 58Likes
 |
|
05/12/14, 08:22 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Western WA
Posts: 4,729
|
|
|
Oh, and one other thing, take a lot of pictures during the development process. Many of the coolest pictures in our albums are from when the land was being cleared and the various bits of infrastructure was being put in place. It's amazing to watch how the land changes over time.
|
05/12/14, 08:40 PM
|
 |
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 16,408
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wayne02
Oh, and one other thing, take a lot of pictures during the development process. Many of the coolest pictures in our albums are from when the land was being cleared and the various bits of infrastructure was being put in place. It's amazing to watch how the land changes over time.
|
and put it on a blog with ads down the sides.....
|
05/13/14, 07:01 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 5,205
|
|
|
Long about March here in SW Michigan, I begin to think there's nothing wrong with me that a couple of weeks in Florida, or a plate of bluegills would'nt cure.
geo
|
05/13/14, 08:19 AM
|
 |
Just living Life
|
|
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Now in Virginia
Posts: 8,277
|
|
|
Can you get a, water RAM, to help get the water closer to where you need it?
We have millions of ticks here too. First year here was horrible for us, both my DS and I ended up with a lot of ticks on us.
Bought chickens the 2nd year and free range them around the house and animal pastures... and so far.. haven't seen a tick at all. Thank goodness!
Because after living 18 years in the NW... where we never had a tick on anything.... living here was a shock to my system!
Also have a poisonous snake issue.. Grammy swore Turkeys would take care of that problem, worked very well on the family farm.
I ended up with 3 female turkeys last summer... so far... haven't seen any snakes or snake skins around the house and animals pastures close in.
It is a lot of work, it keeps us busy and in shape.
My DH and I are getting older now... this is the last place we are going to be able to start from scratch. Have to admit.. this place, gets to be a bit much now and again.
If I can get some water lines to the livestock pasture, hen house and Kitchen garden... would make it easier.
You have to decide what is best for you.
__________________
Shari
|
05/13/14, 09:11 AM
|
|
Cyber-peasant
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: AR
Posts: 212
|
|
|
Sounds like you need a day off!
How far to the nearest Movie & Chinese?
One thing I like to do to refresh is take a walk or drive to somebody else's nature - one that isn't screaming "more chores!" at me.
Yes, it's hard work. I get overwhelmed at times for sure. Schedule in some fun. It helps!
|
05/13/14, 10:31 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 1,495
|
|
|
The deer are bring in the ticks. GUINEAS are wonderful and they HATE snakes. We have 16 guineas and they stay around the house and barn @ 4 acres total that they roam. NO ticks and NO snakes..............love them and they are all dark meat.
|
05/13/14, 11:19 AM
|
|
Registered User
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1
|
|
|
Guineas are great for ticks, scorpions, and snakes. They are weird and hilarious creatures but utterly awesome. Free range chickens will help also. Keeping your yard mowed will help a lot.
|
05/13/14, 11:31 AM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: W. Oregon
Posts: 8,755
|
|
|
Starting with bare land is hard work, get it the way you want it and it gets easier. I have always started with a blank canvass, BUT....I have always taken the time to get a lay of the land and have a plan at the start. Small, slow and steady. Just did it last summer and the fall before with DSs place. Built the cabin and storage sheds and his rabbit shed. Still have some fence to build and some cleanup. I helped him and he is taking over a lot of our daily heavier work. I milk 1 goat, feed the chickens and take care of my pigeons. Little putt work in the greenhouses (daily chores) and then have time to go fishing and my household chores. Some times you just have to take a day for yourself to see the good in what you dreamed of....James
|
05/13/14, 12:42 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Arkansas
Posts: 2,857
|
|
Not everyone loves it and that is okay too. 
__________________
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." C S Lewis
|
05/13/14, 02:49 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 16,319
|
|
|
I came to bare land too here, and id N E V E R, NEVER ever do it again.
IF you can have those blasted guienes, you can have chickens, and with a small chicken house, say 10 X 10, you can have a doz or more chickens easily.
You might think of colony rabbits too. They nearly take care of themselves, IF youll mow with a grass catcher, and feed them the grass your cutting to keep the ticks down.
A 1/2 doz turkeys also are pretty good at taking care of themselves feed wise while the grass is still green. You could easily put a couple in with the chickens, AFTER they've gotten to be around 3 months old.
BUT to be honest, I cant help having the feeling that your just scrapeing by financially, and wouldn't have the money for the feed, chicken house, chickens or any other animals, mower or other machinery. IF im right, well, were all been there at one time or twice. You don't mention having a garden, and I would think that you would have land cleared for that right off. AS your in Ark, you might find enough rock to build a chicken house. There are U Tubes on doing that that are free.
When I lived in SW MO, near the Ark line, we were as poor as Jobs turkey. I made rabbit cages out of sassafrass branches. I made a cow lot out of long poles for rails. We did have water, but that was about all we had. I don't have water here, and ivelived here 33yrs
|
05/13/14, 04:12 PM
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Whiskey Flats(Ft. Worth) , Tx
Posts: 8,749
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by kerlin
Hubby and I purchased a small amount of raw land less than a year ago and have been working nonstop.
I thought the idea of homesteading was a great idea, until I started doing it. I wanna give props to all the folks who love this life, it is hard work.
We have just under 5 acres and have been able to add electric, phone(no cell service here), satellite and internet in the past few months. We haul water in 5 gallon buckets, lots of work, but it gets us by.
So far we have 2 dogs and 2 cats, and about a couple million ticks, oh working on getting rid of those. We also see the occasional snake, any ideas to keep them away from our tiny home and outdoor kitchen?
For those who are considering homesteading from raw land, I say do a LOT of research. See if there is anyone in your area already living that way and volunteer to help for a weekend before taking the plunge yourself. Not to sound discouraging, just want folks to know that this is a lifestyle, and is not a walk in the park.
Our kitchen is outside, we have a fire pit for cooking on among other items such as a camp cook stove and electric gadgets of every kind. If you plan to cook over an open fire, be carful as to which wood you use, it does add or take away from the flavor of your food.
At this time, it is frustrating and there have been several times I have asked myself what did I do this for. Hubby and I are considering selling the land because it is much harder than we anticipated. I should have done this 25 years ago when I had the energy to do it.
Sorry, just ranting I guess. Back to hard work and a fake smile. Have a great day everyone. Someone please enjoy some Chinese takeout for me.
|
...........IF , your budget allows , purchase a used 50 to 60 hp diesel tractor with a box blade and frontend loader and posthole digger ! This one helper will do 90% of the heavy lifting and make life much more productive . Ark. , in some places has lots of rock which really complicates fence building but you will get there eventually . , good luck , fordy
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:48 PM.
|
|
