Selfsufficientish.com

For me, I think self-sufficiency may be in the genes. My dad did some gardening, hunting, and fishing. His dad grew up on the farm, but thought he'd be happier doing something else, so he let his sister have the farm. My father in law was a small farmer here in Germany. He had to give it up, though,...

I seeded celeriac and 7 kinds of lettuce today. I got one bed ready in the garden, planted some radish and turnip seeds, and covered the bed with a fleece to help keep it a bit warm.

I can't believe the weather this year. It's still February and already feels like late March/early April.

It is greenwash! Rich people flying as per usual while the poor have nowhere to grow food at a reasonable cost because all the land has gone to produce biofuel. Fantastic idea. My question as well: Where are going to grow the food, when all the land is being used to grow fuel. And not just fuel - t...

Detergent

I've got a few plants started on the windowsill: Jalapenos, lettuce, and a few herbs. I'll be starting some more within the next week or so.
Outside, it's still too cold, and much to wet to do anything.

Prices are rising here, too. 25kg sacks of chicken feed went up €3 with the start of the new year. It's got me thinking about how I can grow my own feed.

I use firefox too, and have adblock plus installed. It makes browsing much more pleasurable, not being bothered by ads. I remember back before I installed it: ads on the side of the screen flashing at me in bright colors, distracting from what I was trying to read.

I pop a lot of corn. the best way I've found is to use a relatively heavy pan - I use a cast aluminium pot - with just enough oil to cover the kernels half way. put two or three kernels in the pan. When they've popped, the oil is hot enough. Add enough kerels to cover the bootom of the pan. My secre...

5. small bits of fishing tackle

I've been thinking of trying this as well, using old tires as the container. The article I read suggested starting with one tire, then adding more as the plant grows. This is supposed to create layers of potatoes to be harvested by simply removing the tires. Article here, if anyone is interested: ht...

The carp are pretty easy to keep so far. I only keep as many as the pond can support naturally, without extra feeding.

I do miss the sea, very much - hence the "in exile" in my screen name.

I've been lurking here for a month or so and thought it's about time I come out of the bushes, as it were, and introduce myself. I'm an American living in Germany with my wife and kids. I've always had a bit of a drive to make as much as possible, rather than buying, and doing it myself. I am trying...