Texan here - sometimes posted under chickadee_42us. This may appear as highjacking this post to another topic - As interesting as the topics can be and as mundane as the topics can be there will always be someone who believes their viewpoint is the best and will strongly address someone elses viewpoint. While typing a reply, the sound that is relayed upon another persons reading it may not have been the intention it was meant to give; while the reader of the response can become defensive to they reply. Now having said that, some people are plain rude, argumentative and as my dad always said, You can't argue with ignorant people. As for the forum, yes, it was a nice place to read the journals and the people who kept the forum going were fastidious in KEEPING THE JOURNAL GOING. It seems like more people are currently lurking than posting, maybe because they fear starting a topic that might not be everyones cup of tea for conversation or they have been burnt by someones sarcastic reply. If I remember correctly the topics were more various but the same topics were covered, spring time did bring more Chicken topics - so what? That appears to be when the hatcheries are selling there chicks! My advice, IF YOU HAVEN'T ANYTHING POSITIVE TO SAY, keep your fingers from typing a reply because know one wants to read derogatory comments or the repetitive defense. If you have contructive information then please reply. my two cents, Roxann

Hi. We have done it, though for specific personal reasons, in the last 10 years, we sought and found regular employement, sometimes full-time, sometimes part-time. Sharon's advice, above, is excellent. One point she makes, about debt, is very important. Most family farms have gotten into serious debt, often because of larger-scale equipment investment needed for the crops or animals these farms operate around. If you get into non-traditional cropping, and suss-out your markets, you can probably avoid this. I'm posting a link to a discussion about Finances and Permaculture Design (on the GW "Permaculture" forum) because it relates very much to your question -- and there is a lot of info, experience, and perspective kicked around in 53 posts there. BTW, "Permaculture" is a name for a specific modern approach to integrated homesteading, relying on methodical design in land use. If you can learn to integrate your recreation with your homestead techniques and your general lifestyle, it helps. In other words, maybe there is a public-transit bus system in the rural area you choose, and you can use it to go to town or city for necessary shopping and appointments, plus visiting the library for in-depth information inputs from magazines, newspapers, and books; all this can supplement the Internet. Learn to repair old but essentially sound homesteading equipment. Learn carpentry, etc. If kids can get into the homestead chores and joys, as well as enjoy simple exercise and recreation (playing catch, shooting hoops down at the school, other sports, nature watching, and so on), this will save money. Annual money needs are around things like materials for building, road-maintenance (gravel, bulldozer work), purchase of off-farm food products, gasoline or deisel, acquisition of needed tools, electricity, vehicle maintenance, land taxes, and such things. The more skills you have -- things like bookkeeping, teaching exercise or yoga for community ed., house painting, and the like -- the more occasional work you can may be able to to pick up, when you need it. A commitment is needed from all members of the family. In my case, my wife gradually decided she wanted for us to invest time and money into upgrading our home and landscaping, to have a car that wasn't rusted-out in the body, and to travel just a bit. But you have to balance these things with your overall commitment... if living on the land isn't providing the income for these "frills," then employment off the land will be needed. Best of luck... Joel Here is a link that might be useful: Permaculture and Finances

I was born and raised in way far south Florida at the very edge of the 'glades, momma and daddys house near what is now Kendall stood through Andrew and lost only 4 tiles on the roof. Grandma had pictures (sis's now) of gangsters and other sorts at the old Morningside Pool, back when it was a prohibition booze palace and casino, long before the day it became a "park". By 1973 it was getting way to crowded and I left and never looked back......But having been a Dixielander all my life living in Fl, Ga, Tn, and NC, I am at last grown weary of summertime in the south and am looking at moving to a riverside place somewhere in way out in the woods Mn, Wi, or heaven forbid...even northern NY..... Land in west NC continues to climb in price.....Absurd pricing in the Asheville/Brevard/Hendersonville area....high and getting higher elsewhere in west NC......... An absolutely gorgeous 26 acres, 405' well w/water at 245'& 160'of reservior.....small year round creek never been dry....smaller branch fed by 3 springs never been dry....12 acres open/semi-open, 12 acres hardwoods, couple acres large white pines.....+2 miles off public road via damn near level deeded ROW, very private and secluded....former home to three stills.... places like this anywhere in west NC are getting extremely hard to come by any more..... 13 miles from I-77, 19 miles from I-40, power & land-line phone are on property....45 miles (short way via backroads) to "Hanes Mall" in Winston-Salem, 90 to I-77/I-85 interchange in Charlotte It's kinda sorta in a way for sale, well it's definetely for sale at $187,500 CASH, no offers no negotiating no financing no mobiles no commercial chicken/hog operations..... Like I said, it's getting expensive in west NC.... Good luck in your quest....... Put an "land wanted" ad in all the local papers, "traders" too, and check into whatever state you decide on Dept of Agriculture news/review/trader too...And ride around every back road you see, and stop at every little old store you see and check out the swap&sell--community notice boards..... and heres a good tip too.....if you see a septic tank pump truck, ask the driver about old places for sale, they see 'em all and are likely to be be more knowledgeable and honest about land and related issues/problems/watch-outs and the local neighborhood "atmospheres" than any realtor ever will be....just my opinion of course, Here is a link that might be useful: NC Agricultural Review/Trader

To all: My zone is thusly listed because I'm right on the border between two zones and need to figure out precisely how the Ohio river and the weather pattern affectations will affect my growing here. Anyway... I grew up on a fairly large farm raising beef, but once I left home my father has sold off nearly everything, maintaining only trash land which he recently decided to try to sell. I live too far away to make owning it practical (although I may come to regret this) and my dad is too weird to deal with. However, about 1.5 years ago I purchased 10 acres outside Corydon, IN. My home is a tad close to the road for my liking, but we do what we have to. I have great interest in turning the front 2 or 3 acres into an idyllic homestead, functional, practical AND as pretty as I can make it (a rough homestead has its own charm as far as I'm concerned), but I'm going to have to figure out the best layouts AND come up with the know-how to make the most of what I've got. My long-range plans include: - A small orchard (10-20 different trees) - Some berry trellises (25-30 plants) - A small grape area (probably 12-15 plants) - Chicken coop, pheasant coop - A pretty hefty garden plot for vegetables - Strawberry bed kept separately - Garden plot for melon and pumpkin patch - Wood shed - Finnish sauna (used to heat pole barn and greenhouse) - Greenhouse ... and eventually a milk cow (I love fresh milk) and a moody pony. I also have ideas for an outdoor kitchen area for both summer cooking and canning times, to avoid heating the whole darned house, and I'm trying to come up with ideas for a live-in storm shelter, an underground pantry-cum-root cellar and the most elusive critter of all, the mythical underground, renewable resource freezer (probably based on old icehouse designs). Okay, before anyone tells me, that last one will probably REMAIN a myth, I know. I'm browsing this site for ideas and input on layouts, as well as other knowledge on various topics. Hope to make some new acquaintances, too!