Vacations and homesteading

WildernesFamily · #1 01/16/07, 09:49 AM

The RV vs. Swimming Pool thread in CF got me thinking...

If you have a homestead with livestock, how are you able to go away on vacation.. even for a short camping trip?

We have an RV (paid for) and we're thinking of selling it to use the money towards downpayment on our land/small farm. This would speed up the process of buying our place. We were originally thinking of buying land and building, and then living in the RV while our house was being built, but now we're leaning more towards buying property that already has a house on it.

The RV (travel trailer) is nice to have since we do go camping a lot, but will we even be able to use it once we have livestock? It also feels good to know that if anything ever happened we'd have alternative housing.

I think more people in the city/suburbs go camping on a more regular basis, simply to "get away from it all", but when you have land you ARE away from it all.

So what think ye? Should we sell the RV or keep it?

And if you have a homestead with livestock, are you able to take vacations/mini-vacations, and if so, who looks after your place while you're gone?

trixiwick · #2 01/16/07, 10:05 AM

We are very fortunate that we found a young woman in our area whose business is animal-caretaking. She can stay in-house if needed (thought she doesn't for us) and can handle anything our animals throw at her (and they have been creative). She's bottle-fed baby goats and given oral meds to rabbits and herded wayward chickens and turkeys when necessary, and all for a very reasonable cost of between $15-20 per day. We found her business card on the feed store bulletin board. While I fervently hope she stays in this business forever, I also have the business card of another person who apparently does the same - if I ever need it!

There's a web site where you can locate pet-sitters, which should be easy to find if you Google for a bit. It's completely worth it - travel is important to us, and as much as I love the animals, it's nice to get away from the feeding/cleaning routine once in awhile!

Silvercreek Farmer · #3 01/16/07, 10:08 AM

You can set up a swap deal with someone in the area, I take care of yours, you take care of mine type of arrangement.

DocM · #4 01/16/07, 10:12 AM

I have a large livestock 4H group (I'm the leader) and I pay one or more the kids to take care of the animals while we're away. Of course, this doesn't work when we're at 4H events, and in that case, I hire a "farm sitter" who comes in once a day, checks everyone and feeds the animals. There is probably a teen in your area who is farm raised and can do the same thing. The animals don't get constant supervision while I'm here, they don't need it when I'm gone, and since my vacations are 90% of the time livestock shows, I usually have a large percentage of my animals with me. My vet will see my animals in an emergency. We try to time our family non animal related vacations with the end of breeding season/dry off period, about mid October to mid November.

DocM · #5 01/16/07, 10:13 AM

And don't sell the RV! What are you supposed to sleep in when you're at county/state fair?

MelissaW · #6 01/16/07, 10:51 AM

What's a vacation? :baby04:

hunter63 · #7 01/16/07, 11:02 AM

The "getting away from it all" is what your doing. What vacation, your on vac all the time!
Maybe you better think about the "Homesteading lifestyle", before you spend your money, it isn't just for a couple of weeks, it life!

travlnusa · #8 01/16/07, 11:11 AM

We have cattle, chickens, and at times, hogs.

When we have hogs, we really can not leave during the last 60 days because they will empty the feeder to fast to really get away.

Other than that we leave home.

We have float switchs to the cattle water tanks. I have a water line running from the hydrant to the tanks. Just before the tanks, we have an adapter on the end of the water line that splits it into two. Each end of the Y valve has a hose going to a float switch in each tank. We have two in case one valve gets stuck shut. In the event one gets stuck open, we will end up with lots of water on the ground. While it has not happened, it is a trade off we are OK with so we are not tied down. In the winter, we will fill two tanks with heaters in them. Water consumption is much lower in the winter so two tanks allow us 4 days out.

In the winter and early spring we will put out a new round bale. Before we had round bales, we would put X number of small bales in bale ring based on how long we will be gone.

During the summer and up until the first deep snow, we have the cattle on pasture.

Our chickens have a waterer and a feeder. When we leave, we add a second waterer.

If we are to be gone for more than 3-4 days, we will have neighbor come over and do what ever is needed for that time of year.

We also let our neighbors know we will be gone, and they have my cell phone number. I ask them to look at the place as they drive by in their day to day trips and call me if I have an issue. If that is the case, I will get home as soon as I can.

You need GOOD fences to have peace of mind while gone.

Beeman · #9 01/16/07, 11:13 AM

Why do you want livestock and what kind? Part of the problem with having land is the land becomes a burden and life can pass you by. Sure you can get away from it all on your own property but most likely you won't. You will constantly look around and see all that you need to be doing.

Clifford · #10 01/16/07, 11:32 AM

Depends how much comfort you like. Sell the RV, buy your property and get a tent. Hunter63 is correct, this is a lifestyle, so make sure this is what you want. I kind of look at my place as a vacation home, so I'm always on vacation. No need for the cottage up north.

turtlehead · #11 01/16/07, 12:28 PM

Our only close neighbors are not animal people, so we don't have any sitters available.

We have chickens, rabbits, and dogs. The only things that present a problem for an overnight trip are the dogs, because they have to be let out regularly (they are indoor dogs). There are no kennels in the area.

The chickens have a covered run attached to their house so they'd be okay with extra food and water.

The rabbits would be okay with extra food and water.

My dad raises cattle and he can easily leave for a week or more in the summer when there is plenty of pasture for the cattle (he has a pond). Of course, if you have a garden then you have to vacation after the pasture is growing but before the garden is producing... a bit of a tap-dance.

travlnusa · #12 01/16/07, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlehead

Our only close neighbors are not animal people, so we don't have any sitters available.

We have chickens, rabbits, and dogs. The only things that present a problem for an overnight trip are the dogs, because they have to be let out regularly (they are indoor dogs). There are no kennels in the area.

The chickens have a covered run attached to their house so they'd be okay with extra food and water.

The rabbits would be okay with extra food and water.

My dad raises cattle and he can easily leave for a week or more in the summer when there is plenty of pasture for the cattle (he has a pond). Of course, if you have a garden then you have to vacation after the pasture is growing but before the garden is producing... a bit of a tap-dance.

We also have two indoor dogs. In the corner of our barn, I made a hole in the wall. Inside the barn, I have an area fenced in, with two dog houses filled with straw.

On the outside of the hole in the wall is a 5'x10' dog run that is fixed to the side of the barn.

We will put out about 3 ice cream pails of food, and a heated 5 gal bucket. We have left them out there as long as 8 days, and as low as -22 degrees. They were just fine. Keeping them out of the wind is the key.

I have dogs that are 60lbs +, cant say how smaller ones would react, as I have never had them.

trixiwick · #13 01/16/07, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turtlehead

Of course, if you have a garden then you have to vacation after the pasture is growing but before the garden is producing... a bit of a tap-dance.

I once went away in late summer and spent the week prior to vacation frantically canning a zillion pints of peaches, and the two weeks after I got back dealing with a zillion apples.

Dumb time of year to schedule a vacation.

GoatsRus · #14 01/16/07, 01:47 PM

Every year for the last 5 years my DH and I have taken our vacations separately when we go see family in Florida. But, one of my Mennonite neighbors just heard that's what we were doing and she offered to come and feed and look in on the goats and chicks if we want to go together. Because we have a very old chow, I don't think we'll do it until her time is up. She needs too much care and I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her with someone. I actually would prefer that our family come to us and visit, but that's not always feasible and I do want to see my grandchildren often.

Lizza · #15 01/16/07, 02:37 PM

My sister and I live together so our families take seperate vacations. This year we will be taking a vacation together and will be getting someone to "farm sit" for us. When we are gone overnight together my mom usually just comes and checks on things for us.

halfpint · #16 01/16/07, 08:36 PM

My FIL lives next door so will take care of the animals for us. On one occasion we did have a neighbor boy come take care of our chickens for a few days when my FIL couldn't. Other animals went to friends places.

Dawn

Jen H · #17 01/16/07, 09:19 PM

For 2 day trips, I can set out extra waterers and stuff the feeders, and everyone's fine.

For longer than that, I trade off vacation days with a neighbor. I watch her critters, she watches mine. It works out well for both of us.

Junkmanme · #18 01/16/07, 09:39 PM

keep the RV.......you NEVER know when it might be your ONLY home.....

I lived in my Motorhome for 2 years! It was OK. (Better than alternatives at that time!)

Bruce

Junkman · #19 01/16/07, 11:53 PM

Homesteading is what we worked for and retired to. This is our vacation! We did the 2 wks at the beach thing, traveled around and now we enjoy sitting on the porch, or by the fire, etc. Yes, there is work, but a different kind. We really have no desire to do anymore traveling. To see some friends, perhaps. We get National Geographic and travel through it.(Hee hee) But, the thought of fighting traffic and tourists does not appeal. It is difficult to get away, but you will find a way. Everyone has different tastes.

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #20 01/17/07, 06:03 AM

This entire thread reminds me of a conversation my DH had with my BIL. DH was showing him around our place, and BIL looked around and said "Well, you can't go anywhere you got so much to take care of. You can't take a vacation or anything."

My DH looked at him and said "What do I need a vacation from? I'm doing what I WANT to do. It's all the vacation I need."

(Bear in mind that this is my sister and her husband... that we lived in England for four years and they could have actually come see us and had a very inexpensive trip to England. My dad offered to BUY THEIR TICKETS! But they just couldn't manage to come.. couldn't get away.. and he's telling us WE are tied down?)