The Reality of Food Self-Sufficiency

We are living the reality of food self-sufficiency and it's not what you would think.

0:00 New farm animal additions, turkey tractor
1:39 How we remove cover crops in the garden
3:42 Planting over 100 tomatoes and peppers
6:06 I’ve never trellised this before!
7:59 Planting a year’s supply of sweet corn
11:39 Canning strawberry jam
14:02 Completely devastated
17:29 Freeze drying strawberries
17:53 Update on losses and steps I’m taking to remedy the problem
21:45 Finished strawberries and how I store them
23:01 Following through on solutions :)

Garden Supplies/Tools:

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Garden Infrastructure:

Garden Planning:

Garden Attire:

Canning and Preserving Supplies:

Bulk Foods:

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[Nembula]

I'm a retired organic farmer. It might be helpful for you to seed your walkways to white clover. When mowing it just let the clippings go Up on the beds. This will help keep the raised beds raised, adds organic matter to the beds, when it's in bloom it is charming. It helps make sure the bees have lots to eat. Last it is a deep rooted plant which should help the drainage.

[MrMagyar]

Self sustainability is very important but is a colossal amount of work. There's a reason that people have formed societies. It buffers against the overwhelming amount of work you have to do to provide for your family. When you have 100 people (for example), each specializing in something to the extent that they can provide for others as well as themselves, it makes life far better. My hats off to you and your family for the bonds you are creating and sharing. These are lessons that last for generations in a family.

[Lasky]

I work 12 hour night shift 5 nights a week. It feels like I'm missing my two sons growing up. I feel stuck and I'm not happy in general because time goes by so fast. I guess what I'm trying to say is I know what you're doing is very hard work but nothing will ever make up for your time spent with your family. Stay in high spirits and enjoy your time with your boys 🌅

[Aiyvas]

Growing up on a farm I’ve seen so many people get discouraged by stuff like this. The struggles and the “hard work”. As a kid I hated it, as a teen, I grew an appreciation for it, now as an adult I strive to return to the this life and raise my kids the way I was raised.
To all of you out there. Never be afraid of “hard work” its the main ingredient to your best life.

[I_report_scammers_spammers]

This is a good video, showing how difficult food sufficiency is, not just the hard work, but how things like weather and soil quality can seriously impact your yield.

[jirup]

As a retired market gardener, this was lovely to watch. Look after your knees, hun. You would not believe now inconvenient arthritis is in middle age.

[TheTrock]

Your best crop is good natured, loving children. Such a blessing to see your family.

[mattjohn]

To be fair this isn’t just self sufficiency. This is a commercial farm. You guys are creating a ton of food

[cynthiaskaggs]

My mom had the same problem years ago with our tomato plot. That’s when she started doing a sort of ‘lasagna gardening’ technique for the tomato plot. At the end of every tomato season we’d add multiple layers of dried leaves, greens (young weeds pulled from other areas), wood ash, veggie scraps and some reg compost. The layers added a lot of nutrients to the soil while also building up the soil level. She basically turned the whole plot into one giant working compost patch.

[randybrown]

I remember my grandparents, NO electric, outhouse, black wood stove, guns stacked in corner, horse's. If something didn't grow they did without. Grandma sold eggs, canned everything. Grandpa worried about the weather. That and much more was over 60 years ago, Good luck 🤗

[joanbeauregard]

This brings back such memories! Years ago, i had what i called my small urban backyard farm. Between fresh produce and canning and preserving, we not only ate better, we saved a ton of money on groceries. Now that it’s just me, the garden has shrunk to 2 raised beds. But there’s been lots to share and well over a hundred jars of various canned goods put up. Even at 80, i still relish the joys of growing and preserving in spite of the work.

[bwsezgb]

I have a fairly large garden and it's a helluva lot of work for some beans, tomatoes, melons, and spinach. I can't even imagine 100% food self-sufficiency. The amount of work involved would be phenomenal; it would be truly back-breaking. To those who did it for almost all of human history without the use of fossil fuels to help out (ie, no cars or trucks, tillers, mowers, etc), I salute you. You have my admiration!

[Gala]

I love that your entire family works with you. Raising the kids to be knowledgeable in the garden now can save them so much in the future. Keep up the good work! <3

[eagledove]

'Hugelkultur' is the German word for burying large logs under the ground, to create a raised garden bed. They won't gradually sink down as much as it does if you're just piling dirt up. I don't know how much effort it takes to drag all those logs out into the field and bury them, but hopefully they would last a long time and you wouldn't have to do it again. They also decay and provide humus, they hold water, and they provide beneficial fungal mycelia, in addition to raising things up to help with drainage.

[godsministriestrust]

This is accurate. It's EXTREMELY difficult to do these things. For me, its pests and animals that decimate my crops. Along with the extreme heat here in Miami, FL. Glad someone is showing more of a reality of trying to be self-sufficient. It's not all rainbows and butterflies, that's for sure. Speaking of butterflies, they are a pest here in Miami, no joke.

[chelseafailla]

I started to cry at the sight of you planting your tomatoes in the dark. Your persistence, dedication and drive are inspiring ♥️ way to go

[abigailap-apid]

I was born in a family of farmers, (my dad was a pastor but he also raised his own chickens at home) in the Philippines, Mountain Province. I left home to West Africa when I was 12 but I always miss the days when I would go with my mom to the farms to plant veggies or harvest them with her. Thankfully, back home, we only have wet and dry season so we do not need to worry so much about cold frost or extreme heat in the summers. So glad to see your children helping around. It's something they would always look back on and a good extra education outside books for them. People are always so surprised about how I know my veggies and fruits and it's something I'd always keep my head high up for. Keep on. You got this.

[erinthetraveler]

I'm so glad you show your struggles and well as your accomplishments. It's helpful to see the realness of homesteading. Thanks for sharing!

[kristinradams]

Your tomato issues made me cry. I felt that so hard. I am only about 4 years into serious gardening, and every failure like this really hurts. I know that sucks, but thanks a million for sharing your story anyway. I actually learned a lot because you did. Much love from Texas :)

[sarabaca]

If this ever happens again, just take a cutting or pinch off a sucker from a healthy tomato plant and root it in water. No need to start from seed all over again! I love your videos! I learn so much from you! You're amazing!