Colorado Rockies Homestead

[Snowflower]

Good morning from my snowy mountain. My husband and I live in a two room cabin at 8000 ft. elevation, about an hour's drive from Boulder. We're off the grid, with solar panels on the roof plus a generator, get our Internet and phone via a wireless broadband signal beaming to the plains, have a sawdust composting toilet, have running water but it's only hot when we crank up the electric water heater (will have solar hot water someday), heat and cook with wood - it's a strange combination of technology and primitive living.

 

I have 33 Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. 16 of them are senior does and are pregnant, due to start delivering at the end of May. I delayed breeding them so I wouldn't be dealing with deliveries while snow is still on the ground. We've had an amazingly dry winter, but there are about four inches of new snow on the ground this morning. I have 14 junior does who will not be bred until next September, two bucks and a wether - that's a castrated male goat. He's around to be a companion for anyone who needs one along the way. The goats are a major part of my food strategy for survival. I live in a pine forest at high altitude. Gathering food brings slim pickings, hunting food is only an option for someone who is a bit younger and more physically capable, same for trapping or fishing, so that leaves growing and raising as possible food sources for me to contribute to community. I can only count on what will grow at high elevation, which is considerable but not enough to live on - so that leaves raising. We live in a pine forest and I found out that goats like to eat pine trees. I figured the goats could eat the trees and we could eat the goats: milk, cheese, butter, and meat. I did the math on this and found that for each person, three does could provide as much as 1100 calories per day. This is an astonishing amount of calories! I also found out that a person could stay healthy on the nutrients available from nothing but potatoes and goat milk. Wowsers - potatoes grow here like gangbusters! So, there you have it - the basis for my food strategy. (I grow lots of other veggies too, also have chickens and rabbits.) Others up here can do the hunting, fishing, trapping, and gathering.

 

We are building a community here. The land (160 acres and at the end of a four mile one lane dirt road with very few neighbors) is owned by a family Trust. I'm a member of the family and on the Board of Trustees. I have three acres leased from the Trust and have three families (husband, wife and daughter, a man and his son, and a single woman) who live here in their campers, in exchange for helping me with the goats and other things. I'm inviting one more family (when I find them) to join us in creating a completely sustainable and self-sufficient community. My son, his wife, and their four children also live on the land as do a few other community members on sites leased from the Trust.

 

I'm not sure how long we have left before society completely disintegrates, nor how long we have before massive earth changes. Time seems to be moving much faster now, as we're approaching the end of this age and transition into a new age. We have something pretty major that's going to happen by next fall. I don't know what Elenin is, but it isn't a comet. So, I figure, if NASA continues to insist that it is a comet, when it becomes more obvious every day that it isn't, then something must be up with that whole thing to have them trying so hard to hush it up. Since the "comet" is supposed to be between us and the sun on Sept. 25/26, and since there have been three major earthquakes on previous lineups with it (Chili, Christchurch, Japan) I conclude that we're likely going to have massive earthchanges next fall.

 

My tendency is to focus more on what is happening to the planet than what the corrupt politicians and Powers That Be are doing to society and the world, but I'm aware that they could still have a massive impact on us before everything else falls apart. So, I try to pay just enough attention to them to avoid as best I can any hammer hits from that direction. Otherwise, I figure they more or less have won the war they started against the people years ago. They have their DUMBS (deep underground military bases), they have stolen our money to build their emergency supplies, and they're likely to be disappearing into those underground shelters any time now.

 

Part of the reason I have joined this list is that last family I'm looking for. Maybe I'll find them here. A three generation family would be ideal. We need balance here, and everyone from baby to elderly are welcome. They have to be willing to live in a primitive lifestyle. I no longer have the space to offer for a camper, so it needs to be a yurt, tipi, or arctic tent. There are terrific "ten man arctic tents" for sale used online. They can be kept warm and cozy even in deep winter. I'd like to be finished with creating this community by June so I can get on with the task of working toward sustainability with our tribe.

 

There you have it - "me" in a nutshell.

[Annarchy]

 

 

[Denanna]

Welcome

[snapshotmiki]

Welcome Snowflower! I will follow your posts to see how your search goes for the last family. It sounds like an interesting community you are building!!!

[Amishway Homesteaders]

W E L C O M E

H O M E

SUNFLOWER

[Mt_Rider]

Greetings Snowflower, from another person having lovely WELCOME snow at the end of this toooo dry winter! I'm at around 9,000' and I agree with you about the sustainability plan. I believe, after over a decade up here, that I've about maxed out in finding what I can manage to grow [or grow on some years] up here in "ammended DG".

 

I grow cole crops [except cabbage/cauliflower are having trouble with the varied temps from day and nite], peas!!!, greens!, short season root crops [i'd trade great turnips for the longer season parsnips tho!], garlic [fall planted]. And potatoes! We've been growing a [Peruvian, I think] purple potato for years now. I'd like to hear more about milk + potatoes....

 

Yeah...Nigie goats! I've got 4 does which I'm attempting to connect with a lady whose buck is lonely. [Life just got SUPER crazy... ] Hey, if you end up with an unwanted buckling after your does freshen, I might be interested. Before the hooey really hits, I need to have a buck on site.

 

Welcome to MrsS. Lots of like-minded folks here from all walks of life and at all levels of being/gettin' prepared.

 

MtRider [hey...somebody who speaks "High Altitude"! ]

[Snowflower]

Thank you for the replies and welcome.

 

Mt.rider, yes, I certainly do speak high altitude! About your nigies and that lonely buck. I'm sorry to have to break the news, but it's unlikely that you'll manage to get them bred this spring. The limitation isn't from the does, it's from the buck. Bucks go out of rut in the spring and don't usually breed until August. Managing a breeding now would be highly unlikely. What part of the state are you in? We might be able to work something out as per my bucklings. I'm likely to have about 16 of them in a few months here - but they wouldn't be ready for breeding until mid winter because they're being born so late in the season. I've actually got one of my bucks for sale right now for $300. He is from a highly superior breeding stock, has blue eyes and is polled (naturally no horns.) He bred 14 does last winter and 8 does this winter, so he's been pretty well proven, lol. Have anything you'd like to trade? I'm WAY open to trade - prefer it to money.

 

So, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower. What other cole crops are there? Broccoli has done really great up here. We had a few heads of cabbage grow, not much on cauliflower, but I just figured it was because I didn't know what I was doing. I've got seedlings for all three started inside right now. We're going to be putting everything under plastic this year, in low cold frame style 4' wide beds, because of the increased radiation in the air. I suspect we'll have to expect radiation from now on, thanks to the existence of 400 nuclear reactors around the world and the hard bottom line that says if they lose power at the plant, there will be a meltdown. I had never realized that prior to Fukushima. So, the only solution is to constantly cleanse and purify our bodies to wash out radiation particles.

 

I really don't know much more about the milk and potatoes. I just learned that somewhere along the line from a nutrition website that potatoes and milk between them have all of the needed nutrients for life. Another example of learning along the way - rabbit meat doesn't have a speck of essential fatty acids in it so a person could die from malnutrition on a diet of nothing but rabbit meat. But it's great for other kinds of nutrients and goes well with a diet of goat's milk (has the efa's), potatoes, and greens.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

WOW! an area I know very little about - "High Altitude" Gardening and cooking

 

I bet others would like to hear more about this type of life and all the 'problems' you face each day that most of us just don;t have to think about.

Maybe a 'new' forum just for "High Altitude"!

things like short growing season, Less sunlight (mountains), changing cooking times, etc.

[Snowflower]

Actually, we have the opposite problem ie. sunlight. It's too much sunlight. We get sun over 300 days a year and it has a very high amount of UV radiation in it. So, plants need some protection from the sun to prevent sunburn. No kidding.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Actually, we have the opposite problem ie. sunlight. It's too much sunlight. We get sun over 300 days a year and it has a very high amount of UV radiation in it. So, plants need some protection from the sun to prevent sunburn. No kidding.

 

 

See That's what I mean.....................

I didn't know that?

 

When we did the 'wagon train' thing here Mt.Rider kept 'talking' about having to plant 'up in the mountains' and how things would be differant when we got there.

by the way THAT forum 'trip' was the most fun!

Would Love to do another one but it could NEVER be that good again.

[Mt_Rider]

Yeah...memories, AH! Speaking of those, I might have a cantankerous DONKEY to trade. Nah, just kidding. Lately she's been "rearranging the furniture"....as in: keeps pushing the metal tubular fencing around. Sometimes she pushes it across the horse shed so that she locks herself and "Roan" out. Dumb Donkey!

 

As for spring breeding, Snow, my previous [and only] breeding was in the spring. I've always heard the Nigies are year-round breeders. ???

 

Your $300 buck sounds wonderful but...I'm in a much lower ballpark. Strictly minor-league. I'm thinking of a different bloodline for any daughters this other 'lonely buck' might produce. I lucked out with twin doelings last time.

 

On one hand, I'm reallllly anxious to get milk/cheese/yogurt/cream again. On the other hand, I'm not all that anxious to begin milking again. I love it but, it takes a lot of energy out of me. [disability - MS] But, sooner or later, I'll get at least a couple of them bred. Trying to find that breed around here....not that many that I've heard of. I'm not real close to your end of the Mt chain, Snow, but to get a buck outside the bloodline, I might take a trip. We can keep in touch.

 

Yeah, I've had broc the size of dinner plates and SWEET! Some of the advantages of our high altitude and usually cooler air. :yum: Other cole [brassica] crops....well technically, there are a few that I'd usually classify as "greens" or "roots". One of my favorite gardening reference books list broc, Brussels sprouts (those will grow...we did 'Falstaff'), cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi (our dog loves those so we have to plant more for her), rutabaga (this has too long of a season) and turnip (prolific!).

 

Anyway, the ones in BOLD are the ones I usually think of and we've tried them all. It's nearly time for me to begin seedlings.... but I'll have to dig some in my basement to FIND my growing table. [gotta get this reorganization done!!]

 

Kale and Collards grow fine and both will go well into the freezing weather as adult plants. Cover with mulch of straw or row covers or.....

 

I used row covers a lot. I've had the dear deer sprawled out against my NICE WARM plastic row covers on a chilly morning.

 

Now some years, I can grow wax and green BUSH beans. But so many years they come SO close and I only get the first round of ripening. Then the durned frost hits. In my particular valley, we usually have frosts until past June 15th. We've had them as early as the first week of Aug....but I can usually cover the plants (blankets alllll over) and get thru till the frost is more regular at the mid/end of Aug or even into Sept some years. I end up covering every nite/uncovering every morning just to get some things to mature longer.

 

...the deer and elk applaud my efforts..... :frying pan:

 

Another thing that has me stumped is the ordinary zuchinni/yellow squash. It CAN be done in my garden. The year we shared space with friends, we ALL had good crop. But other than that year, I get nice plants and blossom end rot {I'm guessing} But they would ripen fast enough cuz I grow the seedling for a head start. They do like hot tho and in our area, we get too many cloudy afternoons anymore. Plus, I'm between two ridges and that cuts out a drastic amount of daylight. It's a challenge, for sure!

 

As for radiation......yeah, I'm realizing some things about that risk too. I think I was WAY too focused on the military type threats of radiation and not of something like Japan. Working thru how I'd shelter my different animal groups, if neccessary for a temporary crisis. ESPECIALLY dairy!

 

 

MtRider [...just dancing up and down to see our snow/sleet/gropel....cuz we're too dry! ]

[Snowflower]

Do you have to start turnips inside as seedlings? I'll have to go look that up - I just bought some turnip seeds for the first time this year. I've never eaten turnips (my dad had a serious prejudice against them and turned me against turnips without ever trying one.) So, I take it you're in the southern mountains. My daughter owns some land down near Walsenburg - only at 7000ft. I had no idea the zucchini refusing to produce could be anything other than my fault for miswatering or something ! Thanks. We'll try that under plastic as well and see if it makes a difference.

[themartianchick]

WOW! an area I know very little about - "High Altitude" Gardening and cooking

 

I bet others would like to hear more about this type of life and all the 'problems' you face each day that most of us just don;t have to think about.

Maybe a 'new' forum just for "High Altitude"!

things like short growing season, Less sunlight (mountains), changing cooking times, etc.

 

Like Michael, I know very little about high-altitude gardening. As a matter of fact, the last time I was in Colorado, I had difficulty with high altitude breathing! By the time we got halfway up Pike's Peak, I was huffing and puffing. When we reached the top... I could barely point the camera at those doughnut eating marmots to get a picture.

 

It is so nice to have you here as a member, Snowflower!

[Mt_Rider]

I don't try to transplant any root crop. No need with turnips. Not only do they have a short growing time, they are just fine...even sweeten up a bit [ONLY a bit ] with a few frosts.

 

As for their taste, well they've always been peasant food cuz they are so nutritious and easily grown. The tops are edible too. DH loves them...roots and greens. I have a sensitivity to bitter tastes. I can't even abide the taste of coffee. But I like a good fresh turnip, boiled and buttered. :yum: The greens...I'd choke down if hooey hit fan, for sure.

 

For storage, I've been wacking off the tops [which can be pressure canned!] and bury the globes in damp sand or sawdust. Try to cut out all light cuz if they start to re-sprout, it draws nutrient/flavor out of the root. They'll last a while. They are best tried out in stew...blends the flavor .... if you don't like it straight-up. Don't try any at the grocery...not the same critter as fresh!

 

Oh, and spread those seeds out in the row. You can thin and eat the thinings or just make sure the seeds are apart about the size of your fist...at least.

 

So, have you had trouble with zuchinni too? I thot that was just me, cuz we did have such great zukes/yellow squash that one year. I'm afraid we have a pollination problem up here. Be sure to watch that if you grow full-time under plastic. But I get huge plants....

 

Actually, we should put all this high altitude gardening data over in the gardening forum.....

 

 

Martian Vistor to The Peak..... The whole state is full of 14er's [Mts above 1400'] but Zeb Pike's peak is the most famous. He allegedly said...imagine folks traveling west from Kansas and seeing THAT front range Mt. begin to loom in the FAR distance. I'd imagine many said...."Oh sheeeesh! How we gonna get the wagon over THAT, Mildred"? Anyway, Zeb allegedly said, "No one will ever climb that Mt." Wrong.

I remember seeing it for the first time when I was seven and of course the high altitude didn't bother a hyperactive child. I distinctly remember my parents trying to get me to stop all that running about. I think it was making them dizzy in the altitude since we hailed from Iowa.