what's the average age for homesteaders?

[Have&Have Not]

I'm a new kid on the block sort of speaking. Moved to the 'country' @ 3 years back with the idea of building a small farm from scratch. . So I am 43 now. Started with chickens and now I have two pigs and two calfs. I have a lot to learn but in this short time I created a steady layer flock and butcher my own meat birds. My gilts are expecting in two months and my calfs are officially yearlings. I'm on the road to something I think or maybe just trying to provide for my family. I feel like Richard dryfuess in Close Encounters of the 3rd kind, although i haven't started throwing dirt in through the kichen window I'm glad I found this site as there is a ton of good info. I was just wondering if everyone was bitten by the homesteading bug recently like me or have you all been doing this all along? And if so how old are all you guys?

[Yvonne's hubby]

Originally Posted by Have&Have Not

I was just wondering if everyone was bitten by the homesteading bug recently like me or have you all been doing this all along? And if so how old are all you guys?

I have been at it since 1976. I was 25 at the time.

[FarmboyBill]

Im 65 and started on my own round bout 68 or 9

[FarmboyBill]

And, the plural for more than one calf, is calves

[ChristieAcres]

I'd say we started Homesteading more seriously 8 years ago. DH is 56 and in better shape physically than he was 10 years ago... I am 49 and in excellent physical shape, too. We eat Paleo Primal and grow most of our fruits/veggies, barter, and raise some critters. We currently have chickens, our own pork in the freezer, venison, crab, and fish in the freezer, too. Our garden areas are over 3,000 sq ft (mostly raised beds). DH built me 2 garden cabins and one kit greenhouse (have the glass for a bigger one). We have 23 fruit trees, and counting, and lots of projects in the works.

[Horseyrider]

We've been doing it since 1979. Big garden, critters, food co-op, etc. I'm 58 and my DH is 59.

[dkhern]

i grew up doing this not homesteading but sustainalbe living. took a break for military, college, 35 yr in business world (wanting to get back to this way of life the entire time). moved back in 07. im 63

[Forerunner]

46...... give or take.

[fffarmergirl]

I'm 43, DH is 61, and we've been at it for 9 years. I still feel like a newb but when I look back at where we were 9 yrs ago compared to now, I'm amazed. This is the only way to live. I'm very much looking forward to getting all of our debt completely paid off so that I can stay home and do this full time.

[unregistered168043]

I'm forty, started 3 years ago 'officially'.

[Steve in PA]

43, but still dreaming and looking for more land.

[ErinP]

Considering the buying power of the middles class has been sinking steadily since the 70s, I wouldn't be surprised to find that the average age of homesteaders has been rising. Where once you could start with a little cash and a strong back (attainable by early to mid 20s), now you need to start with a lot MORE cash and a strong back (attainable by mid to late 30s).

For us personally, we couldn't afford to buy land until about 35.
We've been ranching since we got out of school, but we've always worked for other people. Still do.

[Vosey]

We're in our mid 40's. When we met in our 20's we had huge gardens and lived in rural Maine when all our friends were escaping to cities (I did the city thing from age 18-24 and then grew up!). We had to move to more urban areas for the past 10 years for my schooling and have finally been able to buy land and house in a rural area where I have work. There is no work for DH here which is OK, he's establishing the homestead. I figure it's all a long process, hope to go part time when we pay off our debt and then retire early.

[Bret]

Which one of me?

OK, I saw the 50's but I did not run around much yet. I always enjoyed doing stuff outside even as a kid.

[jwal10]

I started on my own at 12. Farmed for over 20 years, got sick, moved to town and then started over. Been at it this time since '94. I am almost 57....James

[hippygirl]

I'm 53 and DH is 54. Even though we've been on our land for a little over 12 years, we started getting serious only three years ago when I "retired" (our own SHTF scenario...long story...won't bore you).

Our garden is currently 3000sf (we started with 2000), and we hope to expand to about 4500 as the year progresses AND clear an additional area for a small orchard this fall/winter.

So far, we have only chickens, but we'll add ducks and turkey soon. We'd hoped to have hogs and a couple of goats by this time, but due to unexpected circumstances, it'll be next year before we can get started on that.

My biggest regret is failing to consider the "what ifs" and not getting started the day we moved in, but what's done is done and all we can do is work toward our goals from our personal "ground zero", so to speak.

[farmerDale]

I am 36. Have been at it for 36 years. lol Started milking cows with dad at 6, my sisters tell me. Fed pigs and chickens and cows. Started driving tractor at 7. A great life!!! Should be able to retire and collect pension at the end of March when I turn 37. Been at this, well, the real work for at least 30 years. HA HA.

[FarmboyBill]

Started milking when I was 7 or 8. Started turning the seperator when I was 5 or six. Mom would have to get it up to speed.. Id start milking till dad or grfandad had there bucket full, then id take the bucket to the holuse and pour it in the seperator. Mom had to do that for awhile. pour it in. I couldnt get a bucket of milk up that high without spilling some of it. Then go back and start milking or carrying another bucket. When the seperator got full, which was around 2 1/2 buckets, mom would get it up to speed and id take over, and dad would carry the buckets in, 2 at a time, till the milking was done.
Then a year later, or so, grandad quit milking, and my younger brother took over for me, and I took over for grandad.
I started haying by driveing a team in the hayfield on the rack wagon at around 6 or 7. Started pikcking corn around the same time. Me and bro would each take a row, and dad also, him watching our rows for missed ears.
Started driveing a tractor at around 9 or 10. Started the 38 A by myself when I was 12

[Miss Kay]

We both grew up on farms but moved to the city to make a living. Finally had enough money to get our own farm in our early 40's and haven't looked back. We raised pigs for years but no longer. We still have horses, dairy cows, poultry of all kind, huge garden and a young orchard. We grow most of what we eat and my hobby is cheee making. We always have way more than we can eat so we are pretty popular with friends and neighbors (they always forget to bring our containers back).

[Alice In TX/MO]

Moved to the country in 1979. We are now ages 58 and 68.