that I want to take a field trip to everyones place and check out what they have for livestock, how they live, etc.?! That would be sooo cool!!!

What is something you would like to know more about that you have seen discussed on here or other homesteading forums?

I, personally, want a gardening and canning mentor. I suck so bad at gardening. We canned when I was a kid, but it's been a LONG time. I'd love to do it again! Particularly making jams and such.

:ditto: - especially if pressure canning!

I've canned jelly and jam and that's it. Frankly, I like the taste of frozen veggies better. I'm going to try canning tomatoes this year (if I have any left over; so far we're eating them as soon as they ripen).

We canned a lot growing up and froze blueberries and strawberries.

I most definitely need a How To Garden mentor. This winter will be all about garden planning and learning I think. As muach as my husband has no interest in many of the animal ideas I have he is really excited about growing our own food.

I need help in *many* areas LOL but alternative energy sources would be something to really dig my heels into, umm, when we find land that is...

We canned a lot growing up and froze blueberries and strawberries.

I most definitely need a How To Garden mentor. This winter will be all about garden planning and learning I think. As muach as my husband has no interest in many of the animal ideas I have he is really excited about growing our own food.
*sigh* I wish mine was interested in ANY of it. He's just not. :-( He doesn't say anything about the animals now because I have a job to pay for them...but they're really not money makers and I rarely use their eggs. I'll hatch them and sell some for hatching sometimes, but in generally I just have them because I enjoy them.

I agree with you on the gardening, though. I really need to get on that. :-(

I dunno....I just need more earth. lol.

Even tho we have 2 acres we are still under covenants. No one has ever really enforced one in the 7 years we've been here, but I'm sick of it being brought up whenever my chickens are mentioned. And I just want to slap up a wind-turbine without commentary, ya know. *sigh* growing pains.

What other forums are there?

I want a luscious garden. And more critters. Nothing specific, but goats are front runners. I drove past a new goat farm the other day; Fresh coat of paint on the barn and about 2 dozen goats grazing in the yard. I just wanted to whip in and say "you don't know me but can I snoop around?" lmbo

LOL...I am such a garden snoop, always trying to see what people are up to.

I know nothing about gardening but have fond memories of my mom's big veggie garden when I was growing up. She never taught me *how* though.

I want to have a Canning Intensive at Val's place. ;)

Katie - one other forum I know of is Homesteading Today - getting back-to-the-land practicing sustainable, agricultural, ecologically sound, energy efficient, self-sufficient lifestyles (http://www.homesteadingtoday.com).

You know what? I know almost nothing. I finally feel like I'm learning a bit about gardening this year. Oh and I know chickens pretty well, the layers anyway, and the meat birds seem to be fairly straightforward so far.

Canning. Pressure Cooking. *sigh* You'd think, with all the older gals around here, they'd want to pass on that sort of knowledge. I haven't found anyone yet though. Guess it's going to be me, a canner/cooker, and a book.

My good friend is an experienced pressure cooker canner. I have very limited exposure from her experience tho...i was raising babies, not produce, when she still lived close.

I've been tempted to hit her up for another lesson now that my head is clear. I just gotta make the 1000 mile drive. lol.

oooh i love love love pressure canning! fire away with the questions! we even canned meat (beef stew) this last year which was a first for me. i have a larger than usual garden this year which is for eating straight from and lots and lots and lots of canning!