A november update from Canada.

[femmesteader]

I was going to post earlier but every time I sign on; I end up excited to read up on what everyone is up to and I don’t have time to post.

I finished the summer by picking all the free apples from that old City homestead that I could possibly cart away. The city is cleaning it up and the log buildings are being demolished. Sad, but they have been deemed unsafe. Many of trees I’m sure will go, but several tart apple trees are still very productive (though small) and the pears are amazing. I made several batches of apple butter and arrived at thanksgiving dinners with homemade apple crisp.


The apple butter is soo good I’ve been using it as currency….

I’ve recently met a nice goat farmer lady whom has offered to give me the fleece from her three guard alpacas. This is because I had simply sent her a letter and inquired if she had any since I am an avid knitter and enjoy crochet while my garden is asleep during the winter months. I have to wait until the spring shearing of course, but yet again I am overjoyed for a wonderful find (for free!) and the opportunity to extend a kind hand to this new e-mail buddy. I’ll be formulating a gift sort of thing with some of my home-made preserves for her family as a thank-you for giving me the 3 (!!) fleeces.
I’m sure she’s aware she could sell the raw fleece, (which goes for about $25 a pound on ebay not including shipping) but, she’s a busy goat farmer and explains that kidding happens around the same time as shearing the alpacas and her attention is focused on the goats.

Another exciting thing is that I’m calling in sick this Friday and Sweetheart and I are going to the Royal Agricultural Fair…which is a really fun (somewhat egotistical) farm fair that is hosted in downtown Toronto at the Exibition fairgrounds. It’s all in-doors, but it’s been much too long since I’ve touched a cow or sat in on a seminar about purifying well water or the changes to organic certification. It’s been too long since I’ve heard the steady breathing of such large farm animals or felt the lanolin from a Dorset’s fleece.

The other new news (and the reason I’ve been neglecting my computer) is that I have taken a second job. This is to hopefully accelerate our savings and achieve the goals we decided upon last April. I work Friday evenings and from open to close on Sundays at a retail store and in total it’s about 12hrs a week.
This gives me an extra $600 a month that gets paid directly into our Savings account. Sweetheart is proud that I have not once complained. I reply that I want to buy some land…I don’t want to pay interest for the rest of my life and I have a solid idea of what I am willing to do (or pay) and what I am not.

I’m young, smart and strong; I’d rather work now and sock the cash away, pay off the car, buildup our savings and our emergency fund and hopefully in another year, we’ll be further along. Who knows.

About gardening, I posted on craigslist that I was looking to find someone with a large backyard, interested in mutually sharing a big garden space. My rented city plot of 4x10 feet just wasn’t enough, so I’ve given that up. Some man in Toronto replied and gave me a link to a website called “gardenshare” (I’d have to search for the link again)
Anyways, I was ASTOUNDED that this website existed: it linked people with large gardens to apartment dwellers that are interested in organic gardening. There where Hundreds of posts all over the map of Toronto Ontario!
Problem was…according to the map; there are only three backyard gardens available in my suburb. Drat.
Hey wait a minute…One is right close to were I live. So I zoomed in on the map on the website.
Oh my Gosh…some old lady posted that she had a large backyard plot…and she lived just down the street from my apartment! Of only three available gardens, this one was within walking distance of my home. Needless to say I wrote her a note since the website gave a contact e-mail but of course no fixed address. (I love using honest words to get what I want)
The lady’s name is Betty, she’s 89, and doesn’t have the energy to garden (and yet can fully operate her personal e-mail). Later on in the week, I spoke to her daughter over the phone whom explained that several years ago, they took out a huge pool in the massive backyard and turned it into an organic veggie garden…so it’s about 30feet by 40feet of vacant garden, and they’d love to meet me.
Sweetheart and I went over with an ½ pint of this years’ cherry almond jelly (I swear that stuff can win over anyone) and we all stood in the backyard and talked and laughed and dreamed of the spring when the garden would be tilled and I am welcome to come through the side gate and tend to this big garden anytime I like.

I am currently compiling a list of seeds I’d like from a few catalogues. **Big Grins**

I think that’s all for now, I suppose I wanted to state for the record that those with a homesteaders’ heart may venture offline after being so active on these boards, but my passion for a self-sufficient lifestyle hasn’t dwindled as my posts have.

Take care everyone,
God Bless.

-Femmesteader.

[Quietgentleman]

It's always a pleasure to see a note from you. You have a zest for life that is inspiring and always nice to see. I for one do truly enjoy reading about your adventures and I always leave the screen with a smile after one of your post.
Good luck and God speed for you and your sweety.

Quietgentleman

[firegirl969]

Congrats on the new garden space!!! What a find. I am sure this will work well for both you and the elderly lady. She will probably accompany you around in the garden once you get to work and will enjoy sharing in the fruits of your labor. I look forward to hearing more about this adventure. Nice idea on the second job to help reach your goals faster. I have often wondered why others on forums have not gotten a second job and gotten themselves out of the debt trap they are in instead of always complaining about it. You are well on your road to financial freedom and a homesteading way of life on your own property. When you are finally able to make that plunge, put planting fruit and nut trees high up on your list of priorities as they take several years before they give fruit/nuts.

[BonnyLake]

It is very cool to see how you have adapted and applied your new lifestyle choices to the limits you have in place now, which are only temporary, but are still your current life.

You show others by your energy and examples that there is no reason to have to wait for that perfect mix of means, methods and place to get going. You are saving for the land and paying debts in the "now"... you are learning new skills and enhancing others in the "now"... planning a spring garden in the "now"... harvesting and preserving nature's bounty in the "now"!

This is such a powerful & positive message for everyone who has similar dreams, but also the frustration of feeling like waiting for all the planets to line up to achieve their goals and plans will never happen.

I also noticed that during your "hunting trips" you have touched several lives and brought them into the "now" of new economics - the people who had the orchard, the llama lady, the garden lady & daughter, and even the people who work with you at your second job. Living by example will make more people aware of the changing times and perhaps enlighten many more along the way.

Good job lady!!
BonnyLake

[KarenBC]

What a treat to read of your adventures! Please do post whenever you can!

[femmesteader]

Thank you for the kind words everyone.


I'm thinking another winter project might be to get a dehydrator and learn to use that...these days i'm always in the kitchen looking for snacks and somewhat disappointed at the lack of finger foods. i think some dried fruits would definitely hit the spot. I'll be looking online for a dehydrator.

Sweetheart has another cancer appointment next week, and i've got some extra vacation days so i'll be able to take some time off for that and for Holiday baking. I've been stocking up over the past two weeks on baking ingredients on sale. i make shortbread cookies. sometimes i try to mix it up and do chocolate cookies or oatmeal...but for christmas, everyone always asks for the shortbread ones. last year i made over 800 cookies which went into really cute tins that i picked up at the dollar store. it was a lot of baking, but we know we saved a bundle not having to buy gifts for colleagues, extended friends, cousins, ect...and our wide social circle felt special they got something handmade by us.

Holiday baking season is almost here!!

[MotherCharlotte]

Thank you for the update! Like others have said, it's always a pleasure to read about someone who actually DOES things to work towards their goals, instead of just talking about it! I look forward to reading of your continued adventures...