How to begin without getting discouraged

frabjuslady · #41 07/19/14, 12:39 PM

Sounds like you are doing an amazing job. Just remember you don't always have to be a supermom. Make small goals. You don't have to reach your goals right now. Write down your short term and long term goals.

I would definitely stick with the meal planning . That can ease some of the stress of meals. When I get sick of what's on my menu I throw in one new thing in and then ask myself..."Do I want to spend time being creative with food or something else?"

Also, as you look into teaching jobs have you considered trying to get a position with an online school? Then you could work remotely and in your break times could tend the farm.

cfuhrer · #42 07/19/14, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilgrosh

Tea Mama,
I used to live in the Bay Area and understand your pain of living in an expensive area. My only advice is to do a little bit each year. Don't worry about trying to use the whole 24 acres from the beginning. Start small and grow from there. Here is what I would do with what you have and taking into some general assumptions on where you live (Redding, CA area?):

Year 1:
Put in a small garden, just enough to provide for your family. I am a fan of raised beds, so I would use 8 4x8 raised beds.
Keep having the farmer use your fields and trade for beef
Get your boys to chop, stack, sell cord firewood from your woodlot. They keep half of all sales and you get half for providing the equipment.
Pay down the tractor as soon as possible.
Plant two fruit trees.

Year 2-4:
Same garden. Same farmer. Same firewood. Plant two more trees.

Year 5:
Expand garden to have extras for small sale or trade.
Get a chicken coop and raise a few layers and a few broilers.
Keep the farmer and firewood.
tractor should definitely be paid off by now.
reap your first good harvest from the fruit trees.

Year 6:
Same market garden and orchard.
Expand the chickens to a dozen.
Keep the farmer.
Add some bees to help the orchard.
Sons should be in college, so cancel the firewood
Look into growing some grain or hay in your pastures.

Year 7-Forever:
Expand a little each year. Slowly grow more crops, vegetables, and fruits and sell the excess. Don't over reach more than you can comfortably handle.

Remember to enjoy life and take time for out for fishing the Russian River!

This is a great timeline. My only tweak would be to start raising laying hens sooner. I would also add in rabbits in the first five years somewhere. Laying hens and rabbits are great sources of inexpensive protein that need very little infrastructure to get started.

ronbre · #43 07/19/14, 01:46 PM

sorry I didn't take time to read all the replys as my back is sore....but.
I'd say write everything down you need to do and plan plan plan..read some good books like Gaia's Garden by Toby Hemenway..

put in your perennial fruit and nut trees and plants FIRST..as they take the longest to produce..and then of course some annual garden as well..protect everything ifyou have deer or rabbits.

take your time..except on the perennials esp trees..don't over do..don't try to do it all at once (i've tried that and it is very frustrating)

Le Petit Norman · #44 07/19/14, 08:16 PM

Your doing fine, just step back a little otherwise you'll get burned, I always try to handle one new project at a time , layers, then meat chicken would be on my priority list, seeing a 2 yo rush back home with a basket full of eggs is not something you want to miss and as for the broilers put those teenager to work that is an easy way for them to put food on the table by themselves ...

Yvonne's hubby · #45 07/20/14, 09:03 AM

Organize your priorities, and get busy putting your plan to work. Never start a project that you cant finish.... and be sure to finish each project before you start the next. Otherwise your life becomes a chaotic mess and you waste a tremendous amount of your time and money. For example... critters must be contained behind some form of fence. Spending a couple grand and a months time building fence on three sides of the farm, then discovering that you are out of wire and money is not a good thing.... You need to get that fence critter proof all the way round or you have gained nothing. Another budget buster is projects done cheaply that have to be redone a short time later. That fence needs to be built to last... the first time. Yep, it costs more, but its sooooo much cheaper in the long run.

As to buying new equipment or used.... about 15 years ago I had a feller price his tractor to me.. he was selling out and going on to better things. I paid him his asking price, on the spot, no need for bankers. For 3K I came home with a dandy 19fifty something ferguson to35 with a front end loader, new grader blade, bush hog, and hayfork. That tractor has served me well ever since doing everything from cultivating my garden, mowing and baling hay to snaking logs out of the woods, building roads and ponds, stretching fence and a host of other tasks around the farm. In the fifteen years I have owned it I have had to put a water pump on it, 25 bucks, replace the radiator 220 bucks, (never back up in the woods where there are limbs handy to kick up and go through a radiator!) and put a clutch in it once. that was only 80 bucks but a good days work, breaking the tractor in half and getting it all back together. Other than that, I change the oil once a year, a set of plugs and points every 4 or 5 years and a few pumps of a grease gun once in a while. That little tractor purrs like a kitten and does everything I have ever needed it to.

mrs whodunit · #46 07/20/14, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patchouli

The only way we made it work was to have one person here fulltime over the years. What that person saved us in costs by raising our food, not having to eat out, keeping up with all the stuff that takes run the place with as little financial input as possible. etc made it worth it. You might want to look at how much you spend in convenience items due to the fact you both work, not to mention childcare, work clothes and that sort of thing. It's possible if one of you has a smaller paycheck you could save more by being at home. A lot of people work just to cover the expenses of them working and are unaware of it.

That. Excatly.

Sit down and figure out the costs of working out of the home versus working at home.

kilgrosh · #47 07/21/14, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfuhrer

This is a great timeline. My only tweak would be to start raising laying hens sooner. I would also add in rabbits in the first five years somewhere. Laying hens and rabbits are great sources of inexpensive protein that need very little infrastructure to get started.

I agree that raising layers and rabbits will provide a good source of meat and eggs. My only reason for not putting them in sooner was that animals require daily maintenance and feeding, which it seemed that Tea Mama didn't have the time for at the moment. Ideally, I would like to see her two boys take care of the rabbits and the firewood and go halves with her and Chad. This way the boys have independency in making their own money, responsibility in caring for another living thing, and helping provide for the family.

Vosey · #48 07/21/14, 11:14 PM

Tea Mama - I read this thread a few days ago and keep thinking about it. You are on your way, don't give up. I can't imagine doing this with both of us working, and we don't have kids! We have many more goals, but it's all bit by bit. Think about what you like doing, what is easy to do and stop doing some of it if it's overwhelming. Everything you grow is better for you and your kids. Maybe making detergent or yogurt isn't worth your time right now for example.

As for being in a pricey area, family is worth all of it. I so wish I was closer to family. It's hard to read on HT of other people's grocery prices or property taxes, but we make the choices we have to, no regrets. It sounds like you have good acreage in a prime area, if you want to sell and move on some day that's a good thing.

DSBlack · #49 07/21/14, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tea_mama

^^^That in a nutshell is what is so discouraging. I have these dreams of a beautiful garden abundantly full of produce but then we find we are stretched too thin. Moderation needs to be my mantra. As jwal10 said, a lot can be done with just a little.

I can't really give you any insightful anecdotes, as I'm just getting started myself, but I'm looking at our homesteading venture like a business. One thing that I can say from personal experience is that quite often in the operation of a small business, we equate success and profit with 'more', which is of course inherently wrong; more is quite simply more - more work, more responsibility, more stress, more liability, and sometimes more profit. Much the same as managing my own business (truck driver), I think the real profit can be found in the things that can be taken away. What are you doing now that you don't really need to be doing? What are you having done that you can do yourself? If you find yourself spread too thin, where do your priorities lie?

With trucking, I could drive 6000+ miles a week, running my truck at 70 mph, and working to the literal extent of the law to get as many miles under my wheels as possible and have a higher gross income. However, after I factor in the reduced fuel efficiency of that higher speed, the increase of fuel expenses for the extra miles, the depreciation of my truck (in the form of wheel wear, oil usage, etc.), and other sundry expenses I make less net pay than if I had stuck to driving 62-65 mph for 5000+ miles. Not to mention the benefits to my comfort and stress level.

I know full well that trucking and farming are two different animals, but I think there is a strong parallel there - sometimes less is more, both literally and figuratively.

Chad · #50 07/22/14, 10:04 AM

I would like to thank everyone for their input, insight and encouragement. Thankfully my wife and I were able to spend an entire weekend on the property without having to leave for one thing or another. This seems to always help recharge our batteries. We were able to spend some just being together and putting some real plans in place. We know we are on the right path for our family and we know we are taking the steps to provide a lasting and wholesome future for our family.

One thing that was not mentioned in the original posting is that my parents are in a situation that is not sustainable for them on a fixed income. Sadly the economic downturn affected them drastically (as well as a few bad choices financially). As I stated earlier NOTHING is more important to me and thankfully my wife than family, also we are blessed to be in a position to help my parents. We have enough land, space and infrastructure to have them build a small "in-law quarters" on the property. We know there will be challenges with this living arrangement however it is a way of life I feel is lost in most of this country. In times past kids took care of parents, parents took care of grandchildren and lent guidance to the younger generations. I feel very blessed to have an amazing wife who loves my parents like her own, and parents willing to swallow their pride and try to make a life with us. I am further blessed to have a father that has been a shinning example of what it is to be a father/husband and man. I so look forward to his daily guidance and help in chasing this dream of ours. The benifit to us is quite obvious in that we will have much needed help both physically and emotionally once they are here full time. I am unfortunately away from the property for 12 to 14 hours a day during the week but with my father there I feel everyone is in good, strong, capable hands.

Tea_mama · #51 07/22/14, 12:19 PM

As Chad said, thank you all for your input. You are all awesome and this is an example as to why I love this forum so much. I see and feel no judgment, merely suggestions and support. Reading your success stories and realizing we are all working towards a similar goal makes me (and Chad) not feel so alone. I have read every single word and I so appreciate it. Thank you.

Lookin4GoodLife · #52 07/22/14, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wulfespirit

Celebrate what you have accomplished rather than dwell on the list of things you want to accomplish. Every inch is progress.

+1 Very good advice right there. I'm bad about that myself.... the dwelling on the unfinished part. It's hard to realize how much you do and pat yourself on the back when you're fretting over the unfinished. My best friend gives me this same advice all the time and I know it's true. Lots of other good advice here too, just hang in there. It'll get better.

Lookin4GoodLife · #53 07/22/14, 05:42 PM

Just a little something for organization, don't know if you guys have tried Evernote. It's free for the basic services and I use it for all my notes and to do lists. You can download it for Windows or Mac and I just use the browser version on my Linux machine. It also has apps for Android and iPhone that my son and I use. We share lists with each other so I can give him stuff to do and so on. You can clip stuff you see off the internet, take pictures directly into your notebooks and all kinds of stuff. Very cool software! https://evernote.com/

Grandmotherbear · #54 07/24/14, 09:51 AM

You might enjoy reading Paradise Lots by Eric Toensmeier and Jonathan Bates. Eric also wrote 2 volumes on the perennial food forest and a wonderfull book on perennial temperate zone vegetables. (The Paradise refers to the city lot they were planting their first owned garden on)

The first thing he and his business partner did after moving into their duplex on 1/10 of an acre was...nothing. They spent the first year observing sun and shade for all 4 seasons and testing their soils. They did not want vegetables in high lead areas or full sun plants in summer shade. There is quite a lot in preplanning discussed in the book.

There is a gentleman near you who is an expert in raising normal apples in hot climates. Check out www.kuffelcreek.com. last I checked the website he was involved in setting up apple orchards in tropical Indonesia and Africa. I strongly recommend his book. Am following a lot of his recommendations to raise my own apple orchard.

As someone else (many someones) mentioned, plant your perennials, especially fruit trees, first! And if you have enough water for nut trees, due to California almond growers sacrificing a lot of their trees, nut prices will be high for years! My research has led me to plant pachiro- Guyanan chestnuts- for our use. If your tree will need a pollinator always buy three- 2 females and a male. Nothing is quite as frustrating as having only 2 trees and 1 dies.
I did a lot of gardening in my community garden plot with my toddler daughter in a backpack. And worked, and went to school, and nursed her till she was 2- We had clean clothes and ate, but the rest of the housework was put off for years. You pays your money and you takes your choice...
Consider 300 hybrid ducks for eggs- (breed name not suggested flock numbers!)they outproduce most chicken layer breeds is my understanding.
How do you eat an elephant?? 1 bite at a time...

Homesteader · #55 07/24/14, 12:48 PM

I think what happens to many of us (it did to me) is we see the pictures, read the posts, and we want it and I MEAN RIGHT NOW! I'm like that, get it done, let's go, what's the problem? Why isn't it happening?

Reality and dreams part ways sometimes. The frustration you feel could be, that your vision (the dream) and reality have parted ways. You will be better off to accept that the reality of a fairly robust fairly self-sufficient homestead takes time and money.

If you are in debt, there's not enough money. If you work full time and are raising kids, there's not enough time.

This is reality. Now you can tweak it a bit, but don't be hard on yourself when the two part ways (the dream and the reality).

Not many folks can handle three full time jobs. Your kids, your job, your homestead are three full time jobs. That's reality.

If you take on one project at a time it will help you a lot. If you try to garden and do beef and pigs and chickens and.....well you're gonna' run right smack back into that reality business!

I agree with the idea that one person staying home makes a huge difference. Then there's time.

If you can get to be debt free, then there's money. Reality again, if one is home with no income, how can you get debt free?

Of course there are ways to make money on the homestead, and that is a whole 'nother world there, but it is a thought.

You are doing okay. It seems based on what I've done myself here, what I've read, shared, etc. is, it takes a bunch of money to get it all set up. It takes time to keep it maintained.

I too am one of those kids who was uprooted during my teen years and it had a very negative effect on me. We had moved all over the country while I was younger and that was fine, but then we settled for several years in one place. I got to go thru jr. high and part of high school. Had to move during my Sophmore year and it was awful.

Chad · #56 07/24/14, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homesteader

I think what happens to many of us (it did to me) is we see the pictures, read the posts, and we want it and I MEAN RIGHT NOW! I'm like that, get it done, let's go, what's the problem? Why isn't it happening?

Reality and dreams part ways sometimes. The frustration you feel could be, that your vision (the dream) and reality have parted ways. You will be better off to accept that the reality of a fairly robust fairly self-sufficient homestead takes time and money.

If you are in debt, there's not enough money. If you work full time and are raising kids, there's not enough time.

This is reality. Now you can tweak it a bit, but don't be hard on yourself when the two part ways (the dream and the reality).

Not many folks can handle three full time jobs. Your kids, your job, your homestead are three full time jobs. That's reality.

If you take on one project at a time it will help you a lot. If you try to garden and do beef and pigs and chickens and.....well you're gonna' run right smack back into that reality business!

I agree with the idea that one person staying home makes a huge difference. Then there's time.

If you can get to be debt free, then there's money. Reality again, if one is home with no income, how can you get debt free?

Of course there are ways to make money on the homestead, and that is a whole 'nother world there, but it is a thought.

You are doing okay. It seems based on what I've done myself here, what I've read, shared, etc. is, it takes a bunch of money to get it all set up. It takes time to keep it maintained.

I too am one of those kids who was uprooted during my teen years and it had a very negative effect on me. We had moved all over the country while I was younger and that was fine, but then we settled for several years in one place. I got to go thru jr. high and part of high school. Had to move during my Sophmore year and it was awful.

You hit the nail right on the head!! While my wife and I do not have a lot of time to spend on the homestead, we both work behind computers all day. This lends itself to surfing the homesteading blogs and forums (my wife is also addicted to Pintrest, which is the BANE of my existence, that is nothing but a project maker!) and seeing what others have accomplished and what others are producing. While we love to see the success of others it is sometimes hard when you only see the end result. Often what is not "shown" in the pictures is the years of effort, hard work and sacrifice that went into the achievement.

Also we are our own worst critics and sadly while I feel we are both good at supporting each other we are neither patient people by nature when it comes to the things we want to get done. We strive for patience but often fall short.

**Terri** · #57 07/24/14, 05:03 PM

The thing about homesteading is, everything grows! Eventually.

I sent from feeling frustrated because after a couple of years of hard work my little place looked EXACTLY the same! OK, there were a couple of 3 foot tall twigs in the ground.

After 2 more years all of those little bare twigs had turned into 4 foot tall trees, and all of a sudden my homestead looked almost full! And, I realized that I had planted the apple trees too close together, which meant a lot more pruning that I had intended! And the garden could be expanded but not too much because of the trees. And-and-and!

I am a very visual person: as long as my perennials were small it did not look like I had done a thing but I had. Plants grow and livestock gives birth, and you might not notice it but your homestead *IS* growing just FINE!

geo in mi · #58 07/25/14, 07:29 AM

Go away for a week, visit relatives, go to a festival, anything that takes you away from your place for a short time.

When you return, do you sit in your favorite spot and say, "Ahhhh", or do you sit and worry about the things you will have to do next week? If, "Ahhhh", then you have nothing to worry about, you'll make it. If all you can think about is the things yet to do, then you should probably get of this homesteading thing.......My own opinion--it's about home..

geo

Tea_mama · #59 07/29/14, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geo in mi

Go away for a week, visit relatives, go to a festival, anything that takes you away from your place for a short time.

When you return, do you sit in your favorite spot and say, "Ahhhh", or do you sit and worry about the things you will have to do next week? If, "Ahhhh", then you have nothing to worry about, you'll make it. If all you can think about is the things yet to do, then you should probably get of this homesteading thing.......My own opinion--it's about home..

geo

That is exactly what I did. I took a trip to the Bay Area yesterday for an appointment. Crazy traffic, hustle/bustle, people everywhere. Coming home, I could FEEL my stress melting away. Our home is the right one for us.

ArmyDoc · #60 07/29/14, 07:17 PM

Former Californian here. How much equity is in you land? How tied to your area are you in terms of job prospects?

I ask all this because the quickest way to lower your cost of living is to move to where the cost of living is lower... I loved California, but I could never own the house and land I do here in GA, if I were living in California.

Not trying to be discouraging. The opposite actually. Land here is 1500-2500 for uncleared and 4000-10,000/ acre depending on amount purchased, and this is near a large town. Lower costs can be found if you move further out. Something to think about.