How Self Sufficient Are You?

We are striving for the self-sufficient lifestyle and moved to a 6 acre rental before taking the plunge of buying the real deal. So far in the last 4 months here we have become self-sufficient in eggs (although only 2 of the 6 chooks are laying so the other 4 are going to get the chop, as is 1 of the 2 roosters, is it ok to kill the older birds, will they work for normal chicken meat or should I just use them for stews & soups do you think?). We also introduced a male duck for our two white ducks and had a clutch of 11 ducklings that is now down to 4 the Hawk ate the others before we could protect them, but we do plan on eating any of the young that make it to a good size and we want to find a gander for our 4 geese.

We are totally self-sufficient in leafy greens, broccoli, zucchini, beans, peas and soon we will have tomatoes, corn & potatoes ready to eat. We are also starting to grow sunflowers, quinoa and amaranth (sp?) plus loads of other things. Once we have all the gardens sorted we will think more about getting some other animals for meat production.

I'm so excited to see this topic here

We are also trying to preserve, freeze and bottle our excess. We purchased a load of strawberries and made loads of jam, dug up all the beetroot and made chutney, burger beetroot and dip, I made organe, lemon & a mix cordial a few days ago (it's sooo easy). I used to make my own bread, sour dough, but I have trouble with NZ's low gluten flour (we always strive for local and organic before other options), and back in Oz we used to buy fresh yeast blocks not this dried stuff, anyone know what I'm talking about?

I "make" my own yogurt in that I have an esiyo maker and get the powder, but I would prefer to do the old fashioned way of taking a tablespoon from the last batch, anybody do this and do you do it in your esiyo still?

Here is a link to my blog if anyones interested, I'd love to see anyone elses if you have one. Pioneering on the home front Link