Small-Scale Self-Sufficiency Workshop
Sunday, April 27. 1:00pm
AlpineGlo Farm
Westminster, VT
“Each part of your homestead benefits the other and works together in harmony”
With this basic premise in mind from our presenter, Westminster farmer, Rachel
Ware, the Food Security Collaborative will host her Small-Scale Self-
Sufficiency Workshop on Sunday, April 27, 1:00 PM, at her AlpineGlo Farm.
The workshop is free, though participation is limited, and registration is
required. To do so, phone Tim Stevenson, 802.869.2141
Starting small, Rachel will discuss gardening, including such topics as raised
beds, container gardening, cold frames; as well as preparing beds and using
manure and compost from your own your homestead; picking beginner friendly
crops; planting timeline, staggered schedule, crop rotation, and harvesting
basics.
She will also discuss chickens (eggs, meat, or both), basic husbandry for
chickens; housing, fencing, food; the harmonious cycle of chickens and your
homestead–food for you, manure for your garden, natural bug deterrents,
garden waste for your chickens.
The next step would be raising more food for the table, and dealing with
questions about sheep (meat and/or lawnmower?); goats (meat and/or milk, and
brush clearers?); and Pigs; a large quantity of food for the family. She will
also discuss butchering, where and how one does this. (Note: are you in an
area that welcomes agriculture? Most zoning is conducive to small scale
animal keeping).
Finally, Rachel will come full circle with a discussion of how different
animals and gardening techniques may benefit your land and specific needs.
The Food Security Collaborative is a project of Post Oil Solutions and is
active in the communities of Rockingham, Bellows Falls, Westminster, Saxtons
River, Cambridgeport, Grafton, and Athens. Its mission is to achieve greater
food security through the development of a garden-based local food system
resulting in enhanced civic pride, a stronger local economy, and a more
sustainable environment.
