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Entrepreneurship:  Making a Living from Handcrafts  |
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knittingmomma
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
Tonya
Vermont
106 Posts |
 Posted - May 08 2006 : 04:53:36 AM
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Hi,
My husband is beginning his fourth week of our new home centered family life. We make natural fiber toys and goods and sell online and in a little seasonal shop open on Saturdays here at our village homestead and at some selected fairs. We are growing a market garden and will sell our veggies and handcrafts at a farmers market June - September as well.
We live very simply and do not need a lot of income, but of course we have to eat, etc... I would love to learn of other families living this kind of lifestyle and what has worked well for them.
Warm wishes,
Tonya - Simple Living Mom of 5
Natural Earth Farm - A Village Homestead making handcrafted goods of natural fibers - http://www.naturalearthfarm.com |
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julia hayes
True Blue Farmgirl
1132 Posts
julia
medical lake
wa
USA
1132 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2006 : 06:48:06 AM
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Tonya, I, too, want to hear other stories of how people got started and how they keep going. Sounds like you are well on your way and I think it is so amazing! Congratulations..It can't be easy, especially with 5 children. Frankly, that's my biggest challenge..negotiating getting much done with my little ones. This year, I'll be taking them with me to Farm Fair at MaryJane's, which should be a experiment. They aren't twitchy children and I'm sure will be just great..they never cease to amaze me. Its me that's the problem. I've always done these things by myself and I hope I don't get too twitchy running a booth (that is, if I'm accepted as a vendor) and keeping an eye on them...do you have any tips in this regard? Here's to simple living rich with experience...
cheers, Julia Hayes
being simple to simply be |
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Suzie
Farmgirl at Heart
7 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
7 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2006 : 06:50:23 AM
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Hi Tonya
I think that is fantastic. I wish you much success in your families venture. I am a single mom of 4 and I would like to do something like what you are doing. I drive 50 miles one way to work and I hate it. I am looking forward to see all the great advice that will be coming.
Sarah |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2006 : 08:51:20 AM
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Tonya, that's so fantastic! Much success and happiness as you venture into this lifestyle. I can't say (with a husband and an ex-husband) we live like that now, but the support will stop in 2 years and the husband and I want to move off-grid and not work (per se). That's part of why I'm learning lots of simple living skills that are very low cost (cooking, fuel, etc.) and have started that crafts side line. Right now it all goes to starting a local dharma center, but eventually when that is self-sufficient, I'm hoping to make it my "home" work. So I can't say we're doing it now, but hope to in the future. We don't make more than the bills now so it's not like we are saving to "retire". We'll have to have work at home, too.
Hope you have a very profitable and FUN summer season. |
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BamaSuzy
True Blue Farmgirl
138 Posts
Alabama
USA
138 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2006 : 3:24:27 PM
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wow! living simply is the key. I have started a little farm store here in a room off our carport and it's been slow starting but taking off now....if everyone who buys my "farm fresh eggs from happy chickens" would buy at least one thing that would be great!
You sound like you have it "all together" and it's wonderful that your husband is a "partner" in this....my husband doesn't have anything to do with my farm...
You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt! |
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rabbithorns
True Blue Farmgirl
544 Posts
Allison
Fort Scott
KS
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2006 : 09:48:25 AM
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| Well, my husband and I are partners in the goal, but we do have our troubles with the pathway! He is a geek and would like to play with as much off-grid tech as we can afford - solar and other gadgets. Personally, I could do it like Tasha Tudor, or the Mennonites, or Little House....Just give me LESS! Everytime I prove how easy it is to live with no-tech and get the same results, he logically has to abandon time-wasting on a more-tech option. (hee hee)So don't worry if hubby isn't active now. When he sees the life you're really enjoying, he will start to participate because he'll want some of the fun you're having. |
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Entrepreneurship: Making a Living from Handcrafts |
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Making a Living from Handcrafts
