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Author Topic: Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening  (Read 3601 times)

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Offline SeanJohnson

Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening
« on: January 07, 2022, 11:47:11 AM »
This thread desires to solicit suggestions regarding hearty crop, produce, and livestock suggestions, in preparation for COVID passports which will preclude Catholics from buying/selling (except amongst themselves, perhaps).

Granted, this thread may also presume you have land to raise/farm/store these things, but not necessarily.

This thread does not wish to deviate into bulk dry goods, canned foods, or other preps/prepping methods.

It is only seeking breeds, species, or varietiesof crops/livestock.
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Offline SeanJohnson

Re: Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening
« Reply #1 on: January 07, 2022, 11:50:25 AM »
Apple trees!

Very little maintenance involved, and some strains of apple tree will produce fruits which can be stored up to 7+ months.

Here is one variety: The Honeycrisp (great for cold climates as well):

"HoneyCrisp Apple Tree Info: (‘Keepsake’ x unnamed seedling) University of MN, 1991. An exciting apple that is exceptionally crisp and juicy. Flavor is sweet but well-balanced. Excellent storage life, up to 7 months. Has been rated equal to or higher in overall quality than ‘Haralson’, ‘Honeygold’ or ‘Keepsake’ in winter storage trials. Ripens in late September in MN and stores like a late season variety. Has become an outstanding commercial and home orchard variety because of its explosive crispness, flavor and storage life. Malus ‘Indian Summer’ is a good pollinator. (trial in zone 3). CPBR #1007, C®"
https://theappletreeguy.com/product/honeycrisp-apple-trees/



In addition to its long-term storage capability, apples have the benefit of versatility: Cider, wine, spirits (brandy), applesauce, baked with cinnamin, crisps, pies, dehydrate, or plain.
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Offline SeanJohnson

Re: Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening
« Reply #2 on: January 07, 2022, 11:57:49 AM »
This website ranks the 10 best cold climate vegetables to raise (e.g., in places like Minnesota).

I include it because it is important to think about how you will get nutrition during the winter months.

Ideally, you will invest in heirloom seeds for these vegetable species while you still can:

https://thegardeningdad.com/best-vegetables-to-grow-in-minnesota/ 

In summary, they are: 

1) Lettuce
2) Kale
3) Cabbage
4) Tomatoes
5) Squash
6) Cucuмbers
7) Peppers (this one kind of surprised me, but see their reasons) 
8) Asparagus
9) Radishes
10) Eggplant (another surprise, but see their reason again)
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Offline SeanJohnson

Re: Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening
« Reply #3 on: January 07, 2022, 12:02:35 PM »
Cold-Hardy Livestock Breeds That Thrive Anywhere (Even In Alaska)
Written by: Aryn Young How-To 3 CommentsPrint This Article title=Print This Article Print This Article

https://www.offthegridnews.com/how-to-2/cold-hardy-livestock-breeds-that-thrive-anywhere-even-in-alaska/ 

Cold-Hardy Livestock Breeds That Thrive Anywhere (Even In Alaska)
Image source: Pixabay.com
Editor’s note: The writer lives in Alaska.
Choosing the right livestock for your homestead is an important decision. You may know what kinds of animals you want — ducks, chickens, pigs, cattle, etc. — but how do you choose the right breed?
Too often when choosing a specific breed of livestock, the winter hardiness of the animal gets overlooked. When winter rolls around with her cold breath, you want to ensure you have livestock that will require little supplemental heat. Heat is energy, and when you’re already trying to keep your family warm, you don’t want to waste precious energy trying to keep your livestock warm unless it is absolutely necessary.
In this article, I will go over some of the common types of livestock people choose for their homestead and then explore some of the most winter-hardy breeds. For poultry, I will focus on breeds that are typically used for laying, assuming that any poultry kept through the winter will be primarily used as a source of eggs.
Choosing livestock that is appropriate for your geographical area is incredibly important and can save you a lot of time and energy while making your winter preparations.
Ducks
It is hard to find more winter-hardy poultry than ducks. Domestic chickens evolved from tropical regions and by their very nature deal much better with drier and warmer conditions. Ducks and geese, on the other hand, can handle much colder and wetter climates with ease. Another benefit of ducks is that they require a lot less added light to keep them laying. In some areas of the country, you may not have to add supplemental light at all.
Diatomaceous Earth: The All-Natural Livestock De-Wormer!
Image source: Pixabay.com
Image source: Pixabay.com
Swedish Blue ducks are a winter-hardy bird that are known for both their meat and laying qualities. You can expect about 120-180 eggs a year from them, with males weighing about 8 pounds and females around 7 pounds. They do mature slower than some other breeds of ducks, however. Originating in Germany, they are very winter-hardy and have a calm temperament.
If you are looking for a duck for just egg production, I recommend the Khaki Campbell duck. The Khaki Campbells we have on our Alaskan farm keep laying straight through the winter, and we are still getting good yields from ducks that are over a year and a half old. You can expect 250-325 eggs a year from the Khaki Campbells and, while they are a smaller duck, they are extremely cold hardy. Males top out at about 4.5 pounds and females around 4 pounds. They are very noisy, however, and can be flighty birds.
Another duck you may consider is the Cayuga. They are very cold-hardy, and lay approximately 120-180 eggs a year. Males weigh about 7 pounds and females 6 pounds when mature. Although very loud, they are calm and only go broody occasionally.
Chickens
Chickens are a homestead staple. To have them lay throughout the winter, keep in mind that they will need added light during the darker winter months. Chickens lay best when they have at least 15 to 16 hours of light provided. When the amount of daylight dips below that, either keep a light on in their chicken coop, or set it on a timer to add the extra light needed when the sun goes down. Although you will need added light for chickens, if you choose winter-hardy breeds you may be able to avoid having to add extra heat.
If you live in an extremely cold climate where frostbite can be an issue, you’ll want to choose a laying hen that has a small comb. The Chantecler chicken is an excellent example of a winter ready chicken. Originally bred in Quebec, these chickens are made to handle the extremely cold winters of the Canadian prairie. They have small combs and wattles, making them resistant to frostbite and will lay throughout the cold winter months. They do have trouble in extremely hot weather, however, so if you live in an area with hot summers, these may not be the right chickens for you.
Another breed that we have been very happy with on our farm here in Alaska is the Black Australorp. The hens do have larger combs that could be susceptible if your winters are especially harsh, but they do extremely well in areas that have winter temperatures in the 10-35 degree Fahrenheit range. They are also prolific layers, laying 280 eggs a year or more.
Pigs
Although many homesteaders purchase piglets in the spring, raise them through the summer and then butcher them in the fall when the weather turns colder, there are several reasons you may want to keep pigs through the winter. Maybe you are starting to breed your own piglets for butcher or want to do two rounds of butchering a year instead of just one.
When choosing a breed of pig to carry through the winter months, I’ve found it most beneficial to look to the heritage breeds. Heritage breeds of pigs typically do better on pasture and are hardier for the outdoors. Breeds that are used in confinement operations, like Yorkshire crosses, will invariably be bred to live in conditions that have them inside year-round with an extremely controlled environment. Heritage breeds retain a lot of the characteristics that make them suitable to living outside, and if you choose breeds that originated in climates with colder winters, they should do just fine with minimal shelter provided from you.
After doing a fair bit of research, we finally settled on the Tamworth Hog for our Alaskan farm. One of the oldest heritage breeds found in the U.S., the Tamworth originated out of Ireland, where it was known for its ability to forage and grow on pasture. They have quite a bit more hair than some of your other breeds of pigs and do perfectly well in our winter climate. We know of one breeding operation in Michigan that lets their Tamworth sows give birth in the middle of winter with just a small shelter and straw, no added heat or attention. In addition to being hardy, the Tamworths are also extremely intelligent and very personable. We couldn’t be happier with them.
Although it is always tempting to get whatever livestock may be readily available to you at your local feed store, it is always worth the effort to carefully research and select breeds with climate in mind. The result will be happier animals and a more efficient homestead.


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Offline SeanJohnson

Re: Perpetual Subsistence Farming and Gardening
« Reply #4 on: January 07, 2022, 12:04:49 PM »
30 Best Cow Breeds for Meat and Milk You’ll Want to Know About
By Jennifer Poindexter

https://morningchores.com/cow-breeds/ 

Print


Are you in the market for some cows? They are a great animal to begin raising because they can be so versatile.
Some people like to raise their own beef. While others like to raise a cow for dairy. Whichever category you fall into, I thought you might want to know what breeds were actually out there so you could decide which breed would work best for your particular situation.
So if this has been something you’ve been considering lately, then allow us to do your research for you and you just browse through this article until you find the perfect fit for your situation.




Useful Cow Breeds for Your Homestead
Here are the different breeds of cattle:
1. Angus


So many people in my area raise Angus cattle. The reason is that they produce quality beef, and a lot of people would rather raise their own beef than purchase it from the store.
So if you are wanting to raise cattle for meat, then you should definitely look into this breed.
2. Holstein Friesian


via Istock
Let’s change gears for a moment. If you are looking to raise a cow because you’d like to produce your own milk for cheese, butter, and other things, then you’ll want to consider this breed.
Actually, when most people think of a cow, this is probably the type of cow you think of because it is used in so many adverts because this breed is known to be the highest-production breed for dairy.
3. Hereford
Herford

This breed of cow is another really popular breed. It is one used in many different parts of the world and in many different climates.
But this breed is mainly used for meat production and it is in 50 different countries across the world. So it should adapt and do quite well no matter what climate you live in.
4. Shorthorn


The shorthorn was developed to be a dual purpose breed. That way people could raise one breed and get both dairy and beef products.
However, it is said, that usually certain blood lines would come out stronger in one area than the other. Now, you can purchase either a beef shorthorn or a dairy shorthorn depending upon which purpose you’d like to have cattle for.
5. Charolais


The Charolais is a breed of cattle that was developed in France. They are raised mainly for beef and are often crossed with another beef breed, like Angus.
But they are known for growing really well and producing quality meat and hides. So if you like to make leather from your cattle, this would be a good breed to consider.
6. Galloway


I love this breed of cow because of its fluffy coat. Looks aside, this is a great beef breed for someone interested in that purpose.
But this breed is also one of the oldest breeds as well. It is named after the area in Scotland it originated, but it became a popular breed around the world when they began exporting them in the mid 1800’s.
7. Simmental


Photo via Dora Lee Genetics
This would be a great multipurpose breed. The Simmental breed is one of the oldest breeds. It is a Swiss breed but has been raised in the United States since around 1800.
Though it is raised in other parts of the world as a dairy cow, the United States usually produces them for beef. But they are known for being great dairy producers, large in size, and for growing quickly as well.
8. Brahman
Brahman

This is the super cow when it comes to breeds. The Brahman breed is one of the oldest in the world. It has been able to adapt to the point that it can avoid falling ill due to most parasites, diseases, or other pests that cattle often come in contact with.
Also, they have a large hump and horns which helps keep them cool. They are known for being able to sweat and deter pests that way. But they can even survive in harsh climates and when there isn’t adequate food. These cows are troopers!
9. Limousin


So if you want an ancient cow, this breed could be what you are looking for. When historians have studied ancient paintings from France, they found cattle in the pictures that look eerily similar to this breed.
Though they originated in France, they can now be found all over the world. They are great animals to use for work, but they are mainly bred for beef.
10. Scottish Highland
Highland Cow

This breed is pretty amazing. It began its time in the Highlands of Scotland (hence where they got their name.) During this time, they were able to build up resistance to many diseases that usually plague other breeds of cows.
Now that this breed is all over the world, they do well in colder climates because they have long hair vs. a layer of fat to keep warm. But they do well in southern climates as well. This breed isn’t even picky about what it eats. You can put it out on pasture, and it is said to eat things most other breeds would turn their nose up at.
11. Brown Swiss


If you are looking for a dairy cow, then this could be what you’ve been searching for. It is second in line with the Holstein as far as milk production goes.
So if you like the idea of being able to produce dairy right on your own land, then you should consider this breed.
12. Texas Longhorn
Longhorn

via TSHA
If you are looking for lean beef, then you’ll like the Texas Longhorn breed. You will immediately recognize this breed because of the extremely long horns.
But what is so interesting about this breed is that they weren’t actually set out to become a breed. The longhorns are a product of years of adaptation to their surroundings.
13. Brangus


This is an excellent choice of breed for a beef cow. It is actually a cross between the angus breed and a brahman.
So if you like both of those breeds, but can’t decide on which type you’d like, then maybe you could meet in the middle with this breed.
14. Jersey


You hear people talk about Jersey cows a lot. My great grandfather actually raised them on his 11 acre farm. They are a smaller breed for a dairy cow, which makes them ideal for small farms.
But they are also known for having a higher fat content in their milk. So if you like more fat in your milk, then you should consider this breed for that reason as well.
15. Ayrshire


This is a dairy cow that is larger in size. When I say larger, they usually weigh anywhere from 900 pounds to over 1300 pounds. That is a lot of animal.
So you’ll definitely want to take their size into account because usually the larger the breed, the more maintenance they require because of the amount of food they need.
16. Chianina


We haven’t covered any Italian breed of cows on this list, until now. This breed originated in Italy, but is now used as a beef breed all over the world.
But what makes this cow stand out so much is its size. This breed is one of the largest breeds of cows you can raise this day in age.
17. Beef Master


This breed produces some seriously buff cows. It is actually a crossbreed that has been around since about 1930.
Now, it is used mainly as beef cattle because it is a cross between Hereford breed or a Shorthorn cow breed with a Brahman. No wonder the cows end up being so bulky and perfect for beef.
18. Gelbvieh
Gelbvieh

This cow was originally produced to be a three for one to anyone that owned this breed. The original purpose was to raise these animals to work the land, produce dairy, and also produce beef.
However, now, most cows in this breed are usually used strictly to produce beef. They are big and look to produce quite a bit of meat.
19. Dexter


If you haven’t noticed most breeds of cattle that are produced in Europe have been pretty large cows. This breed is actually one of the smallest of the European produced breeds.
In fact, the Dexter breed is about half the size of a Hereford and less than half the size of Friesian. So if you’d prefer a smaller breed cow, then you might want to check into this breed.
20. Piedmontese
Piedmontese

via Paus
This is another Italian breed of cattle. They have an interesting back story. Many years ago a breed of cattle that originated in Pakistan began to migrate into Italy. Because of the mountainous terrain they weren’t able to go any farther.
So they ended up breeding with the native cattle and from that this breed was formed. They are used in Italy to produce specialty cheeses and are considered a delicacy with meat as well.
21. Watusi


I love the name and look of this cow. They have large horns that stick almost straight out of their heads which make them interesting in appearance.
However, these cows are great for multiple purposes. Because they produce smaller babies, the males are used to breed a heifer that has never had a baby before. Their milk is also about 10% fat so a lot of farmers like this for dairy production or to breed with another dairy breed for good milk production and content.
22. White Park


This is definitely a larger breed of cattle. The heifers usually weigh in around 1400 pounds. While the bulls can be up to 2200 pounds.
But this breed is obviously so treasured in the meat industry because of the high quality of meat they produce.
23. Santa Gertrudis
Santa Gertrudes

This was actually the first beef breed to be formed in the United States. It is a mixed breed that contains both Brahman and Shorthorn.
So if you are looking for an approved beef breed within the United States, this might be a good breed to check into.
24. Braford


If you haven’t already noticed, if you are going to have a beef breed of cow, then you will most likely end up with one that has both Brahman and Shorthorn or Hereford.
Well, this breed is a cross between a Brahman and a Hereford breed. It is used for beef and judging by the large stature, you should get plenty of meat.
25. English Longhorn
Longhorn_cow_in_the_grass

The English Longhorn is another breed of beef cattle. They are large cows that are known for producing lean beef.
But what makes this breed stand out is its long, curved horns. They curve around their face almost like pigtails.
26. Beefalo


Do you like the way bison burger tastes? If so, then you might want to consider this breed of cattle. It is actually a cross breed between a domesticated cow and a bison.
So if you’d like meat that tastes a little different than your average beef, then you might want to consider raising this breed of cattle.
27. North Devon
northred

Though this cow is quite large, don’t let it fool you. They are actually known for many wonderful characteristics, one of those being their docile nature.
Also, they are known for being quite fertile, birthing easily, great at foraging, and they are also hearty animals that can adapt to different temperatures.
28. Senepol


This breed has developed into a great choice for beef, but they did not get an easy start when they were first developed in St. Croix.
As a matter of fact, when these cows were originally produced it was for meat for those on the island. The cows that didn’t meet the standard the farmers set, were quickly killed. The farmers only reproduced the genes that they knew would work in the, often harsh, St. Croix environment.
29. Maine-Anjou
Maine-anjou

When this cow was first produced, again, people wanted an animal that could do more than one thing. At first, this breed was supposed to produce both dairy and beef.
Now, it still could do this today if you desire. But most people who raise this breed use it only for beef.
30. Red Poll


According to my research, it is very difficult to find a breed of cow that will make their owners a profit year after year in the beef industry.
But this breed, apparently, has been making people money from their beef since they made their way to the states over 130 years ago. That means they must produce some seriously high quality beef!
So you now have 30 different breeds of cows that you can take into consideration before taking the plunge into raising cattle.
But I’d like to know, why do you want to raise cattle? If you already raise cattle, what breed do you use? Why?
We love hearing from you so please leave us your comments in the space below.






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