The Country Life

I have the unique perspective of having lived in the country and in the city.

Both have their benefits.

As many of you know, after living out in the middle of nowhere for eleven years, we recently purchased a new homestead close to loved ones and close to town.

We bought a soybean field

Although we will still have a little land to play on, our new homestead will not be the 20+ acres of woods that we are used to.

My family is not ready to give up hunting, trail riding, hiking, and the country life just because we don’t have twenty acres of woods in our backyard.

THERE ARE OPTIONS

We have been thinking and dreaming of how we can still do all the country living we want to do even though we no longer have a large piece of land.

The New Property

There is literally not a tree on our new property.

This isn’t the end of the world when you consider that in order to keep livestock and grow vegetables you need clear, flat land.

At the same time, if you are a hunting enthusiast, a little brush or woods is great.

DH and my youngest son are fully addicted to keeping the deer population under control.

Which presents a bit of a problem.

The new place has its perks-

1. It is close to the family (like, next door).
2. It is going to allow me to care for my parents as they get older.
3. It is going to make many things possible for my children; like attending college, finding part-time jobs, and connecting with others…

but the new homestead is not a great “hunting” property.  In fact, the new place is not great for doing anything that involves trees.

THE HUNTING PLAN

There is not a chance that DH and my boys are going to give up hunting.  They look forward to hunting season all year long.

But there is probably not going to be any hunting at the new homestead.

We have a contingency plan.  It is hard to say if there will be any money left after we finish the build, but my fingers are crossed that there will be a little.

And with a little money, you CAN buy a little piece of land.

Land in the sticks

We do have a plan in mind, although it will take some time (and God) before it comes to fruition.

Our new homestead will be the place where we live (the home) and do our main homestead operation:  cows, chickens, rabbits, and garden.  The daily grind of growing food, raising animals, and milking the cow, will take place on the small plot where we will live.

In addition to our little homestead, we are planning to invest in some land out where the corn pops up in rows…  as they say.

Huh?

Home in Town – Farm in the Country

Maybe this could work for you?

Do you have a job in the city?  Do you like living near everything?  Do you have busy teenagers? Do you want to stay ‘in town’?

There is no reason you can’t have it all!

Stay put if you like your urban life, and buy a little land outside of town for weekends.

INVEST IN A FARM

• It is a good way to diversify your financial portfolio.
• It will give you a place to getaway.
• It will be a place to ride 4-wheelers, dirt bikes or ATVs.
• It will provide a place to hunt.
• It will be a place where family and friends can gather to build enormous fires and make noise.
• It will provide firewood.
• Hiking, biking, camping.
• It will be a place to grow food (crops, hay, sunflowers, vegetables).
• It will be a place where overnight, or week-long camping trips can happen.

To be honest, a garden could easily be grown

I think I could have a successful garden even if I didn’t live on the land.  Tending a garden once a week or every other week is possible…

with a few considerations

• Deep mulch would allow plants to thrive in times without rain.
• Mulching the ground around plants with leaves, cardboard, wood chips, or other organic matter would prevent weeds
• High fencing would deter most critters

LIVE NEAR EVERYTHING AND A COUNTRY RETREAT TOO

Is this your dream?

Would you like to keep the convenience of being near civilization, but have a place in the country?

If you do not plan to live on your farm full-time, you can consider property much farther away.

And the farther you go, the cheaper the land becomes.

Do you want woods or do you want farmland?

If you are willing to consider partially or mostly wooded land you will spend even less. Tillable farmland is high-dollar property.  Woods and valleys are where you can find a bargain.

Some people buy condos in Florida, some of us buy land in the country.

What is Your Dream?

Many of us can’t quit our ‘day jobs’ just because we have claimed the title of ‘homesteader.’

If you haven’t been able to live your homestead dream because you feel stuck in town, you may want to consider investing in a little plot of land in the country.

1. It will be cheap.
2. It will allow you to get started on your homesteading journey.
3. And in the future, you can move there if you decide to.

If you feel stuck in the city but are anxious to begin living more self-sufficiently, maybe a little place in the country could do the trick.

XO,

Candi