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Making Homesteading Real

Many of us imagine growing all our own food and having more control over our own wellbeing. Chris and Barry Sims have managed to do this on less than an acre of land in the heart of Jericho Corners. They were gracious hosts for a recent food hub workshop where they shared all sorts of examples of how they make it work.

Their front lawn was transformed into gardens of perennial vegetables, herbs, and pole beans that will climb their supports and provide shade for their west facing picture window. Chris explained that as the neighbors' trees grow or are removed, she accommodates these changes by switching to sun or shade loving plants. 
Their front lawn was transformed into gardens of perennial vegetables, herbs, and pole beans that will climb their supports and provide shade for their west facing picture window. Chris explained that as the neighbors' trees grow or are removed, she accommodates these changes by switching to sun or shade loving plants. 
Pole beans growing up the wire to shade their living room.
Pole beans growing up the wire to shade their living room.
On the other side of the driveway are fenced in fruit bushes protected using a solar electric fence. Elderberries will be used to make a very effective cold syrup.
On the other side of the driveway are fenced in fruit bushes protected using a solar electric fence. Elderberries will be used to make a very effective cold syrup.
Sheep are grazing in a side paddock along with laying hens. Various fruit trees like apple and plum have small exclusion fences around them to prevent sheep damaging them. Lamb is a main protein source for them along with meat from older hens or ewes, and daily eggs. A neighbor with a need for grass control provides additional summer grazing for most of the sheep. And about sheep protection so far from the house, Chris explained that initially she put peanut butter on the electric fence. Once the coyotes learned to avoid the fence, the sheep were safe.
Sheep are grazing in a side paddock along with laying hens. Various fruit trees like apple and plum have small exclusion fences around them to prevent sheep damaging them. Lamb is a main protein source for them along with meat from older hens or ewes, and daily eggs. A neighbor with a need for grass control provides additional summer grazing for most of the sheep. And about sheep protection so far from the house, Chris explained that initially she put peanut butter on the electric fence. Once the coyotes learned to avoid the fence, the sheep were safe.
Exclusion fencing around the plum tree.
Exclusion fencing around the plum tree.
A variety of laying hen breeds.
A variety of laying hen breeds.

A small barn houses animals during stormy weather and serves as a chicken coop. The back yard has a lawn with 3-4 fenced in gardens, a hoop house for tomatoes, 2 free–standing solar panels, grape vines, fruiting pawpaw trees, fruiting kiwi vines, potatoes, corn, and on and on. Crops are rotated annually and soil replenished with home-made compost we saw in various bins.

One of many gardens circling the backyard.
One of many gardens circling the backyard.
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The unusual pawpaw fruit trees grow tall and bearing abundant fruit.
The unusual pawpaw fruit trees grow tall and bearing abundant fruit.
Barry shows kiwi vines that are fruiting for the first time.
Barry shows kiwi vines that are fruiting for the first time.
A compost bin conveniently situated next to a garden that includes indigo plants used for dying wool. The hedgerow features gooseberries ripe for the picking, and hazelbert shrubs with ripening nuts.
A compost bin conveniently situated next to a garden that includes indigo plants used for dying wool. The hedgerow features gooseberries ripe for the picking, and hazelbert shrubs with ripening nuts.
Their hoop house provides warmth and disease protection for the tomato crop.
Their hoop house provides warmth and disease protection for the tomato crop.
Solar panels help keep electricity costs down, and allow under plantings of flint corn, potatoes and other vegetables.
Solar panels help keep electricity costs down, and allow under plantings of flint corn, potatoes and other vegetables.

The ingenuity and planning that go into locations of plantings each year were made to look easy or obvious by Barry and Chris. Everyone's growing conditions and situation are different but for these workshop participants, there were many useful nuggets of information to apply to their own situation.


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