BURYING MY CONTAINER/FENCING/ANIMALS

#offgrid #shippingcontainer #fencing #property

[@charlottehetherington8720]

I know quite a few people who have romanticized about homesteading but you show through your videos that it takes a lot of dedication and time

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Awesome I’m glad that comes through.👊

[@cabinman]

I have raised goats and there are some pros and cons like anything. Since you are there so often, that makes it more feasible automatically. Goats spend their entire life trying to figure out a way to die…that’s my clever go-to goat statement. Horns caught in the fence constantly! So if I raise goats again I will either debud them at birth or if you don’t like doing that then install flat wire fencing…it’s a 4x4 wire if I remember correctly and it’s thick and strong wire. Goat wire is has smaller openings so they can’t stick their heads through it and get stuck by their horns. Predators seem to find them quickly while they are stuck. Nubian goats are probably the best for milking. You’ll absolutely have to keep them away from the garden. One gate left open and you turn your back to sneeze and you turn around and the garden is eaten down to the ground and the goats are smoking cigarettes is sheer relief. Having a herding dog would be helpful because then you could free roam the chickens and not have to worry about predators/neighbors dogs. Of course that’s more mouths to feed. If you want meat goats I only suggest parasite resistant breeds such as the New Zealand Kiko or Tennessee Fainting goat (which are incredibly easy to capture due to their fainting). I wouldn’t touch another Boer with a ten foot pole. They get every parasite known to man plus three.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I need some fainting goats..😂😂 Thank you for your time insight it sure helps my decision.👊

[@moomoocho1196]

Goat will be on the hood of your car! They are crazy…

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Great video Ron. Here’s to 2023 🍺 May it be a good one.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Happy new year you guys..!!🍺

[@courtneystevens]

awesome

[@karenriggle5435]

If you go with 🐑 ,hair sheep don't have lanolin glands so you can raise them to adult size to butcher ... you can also milk them and they aren't as destructive as 🐐 and 🐑 make wonderful cheese

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

That’s a great point.👊

[@MAM-cy3yy]

I recommend pigs. Get some IPP or Kuni's they won't tear up your property. Single strand wire will keep them in. Just my opinion

[@my4everhome]

Good morning 😃

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

Happy new year

[@marylfab]

I have read dorper sheep are great for meat, they have a mild flavor, they are a hair sheep, not wool, so no need to shear. Also sheep milk has a higher percentage of fat making it very useful!

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Thank you for your comment. They all help in making my decision. 👊

[@jenniferdavidson9784]

I don't know if it was a hard headed breed I had, but I don't recommend a goat. They are loud, and will jump and climb on everything. Example...the hood of your truck. But I am no expert, I assure you. Looking into sheep right now. Enjoyed your video immensely. I wish everyone was as upbeat and neat as you are. :)

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

That’s what I’m concerned about..👊

[@brendapike7630]

Apparently you did not have a fence or the goats would not be climbing and jumping on your car but if you fence them in a 6 ft you should be good as long as you don’t put anything beside the fence they can get on and jump over

[@jmt6615]

Look for people in your area that you can trade with. See what you can raise that you can trade to get what you need. Thats what my grandparents did in the old days.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I will be trading for some beef next year.❤️

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

A rubber sheet probably would have held up alot better than the tarp. But that’s how we learn. Trial and error.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I’ll bet your right..👊

[@SugarCreekOffGrid]

My goats are a bit picky to. They like to browse up not on the ground. I can't let them in the orchard or gardens.

[@brendapike7630]

I will recommend definitely goats because they cleared your land will eat any brush just about very little food to add with it they are very delicious I have eaten many of them sheep you have to have a lot of grass and a lot of acreage because they will eat it to the ground but cheap I would not recommend you have to continually change them from pasture to pasture goats and pigs are your best big animals pig smell a good bit just keep that in mind goats as long as you didn’t solve a place for them no problem put like some boards and rocks like a teeter toddler or old dog house or something they love to entertain their self and you as well very economical

[@MsJackle99]

Ron, getting bigger animals would be a giant step in self-sufficiency. I am no expert by any stretch, but I have watched your channel from the beginning, and I do have a bit of experience with sheep, goats and pigs. I can tell you that Sheep would not be the best animal for your property as it is now. Sheep need pasture to thrive. They are grazers. Yes, you can use hay and feed, but they would not be the happy animals I believe you would want. Goats on the other hand are browsers and would thrive in your forest areas. Build a small structure to get them out of the weather, a couple of rolls of electric fence netting and solar energizer to corral them into an area you would like clear of brush and protect them from the predators you have in the neighborhood. Create a small pen with one of the fence rolls and let then go to town on it for a day or so and then move them to an adjacent area. The upper parts of your property where the blackberries are thickest would be perfect. I would start with a small group of four to six. This would give them a sense of herd security but still be easily managed. They would require a lot of up-front equipment and time to train them to go and do what you need them to do. I also would not be too focused upon milk or meat with either sheep or goats at the beginning. If you really want to go for a meat animal, I recommend a pair of piglets. First, the pens are way easier to create. Second, they are by far a better animal when measured against a feed to meat scale. Finally, those rascals will eat ANYTHING and be perfectly content.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Beautiful… Thank you for your insight. That helps making the decision.👊

[@MsHomesteader]

We have dairy goats and a Jersey cow and we only milk once daily while kids or calf are still nursing, so we don't milk twice daily until babies are weaned. Goat meat is similar to venison, never had lamb, we did have sheep for their fleeces for many years and sold the lambs for meat. I would advise you stay clear of miniature animals; they have a lot of health issues. Goat's milk if you want butter, you'll need a cream separator because goat milk is naturally homogenized. Hope this helps in your choices. P.S. Some goats are noisier than others, for instance Nubians are wonderful dairy goats but can be very noisy, verses Alpine or Lamancha are quite and also good milkers

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

This helps so much. Thank you..!!👊

[@rickershomesteadahobbyfarm3291]

If you want goats I suggest Nigerian Dwarves. Get 2 females and a male. In 1 year your girls will have at least one kid each. They have the potential to double every year. They are also good for milk. Or get some mixed goats. You are right about goats being destructive. My goats ate the wooden sides on our shed at the old homestead. They are also rough with the fences. Don’t expect your fences to stay nice while you have goats. As long as they have enough space and something to forge on they normally don’t try to escape. But if they don’t have enough space or forge they will get out. Some goats get out just bc they can. I started out with Spanish brush goats and they were way to big. I started mixing them with smaller breeds to downsize them. I have them the size of dwarf goats now and every one of them are small. I just rotate the males every few years. I get rid of goats with undesirable traits and add goats with traits I like.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Perfect. Thank you for your time insight every bit helps in making my decision.👊

[@tomas5376]

Since you have lots of timber and a working mill, maybe you could trade some lumber for a side of beef, cut and wrapped and labeled. The same goes for some pork. Perhaps you could trade lumber with someone who milks goats or cows. Free range goats will make your chickens look like saints. Goats will eat just about anything and milking can become a necessary evil. Buena suerte y Feliz año nuevo🍾🍾🥂🥂

[@christineabedini3765]

Hello, I subscribe to your channel recommended by Brian of simple life Alaska, and I love your content. I grew up in San Mateo, which is about 20 miles south of San Francisco on the peninsula and I now live in southern California.. based on the weather, I’ve seen on your channel so far I’m wondering what part of California you are in as it doesn’t state that on your about your channel. Also, I don’t know what your name is..😇 my name is Christine I’m 72 retired and divorced with grown children living elsewhere. Your property is amazing and clearly you’ve worked very hard to develop it and protect it. I love your attitude and look forward to watching all your videos.☮️❤️

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Those two are so fun.👍 my name is Ron. I’m 56 and I’m in Northern California. Welcome I hope you enjoy what you see. Thank you..!!

[@rebeccabarden9793]

Hi, Ron. I raised Nubian goats for 22 years when I homesteaded while raising my 4 children in the 80's and 90's, and would recommend them. They have the highest butterfat of all goat milk, are friendly/well dispositioned and easy to manage. I easy trained them to walk with my hand on their collar from barn to pasture. I only had to assist a birth once, to deliver a triplet. I separated babies at night, then milk in the morning, then they were with mama during the day ( so I only had to milk once a day). Get at least two, as they don't do well alone. I also raised sheep for meat and wool. I had to assist birthing at least 60% of the time, they don't herd well ( they just panic and scatter), have much more issues with their hooves and health, and you need to have a ram, who can be very aggressive during breeding season. I only raised sheep for a few years. You can take your female goats in your vehicle to someone with a buck for breeding! You do not want to have a buck for MANY reasons. Another benefit to having goats vs sheep is the addition of milk products: I raised two bummer lambs with goat's milk. I just put the word out that I was looking for bummer lambs. I did not grain feed our lambs. They were grass fed on our 3 acre farm. Good luck!

[@rebeccabarden9793]

Nubians consistently have twins.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Very detailed… Thank you.👊

[@mommajefferson]

I have a suggestion for the conex. I would put post in the ground on each side of the conex, build a roof over top of it to protect it.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

That’s coming when I build the deck or roof over it.👊

[@christineabedini3765]

Goat meat is very tasty, and so is lamb or mutton. I am pretty sure that you have to breed your dough goats for them to develop milk, which will happen after they give birth. I’m assuming sheep are the same. They can both forage to clean up debris, but there are specific things that sheep cannot eat so you would need to investigate that.. internally and externally sheep have internal parasites and both need vaccinations periodically so you’re gonna have to learn how to deal with that especially to cut down on expenses on vets fees. So you don’t have to share the sheet you would need to get hair sheep, which do not need to be shared. Also wool sheep can develop an issue with maggots around their rear end from flies, which are a health hazard for them.. you can also send your goats or sheep to a meat processor who will end their lives and process them for meat, but then you have to think about a freezer situation once you get your meat back. A con for goats is they can be very destructive and they will find any and every way to reach your fencing, contact arms, family homestead Daniel arms, who canned answer some questions for you. He’s in Oklahoma and has a good channel.. good luck☮️

[@christineabedini3765]

Excuse my spelling and word exchanges as a mostly text verbally because I am losing my site and it’s very difficult so I hope you got the gist of what I was trying to impart

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

All good insight. Thank you..!!

[@zichali]

Thank you for sharing your projects. Nicely done.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Your welcome. Thank you for watching..!!

[@stuartrinker]

For us with our goats and chickens it had to make sense for us. Sense to us is the cost of feed. We didn’t want to have to pay for large amounts of feed year round. During spring, summer and fall they are about 90% free range. Happy new year have a great week.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

What things do they destroy around the yard? Feed that’s my concern as well.

[@stuartrinker]

@@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494 they really don’t destroy a lot. They are very curious, like to jump on everything, always in the way. Eat just about anything, they could probably figure out a way into your garden. Hope this helps.

[@uppanadam74]

We just had a 37 degree Celsius day here where I am in Australia!! So I really enjoyed the sound of rain in your video!!

[@uppanadam74]

@@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494 It was!! :-(!!

[@MrRDJEEP]

Happy New Year Ron. Great plans bud. Have you ever thought about Dexter cows? They are a small bread and are good for both meat and dairy. Take care and look forward to new adventures. Enjoy

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I will look into that.👊 Happy new year..!!🎉

[@MsJackle99]

@@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494 I like Dexter's as well as Kerry's. Both are small Irish breeds that do very well on a small homestead. However, they do require pasture like the sheep. Way more pasture would be needed per animal then I believe would be feasible on the acreage you currently have. As much as an acre per animal of quality grass would be needed to keep them happy and healthy plus all of the supplements that would be needed. Cattle require a huge monetary expenditure up front in order to successfully raise them. Also worthy of consideration is the cost of storing that much meat on an off-grid homestead in an area that has very hot, dry summers. I believe pigs would be the better option for meat and goats to keep down the underbrush to reduce the fire hazard and provide some milk when they kid

[@CeeCee-cx6ks]

Great Video! Also, keep up the fun "shorts" - you are killing that game. Goats are escape artists - a major consideration, I think in terms of fencing them in. I look forward to following your journey in 2023.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Thank you so much for watching..!!❤️

[@gailsgardenherbsmore1605]

I'm in same terrain as you and I have 2 Nigerian dwarf goats. They eat blackberry Vines and brush really well. I hardly have to feed them and the don't eat much feed. I milk her in the the spring after the birthing. You can sell young ones or eat them. Great animal for living in the mountains. Sheep prefer grass not brush. After the baby goats are a couple weeks old, you can separate them at night, milk for yourself in the morning and then turn them back in with mom for the day. That way you only have to milk once a day. In the fall you quit milking and both you and mama goat get a break. Put her in with buck late in the fall. Hope those ideas help.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Thank you so much. It’s always nice to hear from someone who has already done it.❤️

[@MyAlaska12]

In areas where the ground freezes, the frozen ground can crush the sides of the container. Question for you, Pure Living for Life Channel came out with a video today about why they went off line and cyber bullying. Have you experienced anything like that yet?

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

That’s a great point on the burying the container. I just watch that video. I haven’t watched them for 7 years or so. When they lived in that little shed with the trailer. It was the same time I started. I’ll make a small video about my experience about it. Mainly from my old channel.👊

[@rk9family84]

Thank you for this container video. Very helpful to us. We are hoping to bury one soon. As for the goats vs lamb's. Make sure you like the meat before raising one. A friend of mine who is a major dog person found after getting goats that she likes them as much and maybe more than dogs. You might find it impossible to eat them. My suggestion would be to use goats for pets and dairy and keep meat on your grocery list. Also wanted to say that your place is beautiful just as it is. I don't think that you need additional plants/flowers. 😊

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Thank you so much..!!👊

[@tyramasters-heinrichs921]

Please go to a local market and buy some locally raised meat from both goat and sheep; trust me, the land changes the flavour of the meat. I would keep some rabbits. If you get cattle, I would recommend Galloway (we raise them so I'm biased, lol), look into them and their meat and you'll know why they're very good keepers, and very healthy -- but again, the land will influence the flavour. You should build a fence for your garden area (consider a greenhouse).

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Definitely a green house is in the future. Probably this summer I will start it. It will be similar to the outdoor kitchen build. Thank you for the pointers.👊

[@CanadianPrepper]

Are you sure those sidewalls wont buckle due to pressure of earth?

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

8 years so far no buckled walls.

[@conniebarnes7383]

Jess @ Roots and Refuge raised goats for a long time and milked them before moving to their new farm in SC. Look her up and ask her questions. She would be glad to help I'm sure. Happy New Year!

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

There great over there. I love her green house too. 👊

[@johnkillen588]

ya gotta also move the goats/sheep to break the parasite load or u will be worming all the time.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

👍 didn’t even think of that.👊

[@johnkillen588]

milk 2x a day or once a day and let the kid nurse on the other milking

[@AloneinRemoteAlaska]

I had contemplated burying a container but then I found out that my cabin had a root cellar when I came to look at it! Could you have put a little built of dirt over your container? I watched some vids of people burying their containers 5 ft underground. No bueno! I came to your channel because of your fencing! And your awesome personality! Can’t give you any advice about larger animals but I totally understand the rabbit issue!

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Your cellar will be perfect. It’s huge too and with the new access it will make it so easy to get to year round. Yes you can put some dirt on it but I would bury it 5’ deep. 😮 Happy new year..!! ❤️

[@AloneinRemoteAlaska]

@@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494 And Happy New Year to you as well Ron! 🧡

[@vikingjoe93]

Zack over at American Homestead could give you pointers on sheep. I think he’s be raising them for quite a few years now.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I need to go see some of his videos it’s been a while.👊

[@dangoras9152]

Ron it only cost one bullet to take a deer it would last u a year with that meat ... That's always another meat ... Keep it up brother

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I need to do that as well. I’ve never hunted before so that is something I want to do.👊

[@dangoras9152]

Its easy put the meat on ice for 7days it won't taste gamine....

[@dripdiva]

Great video ! Imo if you had to do larger animals I would go with sheep. However you would attract every coyote and mtn lion in the area, I think you would probably loose them to predators (( but you live in a great hunting area … so that’s what I would do, put in for all the special hunts also… antelope, elk, deer 👍🏻👍🏻 Joan

[@heidigib01]

What about mini cattle a small herd of 3-4 one or two milkers

[@SugarCreekOffGrid]

Love this container storage. I've been thinking to do something similar I was thinking to put Styrofoam on the top do you think that would work? A roof could be used for rain catchment but metal is expensive and I can get the Styrofoam for free.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

That would probably help. 👍

[@gladysover5368]

Looks really good. Any problems with excess moisture?

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Not that i see. I do open the door each day and keep it cracked for some air. Plus I’m in and out of there all day.😂

[@AnAlaskaHomestead]

We are thinking about goats. Milking a goat daily is a time consuming commencement.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Right. I’m concerned about the time that would take.

[@vikingjoe93]

You guys ever watch AL over at Lumnah Acres he made a electric pump to help with milking their goats.

[@delphine88313]

MAYBE in the future think about putting mesh( steel) over those small holes on that container.Mice love to find small entrances on anything to bred . I got a shed with those small holes for runoff( I forgot the purpose they put them on the shed lol) .Anyway mice TRIED to make a home under my shed until I blocked their paths. Pesky things.I like goat better. Lamb is ok but love my curry goat and other dishes with goat.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I will be trading for some beef next year. I got a half of pork last year still eating from it. 👊

[@delphine88313]

@@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494 🙂

[@evalynchuran8684]

Above ground for a cold storage in Canadian winters, how are they with no heat inside.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I would still insulate it.

[@Metalmaxm]

Make sure to buy young goats, so they will "grow" with you and a custom to your lifestyle and behavior.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I will keep that in mind. Thank you.

[@mathildaflower2388]

So is there rocks alongside the whole of the sides? Or is it just soil?

[@johnallen1308]

Do you have deer or other animals around that you can harvest to fill the freezer or that might be too much meat at one time. I been thinking about getting goats or pigs myself I have chickens ducks and quail

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I’ve thought about quail. Yes deer and elk. I’ve never hunted before so that is something I would like to do as well.👊

[@shawno3681]

What is the inside temp of the container in the food storage area in the summer and winter? (at what is the outside temp at the time)?

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

In the summer months out side lows 50-60 high’s 85-95 container is pretty consistent at 60-65 In the winter month’s out side lows 25-35 high’s 45-55 container is pretty consistent at 50-55

[@Metalmaxm]

Goat = Meat, milk, cheese + they will eat everything you wear 🤣🤣

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

😂😂

[@victornowlin9092]

Sale rabbit manure.surprizingly expensive.

[@cyumadbrosummit3534]

This video has nothing to do with bearing a shipping container. He talks about fencing the entire time and animals.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

No video of putting it in but plenty of insight if someone is thinking of doing one this way. Things I would do differently….. 8 years now and has worked for me. It’s pretty simple, don’t know what else I could have explained? Any suggestions?

[@zichali]

Check to KZbin channel 123Homefree. This guy did a lot of research on the subject. He can tell you in details the difference between sheep's and goats. He also make several dairy products. Very interesting and knowledgeable guy.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

Thank you..!! I will go check it out.👊