How to Feed a Family of 6 by Working Just 10 Hours a Week

Interesting experiment conducted by farmer Justin Rhodes from North Carolina. He set a simple goal for himself – to grow as much food as possible on his property for his family of 6, while spending no more than 10 hours a week on it, all while continuing his main job of creating video content. Through this experiment, Justin aimed to prove that providing food for oneself through farming is not as difficult as it may seem at first glance. All it takes is to set specific goals, define deadlines, and carry out all necessary tasks steadily and without overstraining.

Experiment Progress

To achieve his goal, Justin utilized a piece of land measuring 8 acres. He divided it into small sections of half an acre each and planted different types of seeds and seedlings in each plot. His crops included pumpkins, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, cucumbers, zucchinis, greens, and other varieties.

The second main source of food was poultry and eggs. Justin raised a flock of 75 broiler chickens and turkeys.

The family also didn't completely forsake store-bought products, such as teas, dairy, spices, honey, and other essentials to maintain a healthy diet.

Initially, things didn't go entirely as planned. While the birds were growing and the seeds hadn't sprouted yet, farm chores demanded more time than the expected 10 hours per week. However, as the season progressed, Justin managed to significantly reduce the time spent and fall in line with the anticipated schedule.

Challenges Faced During the Experiment

1) By day 50 of the challenge, cucumbers, zucchinis, and other crops had grown.

2) Initially, the children were not keen on a diet with a significant amount of poultry consumption. However, they greatly enjoyed the vegetables, especially when they participated in growing them.

3) Some of the crops perished. There were also significant losses among the chicks (for instance, many were eaten by snakes that slithered onto the property).

Despite these difficulties, the experiment ended successfully. Within 100 days, Justin managed to harvest and store 75% of the food consumed by his family in a year. Additionally, 65 poultry were raised, amounting to more than a year's supply of meat for 6 people. All this while spending no more than 10 hours a week on the farm work.

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