| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 16 2006 : 12:02:20 PM
My name is Bluewrenn and I am in the process of locating some land in NE Texas, so that I can move out of the city. I'm planning an off-the-grid homestead with solar power, cisterns for capturing rainwater, and a small operation that will be as self-sufficent as I can make it. While I will most likely have some sort of a greenhouse operation (maybe organic veggies, herbs, native plants or heirloom seeds,) I would also like to experiment with farm birds, bee hives, goats and sheep.
So far, I am enjoying my visits to Mary Janes Farm... |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| berries |
Posted - Nov 14 2006 : 2:37:28 PM
So happy for you both Erin. Good luck, and have some patience! It is so hard building a home. Ask me how I know.
P.S. Thanks for the web site help as well. I do so appreciae it.
farmgirl hugs, gloria g. Richards, TX
strawberry fields forever and ever! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Nov 14 2006 : 09:09:57 AM
Feet have definitely touched the ground, since we also got full salvage rights and hubby is frantically ripping the house apart to save everything he can for when we build the new house. Since this was my home for the first ten years of my marriage, I'm feeling a bit emotional.
It's hard for me to see the salvaging because we know they are going to tear the poor house down when we are done. But since we will be bringing bits of the old house with us to incorporate into our new home, I am hoping that will make it just a little bit less sad for us.
The worst part will be when we sell his mom's house (where we are living now) as my hubby has spent his ENTIRE life here, except when we were living in the other house. And since they will probably also tear this house down as well, I am planning to salvage something from this house to put into the new house also.
But on a happier note - we can finally start moving forward... My hubby is a very careful spender, so it won't go too fast at first - he is planning to get the gravel road done first and in the meantime, will be looking at tractors and tools for the construction phase.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Miss Bee Haven |
Posted - Nov 13 2006 : 1:21:37 PM
I'm offline on weekends, so I didn't see your post until today. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a burden lifted, what a milestone for you guys! Have your feet touched the ground yet?
"If you think you've got it nailed down, then what's all that around it?" - 'Brother Dave' Gardner |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Nov 11 2006 : 7:53:33 PM
OUR HOUSE IS SOLD! We can now start working on the roads, septic, well and foundation for the barn/temp house! Yippee!!!!
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Buttercup |
Posted - Aug 15 2006 : 01:36:03 AM
Jayne,
What a great idea because in the states a lot of plans are unlimited and free after 9pm so if one did not mind working at night, it could really work! ...but I do hope there are other better options as well..but it could very well work!!
Hugz,
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| daffodil dreamer |
Posted - Aug 14 2006 : 9:43:40 PM
Erin,
How exciting for you both!! We are all thinking of you and sending best wishes your way!
About the internet, we have friends doing the big caravan trip around Australia at the moment and they are using their mobile phone to send and receive email. I can imagine it would be hideously expensive, but they write all their emails offline, then just connect quickly to send them and download any new ones. Maybe an option to keep in mind just so you have some access at home.
Hope all goes well and can't wait to hear updates!
Best wishes,
Jayne |
| Buttercup |
Posted - Aug 14 2006 : 07:16:51 AM
Erin,
How exciting and yet stressful...I see what you mean! I do so hope everything goes well and I am so excited for you!! That would be wonderful if you have sold one of the homes and I hope you will be able to sell the other one soon as well! Good luck in finding a job near by! I am rooting for you!!
Hugz,
Talitha
"If we could maintain the wonder of childhood and at the same time grasp the wisdom of age, what wonder,what wisdom,what life would be ours" |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 14 2006 : 05:30:00 AM
We sign tomorrow!!!! Today we go to the bank (if I get out of work early enough) or we go tomorrow morning...
And I may have sold the little house (we have two we need to sell) and someone wants to see the big house but it's full of junk and not showable right now. (Add that to my list of stresses.)
It's all moving so fast and it's kind of scary and exciting all at once.
I spent hours last night trying to find a job in my new county, or nearby, to supplement things while we build. I have a work-from-home kind of business that could bring in some money as long as I have a way to get online frequently. So I'm checking out the different internet service provider options. I do know that my ISP right now DOES have service there and it would not require any kind of service change, just dialing up to a different number, but it requires a telephone line and the electricity to run it.
DH informed me last night that we WON"T be getting a regular land line for the phone, but will probably go cellular. And DH swears that I WILL have some sort of electricity and internet access; that he won't strand my business while we build. But I have some serious doubts.
I think I have a more realistic view of what life is going to be like over the next four years. (Like he says it will only take 2.5 years to build the house...hahaha, boy is he in for a surprise! My bet is closer to four years. He wants to do much of it himself, or with my help.) And my vision doesn't show active internet access for a long time. *sigh*
If worse comes to worse, I can probably use the library or find an office room to rent. Maybe I can trade my services (secretarial) for the office space.
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Aug 07 2006 : 9:05:28 PM
We have two cisterns on our place. One is right in front of our mobile home on the property. The other down by the old stock pens underneath the eaves of a old but not ancient barn. The one up at the old home place has a date of 1918. Someday it will be my wishing well as a center piece for a garden. Enjoy using yours for the garden and greenhouses!
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 07 2006 : 5:28:03 PM
I'm not sure if cisterns are deep south or not - I'm originally from Virginia and we had them there. We're building some to hold the rain water we plan to collect off the roofs. The water will be used primarily for the gardens and greenhouses.
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| sunshine |
Posted - Aug 07 2006 : 4:57:45 PM
Hello,
I hope the move isn't to bad and all things are getting settled. Nice to have a new farmgirl. I thought cisterns where a deep south sort of thing. I know Texas is considered part of the south but I though more Cajun country through florida area not texas. I guess I just learned something new.
have a lovely day and may God bless you and keep you safe
http://sunshinescreations.blogspot.com/
http://sunshine.harbaugh.googlepages.com/home |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Aug 07 2006 : 4:31:39 PM
Update!!!
Since we are buying the land with cash, they have decided to let us close early - no point in wasting time, and that means the land is ours in 8 days!!!
And DH has someone ready to dig the wells and start the metal storage buildings!
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Jul 27 2006 : 8:35:53 PM
this is soooo exciting, please keep us posted on all the news.
fran |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jul 27 2006 : 08:13:29 AM
Whoo Hooo! I'm so excited for your husband and you!
I can't wait to see how you develope your place! Keep us supplied with many pics!
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 27 2006 : 05:44:37 AM
The bid was accepted!
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 9:25:04 PM
So far so good on the land buying front. We made an offer today and if all goes well, we'll close in a month. I was surprised that it was that hard to find land, but I'm glad we stuck with it. This property is so pretty...
Our only concern at this point is what sort of problems we might have with the mineral rights, as natural gas drilling is occurring in the area and we would not have any mineral rights.
Thanks to all of you for your moral support - I didn't expect searching for land to be such an emotionally draining job...
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| santa_gertrudis_gal |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 08:40:29 AM
Hi Erin,
I've been so swamped and busy. I've wanted to welcome you to the site. I also am from Texas. I found Mary Jane's farm site due to looking for the Junk Market Style Magazine site. I'm relatively new, too. You will love it here! It is so much fun to find other women with a love for all things related to Agriculture and the lifestyle of farming/ranching.
Earlier this year my DH and I were like ya'll, looking for a piece of property. We were like you, bound by price, location, and how we wanted to finance the property. In late February we found a place in Groesbeck, more expensive then what we wanted to pay, 176 acres (we have 276 acres) more then we were looking for, but fell in love with it. The search lasted three years.
So now we have two homes. One in Angleton (south of Houston) and in Groesbeck. Our plans are different then yours and your husbands, but we are beginning to slowly watch them come true. We will be going solar powered and eventually drill a well (at the moment we are on Community Water System). You are looking to be off grid, we are looking at putting our system into the grid to sell power back to our electric coop. Everything we are doing is to either stablize our retirement income or increase it. My husband has always dreamed of reitiring at 55 and we are in site of that goal or will only be a couple of years off.
Hope you'll search out my posts and find out more about what I love when it comes to Agriculture and Wildlife.
I'm truly excited you have found a piece of land you love, and look forward to seeing your dreams come true.
Kim
Heaven is a day at the ranch with my Santa Gertrudis! |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jul 24 2006 : 07:55:24 AM
welcome Erin!hope all goes well with the land buying.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 23 2006 : 6:52:05 PM
I posted pics of the land on the homesteading blog. We go to meet with the realtor tomorrow morning...
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Jul 22 2006 : 07:06:10 AM
erin,
our loss will be hill counties gain. i had so hoped to have you as a neighbor, but this place sounds wonderful and i hope you get some good news on it. i will keep my fingers crossed for you guys. keep us posted.
fran |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 21 2006 : 9:26:54 PM
Hey Farmgirls - cross your fingers for me... We found our property!!!
Now to make sure someone else hasn't already bought it... (That's happened to us more than once already.)
It's a bit more than we had planned to spend but it's also a bit more land - 46.6 acres (Yes!!!).
It's not in Fannin County, but actually in the opposite direction in Hill County near Hillsboro.
For a more detailed description of the property, go to my homesteading blog!
My Homesteading Journal
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal
http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com |
| frannie |
Posted - Jul 21 2006 : 07:46:28 AM
a little note about the goat!
i love my goats and love talking about them. they do get hot here in north texas and wehave to shear them 2 xs a year. also we have to give them pedicures! or manicures, anyway we have to tend to their hooves because we dont have rockky ground.
i love my goats and would love one day to have at least one dairy goat for the milk but right now our life is pretty overloaded.
i feel like the work with the goats is pretty minimal for the pleasure they bring. they are herd animals, and pretty smart and they really keep the brush and poison ivy down, and they have the reputation for keeping back snakes. and i believe it is true.i find them to be quite friendly and curious, but not obnoxious as i sometime hear they are.
well, you asked what we do, so here goes a little bit about our interest.
when i purchased the farm i was a full time occupational therapist but i had a heartattack and have since retired from the world of work. i am now a fulltime stay at home wife, homemaker and omie(grandma). ive never been happier or busier.
i do miss my work with the elderly, but the workplace had been changing so much and it was more about accounts receivable instead of healing and i was feeling more and more out of sinc so i guess it was time to move on.
so then i had all the time to pursue my dreams, but poor health and decreased funds.
the solution came from my friends, they started supplying me withsalvage supplies.
a friend from plano gave me books of beautiful designer fabrics and i started creating snall items with those, pincushions, journals,and my signature piece"the domestic goddess apron".
anyway my interest are antiquing, scrap crafts, quilting, weaving, spinning , junk crafting, you know where you find an object and mosaic it or faux paint it or just salvage it in some way.
my dh continues to work at the va but he is a photographer and we both love bluegrass music so occasionally we will get asked to perform here and we get to sing and play music, but mostly its just pickin on the porch. my dh has supplimented our income since my illness with photography jobs,weddings, family reunions, and now apartime real estate job.(that reminds me, i need to give him a big hug tonite)
our big project here at the farm is 2 shotgun houses that we have moved in to restore so we can rent them on the weekends so people can share in the farm experience.
i really love, erin all your ideas about your farm and hope soon you will be up here in our neighborhood. i love the idea of being off the grid, but have never been able to figure that one out. but i would love to tell the utility companies to kiss my grid.>>>oops sorry that was a little political.anywho, keep us posted on your journey, i am enjoying it so much and hope and pray yall will soon find your farm. we need folks like you up here in our neck of the woods.
fran |
| Kelly43 |
Posted - Jul 21 2006 : 04:40:18 AM
Thanks for the info. Maybe you and I can learn together. There is an article in an old hobby farms mag. about saving seeds but I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. Didn't know about the cross pollination problem so will have to learn about that too. I put in Greman Striped and Eva Purple this year (as plants). The eva purple have gotten some yellow leaves but it doesn't seem to be spreading. They both have green tomatoes on them now. I know your frustration with finding a farm. Water is not the problem here, price is. I live in a county in NJ where there are farms to be had if you are a multi-millionare. We are fortunate enough to be managing a good sized farm for someone else but it's not quite the same. Hope the heat lets up for you soon.
Kel |
| knittingmomma |
Posted - Jul 21 2006 : 03:49:04 AM
Welcome!
Looking forward to learning and sharing your progress through your blog and here at Mary Janes!
Warm wishes,
Tonya - Simple Living Mom of 5
Natural Earth Farm - A Village Homestead making handcrafted goods of natural fibers - http://www.naturalearthfarm.com |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jul 20 2006 : 9:30:24 PM
I keep forgetting to post it, but I have just started a blog about the whole search for the farmland and later it will have pictures of the housebuilding, news about our progress, etc..
http://toomyvara.livejournal.com/ |
