Hopefully everyone is surviving the school holidays! I have to work in my day job for several days this week and also 3 days next week, but I also have lots to do! Kids might have to earn their keep. I'm also looking forward to getting to Floriade in Canberra before it finishes! I need another day in each week to get to everything.

If you had to start over with only $1,000, what would you invest in first? I could easily spend $1K on fencing tomorrow and fruit or nut trees would be next Let me know which one is it for you?

Welcome to the Ditch the Store community! I’m so glad you’re here. This is the place to connect with others on the same path — whether you’re just starting out or already knee-deep in compost. Take a moment to introduce yourself below. Tell us where you're from and what stage you're at in your homesteading journey. I’m CJ, and along with my partner (aka the Handy Helper), we run Mojo Homestead — 120 acres in regional NSW, Australia. We raise chickens for eggs and meat, goats for milk, meat and fibre, bees for honey, and cows for dairy and beef. We grow as much of our own fruit, veggies, and nuts as we can, and make our own bread, cheese, cleaning products, and even a few crafty things. We’ve been working on ditching the store for about 8 years now, and we’re getting pretty good at it — though we still buy toilet paper! Can’t wait to hear your story.

I - tidied part of the pantry (mine is a walk-in as I sequestered one of the bedrooms) - gathered enough fresh eggs to ferment them this weekend - bought potting mix for my seeds...and the 1 year old pup decimated the bag to fertalise the lawn - sorted the 'lid bin sanctuary' and snaffled two ginger wine bottle lids to for the one-day vinegar (other lids to recycle bin)

Tomorrow at 8am is our first Top Paddock call! I really am happy, but I also love the 99.