Hi All. Looks like I'll be moving to my undeveloped 5 acres in MO. in May 2002, a year ahead of schedule, Thank God!! Less time to sit and ponder, so I need everyone to help me get ready. Plus, it will help me stay grounded on those days when I want to say "Gee, why don't I just leave next week?".

What I'd like to do is try to cover one (or two) things a month. For example, one month I'll put together a comprehensive medical kit, for myself and the cats and dogs. Maybe also clean out my toolbox, and pick up what I don't already have at yardsales over the summer. Same with garden tools. Another month, I'll clean out my filing cabinet and desk; and bookcases, kitchen and clothes closets will provide stuff for a big yardsale. I want to take a course on basic auto repair. I'll get the pets a final check-up a month or two before we leave. My garden this year will be big, but only a few types of things, such as beans and tomatoes. No sense in packing and hauling several dozen empty canning jars, I may as well take some food with me.

I plan on hiring a family friend to drive a U-Haul, and I'll have my truck full of pets. I'd like to put up a shed to live in for the summer, til I can get either a used mobile home in or a cabin put up. There is power close by, and I'll have cash for a well. Obviously, there are a million other things I need to address. So, everybody, I'm going to print out your responses and refer to them, maybe as a checklist. It's just me and the cats and dogs, and a glorious homesteading future!!

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001

Answers

You hit the nail on the head when u said take food with you. With a year to go there is no reason that You cant put togeather a large larder of can goods (Y2K amount or more)so when the move comes one thing not to have to worry about for a bit will be what to eat. Here in tx we have one store that puts can veg on sale for 4 /1.00 about 2 times a yr so we buy all we can then the same may be true in your area. Be careful in packing glass jars ..wrap them well lots of bumps in Mo..LOL God Bless and have a Great weekend.

-- Charles steen (xbeeman412@aol.com), March 23, 2001.

It's way too early now, but don't forget to change your snail mail address in plenty of time. Stock a little extra on you main vitamins, they're small but expensive, thye'll keep you level. How's Gail, have you heard from him lately? You might want to subscribe to the local newspaper in Mo. to get an idea what's in the area. What's cheaper in NY than in Mo.? Availability of some food? Congratulations and God Bless.

-- Cindy (SE In) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

About that shed to live in - how about a hoop house? Extremely low cost and every part is reusable. Cattle panels (future fencing) are 4'X 16' - have them delivered. Form an arch by fastening both 4' ends to the ground, and wire together as many panels as you like. Cover with a tarp and make end walls of 2X4s and plywood (or plastic). If next winter catches you before your real house is ready, you can cover the whole hoop house with hay bales arched over the entire structure for insulation. Good luck, Cathy! From frugal Sandy in MN.

-- Sandy in MN (jpevans_56353@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

Look for those stacks of 5 gallon buckets with lids at the flea markets. Get as many as you can, and you can use those to pack things in! I used to pack and load moving vans, and those things are very easy to stack, can hold 100lbs, and makes a great base in the truck for other things. Cheap, large plastic trash cans with snap lids are good too! And you can use them for your feed later.

You can fill them with tools, clothes, bathroom stuff, food, dog and cat food, really just about anything. And mark on them with a marker, and you will know right where your stuff is. And they are bug proof and water proof. I can get them here at the flea market for 1.50 a piece. And the guy even has bigger ones! He always has a huge stack every weekend.

And the best part is you will have BUCKETS when you need one! Don't pack flamable things, no aerosole cans, lighter fluid, nothing like that. It can get hot in the van. Best buy that stuff when you get there. Read the lables.

You're canned goods in glass need to be kept below 70*. We would pack them but said we could not guarantee that the food would be ok. You can buy what they call a Dish Pack at the packing stores for about 5.00. It has 3 layers and the compartments, and is very safe for those. Be sure to get the dividers with it. My dish packs would weight 200 lbs! I would use as FEW cardboard boxes as possible, since they cannot get wet, and you don't have a shed there yet.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 23, 2001.

Gosh Cathy! You are going to do all this stuff by yourself? If so, I truly do admire you. My advice is to take lots of matches. I can't light a fire with a gallon of diesel fuel for some reason. Be sure to have some inspirational type reading handy, and lots of it, to keep you focused and motivated. Make every effort to make acquaintance with nearby neighbors who can lend support and perhaps help out if/when you get in a tight spot. They need to know your pets too, that is very important.( I know, from experience) Keep in touch with us all. oh yes, keep a diary from the very start. Much luck, Carole

-- Carole (carle@earthlink.net), March 23, 2001.

Oh, I forgot to say that those big cheap square plastic boxes at Wallmart don't snap very tight at all. Bugs and moisture can get in them. We got some for camping stuff, and really aren't very good. Make sure it snaps tight tight, not even ants can get in.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@hotmail.com), March 23, 2001.

Great plastic boxes that snap tight are the ones that cat litter comes in... so if you know anyone that buys it, you can probably have access to two a month. They have great sturdy handles and snap closed tight.

-- Carole (carle@earthlink.net), March 23, 2001.

You obviously love your pets, so remember that out in the country there are critters that will eat them and or hurt them. Down at our place there are coyote, havalina, mountain lions, bob cats, the occasional bear, skunks, cattle - you get the idea. So a plan for their security is in order.

-- WIlly Allen (willyallen2@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

Sit down now and write yourself a letter detailing both the good and the bad of your current situation. Be as honest as you can. And write a second one about what your specific reasons and goals are for the move.

We found that in the crazyness of moving from Florida to Ohio and having to find work and a home here that sometimes we got so weary that we lost sight of our original motivations. There were times when we were tempted to settle for less than what we wanted just to put an end to the process of searching. It really helped to be able to go back and remind ourselves of our reasoning and to know that we came up with that when our minds were clear and not stressed out and sleep deprived. During the process, both my husband and I (although thank God, not at the same time) felt like just forgetting the whole thing and slinking back to Florida. When we were really frazzled, it was easy to remember Florida as the land of plenty with all fun in the sun and no hassles or problems. That was certainly not reality thinking, but when the pressure is on for a long stretch, sometimes you loose your perspective. It helped to have written documentation from our very own selves that reminded us of the true lifestyle we had lived in Florida, not some rosy and faulty remembrance.

After we got the work and home situation settled, things have started to calm down and we don't rely so much on the letters. But there for a while they were a voice of sanity in very crazy circumstances.

-- Lori in SE Ohio (klnprice@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

If you don't already have it, get a copy of Mel Bartholemews' "Square Foot Garden". Since you have a well, it may be of help to at least use his technique for the fresh vegetable kitchen garden. It takes minimal water and time to tend a SFG BISF setup like this to feed a family of 4 ( about 2 to 4 hrs a week and watering is done with a 1 gal bucket per plot). this way more of your time could be directed toward building up the property instead of growing your food.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

What part of Missouri are you moving to? Coming in May is a good time. We are usually pretty warm by then. Do you have a good site selected for your eventual home. Don't be too hasty. Make sure you know about drainage and possible high water locations. Make sure your pets are vacinated for Lyme's disease. You will find ticks.

Welcome to the ShowMe State!

-- Rick Powell (rpowell@email.ccis.edu), March 23, 2001.

Don't forget your medical records AND your pets vet records. As for buckets that the lids snap on good, we go to a bakery section in the main grocery store and they give them away. Just have to make sure the lids match up. Try to stay as organized as you can when packing. I have a tendancy to rush and store items, then have no idea where I placed them. Number 5 gallon buckets that are packed with items, then keep a chart of what is in each bucket or barrel. Have fun with this!

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), March 23, 2001.

Batteries, oil lamps, lots of lamp oil, propane camp lantern or two, the early dark can get soooo depressing! Husband's family is Amish, so I know about living with no electric can be a bit depressing at first, even to those that welcome it.

Seriously think about putting up some type of pole barn to live in at first, then you can turn it into a barn or garage or both. Pole barns are super cheap to put up, and infinitely useful, can be easily turned into most anything. Around here, the Amish can put one up for you for the same price you can do it yourself, their crews get them wholesale and their markup is very little. I know there are Amish out there in Missouri as our relatives in Middlefield know of some there.

Have your vet show you how to give your own shots, it is very easy to do, and can end up saving your life or your pet's at some time. A good vet can show you many potential lifesaving tips, such as how to stop bleeding ( vet wrap and leg wraps) and other amazing things. I have learned more medically (people and human) from my vets over the years than all the doctors I've seen put together, they know way more about nutrition too.

Your a brave and amazing woman Cathy, and I wish you the best of luck this coming and future years!

-- Annie Miller in SE OH (annie@1st.net), March 23, 2001.

Also very important - take pictures of your new place on day 1! Before you have improved anything. In a few years the place will look so different as to be unrecognizable. That first year or two is so busy and draining that there is no time to look around and realize how much has been accomplished. We invited no guests for 2 years because we were consumed with massive tasks and continual crises. When we finally did have some old friends over, they wanted a tour, of course. Only then, in showing them around, did I realize how much we had done. We were so focused on planting the orchard, painting the house, building the chicken coop, repairing farm equipment, cleaning up the huge mess, putting in the garden, etc., etc., etc., and every activity was crucial, urgent, must-be-done-this-minute --- we had no time even to catch our breath. I am so very glad that we have pictures of the horrible conditions here when we moved in. Take pictures, Cathy, you'll be glad you did. Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (jpevans_56353@yahoo.com), March 23, 2001.

Hey, Cathy! You lucky girl, I'm with you all the way and it will be on you before you know it! I'll be doing the same hopefully early this summer, moving to SW Colorado. By myself, like you, with 3 dogs, 5 cats, 17 chickens, and a 12-and-growing goat population (5 are expecting). Hopefully, this'll be my last move, but it won't be to raw land this time. But, once I did move to 10 acres of mesquite woods in Texas. I bought a used 20-ft travel trailer which suited me, dogs & cats just fine; no electricity for 9 months & we did pretty darn good. I will always treasure that experience of roughing it, tho it was hard at times.

I agree on those 5-gallon buckets, they are handy for everything from storage to water vessels to impromptu camp stools. I'd suggest if you can get a shed for yourself, you should get another one for your stuff, too. Will you be able to visit once or twice before you actually move? You could check out the ads for sheds or trailers. The hoop houses made out of cattle panels are really sturdy; I made one for hay storage and neither snow nor wind could knock it down. Countryside had an article on one used as a temporary shelter a couple of years back.

Start now and make lists... then lists of lists! Can't be too organized when you're moving the distance you are. Get rid of as much as you can, 'stuff' can be replaced. Late next winter you can start to pack away things, maybe even do some of that now (I started a year ago). I'm constantly making mental notes about things I can pack, sell or give away. You might start your animals on brewers yeast before you move. Yes, the ticks & fleas are baaaaaad. It'll help a bit, don't know if it'll deter them totally, but at least the dogs & cats will benefit from the B-vitamins. Congratulations & good luck to you! Pretty exciting stuff, huh? We all will enjoy hearing of your progress and adventures. dh in nm

-- debra in nm (dhaden@nmtr.unm.edu), March 23, 2001.

You sound like you have pretty much covered all the basics, and those you missed were definitely covered by Countryside readers! The only suggestion I could add is don't lsten to your family or friends that might say "Are you crazy!!!??" My husband and I moved to rural Maine 24 yrs. ago from a prosperous job on Cape Cod, Ma. We had a 4 yr. old son at the time and were planning to live in a 8x30ft. trailer til we were able to build. Family back home said we'd be back to the Cape in no time, but here we are, still homesteadin' in Me. and lovin' it! So remember...Just Do It!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), March 23, 2001.

Cathy,

Something else to consider are the reptiles and bugs in the area you are moving to. You need to know what poisonous snakes and critters are there. DON'T Panic about it...just know what they are (water moccasins? copperheads? rattlesnakes?) and be prepared, especially moving onto undeveloped land. The rest of you may take this for granted....but bouncing around in the US with the Air Force, and coming from western Washington with NO poisonous snakes ...what an eye opener. Got really good with a rake down in south Florida. What part of MO? I have cousins in the Springfield area. Enjoy! I'm sure you'll have a great time.

-- Deborah (bearwaoman@Yahoo.com), March 24, 2001.

When you get there, plant what we call the "family tree". This would be a fruit bearing tree of your choice that is the first thing planted on your new place within the first week. As your place grows, so does the family tree. Lynn G.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), March 24, 2001.

Food... if you garden, save your seeds to plant next year... If not, be sure to check out books on the wild foods of the area. If you have to live on the food you bring with you - the knowledge will help provide variety at the very least.

The idea about the 5 gal buckets is GREAT. I wish I'd brought more of them with me... Can NEVER have too many of those things - especially with tight lids!!

We moved sort of on the spur of the moment. Rich interviewed in October, plan being to move this coming April. Boss had other ideas, and we were out here in December.

We brought the cat and dogs with us. Our shepard has a nasty habit of being able to get out of anything... Cat does, too. We've had the dogs out on our mining claims - in the middle of nowhere... We know where the coyote den is, and the bear den, but have never once had a problem. (No... the bears up here did NOT hybernate this year.) Just make sure they are together, and preferably fenced, but don't chain them.... Too hard to fight off the critters when in bondage.

I can email you with the plan I used to get things ready to go in two months by myself (hubby worked overtime to save up some cash) and about some stuff we did once we got here because money was tight and we had to find some ways to make due.

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), March 26, 2001.

Thanks, everybody, you've given me lots of great ideas. I'm going to pick up a few cans of stuff each time I go to the grocery store, and I've got a friend working on getting 5 gallon buckets with lids. I'm so excited, this is awesome! Any more suggestions??

-- Cathy in NY (hrnofplnty@yahoo.com), March 26, 2001.