Homesteading, one chicken at a time
The rules and regulations of Homesteading in Mzansi
How do you realistically prepare for the future?
The world seems to be at a tipping point. For the past decade we have had to deal with many major upheavals and things don’t seem to be normalising anytime soon. In fact – it feels like the changes and crazy vibes are just growing in intensity. Yes, I’m looking at you, America, Europe and the Middle East. Please just stop threatening World War 3 already!
One of the few things we can do to try and “future proof” ourselves, is to become more self-reliant. In the past we have had some in depth discussions on solar electricity, water harvesting systems, victory gardens and other ways to go off-grid.
What is homesteading?
It is being self-reliant and moving towards Off-grid living. It is about knowing where your food comes from and eliminating waste.
Eggs and dairy
One of the easiest ways to cut down on your food bill is to grow or keep your own food and food producing animals.
Now, eggs are easy. According to most South African Municipal bylaws, you can keep a small number of laying hens on your property, as long as you stick to the regulations of the Animals Protection Act. Provide shelter, ample roaming space, access to food and clean water as well as basic enrichment and a safe laying space. It’s important to note that roosters are generally not permitted in residential areas, due to their noisy crowing and nuisance levels. We support this. In fact, not having a rooster means you’ll never stand the chance of cracking open a fertilized egg and fining an embryo in your frying pan – trust me, you’ll never think of breakfast the same again!
Quick Fact: Hens will lay eggs daily regardless of the presence of a rooster.
Dairy is another thing altogether.
Here different rules and regulations come into play. First of all, selling of unpasteurized, or “raw” milk is illegal in South Africa, due to health concerns. Secondly, keeping a dairy cow in your back yard is a tricky thing. There are various local and national laws governing the conditions, space requirements and veterinary checks that need to be in place to keep such an animal in a residential area.
If you are lucky enough to live on a smallholding, plot or agricultural space, you can keep cattle, while still abiding by the Animal Protection Act
Top Tip: Milking your own cows and giving your family fresh raw milk might sound great, but raw milk can carry dangerous bacteria and should not be given to young children, the elderly or other immuno-compromised individuals. Its best to heat your raw milk properly before consuming it.
Root cellar
This is an exciting part of homesteading that can be a great family project, Root cellars are ancient food storage facilities that keep vegetables fresh by limiting exposure to sunlight and oxygen.
There are many different iterations of this, from underground dugouts under your house, (however, most South African homes do not have cellars) to raised mounds built from prepared earth outdoors. The benefits of having a root cellar include keeping fresh produce like potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions and carrots fresh for months without crowding your fridge and losing flavour or nutrients. Oh – and lets not forget the quirky conversation starter that is: “Oh, we spent the weekend stocking our root cellar…”
How to build a root cellar – Wiki How
Root Cellars and Off-grid Homesteading
Food preserving and community collaborations
One of the easiest ways to give you and your family a semblance of food security and feel productive is to buy bulk vegetables when they are on sale and seasonal and then process them and preserve them at home.
Bottling tomatoes and fruit, making jams, fermenting pickles, onions and sauerkraut and even brewing your own gut-healing kombucha is a great way to cut down on your grocery bill as well as keep track of which chemicals and preservatives you and your loved ones eat.
Have a swop meet
If you have 20kg of tomatoes, don’t fear. Prep them all and then get on your neighbourhood WhatsApp group and ask around. Maybe the neighbour down the street just blanched and froze their own 20kg batch of beans or broccoli and now you can do a food swop and post about it on Facebook and feel like the most wholesome, crunchy mom in the world.
Slowly, consistently.
The secret to successful homesteading is starting small and staying consistent. Don’t buy 20 chicks, because they will produce more eggs than any family can consume without the risk of explosive gas and high cholesterol. Don’t dig up your whole garden and plant kale, don’t get a cow just yet and leave the sheep for later. Even if you just start fighting food waste by preserving unused veggies before they go off, you are on the right track.
For an interesting read on South African animal-keeping, check this out:
Keeping of animals, bees and poultry by-laws, 2015 revised
Top Tip: The internet is full of homesteaders, DIYers and Crunchy Moms, so get lost in their content at your own peril. (Take all of their advice and experiences with a pinch of salt, né?) We love:
