Accomplished Goals in 2012
Major Goals
- We are now debt-free — This goal took over two years of effort, and more patience and austere living than we were use to (but interestingly we seemed to adjust to it and now it’s sort of the norm). But Sarah is great at numbers and budgeting, and we were able to do this relatively painlessly. There are some exceptions, but we achieved what we set out to accomplish.
- We own two female and one male American Chinchilla Rabbits — Though as we’ve still been unable to successfully breed them, we’re beginning to wonder if our male will need to be replaced.
- We bought a 2004 F350 Ford Diesel pickup truck 4×4 crew-cab with an extended bed — We saved and bought it with cash, and are now slowly completing the repairs it needs (that’s why we got it at such a good price initially.)
- I blogged for a full year, three times a week, through September — I’m now posting less regularly now but it’s still an active, and enjoyable, part of my life.
Minor/Ongoing Goals
- We got a pressure canner, and used it — We successfully canned turkey and broth. We’d highly recommend this to anyone who preserves food, it was easy.
- We inspected and rotated our BOB, etc. (later than scheduled, but it got done) — This is far more of a hassle than it should have been, but definitely needs to be done on a regular basis — it’s amazing how quickly you forget what you have, and where it is, in your kit.
(I reviewed my goals Halfway Through 2012, in July, and at that point wasn’t doing to bad. But I didn’t end up getting a whole lot done after that.)
Goals I’ll Roll Over To 2013
- Learn to make yogurt — This isn’t a hard one, it just needs to get done. Our family likes yogurt and it’s a great source of nutrition and protein.
- Learn to brew beer — Now that my friend, Tad, is back living in the area I have no excuses. We hope to get together and make beer this month.
- Grow cabbage, then make sauerkraut — We planted it, and it completely failed (no heads developed, possible pollination problem?). We’ll try again this summer with another variety. I guess we could have bought cabbage to make make into sauerkraut — but we didn’t.
- Getting extra rice and beans to share with the the neighbors (if/when needed) — This is still a priority. We’ll budget for it soon.
- Learning to identify local plants (we got the book, now we need to use it).
Goals That’ll Wait Until We Get Our Homestead
- Adding solar panels — When everything is said and done, we live in Western Washington and just don’t get a lot of sun to make this a top priority. It’d be nice, and I hope to experiment with it one day, but there are other projects first.
- Honey Bees — This is something we’d really like to do, but have decided to wait until we’re situated at the new place
- Planting Ground Nuts — They take a couple of years to mature, and we hope to be moved by then.
- Get a 1/2 cord of wood — We decided we didn’t really need it at this house. Once we get our place I’ll add “cut and stack wood” to my to do list.
So how did you’re 2012 goals turn out? Are you better off as a prepper now then you were at this point last year?
(Next week: Goals For 2013)
Green highlighted words are links to posts that cover those topics.
Congratulation you did better than most of us. It has been a lot of fun following your accomplishments during the past year. I am looking forward to 2013. Thanks for all you do.
Thank you Danny, that means a lot.
Found your site a week ago and now have read every word on it. haha Really appreciate all the time and effort ya’ll put into this. Being from rural Alabama I’ve grown up with this mindset, good to know I’m not just a paranoid hill billy. Thanks again.
Semper Fi.
Thanks Ryan! Comments like that keep me motivated to keep the blog going. Now I’m not saying you’re not a paranoid hill billy, but hey either way you’ll be a prepared one. 🙂
Semper Fi.
Congrats on getting debt free (including/excluding mortgage?). I found that having no debt payments really helps with being prepared on the financial side for anything that could happen. It also allows you to focus more on the hobbies you want to do, like breeding rabbits and getting self sustaining.
Definitely excluding mortgage. It’s been amazing how much extra money becomes available when you are no longer paying so many debts–with the associated interest rates–each month. And you’re exactly right, a lot of the money that became available after paying off the debts has gone into prepping.
Also it felt really good to be able to save up the money for the truck and buy it with cash!
Trace,
I have been making my own yogurt for about a month now. It takes very little of your time and is well worth it! We got the idea from Fermented Foods for Dummies. Here is how I do it:
3-4 cups whole milk
gently heat milk over the stove stirring occasionally until temperature reaches 165-185 F I use a meat thermometer for temps.
turn off heat and let milk cool to 85-100 F. Stir occasionally to speed the process
once milk has cooled, add a healthy spoonful (or 2) of plain yogurt that has active cultures. We used some plain greek yogurt. Stir to thin out the yogurt glob.
ladle into a wide mouth quart mason jar.
cover jar with paper towel and rubber band.
let sit on the kitchen counter or warm place for 1-2 days.
when yogurt is solid, place in fridge and it keeps for a week or 2. It doesnt last any longer in my house because it is so good!
Some liguid may form on top. This is whey and can be poured off and used in other lacto-fermented foods.
I leave the paper towel on as a lid for the jar. I put a few spoonfuls in my cheerios each morning. Yum!
Save a few spoonfuls from your previous batch to make the next one.
I am going to nursing school and had to take a microbiology class. We made yogurt in the lab in a very similar manner. My prof. had us use a fruity yoplait flavor of yogurt and the results were the same as using plain.
Once you make your own it is hard to justify buying it again!
Thanks Nate for the directions and motivation. Alright, no excuses anymore, between you and Homestead Fritz this will be my project for the coming weekend.