https://pennsif.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/pennsifs-progress-454x278.jpg

#### I’m a homesteader. But first and last I’m a prepper.
##### The homesteading is the ‘bugging in’ part of prepping.
##### Living where I live in rural west Wales I don’t plan on needing to bug out if the bad times do come.
##### That is why I moved here.

You may or may not have noticed that the day number is counting **down** on the Pennsif’s Progress blog. **That’s because I’ve given myself 1000 days to get fully prepped up.** Or at least as prepped as I can with the time, money and resources I have available. Why 1000 days? Arbitrary really, but with the way of the world I don’t think we can give it much longer. Reading the news at the moment 1000 days may be way too optimistic 😶 As I have set this 1000 day target I need to monitor progress to make sure I keep on track. So I’ve decided to take a raincheck every 50 days to see what I've achieved and what I still have to do. **Here's my first 50 day review. Do tell me if I'm missing anything big time, and if you have any suggestions to help me progress faster.** --- ### The State of the Prep - Day 950 Review
##### FOOD [8.0 out of 10] * The biggest area of progress so far this year. * First polytunnel installed. Initial crops planted. * Water source for polytunnel installed. * First and second greenhouses installed. First one now in full production. Second one just entering production. * Upper back garden now reclaimed and under production. First harvests already coming in. * Original lower back garden and old greenhouse have been in full production all summer, with two additional raised beds. Continual harvesting. * Second herb bed constructed and fully planted. Already harvesting herbs regularly. * Targetting 200kg of vegetables, and 6 months of production this year. * New quarter acre free range chicken run constructed. * Two flocks of hens (now 13 in total) laying continuously (every single day of the year so far). Currently averaging 8 eggs per day. * First batch of 8 broiler chicks reared, dispatched and frozen. Not sure yet if continuing with broilers. * Considering options for second protein source - possibly rabbits, but maybe opportunistic lambs in the short term. * Preparing an area to introduce bees - maybe this year, if not early next year. * Researching options for fish as a food source either from the lake or the bigger of the two streams. * Still estimating that in 3 years we should be able to produce 90+% of vegetables and 70% of fruit. Ideally on a year round basis. * Alongside food production and preservation from the homestead, also gradually building up stocks of bought in tinned and freeze-dried storage food. Currently approximately 2 months supply of long term food stored. Want to increase this to at least 4 months by the end of the year. * Food areas still to consider - milk/dairy and flour/cereal. ##### WATER [9.0 out of 10] * Have our own spring. Must arrange for another water quality test soon. * Also have well and lake as backups. May need water purification options for those. * Have own septic tank. About to have this emptied again. Now having it emptied regularly every year. * Have purchased a small water filter and a supply of water purification tablets as backup. Need to review quantities held and possibly increase. ##### HEALTH [7.0 out of 10] * Been building up medical supplies - both first aid type supplies and required prescription medicines. Need to review and organise stocks to see what is still needed. * Diet improvements progressing well - more fibre, more home produced food - less processed. Mainly organic where possible. * Now using more fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kefir (both milk and water) - definite improvement on overall health. * Transitioned totally from tea and coffee to herb teas. * Working on improving general fitness levels. Need to work on getting more sleep. * Continuing with gradual weight reduction - will hopefully reach optimal target weight by year end. * Four out of five family members have now done some form of first aid training (St John Wales, at work, with cadets). Looking for options to develop training further. * Building up dental first aid kit and supplies. Need to review. * All family members now on regular dentist and optician checkup schedule (six monthly for dentists, annual for opticians). * Attended an introductory Herbal Medicine course. Hoping to gain much more knowledge on this. ##### ENERGY [5.5 out of 10] * Purchased small backup petrol generator. Still looking to add further to generator capacity and fuel diversity. * Added some more UPS systems for short term backups when power cuts appear particularly with lightning. * Have now ordered 6 PV panels. Hoping to have these installed and linked to a battery backup system for the main house before the end of the year - budget permitting. * Exploring options with local renewables consultant to install some sort of pico-hydro scheme to add to energy resilience. * Hoping to achieve potential full off-grid capacity, if required, with further PV installations over the next two years. * Regularly monitor LightningMaps.org to predict if we are likely to have any problems with electricity supply and internet connections. ##### SECURITY [3.0 out of 10] * Planted some prickly sea buckthorn as first line perimeter defence. * Need to do a lot of work on fences and gates. * Investigating options for trail cams and CCTV. * Continuing archery and clay pigeon shooting with youngest daughter. * Youngest daughter also doing regular shooting with cadets. * Need to acquire suitable equipment. * Investigating setting up a local PMR radio based alert system with neighbouring farms. * Would like to build local prepping network. Only found a couple of like-minded people so far. ##### TRANSPORT [2.5 out of 10] * Begun to consider better vehicle options, but no finance for change available yet. * At least one 4WD vehicle is a must for winter. * Considering swapping one of the two cars for an electric vehicle - the Nissan Leaf is the most likely candidate. * Got both existing vehicles on a regular servicing schedule now. * Considering getting a couple of ponies - for pulling loads, and maybe for riding. * Daughter and I have been on horse riding lessons, also attended courses on using horses for farm work and logging. ##### COMMUNICATIONS [2.5 out of 10] * Have now obtained amateur radio Foundation Licence and call-sign. * Now need to get some equipment. * Would like to find out more about getting involved with RAYNET. * Have a number of PMR radios for use around the homestead. Less than one mile range at best in local hilly terrain. All family members proficient in their use. * Would CB radio also be useful? * Would like to build local / sub-regional prepping network. ##### SHELTER [4.5 out of 10] * Have an old farm house and two large barns. * Stone barn is usable with water and electricity, but would like to get it re-roofed to make into more of a second living zone for children and visitors. Costs too prohibitive at present. Looking to install a toilet before the end of the year. * Main house in reasonably good condition. Leak in one of chimneys is due to be fixed before the end of the summer. * Have one woodstove and one open fire - and plenty of wood. Would like to replace the open fire with another woodstove. * Planning on semi-converting the attic for more storage. * Need to regularly test the smoke and CO2 detectors. Fire extinguishers in place. * Have plumbing insurance in place. Might get the same for electricity. * Long term plan is to build some sort of cabin with compost toilet and PV etc down towards the lake for a secondary living location away from the main house and barn. This would be quite well hidden as the woodland grows up around it. --- --- ##### If you found this post useful or interesting please do upvote, resteem and follow. Thank you. --- **You might also be interested in some of my other recent posts :** * [What the Muscovy Brothers would do with $50 SBD](https://steemit.com/funny/@pennsif/what-the-muscovy-brothers-would-do-with-usd50-sbd) * [Pennsif's Progress - The Days are Numbered // Day 951 : Plums away!](https://steemit.com/gardening/@pennsif/pennsif-s-progress-the-days-are-numbered-day-951-plums-away) * [Pennsif's Progress - The Days are Numbered // Day 955 : It started with a haircut](https://steemit.com/life/@pennsif/pennsif-s-progress-the-days-are-numbered-day-955-it-started-with-a-haircut) * [The Trees of My Land #1 : the Mighty Oak [Quercus robur]](https://steemit.com/nature/@pennsif/the-trees-of-my-land-1-the-mighty-oak-quercus-robur) * [Homestead Happiness Contest - Announcement of the Winners](https://steemit.com/homesteading/@pennsif/homestead-happiness-contest-announcement-of-the-winners) * [Homesteading Challenge #2 : My Embarrassing Story](https://steemit.com/homesteading/@pennsif/homesteading-challenge-2-my-embarrassing-story) * [Homesteaders & Preppers on steemit - going weekly - v7 [30 Jul '17]](https://steemit.com/homesteading/@pennsif/homesteaders-and-preppers-on-steemit-going-weekly-v7-30-jul-17) * [My Greatest Regret - I never said goodbye](https://steemit.com/family/@pennsif/my-greatest-regret-i-never-said-goodbye) * [Steemit Retention Rate - a model of how it can be improved - the homesteaders and preppers 'community'?](https://steemit.com/steemit/@pennsif/steemit-retention-rate-a-model-of-how-it-can-be-improved-the-homesteaders-and-preppers-community) ---

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