Donations

[country_wife]

Homesteading bloggers soliciting donations to help supply or even purchase their homesteads?? Yes, it's true, for those of you that have never heard of such a thing. I was shocked at how common it seems to be. How can one ask for donations yet claim to be self-sufficient??

I did a blog post on the subject, which can be found here . I am curious as to what other homesteaders think of the subject.

[blufford]

I would hardly consider a request for donations to be panhandling or scamming. To really give you a better point of view you can donate to me at paypal addy blufford@msn.com and I'll give you a more experienced assessment.

[mypatriotsupply]

Originally Posted by blufford

I would hardly consider a request for donations to be panhandling or scamming. To really give you a better point of view you can donate to me at paypal addy blufford@msn.com and I'll give you a more experienced assessment.

LOL

[Danaus29]

Sorry, my "extra" funds go toward paying for my own little piece of land. Why would I want to finance someone else?

[tinknal]

I would suppose that if you considered a blog a valuable enough resource that you would consider donating to it that it is providing you a service.

If a blogger is producing information, and someone pays for it, that it is an even trade and I really don't see how this conflicts with "self sufficiency".

[gone-a-milkin]

I just saw where a musician is soliciting funds for a new RV on his blog, so he can go on tour.
He even went to the trouble to say it is 'very common' for artists to solicit funds like this.
It was a new one to me though.

[Bearfootfarm]

Why would I want to finance someone else?

Good Karma

[ghmerrill]

Because welfare and other goobermint handouts aren't enough?

[geo in mi]

I don't read blogs anyway. Most of them prattle on about themselves. Boring.

geo

[luvrulz]

Originally Posted by geo in mi

I don't read blogs anyway. Most of them prattle on about themselves. Boring.

geo

I agree...boring. Don't have ti,e to read about other's adventures adn wouldn't pay to read either....not enough time to create my own adventures!

[frogmammy]

Heck, I see people soliciting $$$ all the time! Sometimes they're at the bus or train station, but usually they are at exit ramps and busy intersection...sometimes they have the whole family with them, all the kids and even down to the family dog! Soon, they'll have their grandparents there too, just to make it a WHOLE family experience. Who wouldn't WANT to give money when the entire family is working together like this?

Mon

[landdweller]

If i was done working on my homestead I would donate things like plant starts, leftover building materials if I had any or things like that. HEck I would love doantions of a helping hand sometimes. Id even fix a good meal. lol

[Whisperwindkat]

I left a comment on your blog, but copied here for the purposes of this thread. I have a donations button on my blog. This is the way that I feel about it. I try to give valuable information on my blog, not just a bunch of prattle. I am a writer and my blog is one extension of that. As such, to read most of my articles someone would have to purchase the article or the publication. What I offer on my blog is free. If someone chooses to send a donation, great. If not then that is fine too. Blogging takes time, time taken away from farming and time taken away from writing articles that make much more money than my blog donations. I don't beg for those donations, nor do I mention the donation button. It is there however and I do appreciate the support that readers have given, although I certainly could not make a living with it. So in essence my blog is another extension of selling my freelance writing services. And considering how many times my work has been stolen from my blog and passed off as someone else's it is a bargain. Self sufficiency doesn't mean that you give all your goods and services away for free all the time. A body of writing is just that, it is a good/service and frankly I have to make a living somehow. Blessings, Kat

[libby]

Self sufficiency doesn't mean that you give all your goods and services away for free all the time.

Well said Whisperwindkat! Bloggers are working hard for no pay, usually. Self-sufficiency also doesn't mean you refuse to accept help- ever. That's just pride.

And on top of that, many want to Homestead, but can't. If they want to help keep the dream alive and make someone else's dream easier by giving financially, why stop them? It's like giving to missions- I want to go, but if you're going, I'll help you out.

All that said- We're now accepting cash donations so we can buy our own property.

[Tiempo]

Meh, I suppose it doesn't hurt anyone to ask...no arms are being twisted

[MullersLaneFarm]

On our Lessons in Homesteading page, we do have a Donate button at the top of page as well as this note

Paul & I have made this page available free since 2002. We, as well as many citizens of The United States of America, have experienced a life crisis. Cyndi lost her job due to corporate restructuring in October 2009.

We continue to offer these pages for the good of people's learning but are now asking that if you appreciate these pages, please leave a Tip, if you are able.

We THANK YOU from the bottom of our homestead hearts!

We ask that folks who buy our products pay us, why not ask for a donation for the knowledge we have passed along the past 9 years? (to date, it is less than $20). I don't feel bad about having the donate button on our page.

[wannabfree]

I don't see anything wrong with it at all because I have not found any contradiction from sites as you suggest in your linked blog. These other sites you refer to without naming are performing a service and working to put forth their product which is a website or blog. Some even go so far as to give their full names and addresses on their site not hiding at all about who and where they are and the methods of which one can support them. They clearly say that if one wants to simply email them a word of encouragement instead of donating that is appreciated. I have no vested interest in any of the sites referenced but personally would find much more value in some than in your blog as you personally describe your self as "always facetious" and go on to imply imo that you are more interested in shock value than anything else. But thanks for leading me to these so called contradictory sites, I have never donated to a site before but may consider doing so now.

country_wife I do hope that since you don't view bloggers or website owners to be performing a legitimate service to which they could be due any compensation by whatever means available to the supporter/giver that you would certainly not accept any form of revenue from your own blog as that could possibly be seen as an "absolute contradiction".

[edcopp]

I think that it is a wonderful thing. What with a nation overpopulated with freeloaders, panhandlers and just plain bums; I know they are all getting ready to start paying federal income taxes on their profits (as required by law).

This would solve the national debt in a few shakes.

Let 'em go. let them beg from each other, since there so many of the deadbeats that they control the vote let them pay their own taxes too. Then in an around the outhouse, sort of a way they (and us as the U.S.) will become self supporting and debt free.

It's all about tax evasion, when the bums quit then the economy will get well.

[MullersLaneFarm]

Ah, come on, edcopp. Don't be shy, tell us how you really feel.

[Stann]

I want to put a DONATE button next to my avatar. MODERATORS, MODERATORS, WHERE IS MY DONATE BUTTON!!!!!!!

Hey, with over 300 post on here, there must be at least one post of SOME value!!! A donate button, Please. I'm beggin ya.