Off-Grid Island... 400 residents.

Yes, because to some it is not cool to be labeled a farmer even though they are living the same lifestyle and working the land the same. I wonder how many people have been to or sold their stuff at a farmer's market lately? There is a reason it is called a farmer's market.

What I get a kick out of is the new crop of people who think they need to pay in order get special degrees to homestead (farm) or will work for free on a homestead (aka farm) for experience.

raven, farming is a whole other ball game then homesteading. If those people were farmers then that island would be almost completely stripped of trees and converted into fields and pastures. You can not farm in the forest. Even if you have a large garden you are not a farmer.

so cool I have that here in the Ozarks!!!

Homesteaders clear trees. Homesteaders cultivate their land. There is no difference between farming in a cabin in the woods of Appalachia and on an island.

There are actually ranches in the part of Texas where I used to live with no trees because of the climate. I'm wondering how they would qualify as homesteads. Under your guidelines, they could never be homesteads.

try not to get all ramy, but how did you get to this from the video? I'm curious where the anger comes from, and I guess I don't get it so I'm asking. and all the angry farm comments. what does that have to do with these people? again...just curious!

I don't get the dogs: The amount of dog manure they make must be the equivalent of a small herd of cows, so I can see why she takes them on long walks! But I just hope the old man's water supply wasn't anywhere near there!

I really liked the old guy, and he looked happier being there than any of the younger people.

City Bound, I'm a farmer, and I live a homesteading life style which is the way I grew up. Not all farmers are the same, just as not all homesteaders are the same.

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-Northern NYS

"Farmers market" in this day and age is a marketing term and does not always reflect "farmed goods'. The farmers market in my farming community sell everything from jewelry to baked bread and target the tourists not the locals. The local farmers trade farm to farm instead of worrying about sales tax and stall fees.

These are not farms. I can tell you have never been to Lasqueti. It is a rocky island not conducive to anything more than a few small gardens. That is why the sheep run wild no one can keep them on their own property and "farm " them.

Raven12, I don't know what's going on, but I hope you can get a big hug from someone soon, just don't bite them in the neck.

Raven 12,

My definition of farmer is one who makes his total income from farming eg. plants or animal which one sell to make an income. Someone who lives out in the woods and maybe raises a garden, would not be considered a farmer by most people. Having grown up on a farm, I learned many things that people in the cities didn't. Yet I have no problem with them seeking to learn how to live more sustainably by taking classes or apprenticing. How else are they going to learn? Most of them would not consider themselves farmers not that they are trying to homestead.

Homesteading like farming takes a lot of manual work and ingenuity. One has to be a plumber, a carpenter, a mechanic, an electrician, a nurse, a financial planner etc. You and I are lucky, we grew up with it and learned a lot that way. Why would you have trouble with people not growing up that way wanting to learn the basics?

Sure, some of them will be to lazy to do the work involved, some will not have the purpose and stamina to keep up with it, many of them have failed. So what? Many of the (true) farmers I grew up with have failed. A couple of hundred acre hill farm would support a farmer 40 years ago.... it won't even come close now. To have a profitable farm now it takes more money for land, equipment, and available money to last from planting to harvest. Few can pull it off without having inherited.

Some people just like living in the woods in a certain place. It has nothing to do with farming or homesteading. Some people want a fancy brick house in the suburbs, some people like a quiet wood or an area with few people. It they want it enough, they learn to live without some of what are considered normal conveniences. If they had a bunch of money, they might have big solar panels, a 50 kw generator or anything they thought necessary. These people aren't making a bid deal about their lifestyle, aren't claiming to be farmers or even homesteaders. They are simply people who have chosen a lifestyle different than most.

What's the problem with that?

o&itw, nice editing down of the definition.

Here is what you left out from the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

Farmer - 2. a person who cultivates land or crops or raises animals (as livestock or fish)

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/farmer

You should go back and read CB's post.

I'm curious why posters think I am angry. Because I have a different opinion than most? I'm not ooing and awwing over a video? More proof that there are an awful lot of enablers on HT.

I read. I think........there's some kind of crabby going on that I don't get. guess I'm an enabler. and..I'm good with that!

Maybe it is because you use the word idiots so easily. I have always heard that,
"a bit dog barks first".

Well, it would be nice to discuss the topic but it seems like all everyone can come up with is how they think I feel.

My advice would be to never enter GC.

Raven12, seems your idea of discussion is if everyone agrees with you. that's fine, but not always realistic. so what...some thought this wonderful. no big deal to you, yet you got your cackles up and crinkly. I think your opinion was well spoken and delivered. yet you still want an argument of some sort. you are still cranky sounding. lol it's ok...chill and let opinions of all just be.

A lot of us go to GC... most just know the difference between there and here.

You've sort of changed the topic from "Hey this is pretty interesting, look at the colorful folks and their different way of life" to... "What a bunch of idiots, why would anyone want to do that?" Which then causes anyone who looks at that and actually might enjoy it to be in the "idiot" classification.

So, to get back on track...

For those from that general area... I imagine that the sunlight is limited like most of the PNW, so I wonder TRULY, how much they run on Genny's vs. Solar for their electric needs?

Also, it's private ownership... again, from those near there... is it expensive because it's an eccentric island, or is it cheap because it's off grid, no improvement-difficult-to-get-to land?

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so, raven, I am a farmer? I have 150 sq feet container garden at home and a 10x20 plot in a community garder, I would never insult a real farmer and call myself a farmer.

I don't get all the rage. You are taking a fun video that is filled with fun people and turning it into something ugly.

yes, I am curious about the land cost also. Everything cost so much these days that I fugure land there would cost a lot also.

They had wind turbines also so I guess that takes over when the solar is low.

http://www.realtor.ca/PropertyResult...of=1&ps=10&o=A

http://www.realtor.ca/PropertyDetail...dKey=721016638

This I think is the property of the gentleman in the report.