gOSH THANKs. I learned this year: more about biology and vaxxinations than I wanted, and learned that our Department of Defense (DOD) is literally trying to kill us, they made and own the deadly injections. I learned that I have a limit to the amount of sadness and rejection and cogdis I can take before I blow my stack, and that blowing my stack is an appropriate, if not desirable, response when someone is literally trying to kill me.
This year? I hope to learn how to walk away from all this clicking, and return to some of my former skill base in rough and fine woodworking, making pipes (that look like branches still with bark) and getting better at bushcamping by bushcamping....these English folks are helpful and have fun vids
This is a little different. We are over 70 and getting a bit creaky. Its getting harder to grow the crops and tend the chickens. Any advice on making things easier? We have over 50 different fruit trees and try to grow as many vegetables as we can. Thanks Ashley!
I don't know who will be busier, you helping us learn or me trying to learn as much as possible as we build our retirement home in the mountains. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I would really like something like 52 weeks to go from zreo to hero. As in a list of priorities on how to live more simply and self sufficiently. And then how to do it. For total newbies and those starting, how to prioritize what should be done first and then how to do it. Very simple steps along the way.
Ashley, your compiled list is AMAZING! Everything looks fantastic. I especially love the sections Hunting, Fishing & Survival Skills and Preparedness.
I’m looking to learn hide tanning this year (both methods of keeping fur on and then a standard process of deer hide) as a step in my hunters journey. Without chemicals and either using brain tanning method or egg yolks (or another similar way I have not yet heard of).
And anything animal fat-related!
Harvesting, storing, rendering, consuming, and applying. All the things 😁
I would love to learn how to make tallow- based body care products /herbal tallow balms and soaps from it. I’ve attempted my own tallow and jojoba face cream but I just smell like tallow 😆
I aspire to be you like you,Ashley! You are a wealth of knowledge and experience. Thank you for the beautiful road to follow you’ve been carving out ♥️
In 2022, my husband and I learned how to make sauerkraut and blueberry jam without pectin. My husband learned herbalism and I researched what foods to grow that will give us the most nutrition. In 2023 I would really like to learn how to grow a LOT of food in a small space, how to make our own medicines and make a successful batch of vinegar. 😁 We are really focused on growing as much food and herbs as we can to sustain ourselves.
I put up some new foods this year - like sauerkraut! Also made my first goat cheese!
2023 will be the year I learn bread making. The challenge will be reducing gluten, though. Most of my bread books suggest high gluten flours. Maybe I need to embrace acorn flour, bean “flours”, etc??? I’ll take any and all of your bread tips! I’ll be revisiting all your past posts very soon.
I appreciate the time you and your family take to spread good information. I just recently began following this and have enjoyed it. I gathered beauty berries and spiderwort and just look at my "weeds" in a whole different way now. Im not sure if you have already covered this but im curious how to make flour or the base items of things
I like a lot of the stuff on your lists. I know some already. I want to learn more. The most important thing I need to learn is not to fear failure. I am not going to produce perfect the first try. But, I do not need to fear failure. What I want to learn this year is more mental than anything else.
In 2022, I learned to can (water bath and pressure) and then to can only things I want to keep eating. I began making gluten free sourdough and buying in bulk and preserving. I rendered my own tallow, kept plants alive at my apartment, and made tallow balm and tinctures, too.
In 2023 I will garden in the earth whether on my own property or in a community garden. I will experiment with cheese making, dehydrating food for preservation, and plan to start regularly making my own broth and stock. My husband and I are planning to take a butchery class and cure our own bacon! We are currently in an apartment while house hunting, so we have to get creative to make things happen in a small shared space.
Hi Ashley, the last year has been a real kickoff for us as we’ve moved back to the country and started growing our own (in a very small way) and dealing with the mildew and bug issues of a sub tropical climate!
Apart from the focus on organically managing our veggies and fruit, I’m hoping we can learn to make jams, chutneys and cheese in 2023! Alongside our renovations and business changes, that should keep us nicely busy!!
What a great posting to start the year with- you've put everything into one spot, this is fantastic!! I feel like I should have said this sooner, but Thank You!! Thank you so very much. Your posts have been not only educational and informative, but inspirational as well. I think I have been following you at least 5, maybe closer to 10 years now, how long have you been doing this? Trying to remember how I found your posts, might have been through a Hank Shaw post, or pinterest? Either way every time I get a new email in my inbox from you, I look forward to taking the time to read and absorb.
Looking back on last year, I feel like I have really come into my own parenting and guiding my boys, educating them on foraging, cooking/canning and survival techniques. So much of that has been thanks to you, you've given me pause and helped me to look beyond the more common foraging plants and techniques. It's been great.
What I would like to accomplish in the next year is making our yard 100% edible/medicinal. I want every plant to have a purpose. This is a little difficult living at 10,200 feet in elevation. Many of the things I planted last year didn't make it due to the short growing season. Praying my sour cherry trees I planted last year survive the winter. Money is tight, so investing in a good greenhouse isn't an option. But I can improvise! I am handy to an extent. Thanks again, I appreciate your guidance/tips, blessings to you and your family! Hoping your year to come is a great one! Cheers!
This is a great list for me actually. I’m going to print this out check-list style and start right away.
This year my goal is to educate people on how to make medicine for themselves, and supplement that with a modest income of making products to support my goals and dreams and help people become happier, healthier, and more confident in themselves.
gOSH THANKs. I learned this year: more about biology and vaxxinations than I wanted, and learned that our Department of Defense (DOD) is literally trying to kill us, they made and own the deadly injections. I learned that I have a limit to the amount of sadness and rejection and cogdis I can take before I blow my stack, and that blowing my stack is an appropriate, if not desirable, response when someone is literally trying to kill me.
This year? I hope to learn how to walk away from all this clicking, and return to some of my former skill base in rough and fine woodworking, making pipes (that look like branches still with bark) and getting better at bushcamping by bushcamping....these English folks are helpful and have fun vids
https://www.youtube.com/@TAOutdoors
This is a little different. We are over 70 and getting a bit creaky. Its getting harder to grow the crops and tend the chickens. Any advice on making things easier? We have over 50 different fruit trees and try to grow as many vegetables as we can. Thanks Ashley!
I don't know who will be busier, you helping us learn or me trying to learn as much as possible as we build our retirement home in the mountains. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
I would really like something like 52 weeks to go from zreo to hero. As in a list of priorities on how to live more simply and self sufficiently. And then how to do it. For total newbies and those starting, how to prioritize what should be done first and then how to do it. Very simple steps along the way.
Ashley, your compiled list is AMAZING! Everything looks fantastic. I especially love the sections Hunting, Fishing & Survival Skills and Preparedness.
I’m looking to learn hide tanning this year (both methods of keeping fur on and then a standard process of deer hide) as a step in my hunters journey. Without chemicals and either using brain tanning method or egg yolks (or another similar way I have not yet heard of).
And anything animal fat-related!
Harvesting, storing, rendering, consuming, and applying. All the things 😁
I would love to learn how to make tallow- based body care products /herbal tallow balms and soaps from it. I’ve attempted my own tallow and jojoba face cream but I just smell like tallow 😆
I aspire to be you like you,Ashley! You are a wealth of knowledge and experience. Thank you for the beautiful road to follow you’ve been carving out ♥️
In 2022, my husband and I learned how to make sauerkraut and blueberry jam without pectin. My husband learned herbalism and I researched what foods to grow that will give us the most nutrition. In 2023 I would really like to learn how to grow a LOT of food in a small space, how to make our own medicines and make a successful batch of vinegar. 😁 We are really focused on growing as much food and herbs as we can to sustain ourselves.
I put up some new foods this year - like sauerkraut! Also made my first goat cheese!
2023 will be the year I learn bread making. The challenge will be reducing gluten, though. Most of my bread books suggest high gluten flours. Maybe I need to embrace acorn flour, bean “flours”, etc??? I’ll take any and all of your bread tips! I’ll be revisiting all your past posts very soon.
I look forward to another year with you!
I appreciate the time you and your family take to spread good information. I just recently began following this and have enjoyed it. I gathered beauty berries and spiderwort and just look at my "weeds" in a whole different way now. Im not sure if you have already covered this but im curious how to make flour or the base items of things
Love your information! Thank you!
* I was gifted small restaurant (covid days) greenhouse and would like to learn how to most effectively utilize it.
*Meals in a jar - canned and dehydrated
*Pruning young and old fruit trees
*How to grow elderberries from cuttings
*3D printing for beginners
* computers for beginners
Whew!! Much gratitude for sharing your knowledge.
I like a lot of the stuff on your lists. I know some already. I want to learn more. The most important thing I need to learn is not to fear failure. I am not going to produce perfect the first try. But, I do not need to fear failure. What I want to learn this year is more mental than anything else.
Last year I made jams from persimmons and maypops off our property for the first time. This year I want to try root cellaring.
1-How to make yeast for bread making.
2-How to make and store lye for soap making.
3-How to store bulk quantities of flour, sugar, dry beans, rice to leep dry and bug free.
In 2022, I learned to can (water bath and pressure) and then to can only things I want to keep eating. I began making gluten free sourdough and buying in bulk and preserving. I rendered my own tallow, kept plants alive at my apartment, and made tallow balm and tinctures, too.
In 2023 I will garden in the earth whether on my own property or in a community garden. I will experiment with cheese making, dehydrating food for preservation, and plan to start regularly making my own broth and stock. My husband and I are planning to take a butchery class and cure our own bacon! We are currently in an apartment while house hunting, so we have to get creative to make things happen in a small shared space.
Hi Ashley, the last year has been a real kickoff for us as we’ve moved back to the country and started growing our own (in a very small way) and dealing with the mildew and bug issues of a sub tropical climate!
Apart from the focus on organically managing our veggies and fruit, I’m hoping we can learn to make jams, chutneys and cheese in 2023! Alongside our renovations and business changes, that should keep us nicely busy!!
Happy New Year from Australia
What a great posting to start the year with- you've put everything into one spot, this is fantastic!! I feel like I should have said this sooner, but Thank You!! Thank you so very much. Your posts have been not only educational and informative, but inspirational as well. I think I have been following you at least 5, maybe closer to 10 years now, how long have you been doing this? Trying to remember how I found your posts, might have been through a Hank Shaw post, or pinterest? Either way every time I get a new email in my inbox from you, I look forward to taking the time to read and absorb.
Looking back on last year, I feel like I have really come into my own parenting and guiding my boys, educating them on foraging, cooking/canning and survival techniques. So much of that has been thanks to you, you've given me pause and helped me to look beyond the more common foraging plants and techniques. It's been great.
What I would like to accomplish in the next year is making our yard 100% edible/medicinal. I want every plant to have a purpose. This is a little difficult living at 10,200 feet in elevation. Many of the things I planted last year didn't make it due to the short growing season. Praying my sour cherry trees I planted last year survive the winter. Money is tight, so investing in a good greenhouse isn't an option. But I can improvise! I am handy to an extent. Thanks again, I appreciate your guidance/tips, blessings to you and your family! Hoping your year to come is a great one! Cheers!
This is a great list for me actually. I’m going to print this out check-list style and start right away.
This year my goal is to educate people on how to make medicine for themselves, and supplement that with a modest income of making products to support my goals and dreams and help people become happier, healthier, and more confident in themselves.