Pennsif's Progress // Day 900 : The State of the Prep

Another 50 days have past, the summer is over and Christmas is fast approaching.

With winter comes dark nights and stormy weather so time to batten down the hatches and switch the prepping from outdoor to indoor.

But there is still a lot to be done outside. Crops to harvest, beds to tidy, seeds to sow - and the Muscovy Brothers are still waiting for their new house.

I've been prepping and prepping the last 50 days. Been a bit restricted because of a health issue, but still got a fair amount done.

Over the winter I want to consolidate, organise what I have and keep filling the gaps.

I'm starting my show on MSP Waves Radio shortly. The show will be called Pennsif's (Alternative) Lifestyle Show and alongside topics like homeschooling, tiny houses, complimentary medicine and renewable energy, I'll be covering prepping and homesteading in good measure. That should keep me on my toes and up to date.

And as the world heats up, in every sense of the word, there is still plenty to prep for. Natural disasters, climatic change, threats of nuclear conflict, antibiotic resistance and a pandemic just around the corner. Take your pick and chose your prep.

Here's my 100 day review. Thank you for your comments and suggestions on my first 50 day review.

Do post in the comments if I'm missing anything big time, and if you have any suggestions to help me progress faster.

The State of the Prep - Day 100 Review

FOOD [8.5 out of 10]

Still the biggest area of progress..
First polytunnel installed. First crops underway, planting more to overwinter. Now planning for a second polytunnel next year if funds permit.
Water source for polytunnel installed.
Both new greenhouses fully in production. First one coming to the end of harvest. Second one fully planted with late season carrots, onions, bunching onions and lettuce - already cropping well.
All parts of the old garden - upper and lower sections - now fully utilised and cropping well. Starting on refurbishment of some of the original raised beds over winter - increasing beds to 12" depth from 9" to allow for better root crop growth.
Despite having the two new aluminium greenhouses, the old wooden one is still proving very useful for raising plants and growing certain fruits. The strawberries and cape gooseberries particularly seem to like the slightly lower sunlight intensity in this old greenhouse.
The first two herb beds have provided us with a much increased variety and quantity of herbs. Excess growth being dried for winter use.
Will almost certainly reach the target of 200kg of fruit and vegetables, and 6 months of production this year. Planning on at least doubling this yield target next year and moving to 8 months production.
Continued maintenance of all the fruit trees. Including opening up the old orchard for more sunlight. There will be another restorative pruning session on the old apple and pear trees over the winter. Hoping for a much improved fruit yield as a result next year.
Both flocks of hens (now 12 in total) still laying continuously (every single day of the year so far). Egg production likely to exceed 2000 eggs this year.
Broiler chicks dispatched and frozen. Hoping to swap to dual purpose birds next year.
Bees have moved from a possible to a definite addition to the homestead. They will be coming in the spring. A new beekeeping friend has moved nearby. He has offered to help guide us with the bees. Currently planting large numbers (400+) of flowers around the property and another herb bed nearby for the bees.
Still researching options for fish as a food source either from the lake or the bigger of the two streams. Unfortunately no progress on this so far. Looking for help with this.
Now reaching certainty that in 3 years we should be able to produce 90+% of our vegetables and 70% of our fruit. Ideally on a year round basis.
Have been doing an increasing amount of canning, freezing and dehydrating surplus vegetables and herbs. Alongside this have been adding considerably to stocks of bought in tinned and freeze-dried storage food. Now have about 4 months supply of long term food stored. Should reach the target of least 6 months by the end of the year.
Food production areas still to consider - milk/dairy and flour/cereal.
Commenced indoor microgreen production to ensure supply of fresh green leaves throughout the winter.
Obtained two lots of home brewing and wine making equipment from Freecycle. Hoping to use the long winter evenings to start on this.
Attended a one day plant propagation workshop. Will be increasing propagation and seed saving to reduce purchases of plants and seeds from commercial sources.

WATER [9.5 out of 10]

Have our own spring. Still must arrange for another water quality test soon.
Also have well and lake as backups. May need water purification options for those.
Have own septic tank. Having it emptied regularly every year.
Have purchased a small water filter and a supply of water purification tablets as backup. Need to review quantities held and possibly increase.
Installed water supply for the polytunnel. Will be installing a further supply for the greenhouses shortly.

HEALTH [7.5 out of 10]

Continuing to build up medical supplies - both first aid type supplies and required prescription medicines. Also added further to small scale medical equipment - blood group testing kit, blood glucose monitor, inversion table, stethoscope.
Diet improvements progressing well - more fibre, more home produced food - less processed. Mainly organic where possible. Reduced meat consumption considerably - now mainly just our own reared chicken, and occasional other meat products from local farmers who are friends. "Eat Who You Know"
Regular production and use of fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kefir (both milk and water). Now using live kefir grains instead of bought in dried grains for more sustainability.
Totally switched from tea and coffee to herb teas.
Still working on improving general fitness levels. Minor health issue has caused some setback on this but will have hopefully worked this through soon. Still need to work on getting more sleep (steemit not helping 😊).
Continuing with gradual weight reduction. Health issue has reduced exercise levels but hope to get back on track before the end of the year.
Four out of five family members have now done some form of first aid training (St John Wales, at work, with cadets). Looking for options to develop training further.
Building up dental first aid kit and supplies. Need to review.
All family members have had six monthly dentist and hygienist appointments. Currently arranging yearly eye examinations for all.
Continuing to learn more, and experiment more with herbal remedies. To be developed further as knowledge increases.
Have started to stockpile personal hygiene products - soap, toothpaste, shampoo, feminine products, razors etc. Now have 4 - 6 months supply of all items. Hope to build that to 12 months supply over the coming few months. Even if not all needed, would make useful bartering items.
Increased stockpile of multi-vitamins.

ENERGY [6.0 out of 10]

Alongside small backup petrol generator, now looking to add an LPG generator. LPG is much easier to store. Currently keeping 3 x 47g propane cylinders for cooking and potential electrity generation.
Added further UPS capacity as backup for short term power cuts. Tested successfully with recent 12 hour power outage - kept computer and router running for almost the entire duration of the outage.
Installation of first solar PV system should commence in the next couple of months. Extent of full deployment will depend on budget availability, but now being prioritised.
Pico-hydro scheme to add to energy resilience still on the agenda but no further progress at present.
Still hoping to achieve potential full off-grid capacity, if required, with further PV installations over the next two years.
Regularly monitor LightningMaps.org to predict if we are likely to have any problems with electricity supply and internet connections.
Currently auditing, and adding to, emergency lighting systems - torches, lanterns, headlamps, and solar chargers.
Purchased a camping gas stove and gas canisters for added cooking resilience in case of breakdown of main cooker.

SHELTER [5.5 out of 10]

Have an old farm house, an attached coach house and two large barns.
Stone barn is usable with water and electricity, but would like to get it re-roofed to make into more of a second living zone for children and visitors. Costs too prohibitive at present. Looking to install a toilet before the end of the year.
Main house in reasonably good condition. Leak in one of the chimneys now fixed.
Have one woodstove and one open fire - and plenty of wood. Would like to replace the open fire with another woodstove.
Work now commencing on semi-converting the attic for more storage.
Coach house now being emptied, cleaned and repaired to serve as 'Prepper HQ'. Plan to build the radio shack in there.
Need to regularly test the smoke and CO2 detectors. Fire extinguishers in place - additional one just purchased.
Have plumbing insurance in place. Also now got the same for electricity.
Long term plan is to build some sort of cabin with compost toilet and PV etc down towards the lake for a secondary living location away from the main house and barn. This would be quite well hidden as the woodland grows up around it.

SECURITY [4.0 out of 10]

Still the area that needs most attention.
Need to do a lot of work on fences and gates.
Investigating options for CCTV. Just purchasing a trail cam.
Continuing archery and clay pigeon shooting with youngest daughter.
Youngest daughter also doing regular shooting with cadets.
Investigating setting up a local PMR radio based alert system with neighbouring farms. Considering CB radio for this as well.
Beginning to find some people interested in a local prepping / mutual support network.
Purchased another 9 litre foam fire extinguisher.
Some other equipment purchases in progress.

TRANSPORT [4.0 out of 10]

Begun to consider better vehicle options, but finance for change limited at present.
At least one 4WD vehicle is a must for winter.
Now looking at getting a Nissan Leaf as our first electric vehicle. Hopefully tying in with our solar PV generation if possible.
Got both existing vehicles on a regular servicing schedule.
Looking at the option of getting a donkey or pony - for pulling loads, and maybe for riding.
Daughter and I have been on horse riding lessons, also attended courses on using horses for farm work and logging.
Two eldest daughters both now taking driving lessons.

COMMUNICATIONS [4.0 out of 10]

Have now obtained amateur radio Foundation Licence and call-sign.
Still need to get some equipment.
Would like to find out more about getting involved with RAYNET.
Have a number of PMR radios for use around the homestead. Less than one mile range at best in local hilly terrain. All family members proficient in their use.
Currently looking at purchasing CB radio.
In early stages of building a local / sub-regional prepping network.

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[graphic provided by @pennsif]

Pennsif's Progress // Day 900 : The State of the Prep - 100 Day Review