just going to do it

doing it in NM · #1 02/05/07, 08:59 PM

We have recently closed on a small place in E. NM. It is only 19 acres, all fenced, with only 2 trees on the place. One is a peach, the other I will have to wait for spring to know. We moved from TN to NM spent about a year to see if we could live in the area and feel at home here (we do miss the trees). This is the first week since Christmas, that the weather has been nice enough to do anything. The place we have has a chicken house that needs a door up and quick as I will be getting chickens Friday. I went out today and cut about 3 acres of yard that hasn't been done in over a year, I think the mower found every piece of scrap bailing wire in NM. Tomorrow is off to Amirillo to get siding and foam boards for the old trailer we are fixing up.

We can stall about 10 horse and have got our first renter, who will be bringing his horse over in a couple of weeks. That should make the payments on the place and maybe 2 utility bills. I hope in a few years I can make the place self sufficient. For now I will have to do outside jobs to make ends meet.

I'm looking for a place I can sort of share what I am doing, fixing and old place up and starting a homestead that might allow me to work from home. Get feedback from "Homesteading forum users", tell of my successes and mishaps and maybe gain from the experence and help someone else along the way.

Is this the right place for that?

ma1bob · #2 02/05/07, 09:02 PM

You are definely in the right place. Congrats!!!!!

Cheers

Bob

MyHomesteadName · #3 02/06/07, 01:40 AM

I'm in New Mexico headed to Virginia.....I'll wave at you as I'm leaving...LOL.

Why'd you pick eastern NM of all places? Spent most of my life here....blech.

Good luck to you.

#4 02/06/07, 01:53 AM

Good luck. I was in South Central NM for almost 6 years. Thats why we live up north now. Too much heat and brown for me.

bubbba · #5 02/06/07, 08:09 AM

Good luck on your new adventure> wellcome to the forum too its a great place and full of good folks. So you have grazing for these horses? You said only 2 trees? wow i live in canada n i dont like anywhere without rocks trees n water

Peace

DWIGHT DUNCAN · #6 02/06/07, 11:23 AM

I'm curious also why you left TN for NM. I just received an email from a friend who knows people who moved to TN a few years ago and have set up a homestead on 153 acres about an hour from Nashville. It looks beautiful in the pictures. They're looking for like-minded folks to join them in the future.

We were going to look at NM last year, but the extremes in heat in the south and cold in the north ended that journey before it started. We get little to no rain here in southern CA, no need to move to NM for more of the same.

I do wish you the best of luck. And I know parts of NM are beautiful. But just curious why you didn't find what you were looking for in TN. Not many HT members in that state for some reason. One always wonders why.

nodak3 · #7 02/06/07, 03:17 PM

Good luck, and where ? if you are comfortable saying. Used to live in Milnesand, and in Loco Hills.

doing it in NM · #8 02/06/07, 09:08 PM

I have always liked the west and very much further away from TN would be too far to travel back and forth easily. If pushed I could be there for the kids (married), in less than 20 hours. I like the easier trip of stopping over in Arkansas. making a two day trip. I thought Wyoming or Montana, but just too far away from family.

We were looking for a place that was cheap to live, a good Church and freindly folks, we found it here. TN, AL, NC and SC even KY altho beautiful were just not what we wanted, so west we came and so far I love it.
I am close to 2 lakes, both really nice. It seems to offer what we wanted along with no humidity, it was a welcome change.

Finding a place to keep horses for others and using my trade has just worked out perfect. I've got about 16 acres of good pasture and RAD water(a local water company, for the country folks), so I shouldn't have to worry too much on that aspect. I did hit the worst winter in several years and just got this place a few weeks back, this is the first week I've got to do much.

I went to pick up my siding today, tommorow I will fix up the chicken house, build a door and ad a small section of screening. Take out all the outside windows on the trailer mark and stack them, so I can get the old siding off. Thursday and Friday I have some electrical work to do for a lady and Saturday 4 men from Church are coming out to help install it. That's why I like it here so much, folks just come out and help anyway they can. So the wife has a job of frying up chicken for everyone. By Spring I hope to have 10 horses boarded, a good sized garden and the chickens laying. I grew a small garden this last season here at the house we are renting. Tomatoes did well as did cucumbers, squash and ocra, all I had room for. This time I will try other things too.

Thanks for listening and the response!

Trixie · #9 02/06/07, 09:20 PM

I wish you luck, doing it.

New Mexico is beautiful - it may get too cold for me up where you are.

We have gotten to see some of AZ and if I could have some acreage, with a well, in a little valley, I could live there.

That sounds strange as I never thought I would like the desert area. We both felt so good all the time we were there.

Lots of luck to you.

MyHomesteadName · #10 02/07/07, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lonelytree

Good luck. I was in South Central NM for almost 6 years. Thats why we live up north now. Too much heat and brown for me.

Thats what I was thinkin'

sisterpine · #11 02/07/07, 11:29 AM

It seems that each of us has our own idea of what "the place" will be. I remember thinking I just want to get out of the desert and into some green. Now that I live in MT and have just returned from 10 days in Tucson I can tell I made the right choice for me. I do wish the winters were milder, I do wish we had more water and fewer chicken eating bears but all in all I felt a wonderful relief when we drove our little old snowmobiles up in front of our mountain house this morning.

doing it in NM · #12 02/07/07, 09:14 PM

Got the chicken house done today, didn't think I would need a roof, but ended up putting 12 sheets of used metal on it. I'll get the chickens tomorrow or Friday, I bought some from a person who is tired of them, got a good deal that's why the chicken house is fixed before our house.

A beautiful week so far 50s and 60s, so much better than 0 to 30, I guess the east is getting it now?

**Terri** · #13 02/08/07, 06:50 AM

Enjoy your Sunday morning omlets!

Even my city boy DH likes a Sunday morning omlet or frittata! (Frittatas are easier. After you add the cheese and such, slide it under the broiler to finish. That way you do not have to turn it)

doing it in NM · #14 02/09/07, 04:46 PM

Got my chickens in today! I worked on taking all the windows out of the trailer so we could pull the siding off and put the new up tomorrow. The chickens have a place to live now and I need one too.

Before I left I checked on them and had an egg so I guess I'll be alright, at least I can have my omlet.

doing it in NM · #15 02/13/07, 10:44 PM

I did a small electrical job for someone yesterday and beside getting a check for the job I got a nice looking rooster to boot. When I drove out this morning to feed and water I had about an inch of ice over the waterer, pulled it off aand figure in the morning I had better get there a little earlier as it's about 16 degrees now. We have a snow storm on the way and should be getting a few inches tonight.

I haven't had chickens in years. I've got 20 hens, I'm getting about 7 to 9 eggs aday. That should be a good sign that these hens are good layers since it's winter, shouldn't it?

doing it in NM · #16 02/17/07, 09:31 PM

I got about 2/3 of the way down the front of the trailer today with new siding, so I actually have about 2/3 of the thing done. I found out that 16" centers on a trailer just isn't going to happen. You might get to studs in a row that are right, then two or three you have to scab onto. That's why we didn't get the whole side done today. It also has a 12' by 30' covered porch and it makes it harder to slide the siding in.

Good news I'm up to 9 and 10 eggs a day! Getting better. I saw the thread on trailers. After tearing off the sides I know they're not as soldid as a stick built, but I have no choice for a few years. You do what you have to do, to live the lifestyle you want to live.

Junkmanme · #17 02/17/07, 11:27 PM

Welcome to New Mexico!
If you drive west to the Arizona State line on "old hiway 66 (Interstate 40 now) , you'll come near me about 16 miles before you get to Arizona. We're on opposite ends of this fine State.

Sounds to me like you are "getting situated". (AND working at it! Your attitude is very good. You'll do fine!

I'm hoping to get some chickens and rabbits soon. Gotta build some cages. Got a pretty nice garden (for this country). Grow 'maters and hot peppers mostly.the other 1/2 of garden is standard veggies.....good stuff!

The "groundhog" said the weather is going to be better and Spring is on it's way!

Best Wishes for your continued success!
Drop me a line anytime!
Bruce (Junkmanme near Gallup, NM)