We butchered our cows and haven't replaced them. We sold some goats, and gave away the rest. We gave away the dog. We haven't planted a garden this year. All that's left are some laying hens and a fruit orchard. We're circling the wagons and going from a productive homestead to a simple house in the country. Maybe we'll revive these projects next year, or maybe not. I'm pretty sure the garden will be revived.
Homesteading has many rewards, but at my level of expertise, it's a hobby that costs more than it pays. And the times are lean.
So why live in the country if you're not going to make a serious attempt at farming or homesteading? I thought it would be helpful to spell out a few reasons:
1. Your children can make noise without disturbing the neighbors.
2. Your children have lots of space to run around.
3. You can let them play in the front yard unsupervised.
4. Shooting.
5. Archery.
6. Silence.
7. Darkness.
8. Stars.
9. You can walk down the road with a drink in your hand.
10. Lots of room for fireworks on July 4th.
11. You can have a campfire in your front yard.
12. You can have chickens in your front yard.
13. You can put up a big ham radio tower. *
14. Lots of room to ride an ATV. *
15. You don't need a finely manicured front lawn.
Etc.
Well, I suppose that will suffice for now.
Just got a call from Jonathan, who is at the Sacred Music Colloquium in Pittsburgh. He arrived safely this morning and is already having a beautiful time. Wish I could be there with him.
If you think of it, I could use prayers for a private intention tomorrow (June 14).
* We don't do this yet, but would like to.
I can't believe you don't have any goats left! But then again, if people keep on winning fiddle competitions and going to other music events, there's no way you can develop a homestead. Farming is a whole life, and a lot of work. I have two neat books right now I borrowed. One is Square Foot Gardening, which even Grace thinks is cool, and the other is Quarter Acre Farm, written by a hippie-type from Davis, CA, but much more entertaining than your average garden book. I hope the scaling back is going well. We have acquired a dog, an outdoor cat and five chickens this year, but that's where it ends, I tell you! :)
Posted by: Annaberri | 06/19/2011 at 05:12 PM
I grew up on a few acres and I will second your thoughts on living out in the country.
It is a dream of mine to one day move the wife and kids back out to the country where they would have plenty of space to play and enjoy life!
Posted by: Terry Pearson | 09/20/2011 at 08:43 AM