My farm and me
I have neglected this blog. I know it and you know it. I was having some trouble finding my voice and making this blog me. I mentioned this to a friend and she suggested that I write it like I'm writing her a letter. That seems to make sense. So here goes
When I think of the "olden days", the days of pioneering, of whatever you want to call it, I get wistful...like I'm remember something I've lived. I am drawn to that time. I feel like I should be there, like I'm from there. It speaks to my heart and my soul in a way that I can never really explain. Sometimes I think I was there in a past life and the memories linger. I can remember, as a child, telling my dad I wanted an old house to fix up or a log cabin somewhere in the mountains and to live off the land. I didn't understand "off the grid" back then, but that's essentially what I wanted. Keep in mind, I grew up on Air Force bases. We had no farming or ranching or mountain men-ing in the near past, but it always seemed so close to me.
20 years ago, my goal was to find an old farmhouse on 20 acres or so and live that dream, but then reality set in. A messy divorce, a series of crappy low-paying jobs and the impossibility to fund that dream. My goals became more immediate. Gas to get to work and food and clothing for my children. I was led to a small house for sale in my town. A 1910 Craftsman style bungalow in the downtown area on a big lot. It was for sale by an older lady, the last in her line. The house had been in her family since it was built. She wanted me to have it. It was impossible for me to buy, yet somehow, the stars aligned and it became ours. A safe haven for me and my children. A home. And yet, it wasn't the dream I had. I live in town, in an historic area. The chances of me ever being off the grid and self sufficient were, to me, pretty slim. So I gave up the dream, got a better job and acted (sort of) like a normal American. I met and married a wonderful man who not only likes my crazy, but encourages it. 10 years or so ago, I asked him if I could get some chickens for eggs and he said yes. I asked him to help me build a raised bed for a vegetable garden and he said yes. And the dream was sparked again. 5 years later, the garden area had expanded and I started raising broiler chickens for meat. I started learning things like how to make soap and laundry detergent and the art of making cheese. I'd always canned but I was now growing what I was canning. I bought a solar oven and set up an outdoor kitchen, but I was still disappointed that I had no land, so I wasn't happy. 2 years ago, there was an opportunity for a friend and I to set up a you pick garden area on someone else's land. Through a series of events, that fell through. I was devastated. I so wanted THAT dream. Then it dawned on me that perhaps I should stop pining for something I would most likely never have and maybe start appreciating what I did have. I've got 3/4 of an acre of land. Surely, I can grow everything we need, plus a little extra to sell. These people have done it on 1/10 of an acre. In Pasadena, California. Next to two freeways. So really, I think this place is where I make my stand.
With my New and Improved dream in hand, I started to get serious. With my husband's approval and help, I am creating my own "micro farmstead". I've planted some fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries and grapes. I am expanding the garden area to the side of the house. I got a greenhouse. I have plans for a tilapia tank, a beehive, a milk goat and a rocket stove. To be honest, I probably couldn't handle much more land than this anyway. It just took me 10 years to realize what I've been given.
It's hard work, this "simple life". I work 3 days outside the home, and 3 days from home with my quilting business. 1 day a week and evenings are all I have to work on the farm. I've started booking craft shows for the fall and winter and am hoping to work the farmer's market next spring. I'm working on building some inventory of things like home made vanilla, goat's milk soap and other homestead-y type things to sell here and on my Facebook Page and, hopefully soon, an Etsy shop.
My ultimate goal is to be able to just work from home, running a small CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and creating quilts and other crafts to sell at shows and online. I figure that's about a 2 year plan. This blog is intended to document that plan, to vent my trials and tribulations and to celebrate my victories. It should be interesting.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Deb
When I think of the "olden days", the days of pioneering, of whatever you want to call it, I get wistful...like I'm remember something I've lived. I am drawn to that time. I feel like I should be there, like I'm from there. It speaks to my heart and my soul in a way that I can never really explain. Sometimes I think I was there in a past life and the memories linger. I can remember, as a child, telling my dad I wanted an old house to fix up or a log cabin somewhere in the mountains and to live off the land. I didn't understand "off the grid" back then, but that's essentially what I wanted. Keep in mind, I grew up on Air Force bases. We had no farming or ranching or mountain men-ing in the near past, but it always seemed so close to me.
20 years ago, my goal was to find an old farmhouse on 20 acres or so and live that dream, but then reality set in. A messy divorce, a series of crappy low-paying jobs and the impossibility to fund that dream. My goals became more immediate. Gas to get to work and food and clothing for my children. I was led to a small house for sale in my town. A 1910 Craftsman style bungalow in the downtown area on a big lot. It was for sale by an older lady, the last in her line. The house had been in her family since it was built. She wanted me to have it. It was impossible for me to buy, yet somehow, the stars aligned and it became ours. A safe haven for me and my children. A home. And yet, it wasn't the dream I had. I live in town, in an historic area. The chances of me ever being off the grid and self sufficient were, to me, pretty slim. So I gave up the dream, got a better job and acted (sort of) like a normal American. I met and married a wonderful man who not only likes my crazy, but encourages it. 10 years or so ago, I asked him if I could get some chickens for eggs and he said yes. I asked him to help me build a raised bed for a vegetable garden and he said yes. And the dream was sparked again. 5 years later, the garden area had expanded and I started raising broiler chickens for meat. I started learning things like how to make soap and laundry detergent and the art of making cheese. I'd always canned but I was now growing what I was canning. I bought a solar oven and set up an outdoor kitchen, but I was still disappointed that I had no land, so I wasn't happy. 2 years ago, there was an opportunity for a friend and I to set up a you pick garden area on someone else's land. Through a series of events, that fell through. I was devastated. I so wanted THAT dream. Then it dawned on me that perhaps I should stop pining for something I would most likely never have and maybe start appreciating what I did have. I've got 3/4 of an acre of land. Surely, I can grow everything we need, plus a little extra to sell. These people have done it on 1/10 of an acre. In Pasadena, California. Next to two freeways. So really, I think this place is where I make my stand.
With my New and Improved dream in hand, I started to get serious. With my husband's approval and help, I am creating my own "micro farmstead". I've planted some fruit trees, blackberries, raspberries and grapes. I am expanding the garden area to the side of the house. I got a greenhouse. I have plans for a tilapia tank, a beehive, a milk goat and a rocket stove. To be honest, I probably couldn't handle much more land than this anyway. It just took me 10 years to realize what I've been given.
It's hard work, this "simple life". I work 3 days outside the home, and 3 days from home with my quilting business. 1 day a week and evenings are all I have to work on the farm. I've started booking craft shows for the fall and winter and am hoping to work the farmer's market next spring. I'm working on building some inventory of things like home made vanilla, goat's milk soap and other homestead-y type things to sell here and on my Facebook Page and, hopefully soon, an Etsy shop.
My ultimate goal is to be able to just work from home, running a small CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) and creating quilts and other crafts to sell at shows and online. I figure that's about a 2 year plan. This blog is intended to document that plan, to vent my trials and tribulations and to celebrate my victories. It should be interesting.
Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Deb
I like that you are building on what you have. A good reminder that no one needs to do it all at once. Tell us more about the goats!
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