Jared Nash was a subsistence farmer in Connecticut in the middle of the 19th century. Here is a link to his two year diary:

http://www.acorn-online.com/jared.htm

Perhaps he has some things to teach us homesteaders. Here is a very tiny portion of what the site says about his family:

"The Nashes were what might be called subsistence farmers; they were primarily interested in growing enough crops and raising enough livestock to survive on, and sold relatively little. They grew corn and rye, raised turkeys, kept some cattle and pigs, had an apple orchard, and grew many kinds of vegetables. To bring in extra income they sold a little of their crops, as well as butter, an occasional pig and cow, chicken or turkey, some wool, and perhaps some firewood. They made railroad ties in winter and sold them in spring. Emily was a seamstress and worked at home on sewing shirts for local manufacturers."

Little Bit Farm

-- Little Bit Farm (littlebit@brightok.net), July 14, 2003