28 Months (Part One)

While I dream of producing EVERYTHING we consume here on our land, at this time, it isn't yet feasible.  Baby steps.

During the last 28 months, we have drastically changed how we live and eat.  We are not purists and we have not "arrived".  We are simply doing the best we can each day, while challenging ourselves to do more and learn more each year.  There are still old habits to break and a great many sustainable solutions to find.

This land of ours was barren when we arrived in September of 2009.  Literally bare, save a few potentilla shrubs and a perimeter tree line.  The ground was hard, dry and covered with drought stricken, chemically treated grass.

It has been a HUGE undertaking to establish a large (fenced) garden, a small orchard, soft fruit canes/plants and suitable, rotational hen accommodation all the while raising 5 kids and renovating our home ourselves.  Wow.  That's a lot of work in 28 months.

While we do have a long way to go, in 28 months, we have done all of the above and this means that NOW instead of shopping weekly at the store for ALL the food to feed 7 people, we:


* grow and store approximately 90% of our vegetables, buying only occasional items.  Our "cellar" stores should last us until April, I figure.

* grow a respectable portion of our fruit (our fruit trees and soft fruit canes/plants are still young, but we hope that the yield will increase over the next few years).  What we can't/don't yet grow, we source through local means (freecycle, u-pick).  We also support a certified organic farm in the Okanagan to buy stone fruit.  A friend goes every year to holiday and bring a truckload of organic goodness back from that family farm.

* source ALL of our pastured meat through local producers (friends with a small hobby farm, Serben Free Range, Irvings Farm Fresh)

* source our organic heritage wheat in bulk through Gold Forest Grains.  I can't get much more local than this - he's a stone's throw away...

* produce all of our own eggs

* make our own cultured dairy products (we are hoping, wishing and waiting for raw milk to one day be legalized in Canada as it would be our preference)

I look to many people for information and guidance in this endeavour, largely Kevin Kossowan and Throwback At Trapper Creek.  To both of you, I send my thanks and humble gratitude.  I am a student with much to learn.

Part 2 to follow...