How much land do I need?

My two cents on the exotic animals would be the same - to think long and hard before you get them. Besides the other cons - finding a vet who is well-versed in your animals might be pretty tricky AND expensive.

I live and am buying land in Tn. Now here is something you need to think of 1 acre is 25,000 here that is good land. You can find cheaper IF you want a side of a mountain that is STEEP. 2 as a nurse you will not have alot of time for animals or land or even much social life. Trust me on this one they will work you to death and not pay enough for it. Nurses are in short supply every where so sign up bonuses are there for the taking but pay stinks after that. Exotics like yaks and lamas are very expensive like $10.000 or more. Raising 4 horses will cost you the same also in feed and vet bills. You better start researching your ideas and start getting some hard numbers. Unless you have family money and not putting yourself thru school your idea will be a very long time in the making. Any home and land will cost you over $60,000 and in most cases for more than an acre you are looking at $200,000 or much more in some states.

I am going to say something that I feel needs to be said. "Four horses for one person is bad animal husbandry!" IMHO When will you ride four horses (or exercise them)? Too often I see too many horses on too little land. America has way too many neglected horses. Don’t add to the problem….horses are not like cats. You can’t just put food out every day for them and expect them to stay healthy. I know many people do raise horses with very little attention, but really is that a good thing? If you just want live lawn ornaments then stick with poultry. There are plenty of pretty chickens and turkeys that would be very happy to run around with very little care. Horses need attention to stay healthy.

I disagree with the previous answer about nursing. It is hard work, but if you work it right the options are many. My DD is a Traveling Cardiac Critical Care nurse & makes about $80,000 a year, not including rent. That's paid for by the company she works for. You can see the country & figure out where you want to live first hand.

That'd be a great way to start up a good nest egg.

Actually, since this is all new to you, I still say get as much land as possible then start small to fit in with your work & go from there. Chickens are easy, don't take much time. Put in an orchard. Start a small garden, you'd be suprised at the time that takes. I think a lot of homesteading is learn as you go with guidance from places like this.

Ya know, you might end up with a gal that hates horses or sheep or...so leave your options open.

Good luck to you!

Amen I second that.

20 acres.

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I'm completely new to all this too, and I had lots of crazy dreams about all the different/exotic/completely impractical animals I would have. I've changed my tune, and am just concentrating on getting a house onto the land we just bought. And things like wells and septic feilds and insurance and surveys (oh my!) are making even chickens seem like too much work at the moment.

So my advice, from someone who is just a year or three ahead of you? Keep your attitude flexible, buy as much productive land as you can in a place that you love (I've lived here three years before purchasing land), and be a *sponge*. These folks are rich with experience, and if you took everyone here all together, I'm sure there's nothing new under the sun.

Good Luck!

I am sorry for that out burst. Sunday, I drove to the Chicago subburbs and back with a friend. He was commenting on all the places with too many horses and not enough land for them. Of course I am thinking NOT enough riders either....

But I believe you should alway answer the original poster's questions so here is my serious answer.

About 20 acres is a good number.

I have 24 acres and that's more than enough for a full time computer professional, 50% time nurse and three teenagers. I find I have space (and not enough time) for nice house, a small wood lot, few acres of grain crops, about ten acres of pasture/hay fields, chicken coop, livestock/horse barn (we have no horses, just sheep) with some implement storage space, small orchard, a number of small paddocks for pigs/rams and about an acre garden. Took many years to get this big. Don't plan on getting any bigger. Hope to soon stop mowing the grass completely.

Have you ever lived anywhere but an apartment before? Have you ever done upkeep on a house?

Start small. In a lot of places you can keep chickens and rabbits in the suburbs (not mine, though). Don't bite off more than you can handle.

Just a suggestion but you'd be better off if you went to a four year college and got your BS:RN rather than just a RN degree.

Stacy

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