Hi my name is Jennifer, I am new here. I love to come and read what everyone has to say. I am young and so is my husband but all we really want is the simple life. Not the eaiser one just the simple one. I want land a house some animals, to grow my own food things like that. But I am not sure what exactly homesteading is? Also I am wondering how we might be able to get there. We are young with little to no money. I stay at home and homeschool our oldest daughter so our resources are low. My husband tells me to just wait that in maybe 10 years we could have it, I just cant. I know there has to be a way. I cant raise my kids here in the city. Any advide please!

Jennifer

-- Jennifer Fisher (jenniferthf@aol.com), January 30, 2002

Answers

Hi Jennifer, you have the most important aspect of wanting a country life and that is the desire to do it. It is even more important than money. YOu can rent a place if not able to afford one or even better get a lease to buy. There are even country places that people will let you live at free with pay if you are a caretaker.Look in newspapers and publications for such positions. The saying where there is a will there is a way is so true. Good luck, Terry

-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), January 30, 2002.

Told hubby WAY back in 1970 about my dream of homesteading (before we married)- I tried to warn him, LOL. Talked about it many times. 24 years and 3 kids later we were still in the city. But guess what? I had to leave (hardest thing I ever did) and buy a piece of woods on landcontract to get away. My advice, keep the husband, buy on land contract and do it! Life is way too short to wait. Wish my children had grown up the way I originally intended. Too late for that, but I am about to live my "real life" beginning Spring 2002. I can now set the example I always wanted to, maybe they will catch on! Blessings to you and yours,

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Figure out where you want to move to first. You could start out renting a place. That'd give you time to get to know the area and get established and find a place to buy. Once you find the area you want to go, start getting ready and saving money. It doesn't take alot. The actual move itself, truck rental, etc could cost more than anything else. I know I coulda bought the truck for what I've given U-haul in all my moves.

Save up enough for that and at least a few months living expenses, even if you do have employment or income secured. Get everything prepared for the move, plan out loading the truck. Pick a date, secure a rental to move into and employment if possible. Take care of utilites and other loose ends and that's about it.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 30, 2002.

Do what ever it takes to get to the country while you are young. Time seems to fly by and before you know it years have gone by and you still haven't fulfilled your dream. My mom always says "if there's a will there's a way". Also I don't blame you for wanting to get your kids out of the city. When you live in the country you have control over who you kids friends are. We have 5 kids (only 3 still at home) and couldn't imagine raising them in the city. We had to raise the older 2 in a small town for awhile, that was bad enough. When we decided to move to the country we only owned our mobile home and had NO money. We found 48 acres we bought on a article of agreement. We were so broke we had to borrowed the money from family just to move our home! Moved with out water, eletric or septic. Had an outhouse, a generator and hauled water. Couldn't even afford a rototiller, so I dug the garden by hand! We have been here 5 years now. We now have electric, water and a septic system(still no rototiller, I am still digging by hand)! Along with buildings for our animals. It wasn't always easy, but we had to get to the country and did what we had to do to get here and survive. So, what I am trying to say is, even if you think you don't have the money, you can find a way to make your dream come true if you try hard enough. We did it, you can too!

-- Jo in PA (farmerjo02@yahoo.com), January 30, 2002.

Where (what state) are you hoping to homestead in? Some places are much more expensive than others. Research job opportunities, healthcare, etc.

In the meantime, though it may be a little difficult, your children can have a good time in the city--it has its share of good children and good parents too. Also good things to do. Take advantage of any museums, cultural activities and so forth while you can.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 31, 2002.

Well, My wife and I would be considered young (well at least I can be considered young=), and having basically no money, I will lend my word of encouragment. YES it can be done- it basically boils down to if you have the desire to homestead. My "ideals" are to provide as self suffient a lifestyle as possible for me and my family. Money becomes an almost no object once you learn ways to really trully conserve on barter, grow, shoot or raise your own food, fix the truck, wire the barn, etc. Avoid the too many animals pitfall and the brought in feeds. Think each thing you do through- and all its implications. Subscribe to countryside mag. Get off the grid of electric or at least conserve. Buy a used pickup van, or trailer- these will be indispenible (or nearly so). Be friendly to anyone you can possibly be friendly to- it will help you on your journey (yesterday, a man I gave some junk lawn mowers to gave me a 300 dollar chain saw for 30 bucks- it would have cost me 80 to fix mine- it all comes around). and yes, we have our "own" homestead- it took us a while, and we even started on a little town lot with 1/2 acre, but the homesteading ideals can be applied anywhere, city or country.

-- Kevin in NC (Vantravlrs@aol.com), January 31, 2002.

I don't see how it's any harder to control your childrens friends in the city. Unless you mean to keep your children in seclusion in the country, which isn't always a good thing either. Drugs, drinking and all kinds of other trouble can be found in rural farm areas and schools too.

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), January 31, 2002.

Hi Jennifer

Now when I read of people in your situation I wish I knew for sure what I am going to have as I would like to offer someone to live on my place to help with some things I can no longer do. But right now I can't. I am serious though I think I may be able to get things together in a couple of months and know what I can offer someone. I envision them in thier house and me in mine working towards getting my homestead more like I want it and learning together. I don't know if I will ever be able to offer someone this or not.

I agree with some of the other posts on this thread in going to an area you think would be where you might like to live and rent. You don't say where you are now or what your living in such as an apartment or house. Whatever you could start your own education in homesteading skills. Garden if you can if you can't find a farmer's market and learn to can. Make your meals from scratch better for you and less expensive. Bake your own bakery items cakes, cookies, pies and your own bread. Even if you use a bread machine you will be learning and saving money too. Check local colleges and trade schools as many offer courses in the building trades (build your own house later and maybe to get a job when you do move). Learn small engine repair again you will probalbly end up with some on your homestead and it would be nice to be able to do your own repairs also might be able to bring in extra money. Appliance repair would be cheaper to have an old refridgerator and stove than a new one especialy if you could fix it if it broke and again might offer you a job. Also by doing these things while you are still in a city before your move you will find out if homesteading is what you think you really want would also help you to save money.

I think the thing that is so good is that when you said you talked to your husband he didn't say no but that you would have to wait. I no so many that any hope of ever homesteading failed as the spouses couldn't agree on it and that after moving found that they lost their mate and the homestead. You do need to get started as soon as you can as your bodies will be better able to take the hardwork while they are younger.

So in closing do everything you can do now that you want to do when you do homestead by saving you money now will help you to get there and when you do to have more of the skills you will need to be able to stay. Also what does your husband do for a living would he have to take a pay cut to move to the country or even start a new career?

gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), January 31, 2002.

I forgot to suggest as you said you are new here on the forum to go to the older threads and read and learn. Sorry about my spelling and bad typing I guess it comes from doing at 2am. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef@getgoin.net), January 31, 2002.

Homesteading from a historic standpoint was getting a chunk of land and living on it. Usually away from everyone else. Homesteading in the 60/70's was more of a move back to simple rural life. Now homesteading is more of simple life where ever you are. Depending on where you are in the city, you can home stead there. A garden if land permit. If you dont have a yard, a barrel on the balcony to raise potatos or strawberries.

Dont rush you husband to the rual/coutry life. Its got to be a mutal decision.

-- Gary in Ohio (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 31, 2002.

Since you say you don't know, the best thing is to learn. Get books on the the things you want to try or raise or know. While we still lived in the city we got books on the sheep I knew I wanted, how to live simply, chickens etc. Even books on making soap, hide tanning, and spinning because they interested me and I had time to read them then. Now we are here (3 years)Hubby has since added wild foods, local wildlife and I read everything I can on cows (for the one I may get in the spring if wwe don't get to Alaska).

Start small, even in the city you can make the choice to not use much power, drive an economical vehicle, make bread and other foods from scratch, if you have any backyard at all that the neighbor kids don't run through then you can start a small garden (during the depression many families used the whole yard to provide for their families). Some town areas(check your laws first) will allow rabbits and maybe a couple chickens. All this will give you skills, knowledge, and confidence as well as save you money to get that dream! And the transition won't be such a shock!

I think I'm still young (only 30 this year)! And feel younger all the time. If you would like a "penpal" I love to share...feel free to drop me a line anytime.

-- Novina in ND (homespun@stellarnet.com), January 31, 2002.

You didn't mention where you are living now (inner city, country, suburbs), so that might make a difference. If both of you are not tied to jobs that you are looking as permanent, you might want to try applying for jobs as fire lookouts in some of our national forests. This is a way of being payed to live out "in the sticks", and get at least an idea of what life is like out there. Then you can decide if this life of quiet is for you.

I just turned 39 and live in a small city (33,000), so I am by no means a homesteader, in the classic definition. We grow a small garden in the spring / early summer, have our own fruit trees, and I plan to build and use a chicken tractor this year, after our newborn is born within the next two months. Both my wife and I want to chuck it all and live way out there, but admit that convenience of picking up groceries / nearby health care facilities has us spoiled.

Defining homesteading is different for all of us. For me, it is living a life which is as independent from anyone else having a say in how you live your life. Hope you find an answer here; good luck.

-- j.r. guerra in s.tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 31, 2002.

Some people get under the impression that you have to have massive amounts of land in order to "homestead". You do if you "farm" but not to homestead. Homesteading is more of an attitude and an adventure...it is not a destination. You can easily do phase one of homestead (meaning supply most of your basic food needs) on an acre or two of land -- you just need to plan carefully. Adding more land than an acre or two only means you get to expand your VARIETY of needs and wants.

On an acre of land you can have a garden to supply all your basic fruit and vegetable needs plus have enough to supply all your needs for meat in the way of chicken (eggs and meat) and rabbit. You just need to plan the arrangement of things carefully. Remember you don't need a 30x20 nice chicken coop like you see in photos. An old shed or part of the garage could easily, and inexpensively, be converted into a coop. Rabbits in hutches against the side of coop.

Add another acre and you get to have goats for milk and meat and pigs for pork. Add another acre or 2 and you can raise a beef cow, or a diary cow. Any more than that you get into growing grains, land to suppliment your income, etc. You would be amazed at what you can raise on 5 acres!

How to find a place with no money? Same way you live in the city. If you are renting in the city...rent in the country. If you bought a small house in the city, sell and buy a small house in the country. You gotta live somewhere..might as well be the country. Sometimes you just have to look a little harder for a country house to afford -- but they are out there all over the place!

When you do find a place and if space is a problem, do a post here and you will get tons of ideas on how to fit it all in.

-- Karen (mountains_mama@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

"Modern Homesteading" is more of a mindset, attitude and value than a defined set of skills. Y2k preparedness was a good example of it in action. Whatever social environment you exist in, pursue directions you can do and achieve success without being in the mainstream with the rest of society and you are walking in the direction of self sufficiency and the "beyond the sidewalks" philosophy. I see too many people try to put this philosophy within strict guidelines as established society dictates the rat race as "normal behavior". The folks who attempt to catagorize modern homesteading in a strict definition generally become the disillusioned members of our community here as they feel goals were not attained properly.

If you hold an "outside the box " perspective and don't quite fit normal society standards and achieve little victories, normal society cannot percieve attaining , you are a "modern homesteader".

The little victories can be wide and varied. In a city environment, buy in bulk to stock a pantry, plant a BISF garden, raise container herbs. Seed a garden with handtools and discount seeds. Make crafts. The key is do things that not only can you say "I did this with my skills and low monetary costs", but also things that your close aquaintances would want to buy from you for cash that can further finance your dreams. I raise worms and sell the castings to city dwellers for their livingroom plants and they have paid as much as $10 a pound for "worm poopie" because they didn't know how to do it and held a lower value of money than I ($10 could feed my household for five days).

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002.

Jennifer, one of my sisters saved all the momeny she made herself, toward a place of their own. It took a few years, but she was able to save up $17,000, to buy a little place. When they were able to move there, she filled it up to the brim with homesteading. Now she has improved it so much that she has sold it for quite a profit, and has moved to another state (hubby is gone now.)

What could YOU do, independantly of your husband's income, to save toward a small place? You may wish to present the idea to your husband as a small getaway in the mountains, just to own something of your own, as a place to get away. I can almost guarantee, once you get your husband into a rocker on the front porch of a cabin you own, in seclusion,... He will want to move there if at all possible!

Just a side note, land doesnt have to be very expensive. Check around on the web to see where it is cheap. For instance, in Missouri, $20,000 can buy 35 acres of Ozark mountain land, or 20 acres of good farmland further north.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), January 31, 2002.

I agree with Jo!! Do whatever it takes NOW!! I turned 40 in November and have 2 children(homeschooled). My 16 year old will graduate this May and I have one in 6th grade. We now live on 5 acres of land which is enough land but this is not where I want to be. We also own 10 acres in Tn. THAT is where we want to be!!!! You would not believe some of the schemes we are coming up with to get back home IF the best plan of getting a good job falls through. My point is we are willing to do whatever it takes to go home NOW. I will plant this years garden at home in TN!!!! 10 years ago we thought we had plenty of time but it does slip away so very fast!! Good luck and most importantly remember to "Think outside the box"!!!

-- Lou Ann in KY (homes_cool@msn.com), January 31, 2002.

Jennifer, You have been given some great answers. I agree with them. I would say to take a bit of time to read, read, read. Go to the local library and check out books on gardening, animal husbandry, and other "homesteading" skills. Countryside magazine is a great place to start.

Use the skills you learn to raise a small garden in your backyard, compost your leaves grass clippings etc., raise some berry bushes in your landscape. These fresh things may help convince your husband just how good it is. Homesteading truely is a "state of mind" too. I have to work off our farm for now... my body goes to work but my spirit is home with the animals!

I agree that move now or as soon as possible, but move together as a family. It sounds like your husband likes the idea but is scared to "make the move". Sit down together and get a plan. Make everything you do work towards the plan.

What does your husband do? There are oppertunites everywhere for someone not afraid to work.You can help out by babysitting, shopping for a neighbor, doing yardwork for others..use it to teach your child about free enterprize!

Start small, keep your dream in sight,and LIVE !!!!

-- Ralph in N.E.Ohio (Roadapple@suite224.net), January 31, 2002.

I know people mention making money doing housekeeping, driving people to appointments, chore running etc. for money, but unless there are people with a lot of disposable income (aka "stupid money") in the area you're moving to, it won't work very well.

Why? Because if you're in an area without them (say all homesteaders with 1)lower income overall and 2) a real disdain for paying anyone to do anything they can do cheaper themselves) you won't have a steady income.

Even people who were providing these services in Silicon Valley were seriously hurting when all those tech folks and others with high-paying jobs were laid off. Housekeeping, and other services like pick-up dry cleaning are the first to get the boot when you're laid off and suddenly having to pinch pennies.

I would suggest locating in an area with perhaps a lot of older retirees (steady pension income, "need" for these services due to health reasons not laziness) if you want to make money doing that sort of work. Just a thought.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 31, 2002.

And I had forgotten to add on my post above . . .

Ken S., one of the moderators of this forum, has a great e-mail book on jobs that are out of the ordinary, that is, jobs that fill a niche either of you might find intriguing. Might want to enquire how to get a copy; I understand that it is a good size document, so have plenty of paper handy.

-- j.r. guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), January 31, 2002.

If it is what is in your heart, it will materialize.

-- Cal (calvin@dwave.net), January 31, 2002.

I agree that you have been given a lot of good advice. Even if you can't afford to move out to the country right now, you can still afford to start homesteading. Start by shopping for great deals at your grocier, hit the yard sales every friday and saturday. You might could start buying used gardening tools and store away for when you do find a place of your own. Go on country drives and look around for a live-in farm work job, it might be gathering eggs at a poultry farm, or a cattle/horse ranching job. You may want to look for a place that is still within driving distance of your husbands employment. Think about what kind of a self-employment job you and your husband could do that would be in demand for the public. It could be several small jobs(christmas tree farm, orchard). You never know just what hidden talents you and your husband may posses.

Write down your goals and a time frame to do it in and work your way to it. Let it be something realistic, gradual, and not sudden with no planning.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 31, 2002.