Help from Wyoming
First, it seems like your food budget is thin enough already. I can't imagine trying to feed a family in such a frugal manner. Congratulations.
Second, I would focus on finding ways of growing and raising more food without making a large investment. It seems like you have the vegetable and chicken department handled well enough (but perhaps you could expand in both areas if you have room for that). Have you considered rabbits? They reproduce well, are easy to clean and they can forage for their own food. Plus, they don't require a large area for housing.
Third, I would consider finding more food. There are wild plants that are edible, but you need to know what you are eating because some have side effects if eaten often. A call to your county extension agent might be a good start.
Fourth, I would consider harvesting wild food, like rabbits. In our area, there is no end to the rabbits year round.
This doesn't help now, but thinking a bit into the future, you might also consider winter gardening to keep that vegetable produce as a viable option all year long. Eliot Coleman has done lots of research and has shown that there are many cool and cold weather crops that can be grown fall through spring with just a little basic protection, and no added heat. His book Four Season Harvest is enlightening and instructive.
On my homestead, we are focused on eliminating the cost of all vegetables this year by building our own greenhouses. I have two finished and the third will be finished in a few weeks.
Bob and Margaret at Northern Greenhouse Sales in Neche, ND (204) 327-5540 have lots of ideas about growing vegetables and creating greenhouses cheaply. They are focused on fugal living and you might get some ideas from them.
Also, there are folks building greenhouses and high tunnels from PVC pipe and greenhouse film, I have heard that they withstand the elements rather well and have lasted for 8 years or more. People are talking about costs in the area of $1 per square foot. I have no contacts to share, but I believe that a university in New Mexico is doing quite a bit of research in this area.
Lastly, I would start sorting out what kind of work could be done by members of the family to create revenue streams. This option is influenced largely by skills and experience, resources and circumstances, so I can't make anything other than this general suggestion.
I hope that something here helps,
Clair
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