Comments on: The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre! http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/ Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:36:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: J. Wagman http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/comment-page-1/#comment-476 J. Wagman Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:27:13 +0000 http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/#comment-476 A very well put together book with lots of useful information. However there is one area that it is glaringly lacking in information. The author states there isn't room for a dairy animal and suggests pigs instead, but they completely overlook the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. Two Nigerian Dwarf dairy does take up less space than the pigs, and even some urban areas area starting to allow them as "pets". A good Nigerian milk doe can give 1/2-3/4 of a gallon of very rich milk daily. Just be sure to buy from someone that breeds them for milking and not someone that just breeds them as pets. <br /> <br />Nigerians also get along well with chickens, and can share the same yard space as long as there is separate sleeping and feeding quarters for the chickens. And keeping 3-4 hens with your goats will keep the fly population down to nearly non-existent levels. So the back portion of your lot could be a single large pen, rather than two small ones, thus saving on the amount of fencing needed. A typical garden shed can be divided up to provide housing and feed storage for both goats and chickens, again saving on the cost (and space) of building separate structures. A very well put together book with lots of useful information. However there is one area that it is glaringly lacking in information. The author states there isn’t room for a dairy animal and suggests pigs instead, but they completely overlook the Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats. Two Nigerian Dwarf dairy does take up less space than the pigs, and even some urban areas area starting to allow them as “pets”. A good Nigerian milk doe can give 1/2-3/4 of a gallon of very rich milk daily. Just be sure to buy from someone that breeds them for milking and not someone that just breeds them as pets.

Nigerians also get along well with chickens, and can share the same yard space as long as there is separate sleeping and feeding quarters for the chickens. And keeping 3-4 hens with your goats will keep the fly population down to nearly non-existent levels. So the back portion of your lot could be a single large pen, rather than two small ones, thus saving on the amount of fencing needed. A typical garden shed can be divided up to provide housing and feed storage for both goats and chickens, again saving on the cost (and space) of building separate structures.

]]> By: Jolene Pirrone http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/comment-page-1/#comment-475 Jolene Pirrone Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:43:28 +0000 http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/#comment-475 This book has some wonderful planning diagrams and some really good info. Having said that, and having read many books on the subject at the library, most of it is not original information and has been gleaned from other Storey books. And it's very obvious! However, it's a good place to start for a beginner. <br /> <br />I don't like it because it doesn't go into enough depth (fencing, pest/critter deterrents, buildings) on certain topics and spends WAY too much time on things that don't really need explanation (flavors of ice cream, flowers, certain charts). I don't really care for some of the gardening advice either, but that's more of a personal preference. I prefer Ruth Stout's How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back: A New Method of Mulch Gardening approach. <br /> <br />In general, I prefer The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It for an well explained, well thought out, season by season, no-nonsense treatment of the homesteading subject. This book has some wonderful planning diagrams and some really good info. Having said that, and having read many books on the subject at the library, most of it is not original information and has been gleaned from other Storey books. And it’s very obvious! However, it’s a good place to start for a beginner.

I don’t like it because it doesn’t go into enough depth (fencing, pest/critter deterrents, buildings) on certain topics and spends WAY too much time on things that don’t really need explanation (flavors of ice cream, flowers, certain charts). I don’t really care for some of the gardening advice either, but that’s more of a personal preference. I prefer Ruth Stout’s How to Have a Green Thumb Without an Aching Back: A New Method of Mulch Gardening approach.

In general, I prefer The Self-Sufficient Life and How to Live It for an well explained, well thought out, season by season, no-nonsense treatment of the homesteading subject.

]]> By: M. J. Paso http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/comment-page-1/#comment-474 M. J. Paso Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:56:33 +0000 http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/#comment-474 I love "The Backyard Homestead"! It is a user-friendly guide that not only shares the "how to" aspects of food self-sufficiency, but includes lots of wonderful recipes as well. Ms. Madigan's caring and respect for the environment shines throughout each chapter of this delightful book. I love “The Backyard Homestead”! It is a user-friendly guide that not only shares the “how to” aspects of food self-sufficiency, but includes lots of wonderful recipes as well. Ms. Madigan’s caring and respect for the environment shines throughout each chapter of this delightful book.

]]> By: A. Rainer http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/comment-page-1/#comment-473 A. Rainer Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:33:34 +0000 http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/#comment-473 This book was recently introduced to me by a friend who was tired of hearing me just *talk* about my preserving and canning aspirations - she thought, rightly, that having this book as my guide would spur action. What always sounded like a lovely annual ritual to me is now actually - I have been happy to discover, after reading "The Backyard Homestead" and its clearly, engagingly written advice - something I can and do do. But I have discovered so much more that is possible within - as it turns out, having only a balcony, and no actual backyard, is not a deterrent when looking to live more self-sufficiently, and Madigan addresses viable options for all kinds of living circumstances. There really is something for everyone within, and inspiration is inevitable. This book was recently introduced to me by a friend who was tired of hearing me just *talk* about my preserving and canning aspirations – she thought, rightly, that having this book as my guide would spur action. What always sounded like a lovely annual ritual to me is now actually – I have been happy to discover, after reading “The Backyard Homestead” and its clearly, engagingly written advice – something I can and do do. But I have discovered so much more that is possible within – as it turns out, having only a balcony, and no actual backyard, is not a deterrent when looking to live more self-sufficiently, and Madigan addresses viable options for all kinds of living circumstances. There really is something for everyone within, and inspiration is inevitable.

]]> By: S. B. Townsend http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/comment-page-1/#comment-472 S. B. Townsend Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:22:29 +0000 http://www.handtoolsgarden.com/the-backyard-homestead-produce-all-the-food-you-need-on-just-a-quarter-acre/#comment-472 What else could you want? Do you need? Well, after reading Madigan's book, apparently I want to have and do alot more with my life and garden in the city. I've already been trying to turn my 1/16th (?) of an acre city garden over to chickens, veggies, and fruit, but, yikes!, this book has been an absolute dream find for me. It has made me realize that I've barely cracked the surface as far as creating a life that is in happy harmony with the plant and animal world, not to mention how my family's eating experience will become more fun, more fresh, and more delicious! I can't wait to start making my own mozzarella and planting those nut trees! That will be the easy part...getting my husband to agree to those four gorgeous blue Andulusian chickens I've been coveting might be slightly harder. What else could you want? Do you need? Well, after reading Madigan’s book, apparently I want to have and do alot more with my life and garden in the city. I’ve already been trying to turn my 1/16th (?) of an acre city garden over to chickens, veggies, and fruit, but, yikes!, this book has been an absolute dream find for me. It has made me realize that I’ve barely cracked the surface as far as creating a life that is in happy harmony with the plant and animal world, not to mention how my family’s eating experience will become more fun, more fresh, and more delicious! I can’t wait to start making my own mozzarella and planting those nut trees! That will be the easy part…getting my husband to agree to those four gorgeous blue Andulusian chickens I’ve been coveting might be slightly harder.

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