"Plan ahead, it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark!"
Tall Holly
True Blue Farmgirl
2305 Posts
Holly
Worcester
Vermont
USA
2305 Posts
Posted - May 28 2011 : 1:09:30 PM
If you want a piece of land it is the best. We barter for jobs we need done. For example we raised pigs and traded one two years in a row with a man who has a back hoe. He put big cement blocks in our stream so I can build a bridge and last summer he cleaned out our pond. I think that was a bigger job than he anticipated but it is done. A neighbor that logged a property we manage cut 6 pine trees for us and dragged them up to the field. I diod pay for them to be milled and now have enough wood to make a greenhouse and many other building projects. I have never built a green house but I have been collecting glass from the sides of the road where people leave them with free signs. I found a pattern on line for the corner joints. A neighbor who wanted manure has the plans for the corners and will build the patterns for me. Although his wife says he is not good at reading plans but he does work at a school with a wood shop so the shop teacher will help him. The greenhouse will be like a log cabin but with glass on the front. I do have a tractor so that is how I will manage the heavy lifting. We bought the tractor 5 years ago and it was the best investment. I do not know how we lived and managed without it for so long. Yes, if you want to you can live on the land without a man.
You can TOTALLY do it! Especially with the help of other farmgirls! There are so many wonderful ideas here! Everything from how to start a fire to canning meat!
Farmgirl #2879 :) Starbucks and sushi to green fried tomatoes and corn pudding-I wouldn't change it for the world. www.cattleandcupcakes.blogspot.com
Have you ever read Gladys Taber's books? She writes about her and her best friend Jill doing exactly what you're trying to do. Your library should have some of her books...The Road to Stillmeadow...The Stillmeadow Calendar...etc. I read them over and over. There may not be things like directions for building specific items, but you'll find lots of country wisdom in her books and encouragement that it can be done.
Alee I have one of those DH too. But this yr he had to help out because I wasnt able. But we are just doing a garden now, no animals yet. We are looking for another place bigger inside so people can come and stay if they want and not have to get a hotel room. I would love to have the same amount of acreage we have now (10acres, but not sure. I will be the one that does it all...except DH will do the building...so he says..lol