Well I like to think we didn't move out of fear, we moved out of desire to not be so dependent on the very precarious wheel of city life. At our old neighborhood, it was pretty secluded and we had three acres, so we could have done something there, and our neighbors were all like us as far as defense against zombies when the welfare checks stop coming, but everyone I knew WANTED to get out of town, but no one ever made the move. I had read so much, so many things written by other people who had done it, I finally just said to heck with it! We are going!
We're lucky in that hubby is self-employed and works from home, and we homeschool, so where we lived really didn't matter, as long as it was within a reasonable driving distance to town, for when hubby had to go for work. So we aren't dependent on the farm making a living for us, and we don't have to live on savings, because hubby still works. I'm still kind of bummed out that we aren't in the COUNTRYcountry, and I daydream about having a big farm that is really isolated, and I wonder if I am doing the right thing, building this place up into what I want when I know I'd really rather have a bigger place, but like I said, we're just doing what we can, for the time being. Who knows what the future holds.
True and I know if the SHTF before we make our move, we'll regret not having moved sooner. On the other hand, if we move just because we fear doom and gloom - and it never happens, we'll regret not having waited.
Is it possible for you to have the best of both worlds? Is there any country kind of land where you are that would be close enough for him to still work? We really tried to get out of Kansas and start our place in th Ozarks, but because of work we just couldn't make it happen. So, we compromised and moved just out of the city. I wish we were further out, in the middle of nowhere, but it was the best we could do, and it has worked out just fine.
And yeah, definitely there are things you can do now! Even if you live in an apartment building there are garden plans and such that you can start. Most towns even allow laying hens now.
As to the cow/goat thing, the mama cow has her baby to keep her company, and yes we do have multiple goats because the one was lonely (the sheep just didn't cut it for her, of course!) I was worried about so much milk with the cow, but you can always let the calf have as much as it can, or you can feed it to the cats/dogs, it's good for the garden, etc. Or you can get even worse and buy a pig to eat everything you have left over. It is a never ending circle for me.
Right now, though, I think I have enough to keep me busy. I still have to build big permanent hutches for our new rabbits. And I got an automatic egg turner for my incubator, so in February I get to hatch some chicks!! I'm super excited about that.
Have you ever been over to Homesteading Today? There are so many great people over there, some who have been real farmers their whole lives, some who are still in the city but dreaming and wanting to learn. It is a really great resource, full of knowledgeable people about everything from cattle to tree identification, survivalists to grandmas posting pics of their new grandbabies. It is a great place.
I didn't mean to imply you moved out of fear, if that's what you think I meant - you made it clear you wanted a simple lifestyle and that homesteading fit that bill. That's exactly what I want too. (And to be self-sufficient if TSHTF, but I'd do it even if the economy was roaring with happy capitalism.) Anyway, sorry if that's the impression I've made!
Is it possible for you to have the best of both worlds? Is there any country kind of land where you are that would be close enough for him to still work? We really tried to get out of Kansas and start our place in th Ozarks, but because of work we just couldn't make it happen. So, we compromised and moved just out of the city. I wish we were further out, in the middle of nowhere, but it was the best we could do, and it has worked out just fine.
Well, that is my plan A ;) I look for jobs weekly for hubby in rural areas. The chances of getting one might be slim, but I am still trying and he applies if I find one he likes in an area that isn't urban. We'll have to settle for a less than optimum place if he does get a new job, because there is only one natural gas plant that I can see in SE Kentucky and there are NEVER openings there! And that plant is still a little to close to civilization. Plan B is to move when we accumulate enough cash if Plan A doesn't work. I took an 8500 miles driving trip this summer to check out relocation areas - there are a lot of beautiful places in the US. I missed the Ozarks since I went north along SD, but want to go there if I do the trip again. I actually plannd to go to Clinton, MO and the lake Truman area but after looking at the map, it was far out of my way since I wanted to see Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
As to the cow/goat thing, the mama cow has her baby to keep her company, and yes we do have multiple goats because the one was lonely (the sheep just didn't cut it for her, of course!) I was worried about so much milk with the cow, but you can always let the calf have as much as it can, or you can feed it to the cats/dogs, it's good for the garden, etc. Or you can get even worse and buy a pig to eat everything you have left over. It is a never ending circle for me.
I do want a pig - that would be a good solution. I never heard of giving plants milk-is it good for them? I think I'll start with my one gallon of milk and see how I do with cheese before committing to getting a cow ;) If I can make some decent cheese and butter eventually, a coew might be a good idea actually. I'd really like to see some of it at a farmer's market - if Obama's Food Police doesn't prohit it completely by then.
How precious to see chicks hatching! Does the automatic turner pick them up (ie., Jurassic Park) or roll them over like a hot-dog machine at a mini-mart? Post some pics of the babies when the time comes!
I'll check out Homesteading Today - thanks for the idea. I usually just get depressed when I see all the things I SHOULD be doing and WANT to be doing on the net. But I do need ot start learning and preparing, cuz the move could come in 6 months (I'm being overly optimistic here, but why not?)