fun survey

Interesting how the poll is a neat curve. With way less people dreaming than doing it for 10 years or more.


We bought land about a year and a half ago. Its a full quarter section so its pretty exciting. We also bought a mobile home and we were going to put it out there, but it was $40,000 to service it and that just isnt in the budget. So we bought a lot in town about 3 miles away for $5,000. I have about 35 rabbits in town because I can. And on the land we have horses, cows and donkeys. We want a big garden, fruit trees etc. Next summer I am going to live out there in camper and I plan on getting some chickens and stuff just for the summer and see how it goes. So I do FEEL like I am homesteading, but we aren't really yet.

Even though we've been making changes now for about 7 years, we don't own the land we want. I can't really say we are "homesteaders" because of our location and so on, but this year we worked out a plan to be out of debt in 2-3 years and then proceed with our dream of owning land in the country somewhere and becoming more self-sufficient. We are doing what we can here in town but a lot of things are still in the planning stage.

Well, I also think there is a line missing from the poll; maybe a: "been there - done that", "I'm winding down from all that" or "a way to long" line.
Reason(s):
Bought the land in '68, had the house built in '71, built 2 pole barns shortly there-after.
Raised a family, along with the chickens, beef cows, geese, ducks, etc. Most of all which have come, spent their time here giving out lessons and experiences and now are gone. Note: excludes family - they keep comin' back.
Did the farming thing, haying, growing some crops, etc don't anymore but still own most of the equipment in-case......
Had a garden that went from maybe 15x20 to over 100x100 which now measures maybe 25x25. Canned, dried, pickled, and froze tons of stuff over the years, not any more, don't think it's worth the effort.
Cut firewood, for personal use and even for sale; still do about 6 full cord a year for personal use.
All-in-all, age is creeping up and like others here, I've "been there - done that" for this lifetime - let alone the "10 years or more".........

I own 10 acres in Northern AZ, and my husband will inherit 120 acres in southern Virginia. We're still young and paying off debt from student loans and youthful dumbness. After that will come children (hopefully). So even though the land isn't a problem, ever actually getting out to live on it seems really far away sometimes.

Although I marked 10 years or more, I'm also in the camp of "been there done that". I sold my place last year and moved to town on 3/4th acre. I did the whole homesteading shebang from my late '20s to '60s except for milk animals. That's 40 years. But as I age I just can't do it any more. So now am "homesteading" in town with a large garden. I could have poultry or small farm animals but am enjoying the freedom of not having them. Anyway, as long as I can purchase pastured eggs for $1.00 dozen, get all the wild hog and venison I can eat from friends, why go through the hassle?
Although I do miss my ducks -- they are so much fun.

We moved to our land three and a half years ago, but were suburban homesteaders prior to that.

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Ignorance is the true enemy.

I've seen the village, and I don't want it raising my children.

www.newcenturyhomestead.com

We've been homesteading on our place (65 acres) since we bought it in 1990. Got married in 1986 at the age of 18 and dh was 21. We started homesteading on our first property (1 acre) right after we married. My parents and his gardened, raised livestock, canned, etc., so it was natural for us to just follow along. It has been a wonderful journey and I wouldn't change a thing. I look forward to each new day and can't wait to see where our journey takes us.

22 years here. Don't know it was called homesteading then. Just knew I wanted room to raise my own critters!

Kathie

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www.littlebitfarm.net