I see a lot of post but really it seems we know so little about each other. So lets talk.

What is your background?

Me, I have 20 years business experience. I am an inventor, writer of short stories (been published) and Information Specialist. I'm an avid reader averaging 3 books a week. I've ran a wood shop, mixed chemicals and been President of three corporations. My greatest asset (other than my family) is my Problem Solving ability.

My wife has great computer skills (Office suite 2000, Win 3.1,95 & 98, Powerpoint, Excel, She can scan, cleanup pics, etc) She has management skills as she has supervised 20 employees at different plants. She is an excellent cook, home taught alternative herb "doctor", She is very good with the public. She loves animals and gardening.

What about ya'll?

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), May 11, 2001

Answers

cool idea Kenneth:

I am a 38 year old homesteader "hope-to-be", married to a neat 37 old lady with a doctorate in bilingual education. She has been teaching English in the Texas public school system for 15 years, but someday hopes to teach in a nearby university (she applies often, but like many things these days, it is who you know . . .), and is sort of interested in living in the country. But not too far out. We have a nearly three year old son and are trying for our second child (work work work). I am an architectural draftsman with 15 years of experience in architecture and a little bit of mechanical engineering. My family owns a small ranch in deep southern south Texas (can you spell persperation incontinence), which my brother and I roamed at will during our carefree 20's, when life was simple and single (but I enjoy married life, o.k.?). I have always been interested in the outdoors, lots of hunting and fishing experience since I was young, but I was never interested in homesteading until the late 80's, early 90's when I became interested in the survivalist movement. The economy was the pits, and economic disaster loomed (or so they said). Becoming self sufficient became a major goal of mine; I acquired as much tools for surviving the wilds after the collapse, that kind of thing. Many of the books I read on survival were into self reliance and encouraged moving into the country, safe from the ravenous hordes of looters. As I read more and more, the danger magically passed on (them looters became dot.com millionares I guess), but the desire for safety changed to a desire for peace. Maybe I am going out on a limb here, but many of you lead survivalist type lives. By that I mean you live with minimum hastle from the grind. I hope one day that I will lead the lives that many of you good people lead, days of hard work on the homestead, where what you work for is all around you each day. Your posts on your to-do lists do not hide the fact that each of you seem quite happy in what you have done: QUIT THE RAT RACE AND SIMPLY LIVE. I wish you all a good day.

-- j.r. guerra (jrguerra@boultinghouse.com), May 11, 2001.

This string should prove to be really interresting. Thanks for asking the question to get it started!

I was raised somewhat old-fashioned Mennonite (no horse and buggy), on a 60 acre farm that had about 3/4 cleared land and 1/4 woods. We raised veggies and fruits for the farm market, besides running a family bakery during my teen years. I am the 7th child in a family of 9 children. My parents took care of many many welfare children from troubled homes. I think there were about 45 in all, that we kept over a period of 15 years. My Papa built a big farmhouse in the woods, and it had 10 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms!

I always thought of our family as poor, because we never splurged on things that other families had. I wore shoes to school till they began to fall apart, and then they became barn shoes. Hand-me-downs were the rule, for clothing. Of course, as Mennonites, all dresses were made after the same patterns, so sewing up a few dresses was a one day job. I had only 3 dresses for school, and they were supposed to last all year.

I played all over those wonderful 60 acres. The creek on the back side of the woods holds many memories. The hay loft where we kept the piano was a wonderful retreat from so many people. (The piano was up there because my musically challenged Papa has a religious conviction against musical instruments.) I learned how to take that piano apart to get the grain out, and put it all back together again.lol

I gathered the eggs every day, and milked the cow morning and night. To this day, I can balance on ice with two buckets of eggs, and can still squeeze 132 on the bathroom scales.

We had 1000 layer hens (which we raised from chicks,) a family cow or two, a couple of pigs a year, and a few steers on pasture for meat. We did our own butchering; shooting them and stringing the animals up in the tree out back. We used a block and tackle, a rope and the tractor to get them up into the tree. I watched the entire operation with scientific interest.

I have a feeling this is getting too long. Sorry for taking up so much space.... perhaps I should just write a book...?

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), May 11, 2001.

My turn. In the mid 70's my husband and I moved to central WI from IL with our two oldest children, (now 37 & 39). My husband is an auto mechanic but we were a certified organic farm. I have always baked from scratch, gardened, sewed, knitted etc.

We had chickens and sold eggs and sometime old hens. I butchered about 50 chickens a year for us, had a personal garden of about 1 acre, sold produce, milked goats and had steers. My son had bees but sold the honey to a neighbhor. I dried foods and we sold dehydrators. Made cider and vinegar. I also gave talks on food dehydration and organic gardening.

We heated and cooked with wood even though we had an oil furnance and an electric stove. I loved that and will replace the cookstove when we move.

In 1988 we moved back to the Chicago area. My youngest was 4 years old then. She was born at home with a midwife and my oldest daughter attending.

I did not go into the work force until 10 years ago. I was in retail, management then went into real estate. Never did like the politics and false faces. When we decided to go back to the country I got a full time job as a receptionist. I wanted a no brainer, a job where I could walk out the door a 5 and be done. No stress and NO POLITICS!

We closed on our 14 acres with 3BR home, pond and creek next month. It will be a year yet before we are totally out there unless our youngest decides to go to the high the local HS..student population @ 126. The school she goes to now has about 3000.

From April to October my bakery goods are sold at a farmer's market near by. After we make the move we plan to do at least 2 markets a week with produce and bakery items. You see, by then we will be living on SS and figure that will supplement our income.

My husband says no animals but a dog and a few cats. I will have to work on him for a least a few chickens.

Who's next?

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), May 11, 2001.

After my folks divorced when I was seven, I went to live with mom and her new husband (and still husband of 20 years now) on a farm with ducks, geese, chickens, milk cow, milk goats, limosene heard (sp?), sheep, and whatever else wondered in. Oh, and we had (loud) peacocks and turkeys. I learned to milk, dress, feed, pull, and generally care for livestock.

Now I'm married, have a 15 month old daughter, 11 2-month old black australorps chickens, 2 acres on the edge of town (just inside the limits), one dog, one cat, a trio of florida white bunnies, and one very newly acquired wood duck.

I drive a concrete truck these days, and grow garden for market and family.

Ain't it grand?!

Peace to all, and special greetings to the kind hearted.

-- Marty (Mrs.Puck@Excite.com), May 11, 2001.

We live at the end of a county road in North Alabama. We are the only house on the county road. We do organic gardening andhave 141 raised beds in the vegetable and herb garden. We raise and can 90 percent of our food. We have a hundred acres and complete privicy. Once a day the mail lady comes down the drive and checks the mail box. We know when we both go out and watch her bring the mail its time to go to town. The wife was the computer person for the Southeastern US and I ran a office for the same company, thats how we met. We have been married for eight years and really enjoy our life. I am 59 she is 45, we have been retired for over three years now and with the farm, the wood carving, wood turning, quilting, collecting anything and everything, no wonder we are both tired.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), May 11, 2001.

This question has come up often enough to perhaps warrant a separate category on "Let's Introduce Ourselves". What say you? Better category title? Is it even necessary?

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), May 11, 2001.

How about Homesteaders Who's Who

-- Rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), May 11, 2001.

Hello Folks, Melitza, Caroline and I, moved just recently to the Ozarks with intentions of homesteading and building a good life for Caroline and any other children we may have in the future. We lived in Orlando and worked a Walt Disney World as professional chefs until we got sick of the over population, crime, road rage and high costs. With a two year plan we managed to become debt free and save enough for a small grub stake here in the Ozarks. With a few simple tools and a lot of hard work we have carved the beginnings of a homestead in one of the remotest counties of Missouri, (Ozark). We have three garden areas, a toolshed, an outhouse, a chicken moat (see website for pictures) and are building our house right now. Meli makes soap, quilts, and jellies. I build doll furniture and work as a handyman in the community. We sell our crafts to tourists and on Ebay. We deliberately chose a simplier life void of television, realizing that much of societies problems stem from not knowing the difference between real life and play acting. As tv and newspaper mock rather than inform people we felt that we have gained tremendously from not watching it by seeing life first hand and experiencing it with all our senses! We follow the precepts of Scott and Helen Nearing, and Henry David Thoreau. And are avid participators of both Backwoods Home Magazine and CountrySide Magazine Forums. Our website is available to anyone who interested in living a simplier lifestyle and offers suggestions to achieve it. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), May 12, 2001.

Rick and Ann. City location (no matter how far we move the city She follows), country minds. We're lookin for a piece of a mountain in West Virginny, Virginny, or Maryland. I am 45 and have worked for 20 years making bus schedules and Driver assignments for the regional transit company here in Baltimore. (I am looking to do this for some large trucking or other companies with lots of work to divide for many employees. I will continue doing this until we find our place , and get it somewhat established. we can't afford to wait to long. You see in less than 10 years I qualify for full pension, so we must get me out of there soon.... Ann worked Reception / "Security" (BaseBall Bat) for a suburban, 27 floor concrete and steel Condo for the last 12 years, but we busted her free. Now she's researching building, water, gardening (peas, potatoes, carrots, radishes, 4 season greens, onions, 'maters and peppers of course, comfrey, corn, brocoli - if they really are heat resistant, and cukes.) We like to tour on cycles, and are planning our first trip with the trailer (B.O.B.), and tent. Oh yeah - we want to get 2 ducks, but I have to talk to the neighbor first (and build them a pen and house).

Till We Meet Again

-- Rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), May 12, 2001.

A correct sounding name might be The Rural Register.

-- mitch hearn (moopups1@aol.com), May 12, 2001.

25 years in electronics. Lifetime sciences student. Future worm crap tycoon :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL. (jayblair678@yahoo.com), May 13, 2001.

Hi, I am Cindy and I live in Oklahoma. I just moved my hubby and my 6 children out to the country a year ago. I lived in the country and did the homesteading thing my entire life until I married a city man. Then we lived in town for 20 years. Now I am teaching my children how to live off the land and they are loving it!! They are aged from 14-8 yrs old. My children and I all have lupus, so I am always trying to think of a way to build a family business, something that they can do too...so far it looks like they will have to marry money. ;-) We are just getting started. I have a cattery, where I sell persians, I am getting into making soap in hopes of selling it. So far, my relatives are odering it. :-)I am writing a book...first one..the kids think it will sell..I am nervous..oh, well. We are working on getting an orchard growing so we can sell fruit, as well as vegetables at the farmer's market. I got the equivelent of a Bachelors in Psychology but was too young at the time to get the diploma..I have been trained in the medical field too. With the kids health issues, I have used all of that here in the home. Two of the chilren are autistic, and I have been trained in autism as well. I am not sure what else to put, so will stop here. This is a great group and I love it!!

-- Cindy in Ok (cynthiacluck@yahoo.com), May 13, 2001.

Hi I'm Tom,

We live in Kansas, south of Topeka. Last year we bought almost 13 acres. It has a house, shed, well, pond. Most of it is fenced for pasture. Since we moved here we have put in a garden, orchard, strawberry bed, rasberries, and aspargus bed.

My wife (45) works at a bank and I (47) am a pastor of a local church. I have read about homesteading for years. My grandfater was a farmer and he use to let me ride in the manure spreader when I was younger. I guess that's where my homestead desires come from.

We have chickens, rabbits, geese and turkeys. We also have pets that we have had for years. They love the country life.

Next year the plans are to increase the orchard, and start bees.

For years I thought we would never have a place of our own but doors do open. Keep up the faith.

Tom S.

-- Tom S. (trdsshepard@yahoo.com), May 14, 2001.

What an interesting topic! I am a widow, age 76, going on 49. Was raised in AK, taught & learned to be self sufficient. Retired Accountant and business owner. My fun years am working harder than I ever did for a paycheck! Have chickens, ducks, a rabbit or two, a few adopted, unwanted dogs and cats. Large garden, berries, orchard and dehydrate, can, or freeze much each year.and in my spare time do custom decorative painting, and volunteer for "Healthy Families" and do respite for foster mom's.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), May 24, 2001.

What an interesting topic! I am a widow, age 76, going on 49. Was raised in AK, taught & learned to be self sufficient. Retired as Accountant and business owner. My fun years am working harder than I ever did for a paycheck! Have chickens, ducks, a rabbit or two, a few adopted, unwanted dogs and cats. Large garden, berries, & orchard. Dehydrate, can, or freeze much each year, and in my spare time do custom decorative painting, and volunteer for "Healthy Families" and do respite for foster mom's.

-- Duffy (hazelm@tenforward.com), May 24, 2001.