What could you do with 5K?

[DonnaKay]

If you were given 10 acres (half cleared half wooded,) a house, small tractor (no attachments,) a pickup, one year off from work with stored up food and free utilities and 5K cash how would you spend your time and money so at the end of the year you would be able to feed yourself and whatever animals you have added.

Just a fun "what would I do" type of thread to have fun with.

Donna

[Deberosa]

Interesting question! This would be great over on the homesteading thread, because I think it's more diverse than just garden related.

I'll have to think about this for a more detailed response, but my first reaction would be to grow some livestock to sell at the end of the year - that would mean fencing though but it could generate the money for the next year. ;-) I am thinking weaner pigs, pastured poultry and perhaps lambs. Those are things you could start and finish in one year.

[AlchemyAcres]

$5,000 feedin' just me??


~Martin ;)

[Deberosa]

$5,000 feedin' just me??


~Martin *;)
Don't worry Martin, you have all the food you need PLUS the $5000, :-)

[jen_in_southtexas]

Very interesting....

I have all of that MINUS the tractor and MINUS the year off from work. My home being a 32ft travel trailer with no utilities but a 45watt solar panel and no running water. I have two small propane tanks(need to replace a leaky fitting).

At 5k that puts you at about $416.66 a month. With free utilities and assuming that the pickup is paid for I believe that it is very "do-able". I'd get busy with gardening, build a chicken coop, build rabbit cages, buy some chickens and rabbits and in no time they will multiply. You can use scrap wood, pallets etc. You and your neighbors can exchange goods for other things you might need and that they might need that you have an abundance of. You can make a little extra money by selling eggs,meat, and vegetables or freeze your harvests for the year for reserve in the cold months. I would get busy with fencing if there wasnt any yet to put a few goats in for meat and probably would like to have a dairy cow. I've got enough hay on my property for now for the goats and cow to graze on. Also make some kind of shelter for the livestock for the cold months,rain and for shade. Im sure there are other things I would do but they are not coming to my head at this time.
I think it would be a great experience for anyone who is serious about sustainability. It would make any weakness's stronger. I'd like to hear about what others would do that it may help others and myself.

-j

[Deberosa]

Yeah, I was thinking a milk cow too but I was thinking more along the lines of selling that grass fed pork and lamb at a high price at the end of the first year to get the cow and put in infrastructure the second year. Also keep some for your own consumption.

[AlchemyAcres]

Don't worry Martin, you have all the food you need PLUS the $5000, :-)

~Martin ;)