Preparing for Uncertainty and Self Reliance

[C-Mag]

I'm lucky. I have a few mature fruit trees, I have 5 varieties of hops. Got a lot going for me. It took time to find an old farmstead. The thing about them, most were built in locations by people who lived with low tech by todays standards and out of necessity they had to be self sufficient in growing their own food.

Sounds fantastic. What are you brewing with all the hops?

I don't brew anything. But I I'd like to give it a try in the next couple of years. I have a brother and friends that brew. So, I just grow them, help them harvest and then get home brew in return. It works out great for me. The plants are easy keepers once they are started, just water them and give them something to climb.

I find coop food production works good for all involved. I also take a couple orphan calves from another brother, pay $50 per head, bottle feed them and raise them. Works out great for both parties. Gotta know where your meat is coming from. Then you can sell one and it will pay for the cost of raising two. I'd like to have more land and be able to have about 25-50 head of cows. But I don't have the land and it turns into a lot of work.

[C-Mag]

I have about a quarter-acre of clay soil that I've worked into a large family garden. We've gotten quite good at preserving, making sauces, and pickling.

Next step up for me is to get enough land to house some small animals - chickens/goats/etc. A friend of mine has rabbits in a giant hanging 'hutch' in the garage. He says he gets about 25% of the family meat supply from them.

I raised chickens for years, it's a great chore for this kids. Once the kids left, the wife and I didn't care for the extra work, and we ate a lot less eggs, so we got out of the chicken business.

Havesting and Canning is a lot of work, but I find it rewarding.

What all are you growing on that 1/4 acre ?

[SuburbanFarmer]

I have about a quarter-acre of clay soil that I've worked into a large family garden. We've gotten quite good at preserving, making sauces, and pickling.

Next step up for me is to get enough land to house some small animals - chickens/goats/etc. A friend of mine has rabbits in a giant hanging 'hutch' in the garage. He says he gets about 25% of the family meat supply from them.

I raised chickens for years, it's a great chore for this kids. Once the kids left, the wife and I didn't care for the extra work, and we ate a lot less eggs, so we got out of the chicken business.

Havesting and Canning is a lot of work, but I find it rewarding.

What all are you growing on that 1/4 acre ?

All the usual suspects. Lots of tomato and potato, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, corn, onions, and peppers.

I've been thinking about wheat this year, but haven't researched how to process it yet. I also have a couple of fruit trees, but a few years to go before fruit starts.

[C-Mag]

Here ya go, pretty ancient practice.


I do have a home wheat mill. We use it once or twice a year.

[TheReal_ND]

Will an ordinary household light switch work on a 12v circuit? Why are they rated at 15-20 amps? I have a 5 amp fuse in line to a 8 or 10 wat led bulb.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Will an ordinary household light switch work on a 12v circuit? Why are they rated at 15-20 amps? I have a 5 amp fuse in line to a 8 or 10 wat led bulb.

If you're serious, then you need to review the electrical formula for work.

VA = W

12v at 5a will support 60 watts of power. If you use more than that on the switch, the fuse will pop.

If you're asking about the capacity of the switch itself, it's a lot.

[Okeefenokee]

Here ya go, pretty ancient practice.


I do have a home wheat mill. We use it once or twice a year.

[TheReal_ND]

Will an ordinary household light switch work on a 12v circuit? Why are they rated at 15-20 amps? I have a 5 amp fuse in line to a 8 or 10 wat led bulb.

If you're serious, then you need to review the electrical formula for work.

VA = W

12v at 5a will support 60 watts of power. If you use more than that on the switch, the fuse will pop.

I was just wondering why the light switches are rated. Is there a fuse built in?

[SuburbanFarmer]

Here ya go, pretty ancient practice.


I do have a home wheat mill. We use it once or twice a year.

Ok, that's fucking sweet.

[SuburbanFarmer]

Will an ordinary household light switch work on a 12v circuit? Why are they rated at 15-20 amps? I have a 5 amp fuse in line to a 8 or 10 wat led bulb.

If you're serious, then you need to review the electrical formula for work.

VA = W

12v at 5a will support 60 watts of power. If you use more than that on the switch, the fuse will pop.

I was just wondering why the light switches are rated. Is there a fuse built in?

Not that I know of. That's probably the max before the guts start melting, and you get a short. That's 15-20a on a standard 120v circuit. A lot of fuckin juice.