danielle noticed that two redtail hawks were flying over the coop, having a look see no doubt. With the guinea being so small, I think that they might fall prey to one of those hawks.

Do you remember that turkey hanging around some weeks ago? Well, she has decided to hang around and I have spotted her roosting just past the woodline from my yard. Judy said she spotted a hen with little ones on the logging road last week.

Since those nesting hawks have moved out year before last, the amount of critters and fowl have been slowly on the rise. I still haven't seen any bunnys yet. I did make to brush piles in the hopes that some might move in.

Today I plan to put up another bat box on the other side of the pond, I am positive it will have new residents in a very short period of time. My bird house guords remain empty and I might place some nesting material in the to encourage birds to move in, any ideas?

Now that the warm weather has returned, the grapes seem to be coming back, but ever so slowly. I am sure I made the correct soil conditions for them, but I am no expert.

Dale and Jodi are having their annual summer get together in a few weeks, where I present a semi-pro fireworks display. Most of my presentations last for 10 minutes or so with something going off every 5 seconds or so. I took a class a few years ago and learned how to rig and time a display.

With the garden in, and nearly weed free, its time to get my fishing gear out and do some fishing. I am really hoping to add some yellow perch to my pond this year. I added some shad last year in hopes they will produce feeder fish to the pond for the bass. It will be a couple more years before I will know they lived.

I finished smoking my own bacon yesterday. I soak it in a brine for a day or so depending how much it weighs. Than I hang it in the smokehouse where I used 80% hickory 20% applewood as the smoke flavoring. I have a small slicer, when I trim the ends, I cut them very thick, a 1/2 inch or so before I start cutting bacon. We use these end pieces for bean soups and such.

Next weekend I plan to start pulling out dead logs/fallen trees from my woods to use as firewood this winter. I took a mosey around a few weeks ago to scout out how much wood there will be, its time to buy firewood now instead of later in the fall. The prices for a full cord right now is $125, in the fall it will rise to $175-$185 depending who and what type of wood.

Chicken Coop Is Done

So here are some pics of my chicken coop.





I have since modified the hen door, I just needed to get them out there, so I got the coop built. The walls are insulted to a R-9 only, and I will get my head around that later as well as venting after I show Pat what I have done.

The run is now attached and is a total of 48 square feet, I need to add wheels to it as well and change the wheel configuration on the coop. I finished the coop first and than went on to build the run. DW helped me transport the chickens from the brooder to the coop, I was hoping to get the brooder cleaned and get the guineas in the brooder.

Chicks In The Brooder

Pics of the girls during their last few days in their brooder. They will be sent off to the big house Sunday, as I plan to build their coop on Saturday.

Chicks/Chickens for eggs

The chicks are so cute, not to mention I have a runt.

They play follow the leader, they run and play, eat, poop, drink... and sleep... Did I mention they run, play, eat, poop and sleep?

I do have a runt, not because the others are picking on her, she seems to be laid back. I handle all the chicks a couple times everyday to make them more social. I put my hand down and she is the first to hop on it.

The other chicks also look out of the brooder now, and seem to know there is a bigger world out there.

They are so tiny, I was scared that I might crush them with my big rough hands. I scooped them up, and just held them without feeling them, and placed them in a box to come home.

In the brooder I built for them last month.



I think they have already doubled in size since noon, lol...

One minute their sleeping, next they are wanting to know why are you eating that? That's mine...

At first they all huddled together, and I was worried about the heat. But once they warmed up, they acted like a heard. Some would stand, fall over when they slept, others just laid there pecking at crumbs. Then when one gets all excited, they all do what that one was doing.

They are all comfy, and stop and rest/sleep when they want, where ever they see fit.

All they seem to do is eat, poop, sleep and drink water.

I can't pick her out yet, but there is one bossy one.

This was a great tension ice breaker for my family today. Even though you might not show stress to to your children, I think they can see/feel it.

Chicks are so cute, look I am not getting all soft and stuff, some of them are going to be good eats one day. Well maybe, they might become guard chickens. When their done laying, it's chicken bootcamp