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I get a lot of requests for more “old school” episodes of TSPC and most of those focus on homesteading, permaculture, hard skills, etc. which lead us to the pillars of homestead series that we will continue today.  In part two of this series we are going to cover the second pillar, back yard livestock.

Note this series is not about commercial farming for a profit, scaling food production to feed 50 families, etc.  Rather old school American homesteading like our grand parents did.  Feed yourself, store surplus and share surplus with your neighbors.  That is not to say a side hustle market garden or similar won’t fit with this series just that the foundation is first about “feeding the family”.

So what are the pillars, for this discussion there will be four….

• Gardening
• Back Yard Livestock
• Perennials and Herbs
• Local Hunter Gatherer Knowledge (foraging and trade)

Like any set of “pillars” these are not end all, be alls, just the foundation on which to build.  Each is connected to others though function stacking and additional systems.   Gardens create waste, animals create waste the two are connected via composting, compost feeds the garden which feeds the humans and animals as one example.

Perennials are plants that come either come back every year after winter dormancy or in some cases never go dormant in winter and stay “every green” year round.  There are also annuals that behave like perennials that “self reseed” or grow from “seed roots/rhizomes”.  And for today we will include “wild edibles” that allow us to “forage on site” like say dandelions and lambs-quarters, etc.

Join Me Today to Discuss…

• What is a perennial (scientifically vs. practically)
• Why are perennials so valuable to our homesteads
• The tale of two perennials deeply involved in settleing the American continent
  • Apples
  • Figs
• Top perennials that you may not even have to plant
  • Lambs-quarters
  • Chick Weed
  • Dandilions
  • Chickory
  • Plantain
  • Purslane
  • Wild Garlic
• Top perennial herbs for your gardens
  • Bee Balm
  • Comfrey
  • Mints
  • Chives
  • Sage
  • Oregano
• Top Shrubs, Vines and Cane Fruits
  • Black/Raspberries
  • Bush Cherries (korean, sand, etc.)
  • Blue Berry
  • Kiwi
  • Grapes
  • Goji
  • Artichokes
• Root Crops
  • Sweet potato
  • Ground Nut
  • Horse Radish
  • Jerusalem Artichokes
• Perennial Vegetables
  • Scarlet Runner Beans (to zone 6 with HEAVY mulch)
  • Good King Henry
  • New Zealand Spinach (might be okay to zone 6 handles zone 7 very well, again mulch)
  • Lovage
  • Celery (actually a biannual but I have some make it three seasons)
  • Swiss Chard (same as celery)
  • Some Kales
  • Red Veined and Conventional Sorrel
  • Peppers are actually perennial BUT……
• Top Trees
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Stone Fruits (plumb, peach, apricot)
  • Persimmon
  • Fodder
  • Edible Dogwoods (Cornelian Cherry)
• Making it all work
  • Variety over giant trees (may be)
  • Pick varieties with different harvest times (including over wild verities)
  • Grow what wants to grow where you are
  • Harvest and bring in wild forage (more in part 4)
  • Feed yourself but your animals too and make medicine/tea
• Remember that everyone used to live this way not so long ago

Resources for today’s show…

• Join the Members Brigade
• TspAz.com
• TSPC on Discord
• TSPC Group on Telegram (group chat)
• TSPC Telegram Channel (just messages from me)
• Jack on Flote
• Jack on MeWe
• Join Me on Odysee
• All My Recommend Bitcoin Tools and Resources
• Perennial Vegetables by Eric Toensmeier

Sponsors of the Day

• Red Neck Hippy Duck Farmer Shirt – Small Front/Large Back Design
• Red Neck Hippy Duck Farmer Shirt – Large Front Design
• Top TspAZ Christmas Gifts for 2022
• Paul Wheaton’s Awesome Advanced PDC
• Start9 Embassy Servers

Video Version of Today’s Podcast

Remember to comment, chime in and tell us your thoughts, this podcast is one man’s opinion, not a lecture or sermon.

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