09/08/05, 01:42 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,750
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Our new Homestead A Dream Come True!
Just thought I'd let you all know that we found our bit of Heaven! (This is long but I know you'll all understand my excitement!)
I've been on here many times asking questions about this place and that and you were all very helpful. Thank you! It was a long gruelling search, miles of traveling dragging the horse trailer with the dogs in it 'cause we could'nt afford to put them in kennels every time we left, but we are so glad we held out for just the right place.
So here we are in the mountains of SW Virginia and couldn't be happier!
It's a very secluded 100 year old renovated farmhouse with 34 acres of land on a dirt track a mile off a winding mountain road. The land is mostly timbered, pretty rugged mountain with 5 acres of pasture. It has about 1000ft of fast flowing rocky creek which comes down off the ridge behind us ( a lovely waterfall up there!) and flows into another larger creek in front. Yet another creek comes down from the other side of the road so when you walk out the door you're met with the sound of rushing water. It's wonderful. I lay awake at night listening to it! The house sits well back off the "road" and up on the hillside so no danger of flooding. (The numerous low water bridges get washed out from time to time but the house is safe!) Having a constant source of water for the animals is very comforting. We don't have to worry about keeping them supplied if the power goes out.
There's a large old drive through barn with two lofts. It's in need of repair but useable and well worth saving. A nice area in front of the barn for a pond. We plan to put that in next year.
Also, we have what used to be the little country store that was once the heart and soul of the tiny community here 100 years ago. It still has the old counters and shelves. Wonderful woodwork. We plan to restore it and re-open it in some capacity.
Plenty to eat! There are a number of ancient apple trees that are loaded right now. More berries than we know what to do with and oodles of wallnuts ripening. Deer everywhere, and turkeys. Also bear and bobcat and the usual racoons and groundhogs. ( I love looking out at all that future venison browsing around the apple trees costing us nothing in vet bills or feed!) Of course the garden will need to be fortified!
The animals have all settled in well. I switched the goats to alfalfa pellets and grass hay. They are looking wonderful. Their coats are gleaming and they've gained weight. ( one of them a bit too much!)
I've only seen two ticks since we got here. Used to spend a fortune keeping those Preventic collars on the dogs. No mosquitos! We work outside from dawn till dusk and don't get bit!
Can't believe how much less we're spending on feed. Hay is 2.50 a bale and alfalfa pellets are $7.35. It's nice hay too. I was paying between $6.50 and $8.00 a bale in NC! I have a couple bales of it left but the goats won't touch it now.
The biggest surprise was the electric bill. We've been here 3 months and it hasn't gone above $55. That's with the A/C and clothes dryer! It should go down now that it's getting cooler. Can't remember when I last paid under $100 at the other house.
'Town' is 15 miles away and major stores like Walmart and Home Depot are about 25 miles. Hubby does groceries at the commissary before heading home on the weekends so I rarely need to go shopping. I've put $20 of gas in the truck since we came here in May! But DH's making up for that on the 600 mile round trip every other weekend.
Oh and the neighbors are great. Can't see them but they have gone out of their way to make us welcome and include us in any get togethers or celebrations. It's funny, people miles away refer to us as their "new neighbors". Most people have chickens and gardens and do canning but don't know they're homesteaders! It's just normal life.
Our major projects now are building raised beds, building a pigeon loft for our wedding release birds - almost done- and fencing the pastures so we can get our pony up here and a couple of steer to train as oxen and one for the freezer.
Well, that's our news.
All those who are still looking for their farm, don't give up! I'm still walking around in a daze. It seemed like we would never find a place to suit us. After two years of pouring over real estate listings I came across a mention of this place on someones blog! It hadn't even hit the market. So don't give up hope! Something will pop up when you least expect it.
P.
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GREAT place Virginia
New Home
A little slice of Heaven. 
