I’m a ‘prepper’ – I haven’t visited a major grocery store in four years, but I have enough meals to feed my family of five for the next twelve months
A self-confessed ‘prepper’ has revealed how she feeds her family of five – despite not having done a ‘big shop’ in four years.
Natasha Gahagan, 31, had always dreamed of having her own farm and convinced her husband, Dennis, 42, to move from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, to a seven-acre farm outside the city.
The couple moved with their two children, aged four and two – and Dennis’ son, 21 – and now grow all their fruit and vegetables, as well as keeping chickens and goats.
Natasha and Dennis, who works in horticulture, haven’t been to a supermarket for a big food shop in four years, but have still made enough meals to feed their large family for a year.
Natasha goes to the shops once a year to pick up some basic supplies in bulk, such as beans and flour.
Natasha and Dennis Gahagan (pictured with their children) haven’t visited a major grocery store in four years, but still manage to feed their family of five
In their basement they store a year’s worth of food, along with ready-made meals that can be heated up in five minutes.
Natasha, a homesteader and part-time dental assistant who now lives near Milwaukee, said, “Living off the land was a dream of mine. I loved being outdoors and had always dreamed of living off-the-grid.
‘We don’t really go to the supermarket. We’re trying to make it. You appreciate what you have more.’
Natasha has always wanted to “live off the land” and started growing what she could in her garden in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
But when the family found a piece of land they could afford, they seized the opportunity and moved to the countryside in January 2015.
The family have had a range of animals on the farm – from cows, ducks and peacocks – but currently also have goats, chickens and geese.
Natasha uses the goat’s milk for the family to drink and make soap to sell, and says they have ‘fell in love’ with their goats.
She says the family tries to grow something new every year.
The family has had a range of animals on the farm, including goats (pictured), chickens and geese
The family has a great growing season, enjoying tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers
They also have a large stock cellar, so they always have stock and don’t have to visit stores
Natasha said she always wanted to live in a big city and moved to a seven-acre farm outside the city in Wisconsin
Natasha says the family “fell in love” with the goats after adopting them. Pictured with her children
They make homemade bread using the plentiful supplies in the cellar. Natasha said the family also makes bulk purchases
“We don’t have a big growing season. We grow tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, garlic, onions and mushrooms,” she explains.
‘We have an orchard and make apples, pears, plums and mulberries. We don’t grow things we don’t want to eat.
To preserve their food, they use methods such as canning and freeze-drying – and have stocked a cellar in their home.
Natasha added, “We could live on it for more than a year because we have 200 pounds of flour in stock.”
The sustainable mom also has a freeze dryer stocked with meals she’s already prepared – ready for their busy periods in spring and summer.
“I’m keeping it for convenience,” she revealed. “I save a lot of things for the summer when I’m busy.”
Natasha Gahagan convinced her husband, Dennis, 42, to move from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, US, to a two-acre farm outside the city (pictured)
They grow apples, pears, plums and mulberries in the farm’s orchard, with an emphasis on sustainable practices
Natasha says the family doesn’t grow anything they don’t want to eat. In the photo: fresh eggs on their farm
The family has a range of animals on the farm, allowing them to live as sustainably as possible
Natasha hopes to become as sustainable as possible, gets her meat from farmers and depends as little as possible on supermarkets.
They only come once a year to stock up on supplies they can’t grow or to stock up on treats like maple syrup and bananas.
“We do a lot of bulk buying,” she said. ‘There is always a lot to learn, that’s the fun of it. It is a dream.
‘The city is not for me. I love my house.’
Like Natasha, many in Britain are also trying to grow their own food to combat the cost of living.