Life Meanwhile, down on the farm...

oldandslow · 09-18-2009, 09:54 AM

As some of you know, my family and I decided to undertake a 100 mile diet this year. The rules are simple. Everything you eat must be grown within 100 miles of where you live. Here is an update...

Overall, we are enjoying the experience, and continue to eat and live in a local, 100 mile manner. For example, this morning we ate eggs from our chickens, homemade biscuits, and watermelon picked yesterday from the garden. My wife has already begun to make apple butter from the apples in our orchard. Nothing better than fresh apple butter on hot, homemade biscuits. For lunch we will have buffalo burgers (I kill a buffalo on the rez every year), potatoes from the garden, and apple pie that we made last PM. The key to the 100 mile diet is intentionality, planning, and, luckily for us, plenty of rainfall throughout the summer.

The summer production from our garden was the best we have probably ever experienced. We still are not finished with the harvest. My wife and I canned nearly 200 quarts of green beans, froze 50 quarts of corn, 20 quarts of peas, and 15 pints of carrots. We have canned 60 quarts of tomato juice and sauce (we are still dealing with tomatoes). I dug 8 bushels of Yukon Gold potatoes and they are stored in the basement. We have a couple of bushels of turnips. We have enjoyed copious amounts of squash, cantaloupe and watermelon. We will soon be canning pumpkin. We have apples galore and will continue to can, dry, store and freeze them, Perhaps, my most surprising success, this summer, however has been with grapes. I planted the vines 3 years ago and they had never produced, even though I followed the mulching, care, and pruning advice given by owners of successful vineyards in South Dakota. Fortunately, the grapes produced abundantly this season. I simply love fresh grape juice and grape jelly.

I will also be honest. The goal of the 100 mile diet has changed over the year. We are not as strict as some (for example, we decided late last spring to enjoy spices, salt, and tea that cannot be produced locally). We also waive “a magic wand” when traveling or visiting others who do not share our convictions. However, we have also decided to continue it indefinitely. Next spring I am going to reenter the “dairy business” and purchase a Dexter cow to milk. We have been buying milk (and making butter) locally, but it would be better if I could produce it. I will also raise a couple of pigs again next summer. I know I would probably live longer if I discontinued eating pork, but to be frank, I love the stuff. The chickens are doing well, but we are also making a change there. Finding young chicken to eat locally has proven to be a chore, so last week we went to a farm auction and purchased an incubator so we can hatch a few throughout the spring, summer, and fall to butcher and eat.

The work that we have undertaken to find a level of self-sufficiency is always being evaluated and reconsidered. It is a journey, not a destination. This, I think, is how it should be. I am sitting out on the porch as I type this and I just heard an apple fall from a tree. A deer will probably end up eating that apple. Eventually, I may say a prayer over that deer when I hunt her this fall. The journey of life is all pervasive. No winner will be crowned. It is enough to simply be a player in the game.

**Saulbadguy** · 09-18-2009, 09:56 AM

I'm going to go eat some Chinese food. See ya.

vailpass · 09-18-2009, 09:58 AM

Cool, wish I lived where I could feasibly grow a garden.

**Bugeater** · 09-18-2009, 10:01 AM

Sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately due to those pesky city ordinances, I cannot raise chickens in my back yard.

**BigMeatballDave** · 09-18-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saulbadguy

I'm going to go eat some Chinese food. See ya.

NewChief · 09-18-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bugeater

Sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately due to those pesky city ordinances, I cannot raise chickens in my back yard.

Our city now allows up to 3 hens (no roosters) in city limits. Tons and tons of cities are now allowing people to keep hens. Just google "urban chickens" and you can find out how to bring the issue up to city council/ballot.

ChiefJustice · 09-18-2009, 10:04 AM

Was this posted via telegraph?

vailpass · 09-18-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewPhin

Our city now allows up to 3 hens (no roosters) in city limits. Tons and tons of cities are now allowing people to keep hens. Just google "urban chickens" and you can find out how to bring the issue up to city council/ballot.

If that isn't a band name now I'm betting it soon will be.

Toadkiller · 09-18-2009, 10:06 AM

Very admirable. We recently got some backyard chickens and my wife has been canning like crazy. I would love to own a couple of acres and to be able to do what you are doing. One day we will be living that dream.

**The Franchise** · 09-18-2009, 10:06 AM

Where in SD do you live?

**ChiTown** · 09-18-2009, 10:09 AM

God bless ya!

That sounds awesome, O & S. I really enjoy your posts. You are a true lover of life.

kepp · 09-18-2009, 10:12 AM

Wait...you have to PICK watermelons? What if one falls on you're head?

Simply Red · 09-18-2009, 10:13 AM

good apple-butter is amazing.

Brock · 09-18-2009, 10:18 AM

That's a great life. Start brewing beer and growing some recreational and it's truly complete.

Chiefnj2 · 09-18-2009, 10:20 AM

Do you feel better after going on the diet?

09-18-2009, 09:54 AM
oldandslow Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $3713149	Meanwhile, down on the farm... As some of you know, my family and I decided to undertake a 100 mile diet this year. The rules are simple. Everything you eat must be grown within 100 miles of where you live. Here is an update... Overall, we are enjoying the experience, and continue to eat and live in a local, 100 mile manner. For example, this morning we ate eggs from our chickens, homemade biscuits, and watermelon picked yesterday from the garden. My wife has already begun to make apple butter from the apples in our orchard. Nothing better than fresh apple butter on hot, homemade biscuits. For lunch we will have buffalo burgers (I kill a buffalo on the rez every year), potatoes from the garden, and apple pie that we made last PM. The key to the 100 mile diet is intentionality, planning, and, luckily for us, plenty of rainfall throughout the summer. The summer production from our garden was the best we have probably ever experienced. We still are not finished with the harvest. My wife and I canned nearly 200 quarts of green beans, froze 50 quarts of corn, 20 quarts of peas, and 15 pints of carrots. We have canned 60 quarts of tomato juice and sauce (we are still dealing with tomatoes). I dug 8 bushels of Yukon Gold potatoes and they are stored in the basement. We have a couple of bushels of turnips. We have enjoyed copious amounts of squash, cantaloupe and watermelon. We will soon be canning pumpkin. We have apples galore and will continue to can, dry, store and freeze them, Perhaps, my most surprising success, this summer, however has been with grapes. I planted the vines 3 years ago and they had never produced, even though I followed the mulching, care, and pruning advice given by owners of successful vineyards in South Dakota. Fortunately, the grapes produced abundantly this season. I simply love fresh grape juice and grape jelly. I will also be honest. The goal of the 100 mile diet has changed over the year. We are not as strict as some (for example, we decided late last spring to enjoy spices, salt, and tea that cannot be produced locally). We also waive “a magic wand” when traveling or visiting others who do not share our convictions. However, we have also decided to continue it indefinitely. Next spring I am going to reenter the “dairy business” and purchase a Dexter cow to milk. We have been buying milk (and making butter) locally, but it would be better if I could produce it. I will also raise a couple of pigs again next summer. I know I would probably live longer if I discontinued eating pork, but to be frank, I love the stuff. The chickens are doing well, but we are also making a change there. Finding young chicken to eat locally has proven to be a chore, so last week we went to a farm auction and purchased an incubator so we can hatch a few throughout the spring, summer, and fall to butcher and eat. The work that we have undertaken to find a level of self-sufficiency is always being evaluated and reconsidered. It is a journey, not a destination. This, I think, is how it should be. I am sitting out on the porch as I type this and I just heard an apple fall from a tree. A deer will probably end up eating that apple. Eventually, I may say a prayer over that deer when I hunt her this fall. The journey of life is all pervasive. No winner will be crowned. It is enough to simply be a player in the game.
Posts: 4,621

09-18-2009, 09:56 AM	#2
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	I'm going to go eat some Chinese food. See ya.
Posts: 47,020

09-18-2009, 09:58 AM	#3
vailpass Psycho Bag Of Squanch Join Date: Sep 2001 Casino cash: $9594244	Cool, wish I lived where I could feasibly grow a garden.
Posts: 69,591

09-18-2009, 10:01 AM	#4
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $3992680	Sounds like a great idea, but unfortunately due to those pesky city ordinances, I cannot raise chickens in my back yard.
Posts: 70,546

09-18-2009, 10:04 AM	#7
ChiefJustice The Stig Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: "Some say he has no home" Casino cash: $10004900	Was this posted via telegraph? __________________ Dante Hicks: But you hate people. Randal Graves: Yes, but I love gatherings. Isn't it ironic?
Posts: 4,806

09-18-2009, 10:06 AM	#9
Toadkiller Garlic make my feet stank! Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Washougal, WA Casino cash: $4474921	Very admirable. We recently got some backyard chickens and my wife has been canning like crazy. I would love to own a couple of acres and to be able to do what you are doing. One day we will be living that dream.
Posts: 2,049

09-18-2009, 10:06 AM	#10
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2055047	Where in SD do you live?
Posts: 92,316

09-18-2009, 10:09 AM	#11
ChiTown Stroking to the SB Champs! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Flatlands of Kansas Casino cash: $-621038	God bless ya! That sounds awesome, O & S. I really enjoy your posts. You are a true lover of life.
Posts: 40,931

09-18-2009, 10:12 AM	#12
kepp MVP Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $3449212	Wait...you have to PICK watermelons? What if one falls on you're head?
Posts: 14,748

09-18-2009, 10:13 AM	#13
Simply Red You Sweetie! Join Date: Sep 2005 Casino cash: $2021206219 VARSITY	good apple-butter is amazing.
Posts: 71,691

09-18-2009, 10:18 AM	#14
Brock Say hello to my little friend Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Larryville Casino cash: $9598422	That's a great life. Start brewing beer and growing some recreational and it's truly complete.
Posts: 47,314

09-18-2009, 10:20 AM	#15
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $6654388	Do you feel better after going on the diet? __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,541