A Year of Barter and Budget

For fun, and maybe for fiscal cliff survival, I am trying a grand experiment this year.  My husband, Jaremy, and I have 8 children (ages 1-15).  Just to take care of everybody we are burning through money like Congress.  This has to stop!  We will balance our budget and show the government it can be done.  There are five main missions or goals for this experiment in 2013.

1. Set up a small farm with goats, chickens, rabbits, bees, and dogs.  Each animal needs to have enough food to last it for a year.  Plant an orchard, berrry patch, and vineyard and protect it from the deer. We live on 1/2 an acre fenced only on one side.
2. Store a year supply of food, clothing, fuel, firewood, cleaning supplies, basic toiletries, and bedding.  For a family of ten this is huge!!!
3. Obtain emergency gear: shelter, water, heat, sewer, communication, solar oven, and power.  Plan for different scenarios.
4. Improve the house by adding bookshelves, porch furniture, cabinets, folding table and chairs, laminate flooring in the bedrooms, and tile in the bathroom.
5. Stick to a monthly $400 grocery/dining/household/fuel/farm/clothing/entertainment budget. Considering we were spending over this every week to take care of this family of ten, this will be a challenge!
6. Finally, go on vacation with the entire family!  And disappear on a romantic getaway!  

The goal is to do all this with only $400 a month.  That means we are going to have to barter, make most everything ourselves, and hunker down!  I am so excited!!!!  Wish us luck!!!!