| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Farmgirl Wanabe |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 4:50:17 PM
Hi,
My name is Beth and my husband and our five children (ages 24, 21, 6, 4, 2) currently reside in Ft. Myers, Fl. I guess I am posting to get your opinions. Over the past year we have sold our house in Knoxville, TN and everthing in it, purchased an RV and traveled with my husband's job. The older children just recently joined us in Fl, so we rented an apt., to hopefully spend some precious time together as a family before everyone goes their separate ways. Our original motivation for selling the house and traveling was to slow down, simplify and spend time together. It has been awesome! I know God put those desires on our hearts and made it possible for us to travel together. Since we have been stationary, both my husband and I feel we are being led to the country. We have been asking ourselves what we want for our family - We would like to work together as a family, we want our children to experience the joys and sense of accomplishment that come from growing our own food and taking care of animals, we want them to know what hard work is and experience the benefits from it, we want them to have wide open spaces to explore, play & learn, we want to live healthier lives, we want a family farm. I ask you if it is strange because we have very little (does a family garden count?) to no experience with this life style. Are we crazy to think we can just pick up and start a farm? The thought of it totally excites, motivates and overwhelms me! Of course my family thinks we are crazy, just as they did when we bought the RV. Anyway, I am sorry for the lengthy post, but I just needed someone that has been through this to give me feedback. Please feel free to be honest and let us know if we are being too idealistic, totally loco or maybe on the right track! Thanks! |
| 12 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| one_dog_per_acre |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 7:27:56 PM
Just remember, don't name the animals you are going to eat. When I was a kid we had a pig named Blackie that we taught tricks to, and both my brother nor I ever ate pork for a really long time after we had to slaughter him.
I say go for it! Let us know what you end up growing/raising.
Farmgirl Sister #91
Make cupcakes not war! |
| lilyblossom |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 5:09:01 PM
Hi Beth,
Welcome to the farm! Can't wait to hear more about your adventures.
Donna...transplanted southerner, farmgirl sister #86 |
| sherone_13 |
Posted - Jan 04 2008 : 06:35:12 AM
Beth,
Dreams are never crazy. The crazy part is the fun you have making them come true. Go for it!
Sherone
www.taylorscountrystore.etsy.com
http://sheronesgarden.tripod.com/
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| Carol Sue |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 9:56:08 PM
Beth,
So glad that you are here and asking questions.
Bless you on your journey with your family and where it takes you.
Let us know how things are going.
CS
listening to the quiet moments
Farmgirl #39
www.Quitemoments.blogspot.com |
| Farmgirl Wanabe |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 8:58:26 PM
Thank you all so much for your encouraging words and good advice. We are very excited about this adventure and can't wait to get started! We know it will be at least a year before we can begin actually looking at land, so we will do as suggested and use this time to study & learn as much as we can. Thank you for the book recommendations! If anyone has any other books/sites that we should definitely read, please let me know. I look forward to learning more about each of you and sharing our journey! Thanks again.
Beth |
| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 09:18:35 AM
Beth - check the thread here about books for useful titles. I just read "Country Women - A Handbook for the New Farmer" by J. Tetrault and Sherry Thomas. It's got tons of useful and practical info. Also there is a great book by Carla Emery(title escapes me) that I bought years ago when we were just looking for our land. It's a great resource, too. My friends and family all still think we're crazy. Well, maybe....crazy....but happy! :D
Farmgirl Sister #50
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?"
'Br.Dave Gardner' |
| carmeniris |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 06:11:13 AM
Congratulations Beth. Doing something you love is never crazy, crazy are people that try to make you believe you are doing the wrong thing. I agree learn as much as you can from books, I did. Now for advice, since you asked. I suggest that before you buy the land you check out the community where you are thinking of moving to. I was lucky to find a town with friendly people but not all areas are like that and you run the risk of feeling out of place even when you have your family. Also, before you buy the land make sure you can do the things you dream about. For example, many community that seem like country have many restrictions as to what you can do in your own land; some land is so worn or rocky you can't raise anything without spending a lot of money and time; you need access to at least water if you are far from town. Most of all keep a positive attitude because what you truly believe will come true, will. |
| Lainey |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 05:27:41 AM
Welcome Beth! Nice meeting you here. I agree with the others as far learning all you can about farming. Maybe even helping or working on another farmer's land (sort of an apprenticeship) to see if it's something you'd like to do. Books are great and just talking with farmers too, their experiences can be so helpful. I don't find it crazy at all as this is the way my grandparents lived, always farming. Most people in our community did as well. Of course times have changed and for the longest time the biggest crop here was tobacco. Now it's not grown as much. But my grandfather told me he couldn't imagine doing anything else but farming. And he was one of the happiest souls I've ever known.
I look forward to getting to know you Beth!
Farmgirl Sister #25
http://countrygirldreams.blogspot.com/ |
| farmgirl blessings |
Posted - Jan 03 2008 : 12:03:17 AM
Oh Beth ~ in reading your post, I really saw myself not so very long ago. And I am so excited & happy for you and your precious family!
For a very long time, my husband, children & I lived in a suburb outside of Chicago. Our circumstances were such that a change did not seem to be possible, but in our hearts we, too, desired a simpler life. A farm life. A little land and a more self-sufficient lifestyle. The desire to work & play hard side by side with our children. I had little farm picture on our refrigerator and books about a simpler life everywhere. To our surprise, my husband who works as a forklift operator at a paper warehouse was offered a chance to relocate to Georgia where the company needed an experienced worker. Within a month, we were on a way to a new place where we knew no one. We bought a little mountain home and lived there for less than a year when my husband's company closed.
We were a thousand miles away from family with no job. But it was just the boost we needed to take a chance on the dream of a lifetime. With a small severance pay, we bought an affordable 16 acre plot here in Tennessee and moved the family to the country.
Everyone in my family said we were crazy. They urged us to move back to Illinois where a job & family awaited. But we knew this was it. Our time. We now have built a little cottage on our land and are planning our first garden with a few chickens and a milk goat come spring. We were blessed with an acre of blackberries this past summer and have made preserves and pies. Our little home has a wood stove and we provide our own wood for heating our home. I just continually read and learn everything I can. Kind neighbors are helpful with their advise and experience. The Lord has truly given us the desires of our hearts.
So maybe we're both a little crazy, Beth. But its a good kind of crazy. Hang in there. Learn all you can. And when the time is right, you can use all that stored up knowledge to live your dream.
The girls here are wonderfully helpful and willing to share their experiences as well.
Looking so forward to getting to know you and hear more about your journey! Dreams really can come true.
Blessings, Lea
www.farmhouseblessings.blogspot.com
www.farmhouseblessings.etsy.com
www
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 9:42:44 PM
I don't think it's crazy at all. I think that what it will need is some planning. But if you never try something because of the "fear of being branded an oddball" ..or "crazy" by someone elses standards...then you will be missing out on what your heart is dreaming of..and very possibly live with regrets of "not having followed your dream" and been swayed by what others think.
I do think that making a life change where no experience exists is a good bit risky..but in the same regards..getting in your car or rv every day has its own set of risks as well if you get my drift.
I would suggest getting your hands on as many farming and gardening and livestock raising books as you can and read all you can. Talk to folks that have farms. Ask them about what has been their greatest challenges and how they have overcome them.
ASk yourself what types of things do you want to raise/grow..and then do plenty of research.
I think that obtaining your dream is possible..but it's good to have some sort of knowledge about some of what you'll be getting into ahead of time.
A plan of some sort is needed.....just my opinion. And here's wishing you good luck in following your dreams..wherever the path may lead.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~
visit me at:
http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/
and at www.stliving.net
you can also check out my etsy shops at:http://GardenGooseGifts.etsy.com |
| Marybeth |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 8:51:34 PM
Hey, of course you are not crazy, you are having a wonderful adventure. So enjoy the traveling and you may just stop at that little farm and it will be waiting for you. MB
www.strawberryhillsfarm.blogspot.com
www.day4plus.blogspot.com www.holyhouses-day4plus.blogspot.com
"Life may not be the party we hoped for...but while we are here we might as well dance!" |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jan 02 2008 : 5:51:04 PM
I don't think you are crazy at all..what a great adventure!! And you will get alot of support here for sure...family farms are a dream for most of us...or a reality for some of us. Be sure to keep us updated. You will never be thought crazy here for sure..you are among other farmgirls!!
Jenny in Utah
Proud Farmgirl sister #24
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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