It has been some time since we had pigs and now that we have had a year off growing anything in the garden it was the perfect time to get in some little helpers We went for 3 kune kune gilts 4 mth old - we have been looking for some for a while and these were worth the extra due to how they have been raised We paid £100 for all 3 and then decided to make the run - slightly back to front but thats how we seam to work !! The house was already there [ the old block built aquaponics shed] so we needed to make a secure run for while we are at work We decided on using pallets for the main part and stock net for the rest - the run is 60ft long and 27ft wide luckily i had enough for this and some spare Inside this we have fitted stock netting and a single electric fence wire along the bottom - to get them trained to the electric and also prevent them pushing the lower side of the fence - [still it looks like i need to add another line of wire 12'' up as well ] For a feeder we had a concrete plant trough and for the water we had a concrete cattle trough [ never moving that again ] Allot of people think the cost of feeding the pigs is where the idea falls but with some thaught this can be done realy cheaply At the moment feed costs are low - rearer and sow nuts are £5.26 per 25kg but also there is the free stuff we have currently got crushed - apple left overs coming in from the local cider circle and have been guaranteed this until they run out - we have 6 20gk bags of this already and more to come for free Along side this we have the grass and overgrowth of the garden and cuttings and we have access to masses of windfall apples and brocoli tops - seeded veg plants from the local area and some fruit and veg from local greengrocers So total feed costs will be approx £5 per week at most and the main reason we have gone for this breed is that they are a grazing pig and really do not need the processed feed as much as the larger breeds So the plan is to fatten the 2 brown gilts and to breed of the spotted gilt - just need to find a boar or loan a boar for later on All we have to do now is to sort the area near to the water trough i am going to slab out or deck out to allow the spillage from the water to drain under the standing area just out side there house and around the feeding area and not end up in a muddy bog They are cute but also apparently they are one of the tastiest breeds as well - only time and apples will tell Total build time - 1 day Total build cost -£12 | |
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Soon the water will be gravity fed from an external rainwater butt and the feeders will be fitted on the outside of the cages providing more room within - and apart from feed the setup will be self sufficient - diy feeders and drinkers to come
The incubator will be coming out this week so we can start to grow the flock Total cost so far - £ 12 excluding the birds and feed To start off clean your tomatoes and peel the onions slice the tomatoes in half and dice up the onions and chuck it all in to the largest pan you have and add a little salt - herbs to your taste put hob on to simmer We sometimes add some cinamon for that warm / sweet taste but only a little Add some sugar to taste [ if you want the sweeter flavor sauce ] boil slowly to a pulp and keep stiring every now and then to prevent any burning Once boiled to a mush strain out through a preserve strainer in to a bowl and allow to cool a little While the sauce is cooling clean out some glass bottles and lids - and sterilise withwarming up and filling with boiling water. Leave for a little while and drain once 1/2 cooled funnel your sauce in to the bottles and place in the fridge or pantry to keep cool
Ours we have kept for over 3 months without any degradation - just enshure it is kept in a steadily cool place One job i have neglected this year is the chimney sweeping we swept last last after we finished off with the wood burners for the season before but this year we have left it to the last min quite amazed how much soot - tar came out of the flue - we did use the boiler more last winter than the year before but have not had this much soot out in one sweep so this year we are going to sweep 1/2 way through the winter and at the end to ensure we have a clean - safe flue
so what ever else you do - don't forget to sweep and sweep out good It has been good settled weather lately so there was only one job that was realy needing to be done Rendering - and lots of it , ime not proficient in doing this but it was going to get done one way or another so i started off carrying out the scratch coat when our builder neighbor offered to do the Finnish coat - after only a few hrs the job was done [well the main wall] - me just mixing the muck and passing it up The following weekend we done the same on the angled gable again me just acting as lacky and learning how its done We still have loads more to do but at least we are on the sealing up and finaly mking the house look like a house again
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Authorrenovating a 1.5 acre small holding on a shoestring budget learning on the job and smiling all the way Archives
October 2015
www.p2s-prepared2survive.co.uk |