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A Farm of My Own:  Starting out late  |
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seattledeb
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Deb
Seattle
4 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 10:25:09 AM
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| So my husband and I are in our 40's and have a 3.5 year old. We both had farm dreams all our lives-his from hanging out at his grandparents farm in Oregon, me from weekends at my uncles farm in Michigan. Neither of us are crazy about our lives in the city, although he just finally settled into a good job with a good future. But I reinspired him I think with a recent Netflix rental "A Girl from Paris". A young, single French woman ditches her Paris apt and career to become a farmer. Of course, in France that means you get a 2 year training program, didactic and hands-on, and then help to find your dream farm. It is a good story, although she makes it look way to easy and always looks lovely to boot. But anyway, now dh believes that we need to drop our careers and do several years apprenticeship on some farm before we break out. I think the idea sounds lovely, but since we have almost no savings not a very realistic way to start out..how would we buy the land, what would we live on until it takes off, if it does? I think it is more realistic to try to find some land close enough that he can continue his job (that he does enjoy) while we start small and learn as we go. Besides, how big a farm does he expect to have? I am reading stories here and wonder, many of you were born and raised farmgirls, but did you all start out that way? Did you know what you were doing when you started? |
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sqrl
True Blue Farmgirl
605 Posts
Melissa
Northern California
USA
605 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 11:27:59 AM
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I saw this movie it was pretty good, but I thought it could have been better. I'm in the same boat as you, trying to figure out how to get my farm. When DH is finished school we're going to join Willing Worker of Orgainc Farms (WWOOF) and start learning and then we'll see where that takes us www.wwoof.org/ Looks like they're changed they're name. I think it's a great way to start out.
Blessed Be
www.sqrlbee.com www.sisterhood.sqrlbee.com
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BlueApple
True Blue Farmgirl
430 Posts
Julia
Oregon
USA
430 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 12:26:25 PM
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Hello Deb! Where about in Oregon are your husband's grandparents farm in Oregon? I'm in the Newber/Dundee/St. Paul area. I just recently rented that same movie - A Girl From Paris. Thought it was o.k., but shed a tear when they put the cows down. Oh my....didn't think I could eat beef after that!
Julia
BlueApple Farm |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 12:37:46 PM
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Hello Seattledeb...
Waving at you from Lakebay, just south west of Tacoma. Howdy, neighbor!
If you want reasonable priced land, try looking in Port Orchard. It is a small city, more of a communtiy really, your husband can drive to Bremerton and commute on the public ferry (or to Southworth which has a private one) and keep his job in Seattle while you work on getting things ready. I even have friends here who drive to Bellevue. It all depends on what you are looking for and what sacrifices you want to make. To us, commuting is a simple sacrifice to have our dream.
I know my way around this end pretty well, if you ever want a tour guide, and I do 3 year olds pretty well too ( I am a Nana of 3, ages 6 4 and 3)or if you want to chat sometime email me! |
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seattledeb
Farmgirl at Heart
4 Posts
Deb
Seattle
4 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 2:01:55 PM
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Hey BlueApple, my dh's grandparents lived in Dallas, and one of his childhood friends has a farm in Newberg now, lovely there! The cow scene in "Girl from Paris" was pretty sad!
Diane-pretty funny you say that, Port Orchard is one of the places we are looking at. So far though haven't seen much under $250k, is there a realty that you know has more in lower range? We are quite willing to start small, even live in a yurt for awhile if need be. Would love to take you up on your offer some time. I have a friend in Lake Bay, used to hang at Andy's house for many a lovely weekend, bet it has grown in the 10+ yrs since then.
Sqrl-We ended up on a wwoof farm in Hawaii by accident when we booked a B&B stay there, so learned all about it then from some great folks. We love the idea and dream of a 2-4 wk wwoof vacation in France or Switzerland making cheese. |
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asnedecor
True Blue Farmgirl
1054 Posts
Anne
Portland
Or
USA
1054 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 2:59:57 PM
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Deb -
I grew up on a farm not to far from Julia - Woodburn/St Paul area. My parents were transplants from Sacramento. The farm was small - about 15 acres. They purchased it from my grandparents. It was slightly run down and not profitable at the time of purchase. My father commuted to Portland for work during the week and on the weekends worked the farm. My mother had a seasonal job with a community college in Salem during the winter months and was off during the summer - that is when she, all of us kids (3) and my grandparents would do work on the farm 6 days a week. This was a berry farm and through research by my parents, they figured out a way to make it a pretty profitable farm. It probably took about 10 years before they started really seeing the rewards. They changed from cane berries to raising blueberries. They found out that working through a produce broker they could get 3 to 5 times as much for their berries as they did through the cannery. My dad learned as he went - from repairing farm machinery to remodeling our old house. He also set up an extensive drip irrigation system for the blueberries when drip was still fairly new idea. As Clare says, it is a learning curve. Best to figure out what you want to do with the farm first before purchasing - this will help decide on the size of property you will need. From experience and knowing people in the business, nursery farming or Christmas tree farming can reap great rewards on very little property. It is kinda expensive to get set up and you do have a waiting period while things mature for market, but can be very rewarding.
Anne - former blueberry picker
"Second star to the right, straight on till morning" Peter Pan
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Julia
True Blue Farmgirl
1949 Posts
Julia
Shelton
WA
USA
1949 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 3:17:09 PM
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Hi Deb, another Oregon farmgirl here, and another Julia. I grew up on a farm in Hubbard which is next to Woodburn. We had 14 acres, my dad was a school teacher, but we raised sheep for extra income. Every summer I picked berries to go towards school clothes. The Willamette Valley is grand. I do hope you find the farm of your dreams! Welcome to the forum. Simply, Julia
"...the setting sun is like going into the very presence of God." Elizabeth Von Arnim |
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Fabulous Farm Femmes
True Blue Farmgirl
792 Posts
Diane
Lakebay, Tacoma
WA
792 Posts |
Posted - Oct 19 2005 : 11:41:05 PM
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| Deb- your friend in Lakebay isn't Andy Gano, is it? |
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Mari-dahlia
True Blue Farmgirl
269 Posts
Marianne
Hoosick Falls
New York
USA
269 Posts |
Posted - Oct 20 2005 : 07:10:44 AM
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Deb,
I did not grow up on a farm and was only exposed to farms from afar, but it was my lifes long dream to have one. My husband does not love it as much as I do but he puts up with me since I moved to 4 different states for his job and now I have my farm I'm not going anywhere.
You definitely learn as you go. I spend alot of time researching but also jump in with both feet and most of the learning is done after the fact. You find out about new diseases and how to treat them as you get them. This website helps alot.
3 years ago right before we bought the farm, I bought 2 scottish highland cattle, spur of the moment. I had never owned a cow before. I have learned alot and know at the same time that I still know nothing.
You are lucky to have a child that you can learn with. When she gets old enough you can join your local 4-H and that is a great resource. I wish I could join as an adult, those kids at the fair know alot more than I do.
Follow your dreams and it will happen, sometimes it falls in your lap when you least expect it.
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 04:55:22 AM
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I would say that unless you're willing to live a very ascetic lifestyle, DON'T let go of your regular job! I can't stress this enough. I live out in the middle of some of the richest farmland in the nation, and there are farmers around me that have hundreds of acres, do corn and beans, yet still have to have two off farm incomes to have enough for a decent middle class lifestyle, and send their kids to college. Granted they could have diversified at home and had just one off farm income, but it's getting really hard for anyone to make it farming without outside income of some sort. Even the Amish, who are some of the most resourceful farmers ever, are going into the factories and shops to get off farm income.
My neighbor drives truck for Menard's, and takes six weeks off in spring and again in fall for planting and harvest. His son is following in his footsteps, as his father followed his grandfather. This is about the only way folks can get into farming these days, because the capital expenses are so high. A nice used combine is about $100,000. The profit margin is astonishingly thin for such inputs, it's a wonder anybody does it.
I have a friend who had a rather creative way of getting her farm. There was a piece of property they wanted, about 125 acres. He's a carpenter, so they divided off several parcels on a road that fronts their land, and built five houses. She got her real estate license and sold the houses. This is how they paid for their farm. They run about 25 cow/calf pairs and a bull, and cash rent out the cropland for income. Both work off farm jobs too, he as a carpenter, and she as a home health care provider.
Doing it without off farm income is very, very difficult. I sure wouldn't recommend it. The poverty sounds romantic until your child is sick and you can't afford the medicine, or your car breaks down and you can't afford to get it fixed, or your livestock needs the vet and you can't pay.
I don't mean to be a wet blanket to anybody's dreams, but there's a lot of expense and sacrifice to make. In many ways, you have twice the expenses because you have two roofs to replace; your house AND your barn; two or more buildings to paint instead of one, more lawn to mow, more seeds to plant, more machinery needs, more fence to buy, etc.
I was not raised a farmgirl, but have always loved the outdoors. I've loved animals (especially horses!) since I was very little, and have always been attracted to a more rural life. We've lived in the country for 22 years. Hubby has a very nice job, but has to commute a long ways to get there and back. Thanks to him, I've never had to work, but have held a number of interesting jobs that have come along at the right time. We've grown enough veggies, fruits, meat and milk for our own use, but still need cash for things like oils, cleaning supplies, gifts, clothing, utilities, etc. I've found it's virtually impossible to beat the commercial producers without a unique twist, and even with that, it's still very hard to produce the volume necessary to make a nice middle class lifestyle.
Sorry to be such a bummer. But I feel so bad for folks going into this with all the dreams and romantic notions that end up just getting eaten alive by it. It can be done, but we have to be realistic about what we want and need, and what we can do. |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 07:30:06 AM
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Deb -- you sound like you're in the same boat we are. We want property to farm but no money! And living in our part of the country, as you well know, the property costs are sky high! I only want 5 acres and even without a house the asking price is at least $250,000. We're just praying for a miracle piece of property! Even if we decided to move to some other part of the country we would have to be close enough to an area where my husband can get a job.
It would be very tough to make it farming if you had no backup money -- as is the case with any business. Do not give up your jobs. That would be a huge mistake. Maybe you could find some property to rent where you could have animals, a garden, etc. You could learn as you go along, all the time putting money in the bank towards buying your farm. That's what we're doing. I don't know how much longer I will be able to live here because the property is being developed. My neighbors say it will be a couple of years. But I am still going to plant my gardens and learn all I can in that time.
Sometimes we make having a farm sound romantic. While the life is totally wonderful it is very hard work with not much money. But when you really love it the money is secondary to the lifestyle that you are fortunate enough to have. Although you need money to pay the bills!
Just keep pursuing the lifestyle that you want to have, dream about it, pray for it, and it will happen.
GO WHITE SOX!!!!
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
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Eileen
True Blue Farmgirl
1199 Posts
Eileen
USA
1199 Posts |
Posted - Oct 21 2005 : 10:09:04 AM
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Good Morning Seattle Deb from Quilcene.
We had a dream of a small farm for many years while our children were growing up but never got to purchase any of the lovely little farms we put ernest money on as a result of having to sell our current home to get the financing. All the little places we loved were bought out from under us by contractors who had cash! After our children were grown we decided to rough it, sell our home below market value and live in a trailer until the right place came along.
We now have a wonderful little 5 acre place in Quilcene and are living quite rough. We plan to build a cob and straw bale house over the next few years but currently live in an upper floor apartment we built into our 24 by 30 foot pole building and our bedroom is in a 20 foot yurt that I made myself from a pattern in a book from the library. We tried to finance our dream with a home based business but after 4 1/2 years of it nearly lost the farm so gave up that idea and Rodney went back to work full time so we could get out of debt and begin to rebuild our dream.
So as for advise, I would say, "Make sure it is what you want to do", find a place NOW while your child is young and expect to need at least one outside income as you build your dream.
Also if you are looking for farm land and want to also have animals like chickens, goats or cattle you would be well advised to find something that already has "electricity" and a "WELL" with a Good Flow of Water and a working septic system. Take this as advise from one who was talked into buying one without any thing on it because it was less costly. In the long run we have spent every penny of our savings on getting just those three things and the property costs have become much higher than if we would have purchased one with all this already available. Our septic alone cost us over $20,000. That was 10 years ago. The new laws are very restrictive as to the type you can have and they almost all have to be engineered in this state. Getting Electric brought to us, and we are near a main road, was over $6,000. and the Well drilling is based on how deep they have to go to hit water with no guarantees. Ours was over $10,000 to get a well that barely produces enough water for a single person let alone a flock of sheep herd of goats or any other livestock. We haul a lot of water especially in summer from the community well 2 miles away. Then there is the cost of plumbing and electric from the septic to the building and the cost of plumbing and electric from the well to any building you want running water.
We love where we are and have learned a great deal through all of this but the challenges we have overcome have been a real test of our ability to keep on loving each other and wanting to continue doing what we are doing.
Our Daughter and her Husband are doing much the same thing we have done but in Wisconsin. They have had some real challenges too and are currently living in a 30 foot yurt that they built themselves. You can see a tour of the building process on their web site
www.foursongs.com and click on "Owner built yurt"
To purchase a factory built yurt is around $20,000 and up now and does not include all the costs of the deck or any electrical or plumbing. They built theirs for around $8,000.00. There is a fully permitted yurt in Port Townsend that I could help you go to see if you are interrested. Just E-mail me through the site and we can talk.
Eileen
Songbird; singing joy to the earth |
Edited by - Eileen on Oct 21 2005 10:16:51 AM |
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A Farm of My Own: Starting out late |
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Starting out late
