My friend Irene has a couple of milk cows. She's been promising to teach me to milk. So, finally, last night I milked for just a minute, and Sunday night I get a real lesson. But first I have to cut my fingernails, now they're not very long at all, but...you know, not every woman would cut her nails just to milk a cow.

Anyway, what have you sacrificed for homesteading?

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001

Answers

What have I sacrificed? Lucrative jobs, promotions, world travel (you have to home with the stock and garden, though we do have a very knowledgable neighbor to fill in for short vacations.)Everything I have sacrificed has had to do with money. Has it been worth it? Mostly yes. I now have solitude and happiness. A kind of inner peace. A comfort in myself and the world around me. Very micro. I must admit that I still have longings for the "finer" things in life and sometimes miss the challenges of the BIG world. Looking at my friends ,I would have to say that I am more relaxed than they are. They always thinking about big bills and wondering were the next dollar is coming from. Keeping up with the neighbors. City life! UGH!! I am, at least, comfortable in my own skin.

-- Terri Perry (teperry@stargate.net), March 21, 2001.

Oops, hit send to soon. To quote my father, " Prestige can't bake a loaf of bread."

-- Terri Perry (teperry@stargate.net), March 21, 2001.

Hi Cindy, this is a great question, I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately. Some days I really wonder if I'm going too far, as I am SOOO focused on getting to my land.

In October 1997, I was newly divorced, deep in debt, depressed, alone, angry, and scared. It was time to get serious, I was turning 40, and a real mess. I needed a plan. I sat down and wrote up a 5 year plan, very detailed, financial and personal. I'd never asked myself the question "Where do I want to be 5 years from now?". Once I had a goal, there was no stopping me! I wanted to get out of debt (in excess of $25,000), I wanted to live in the country, I wanted to do it by myself!! I had a decent job, but even after cutting back every way I could think of, I knew I couldn't get ahead without more income. I worked Sundays in a bakery for several months, worked nights for an office-cleaning business, stuffed envelopes for a mailing, sold homemade soaps at craft shows, made tie-dyes and sold them to several stores. Anything to make a few dollars. I was so tired, some days I'd realize I hadn't had a day off to rest in over a month!! I decided to check into a paper route, here in my immediate area; 25 minutes a day, and the money sounded great. I loved it, and a year later I've got three routes, and this is the sole source of my extra income now.

About 18 months ago, a friend and I went halves on a webtv. I typed in "homesteading" and found Countryside Magazine! Immediately, my plans became more defined, and I became even more determined to succeed. I subscribed and ordered some back issues. As far my 5 year plan, I find myself way ahead of schedule! I'll be out of debt in less than a year, and I have money in savings. I've bought 5 acres, and plan on moving to Missouri next spring. I've become incredibly strong, and READY.

What have I sacrificed? All the extras (nothing new, I live very frugally!), lots of sleep (I get up at 4am every day), a social life (I haven't been to a movie or out to eat in a couple years); all short term, to reach a goal. I thank God every day for giving me so much encouragement, by way of this forum. Thanks to every single one of you!!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

The only sacrifice we have made, and it's a big one, is that we only get to see our kids and grandkids about once a year. One family lives in California, one in Colorado. Both are in big cities and love it there. In order to have cheap land, lots of water, temperate climate, we are in the south. Sometimes I think we have given up too much just to be able to live independently and have a few animals. And before anyone suggests living in either of those places, we already have. That's why a family is in each place. They stayed, we moved along toward our goal.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), March 21, 2001.

Great question. I've never thought about it before. Having given it some thought I haven't really sacrificed anything. Sacrifice assumes I've given up something I miss. I haven't. There's nothing out there that's better than the homesteading life. We could even give up electricity and all that goes with it, and still thrive and enjoy our life. It's nice to be jostled into realizing that, thanks. I'd miss the forum, though: that would be a sacrifice.

-- Peg in NW WI (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), March 21, 2001.

Cathy in NY, I'm impressed. We're relatively new to the forum, and read a lot into the different names, in order to fill in the blanks in our minds. Things like: he's an NRA member. She's a clueless urbanite. He's just gotta give his opinion. She's a liberal. He's a conservative. She's probably got 25 cats. He knows about cows (Ken). She knows about goats (Vicky). His garden consists of one windowsill (un-named). She can get the job done (Amanda). He's a homestead wannabe. She's up to her elbows in manure most days. He's a doctor. She's a news journalist... xxxx I'm able to fill in a couple words about YOU, now: Down, but not OUT, Faithful, Dedicated, Hard working, Focused, Determined and Busy!!! I am impressed. Do you also have children that make each day even 'More' exciting?

-- Action Dude (theactiondude@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

Thanks for the kind words, Action Dude. That's exactly what I meant about the encouragement I get from this forum. Actually, I poured all that stuff out in hopes of sending a message to anyone who might feel like they're a million miles from reaching their goal. You can't give up once you know what it is that you really want. I love the stories in the magazine about "it was hard work, and we did it ourselves!". Heck, yeah, we can do it! But, I give a lot of the credit to Countryside and the forum. No one in my life is/was supportive of my dreams; they make me feel like I'm a kook for wanting to live in the sticks and raise my own food.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

Oops, forgot to answer your question.....nope, I never had any kids.

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 21, 2001.

Cindy -

You knew those nails were coming off the minute you started to think about that garden, LOL!!!!

I haven't really had to sacrifice all that much. Mainly from stubbornness more than from having to let it go.... I wash clothes in my kitchen sink at the moment. Not because I have to, but I can't see driving 40 miles one way and spending $15 - $20 on laundromats. I've always made my own soap and had a garden.

Now, my daughter... She's back in IL for school, but that wasn't really a sacrifice, because it was her decision, and my folks agreed, so she is with family.... Miss her - hugs, kisses, homework and talking and playing, etc. But, I know its for the best.

Don't have a couch though.... That bugs me.... lol

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 21, 2001.

Cathy - YOU GO GIRL! I'm with Action Dude, and adding you to my list of role models.

We didn't give up much material stuff that was very meaningful, but in order to make our move to the boonies my husband and I have been separated for the last 2-1/2 years. He gets home as often as he can, and FINALLY, as of the last day of April he will be retired and home for good. I'm not sure who he misses most, me or the dogs and cats, but we'll all be mightly happy when he makes that last trip from the Wasteland.

-- Jorja Hernandez (jorja@color-country.net), March 21, 2001.

Terri Perry, Almost the exact same story here! Wouldn't exchange this "down loaded" life for all the riches in the world. Wife, Coleen is back to the happy, worry free girl I fell in love with 33 years ago! Most of my old city friends are now just treading water in the same ol' puddle.

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), March 21, 2001.

Probably one of the biggest sacrifices we ALL make is that no one (almost) looks up to us anymore. We are different. Just reading the forum, one can tell it is a VERY intellegent group of people! BUT, it seems in this day and age, as soon as one owns a goat, cow or chickens (oh my!) instead of an SUV, we become sort of in the "stupid and can't do any better" class of people. I know we all are going to homestead no matter what anyone thinks of us, we know who we are and like ourselves, and to us, this IS better. It cost MORE money to raise a flock of healthy chickens and have additive-free eggs than it does to just buy them in the store. Same for beef. But try to tell someone that, it's like talking to a wall.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 22, 2001.