Saving money, and making our own

   I think everyone is trying to cut back,save a little money,and cut cost wherever they can. Over the past year, I have learned a lot about this. When we started canning our own food, raising animals for meat,eggs, honey,dairy and other needs,I looked into learning other ways to save.We now  make our own laundry detergent,dishwasher detergent,cough syrup,sinus medicine,apple cider vinegar,mint and  vanilla extracts.  We also make our own pancake and baking mixes, instant cocoa,apple cider as well as a few other things. Not only does it save us money, it taste better, and is better for us, less chemicals and preservatives , and we know what is in our food. We are soon going to be making our own flavored creamers, and shampoo and whatever else we come across that looks promising!  If you are looking for a way to cut cost you should give some of these a try. We even make our own creamed soup base! In the next few days I will be adding a section with a few of these recipes, if there is one you are interested in, please leave me a comment below, and I will add those first! They are quick, simple, and most ingredients you have sitting around the house! I also would love to hear your honest thoughts on how they work for you, once you give them a try! Happy saving!  

A New Journey Begins...

A New Journey Begins...

Hi folks, 

I'm the new farm hand at Simply Our Farm.  I'll be sharing my thoughts and experiences with you from time to time as I learn my way around. Yesterday was my very first day.  I had a terrific time!!  We spent the the afternoon working on the enclosure for the new additions due this week. Look for the pics coming soon! :)  Clearing out weeds, briers, and undergrowth, putting up fencing and spending time together outside was somehow very satisfying.  The time just flew by and although the work was physically hard it was rewarding in a way that I haven't experienced in a long time.  Being out in the sunshine on a gorgeous fall day, having good conversations, working with our hands, and seeing our progression...  I loved it!  Yesterday I learned firsthand just how healing (mentally & physically) hard work and sunshine can be...  We are missing so much by spending most of our time inside attached to our computers, ipods, phones etc. 

I enjoyed meeting the animals and watching their antics, especially the goats.  Seeing their interactions and how they pushed to be the first to be petted made me smile inside.  They are so sweet and they really enjoyed their treats.  I loved the way the ducks waddled around the yard always staying close together and looking out for each other.  Gathering fresh eggs from the chickens was something I hadn't done since I was a child visiting my grandparents farm.  It brought back so many fond memories...  Wow!  What a special afternoon!

After driving home and eating a bowl of homemade vegetable soup with a slice of homemade apple pie for dessert as my dinner, I had a wonderful, relaxing shower and turned in early.  Slept soundly for 9 full hours and awoke refreshed and feeling wonderful!  Can't wait for next time!  

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you as I learn my way around a farm.  No two days will be alike and that's part of the fun!  Wonder what I'll get to do next?  Should be good for a few laughs if nothing else...  Stayed tuned; more to come soon!  Have a great week!  

The Farm Life

   It is immensely satisfying to have a farm! Even a small one like ours. There is something about getting up, and doing the morning chores that helps to ease my soul! I know that sounds a little crazy, however when I head outside in the crisp morning air, to refill the duck pools,water troughs, and feed buckets for the animals, it makes my day a little better! I love watching them, their antics and their interactions fascinate me. I love gathering the eggs, seeing how many we have, checking to see if my Goldie is still broody and sitting on a WOODEN egg!! It is great to go let out the ducks and see how many eggs we get from them, to see if another one  of the ladies has started to lay! I guess it may be the routine of it all, or the fact that with each animal and their gifts we get more self-sufficient. It is awesome to go to the canning cabinet, or outside to the chicken coop to gather supplies for supper, rather than going to the grocery store.  The greetings of the goats when you go outside, their faces happy to see you, and pushing and shoving to see who can get that first pat of affection, can not help but make you smile! 
    The things you can learn from your animals are endless. The other night, we went out to pen up the ducks. We free roam them during the day, but pen them at night to protect them from predators. Usually, they are near the pen, if not already in it, but this time they were not. We looked around and all of them were up by the turkey coop. When we tried to herd them down to theirs they would not go, they kept returning to the turkey pen! Upon, closer examination, we discovered one duck had somehow gotten IN the turkey coop, and could not get out. The other ducks would not leave her! They stayed as close to her as they could, only after we got her out did they head to their pen! I loved that,no duck left behind!! They would not abandon her. From how our hen mothers her chick, protecting her from the others, but also making her be a little independent, is very informative. I learn from my animals everyday! 
     Yes, it IS a lot of work! There is always a fence to mend, a shelter to build, a coop to clean out, or an area to winterize, but you feel a great deal of satisfaction when you are done. To know you are contributing directly to your food sources, to know they are treated humanly, and are happy, mean a great deal! The work makes you feel like you accomplished something, that you can directly see the results from. I never thought I would be doing this, but I am so thankful and blessed this is where I am!I think the way things are today, people try to get by with less and less work, what is easier and how can they do less, but for me the extra work is worth it. It is fulfilling, and makes you appreciate your food and life! I love my little farm!

 

Less is More

 It's funny to me how time changes things, when I was younger I dreamed of having a great job, lots of money, a big house, nice cars, and all the trimmings.. That was how success was measured, that was how I would be happy. The more stuff you have, the more money you make, the happier you would be. Well, now.. all I can say is NOPE! Now, I dream of a smaller home, less stuff, making less money, less bills and making do. The more I downsize, the more I depend more on me and less on fast food, big stores, large electric companies, the more content I get! My dream would be to have a small house run on solar panels, with a wood stove, OK the one thing I would have to keep is the indoor plumbing...lol.  I think, if I had to, I could  do without the lights, the television, the microwave (we actually did this almost a year ago, and truly have not missed it) but I need my hot shower, and all the other conveniences of running water..going outside in sleet and snow for a  bathroom run would NOT be fun!

Modern technology is not a bad thing, I do not mean I want to go back to pioneer days completely, but I do think a lot of the older ways of doing things are better and sometimes,healthier! Since, we have started raising our own food, I know we feel better and have more energy! Yes, it takes a lot more time and work, but it also brings about this level of satisfaction that I cannot explain. There is nothing like frying some farm raised bacon from the freezer, scrambling a couple eggs from the chicken coop, and toasting a couple slices of fresh home baked bread, spread  with some of your own goat butter!Then pour yourself a glass of cold fresh goat milk.. and it is a meal you cannot compare. 
Now, I do not miss satellite television, I enjoy sitting on the porch with a hot cup of coffee, watching the interactions of the farm animals, the simple routines of feeding and milking and gathering calm me, I do not sit and dream of that big house or new car, I dream of a small tractor, or the time and energy to put up a new fence for that new animal addition. I do not need more things, I need less, and the more I downsize the more satisfied I get. You can't take it with you, right? So what is the point? More things, mean more bills, and more work for more pay to buy the more things.. Less bills, mean less stress, and less stress means happier..and isn't that what we all want and need?  Like I stated earlier,technology is not a bad thing, and neither is owning nice things, I just think we all need to take a closer look at what is important to us!