So my wife and I have been discussing the current decline of the economy; the 45%+ increase in food/fuel/etc.

As a result, we decided to move forward with some plans to help increase our self-sufficiency. Money's been tight but we've found a way to basically build a roost and get 9 chickens (hens). The hens have been easy to deal with and are actually relatively fun to work with. The next step is actually to get a small goat for milk and a whether (gilded companion goat). We're on about a half acre of land, so there's not a great deal to work with, but we're doing the best we can.

I'm wondering who else has taken steps like this and if they can make any recommendations. Specifically what next to approach from the standpoint of food. Our next plan of action is basically like this:

1) A gated fence enclosing the property.
2) Goats w/ enclosure.
3) Veggie garden.

Beyond that, I'm thinking of getting a 3000 watt generator wired up to my well pump so that I can ensure fresh water even in an emergency situation. Perhaps a fuel storage system too, though I have my concerns regarding the safety of that.

Home security is also a concern - we've befriended SOME of our neighbors, but one or two are just plain weird and very anti-social. It's a pretty small community but I don't feel one should take something like that for granted, especially if things continue at their current pace.

So yeah, if anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears.

Meh, somehow this went into the wrong forum. Can a mod put this under the long term survival forum?

IIRC, you are probably relatively close to the Amish/Mennonite communities of Southern PA. Find a way to pick their brains. Granted, some are more modern than others, but they have good lifestyle skills that translate very nicely into what you are trying to do.

One of the previous posts mentioned how much work the "garden for a family" was. Research that thread. Also, look into container gardening and other options.

I would look into non-conforming (non-show) dwarf/pygmy goats. I was acquainted with a guy in NJ that had some Nigerian Dwarf goats. They required surprising little room, were hardy and healthy as all get out, and their feeding needs are easy. I would possibly breed them a little. The meat is pretty good. I like "cabrito", as our Spanish-speaking friends call it. Also, milk, cheese, yogurt.

Look at your house heating requirements. How will you handle the power outage from a blizzard? Same from the occassional tropical storm that manages to drift into the area. The generator is for more than water pumping.

All-in-all you are on the right track.

Actually, we're going with nigerian dwarves We wanted something relatively hassle-free, small, and well tempered. We don't particularly care about the 'show' aspect of it.

The heating thing is definitely a concern. My house is very efficient (it's brand new and was one of the requirements I had when purchasing one) but aside from a kerosene heater backup heat is not exactly in place ATM. It's something I'll definitely consider thinking about.

Overall my wife has done the bulk of the research and has been doing a good job with making sure she fully understands the constraints and time involved with making something like this work. I just make sure the bills get paid

You might want to think about a rooster for them hens. They wear out faster than you think, and a rooster could make the flock self-perpetuating. Also another source of meat. Might have to get a larger hen house though.
www.backyardchickens.com
If you're a little worried about your neighbors, but not a lot, consider getting a watch animal. Traditional dog, or geese also make good watch animals. They are territorial and loud.
If you're really worried about you neighbors, kill them before they kill you.
Have you made preperations to keep your animals fed in hard times?

check out some alternative energy sources, some can be fairly cheap and can help lessen energy costs before an emergency occurs.

Can't go wrong with a goat or two. They're hearty, will graze on just about anything, produce milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, etc. And you could use their droppings as fuel if needed.

I imagine that geese would go better with goats and chickens than a dog at first. And geese can be used for meat as well if the situation calls for it.
A small farm is a very good idea.

Besides what others have offered, which I agree with, Geese will eat some garden plants but not others.

With the right plants fenced in, geese can be released into that garden each day and they will keep that garden weed free without harming those plants.

The geese are also "guard dogs".

Oh cool. I'll keep geese in mind, definitely not something I had though of. I also have to keep in mind local ordinances; I'm out of the way but still in a township. So basically I have to get permits for certain animals from the township and there are limits as to what is and is not available. I'm not sure if geese are one of them.

As it is, we have a cat, a dog, and 9 chickens. The long term may involve a rooster. Right now though, I'm pretty sure that rooster would involve me giving up an element of my sanity so I'm holding off on that for now.

The goats will be next, along with a 'goat dog' - a great pyrenese. The geese definitely seem like a good choice though as a meat producer, so that's one to look at.

Thanks for the info guys

Consider spacesaving vertical gardening. Hog panels curved into an arch or an upside down V are sturdy and self-supporting.

Rabbits are a source of meat and are quiet.

Consider a greenhouse. The book Solviva by Anna Edy is in the library systems. Check out how she combined a greenhouse with chickens, rabbits, and barrels of water (solar collectors). I think chickens and rabbits give off something like 1000 BTUs of body heat per animal per day.

And if anyone ever wondered, no, you can't decrow roosters.

All the pygmy goats I've known were mean little suckers. And the mean ones live forever, so be sure to eat them first.

Sue

Another choice of guard fowl are Guinea Hens. You can often get close enough to bribe with treats or poison dogs. While harder it can even be done with geese. I have yet seen anyone or anything get that close to a Guinea without an alarm being given.

If you would like more info try.
http://www.guineafowl.com/fritsfarm/guineas/
http://members.aol.com/CELESTmich/guinea.html#DIET
http://poultryweb.tamu.edu/Extension%20publications/l-519.pdf

As for a generator go with a diesel. They last far longer than any other type of engine. Second the fuel is less volatile and is therefore safer for your storage needs.

A sheep or two don't need a lot of space and can provide meat, milk, and wool for various cold weather needs. I would think the Pyrenese would be helpful with the sheep, but I'm not sure I've ever known of goats needing a guard dog.

You don't have to be able to spin to use the wool - felting is super easy and can provide shoe/boot insoles, rugs, pillow and mattress stuffing or pads and bats of carded wool can be used in quilts. For those uses you don't need fine wool like a handspinner would use. You could chose a meat breed like Hampshire and still have a use for the wool.

drove thru Chicago a week ago and someone had goats by
their shack--and i mean shack--next to the freeway on the
south side of the city..looks like some people are way
ahead on the "small animals" for dinner issue

I once arrested a guy for an unrelated crime, and found one bedroom in their house had been filled with dirt. They had about five goats living in it. VERY intersting odors in that place! This was in a nicer section of a fairly nice city...