Hi all. Was just wondering if we are crazy by just starting homesteading in our 50's. We are presently NOT in very good shape (had office jobs most of our lives)..but working on it.....need some strength to throw around those hay bales and feed sacks! We will be leaving our married daughter behind and am very sad about that; however, we also have a 4 yr old son (adopted)that we feel we must think about. We want him to have a life of joy and an understanding of nature and self-suffiency. I am going to be a stay-at-home Mom (whooohooo -- finally!) and hubby will work "a regular job". We are buying a 7 acre homestead in Western Virginia. The property has a huge house, barn, chicken coop and lots of other outbuildings and a pond. Has backup water supply from a capped spring and 2 types of heating, plus chimneys for wood heat, if we go that route. We certainly aren't survialist, but we see bad things coming someday and believe our best survial will be on the land and not in the cities. Gosh, you don't even see a sm. garden spot in the city any more! No one knows HOW to grow one anymore!

Anyway, only our daughter thinks we are being wise....every one else we know in the whole world thinks we have lost our minds! I do worry about what if something happens to one of us...would be easier living in town...but then, we think...well...you can't live for "what if's"!

So are there any other middle ages how got brain damage one day and left the pavement???? And are we crazy???? Also, any one just left the grown kids behind and how do you cope with that (my biggest barrier)????

Thanks all...I appreciate you more than you know!

-- Lynn (ly44421@yahoo.com), April 25, 2001

Answers

Greeting, Lynn, No, you're not the least bit crazy. Just the envy of those of us the same age, but not in the same place.

You mentioned that you felt "bad things coming". Something to think about is knowing that if those bad things do happen there will be a place for your grown daughter to come.

Congratulations on living your dream. I'm originally from Central VA and know the area you've just found. Beautiful country. I'm very happy for you.

Thanks for reading.

-- Dianne in Mass (dianne.bone@usa.net), April 25, 2001.

There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with being a little crazy! (Especially if you use city folks mores to judge yourself.)

-- Lynn Goltz (lynngoltz@aol.com), April 25, 2001.

No, you're not crazy! Go for it! As for the daughter you're leaving behind, don't be too surprised if she ends up moving nearby someday! It happened with us! Now our little-city-girl raises chickens and gardens. I had to take into consideration my physical limitations when we left the pavement. I refused to allow that to govern my life. Certainly, living in the city would be easier for me phyically, but emotionally I think I would wither and die. So, grab that dream and live it! God bless!

-- Ardie from WI (a6203@hotmail.com), April 25, 2001.

Lynn - you can do it, 50 is not that old. It doesn't take youth to do what you want to do it just takes planning and common sense. Being self sufficient (i.e. living off the land) takes mostly patience and persistance. It will be the best thing for your son and your daughter will come to understand your choice. And you've found a really good source of support and knowledge here on the forum also, if your not a Countryside Magazine subscriber do so today. Every time the magazine arrives it fires me up again to stay at this living style. Good luck and keep us posted.

-- Betsy K (betsyk@pathwaynet.com), April 25, 2001.

Lynn, we were a little younger than you went we started over homesteading but as we have aged we try to find ways to work smarter, not harder. At the mill we have them fill the sacks lighter. We set the baler for smaller bales (if you know the farmer you get hay from if you get hay they will usually custom bale for you if you contract for it-that's what we did before we started making our own). We makes small "batches" of hay all summer long and don't stress ourselves so much. I sometimes thing about the "what ifs" but chose to live each day as a gift and not be concerned about the unknowable future. I concur with the others about the children you leave behind. My children and grandchildren now love to visit and we have put a nice 5th wheel camper in a pretty spot and use it as a "guest house". Good luck and I hope you find it to be as fulfilling as we do.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 25, 2001.

Hi Lynn, I moved to the country at 50+, but bought the land back in 1990 and have been working on it since. I just recently took on the rearing of my three grandchildren, ages 2, 7 and 8. . . two girls with a boy sandwiched in the middle! They (especially the 2 year old) made getting things done a little harder but I wouldn't have it any other way. I have 8+ acres that now has a trailor, shed and a barn in progress (roof and sides). I have a small dwarf fruit tree orchard, garden, sheep, miniature cows, chickens and rabbits. My goal was to be self-sufficient when I retire in about 10 years. It may take a few years longer now, time will tell. The kids love the animals and all the room to play in. Just take it a little at a time and build up from there. . . that's why I say my place is a work in progress. I love going home of an evening and feeding the animals, listening to the birds sing and frogs and crickets or play in the garden for awhile, it's relaxing for me. Congratulations, and best of luck with your new adventure!

-- phyllis a. warman (phyllis.warman@twcable.com), April 25, 2001.

Lynn, you are not crazy. Used to live in the country and are going back next year. I was also a stay at home mother, but when the youngest (17 now) went to school full time I thought I was missing something and went to work. (I had never worked before). What I discovered was that I had everything in the first place. I am working now so that we can do what we want. I have a calendar and I cross off each day, that is how bad it is. I much prefer to be outside in the garden or in the kitchen. I even enjoy cleaning and washing dishes. I look forward to hanging clothes on the line again. Next year my husband will be 66 and I will be almost 60. We plan to sell produce and my bakery stuff at the farmer's markets. (I sell my bakery stuff now). We talked about not having animals except for a dog and some cats, but I will work on Charles for a couple of chickens and maybe goats again. I plan on saving my seeds because, I too do not like what I have been seeing and I want to make sure that we will be a self sufficient as we possibly can. We have purchase 14 acres with a 3BR home, pond, creek and a large machine shed. We will both work outside a few years so that we can buy the equipment we want to get. We plan to replace my wood cookstove, loved cooking on that. Anyway, go for it Lynn. I can't wait. I look forward to 24 hours a day with my husband. Oh, we looked for a place that we knew we would be able to afford on only our SS. Found it!

-- Cordy (ckaylegian@aol.com), April 25, 2001.

Maybe 'they' are just jealous?! Anyway, my sister-in-law once snapped at me to "just act your age!!" I have puzzled over that for several years. Don't give up!

-- Gailann Schrader (gtschrader@aol.com), April 25, 2001.

Hi Lynn, My name is Norma. My husband and I are 56 and we have a two year old. We wanted the baby to have a good solid foundation of morals and values so homesteading was the answer for us. We already lived on two acres but didn't do anything with it. After I got hooked on Countryside I tried some of the things I saw others doing and it worked! I love it and my husband is being drawn to it more each Spring and canning season. You'll never regret it. Thanks for listening.

-- norma russell (russells@basinonline.com), April 25, 2001.

Thats great!!!! Just want to add if your out of shape start walking every day! Good way to get to know the neighbors too.....Kirk

-- Kirk Davis (kirkay@yahoo.com), April 25, 2001.

You go girl !! Your place sounds lovely. We moved on ours 5 years ago and still have a long ways to go. We didn't start out to homestead but we are moving ever faster in that direction. My mother is the one that thinks we're nuts. She grumbles over my canning and hanging clothes out to dry. Thinks it's a waste of time and effort. We are nearing 50 ourselves and I don't think a person is ever too old to learn. Mistakes are just a part of the game of living. I'll bet in not too long a time your grown daughter will join you, or at the very least, visit a lot. I am sorry to say we are both still working outside the home but hope to change that in a few years time. Good luck to you ! I know you'll never regret your decision!

-- cindy (jandcpalmer@sierratel.com), April 25, 2001.

I think you are absolutely in your right mind, because you are not letting fear rule you. Your life is calling ot you and you are listening. Focus on what you value and everything you need to create your dream will appear. Maybe not exactly as you planned it, but it will. Now don't focus on what you imagine will be "bad things coming" or they will. Focus on the "fabulous things coming" and let us know about them! I am about your age and have the same dream (to find a way to learn to live more sustainably on the land) but I want to do it in Europe and I am interested in biodynamic processes. i am just starting to open up to the possibility that it will be posible. So you are lighting the way! Thank you for the inspiration. I, too, bet that you will gain more of yur daughter as she comes to see how weel you will be doing. I have been told too that it is easier in the city (for growing older). But when I see the poor dears in the harsh city environment, I don't think so. Right now I am in Boston and I would see no advantage to aging here tath compares with being more intimate with the rhythms of nature. And being alive1 And learning! And sharing with neighbors! And, and and.... Best of luck! Ahulani

-- Ahulani (lulumeil@yahoo.com), April 25, 2001.

No time like the present! And sheesh, 50 better NOT be old, b/c I'm gonna be 49 in a few weeks. It's all a matter of perception. The best thing about being middle aged (whatever that's supposed to be...) is that you no longer have to care what others think of what you do! It's freeeeeeeedom!

One thing that has helped me is to be more methodical and less impulsive about getting chores done. I used to think that if it wasn't raining (I live in western Washington...it rains here a lot) that I HAD to get the barns cleaned, plant every vegetable, do all the laundry so I could hang it out, or whatever seemed like needing to get done. Now I pace myself and sometimes do several things in intervals....clean a little barn, weed a little garden, hang a little laundry. It eventually all gets done and I save myself some physical wear and tear.

Good luck to you!! You'll be glad for the adventure.

-- sheepish (WA) (the_original_sheepish@hotmail.com), April 25, 2001.

Crazy??? Nope... I don't think so!!

I didn't leave any grown kids. I left a 14 year old daughter. She wanted to stay in school and go on to the University in IL to become a vet. They DO still have one of the best schools for that. My folks and her made the decision... I had a really hard fight on my hands, which I lost to logic. I don't feel that I could homeschool to the ability of one of the top four public schools in the nation - no matter HOW I feel about public schooling.

It is hard. It is also quite expensive... There are a lot of letters and phone calls. Jen doesn't have email. Its only been five months at this point - and several times I've wanted to go back, but Rich's job is here, and the school is there. So - leaving a daughter who is grown and can come visit (and you can go back to visit too, sometimes) - especially if she's ok with it - will be very hard, but might be worth it.

While I'm still in my 30's (not for long) and Rich is in his 40's (also not for long), I don't think your age will be a problem. There is a woman (forget her name) who is doing this in her 90's!! She's very famous - has lots of books out on 19th Century crafts and living. She doesn't have electricity, no indoor plumbing, heats and cooks with wood etc etc etc.... And, she is by herself. It just takes getting used to!!

Start slowly, and you will find that you actually have more time, are more relaxed, and are probably healthier than ever!!

And - you've got the most important thing in the world... the support of your family!! (and don't forget your 'family' here, we will all support you, too!)

Can I ask you a couple questions????

What is the worst possible thing that could happen? What do you expect to gain? What do you expect to lose? And, perhaps most important of all.... How will you feel if you don't at least TRY???

-- Sue Diederich (willow666@rocketmail.com), April 25, 2001.

Lynn, I started homesteading when I was 43 years old. If you work on your projects a little each day you will get them done and get more healthy in the process. I find that the best times to do the manual labor of homesteading is early in the mornings and late in the evenings. That will give you five or six hours of reasonably cool weather to work in. The middle of the day, especially in the summer is tough but, I find projects inside or in the shade during that time. Meli and I started with undeveloped land and cleared it, built our out buildings and gardens with basic tools. We are now building our house and will follow the same routine as I suggested above. Sincerely, Ernest

-- http://communities.msn.com/livingoffthelandintheozarks (espresso42@hotmail.com), April 25, 2001.

Crazy! No way. You will look back on this in your old age and be glad that you tried your dream. The flip side is sad. My mom raised us on Organic Gardening mag, raising chickens, sheep and a garden in the backyard of our track house. Now I live on a farm and she sits on her butt whinning about having nothing to do. When I suggest starting her garden or volunteering she just snaps back she is too old to be crawling around on her knees in the dirt and if she works she wants to be paid.

When I was showing sheep all over CA I met a breeder who was then in his 70's. He was a great wealth of information and encouragement. He never let anything stop him from what he loved. So don't let those bales of hay get in your way, try a handtruck and wheel them around. He died of a heart attack, in his sheep barn, at 95. We should all be lucky enough to end our life doing what we love instead of in a nursing home or hospital.

I say start your adventure, make friends with your neighbors so they will want to check on you in your later years and spend the rest of your life the way you want, not pleasing other people.

Best of Luck!!

-- jennifer (schwabauer@aol.com), April 25, 2001.

As an over-50 who moved to Alaska and have started homesteading a one acre forest garden, I would like to suggest reading Bill Mollison's Introduction to Permaculture. It has lots of good ideas for how you can cut down on work by where you site them. For example, put herbs near the kitchen door so you can just step out and clip some. Often used vegetables and often visited animals should be near the house. Put the compost near the garden and/or animal manure, and if you need to grow green stuff to put in that compost, try planting comfrey right near the piles! Plants you visit only sometimes can be farther from the house ( like raspberries.) This book is full of labor saving ideas, and has made my life a lot easier.

Congratulations on your move, and your gumption. My friends from our corporate days now think we are smart to have made this choice, after seeing how happy we are. (I don't always tell them when I slip in the mud changing the duckies' water! But I laughed even then...)The economic signs of the times are not good, and your instincts to make a move to a more sensible life are functioning just fine- sounds pretty healthy to me!

-- seraphima (djones@kodiak.alaska.edu), April 25, 2001.

Crazy, NO! In good company,YES! I am 56 my husband 64. We started homesteading 9 years ago in a remote area on a hill side raising, chickens, milk goats, geese, ducks, gardens etc. It was a lot of work and we loved every minute of it. Unfortunately my health and strength has declined and my husband was having a hard time keeping the road open and dealing with a lot of snow in the winter so we left our first homestead for flat ground, in Oct of 1999. We had to re- think what our abilities were, but were not willing to give up the basic life style. So we simplified. We only have chickens now and our main goal is gardening.

The friends we had thought we were crazy too, but I am fortunate that my son and his family moved with us so that made the move much easier. I know how hard it must be for you with your daughter, but know you are providing her with a safe place when the time comes.

Don't worry about the future, even though I agree we are in for a bumpy ride, just know you made the right decision and enjoy every day. I don't understand the mind set that living in the city is easier. I love my stress free life and know I could live no other way.

Good luck to you.

-- Andy in ID (cabinfever@sisna.com), April 26, 2001.

You are not crazy and I think you will never regret this decision! I used to have a little poster that said something like 'what would you think if you never did it?'

I will be 49 next month. Husband will be 57 in August. We are homesteading more and more. Both work from home primarily. We have our first 20 chicks this year (husband grew up on a farm but I didn't) and all 20 of the chicks are still alive. We are building a chicken enclosure and have almost completed the rabbit barn where our 18 rabbits (mostly English Angoras are).

Your four year old son will have a wonderful world to grow up in! I hope you intend to homeschool him! You won't regret that either! best wishes!

-- Suzy in Bama (slgt@yahoo.com), April 26, 2001.

Lynn, I am so happy to read all of the responses to your post. It always helps to have others who are doing what you want to, or planning to do what you want to, to calm your anxieties. I too am soon to be "middle age"(I'll be 50 this year) and am planning my 'big move'when my last child graduates from high school next June. I have a house now with a big mortage, but if the economy holds for another year I'll be able to sell here and pay for most, if not all, of what I want. I am single and all I hear from my parents and sisters is how "you can't do that on your own" (you need a man) and "if you go that far, we can't help you" (from a sister who has NEVER helped me or been asked to do so in all of my life!). I started out with very big plans but have scaled down to a more reasonable level while doing major work on this house and redoing the landscaping to prepare it for sale. I realize that I will have to work for a few years and my profession leaves me pretty tired by days end-though I would not even consider doing anything else for pay because it is a calling, not just a job. When I spoke to a realtor in the area I'm considering he told me of a couple in their 70's who bought land from him and are homesteading in that county. I think if you take honest inventory of your abilities and interests, learn the new skills you think you will need and tailor your homestead to these, you can make your dream come true at ANY age. Good luck and Godspeed. betty

-- betty modin (betty_m9@yahoo.com), April 27, 2001.

Follow your heart. Even if it hurts leaving someone behind.***I have been contemplating the same things you mentioned. It has stopped me from moving back to WV and the life I love. ***I had a wonderful homestead and country life but because of divorce and emotional upset I left and came West bringing my two young sons. Nothing has improved for me in 11 years. My sons have grown and I want to go back home and enjoy my country lifestyle. It has been hard to actually make the move and leave my youngest son behind. He is 19 working and living the way he wants. We are close and love each other, but my heart is not here in MT. I am thinking that maybe my son will move back to WV later on. Than too, I will be alone and I am getting older and not as strong as I used to be, but I still want to move back on the land and feel I can manage within my limitations. Like someone said, work smarter not harder. Reading all these wonderful letters of encouragement and different experiences has encouraged me and I hope it encourages you Lynn,to make the move and feel good about it. Sounds like your daughter understands and loves you a lot. She may follow and move near you later on. Your little son will love the country life, all them critters to learn about and pet and feed. Everything will fall into place and I am sure you and your family will be happy for the changes. I am rooting for you! And too, you have a lot of support here on the forum,,

-- Patsy, MT (cozyhollow-gal@care2.com), April 27, 2001.

Lynn, In our 50's, and left the city 2 years ago for a better life. It worked, life is slower, wife quit and stayed home, got bored and went back to school. I work a job that pays half my old city salary, and finally enjoy my life. We garden, fish, spend time picnicing almost weekly, and would never go back to the city sidewalks again. All of our city friends said we were nuts, this is the time when we should be putting up nuts for the winter (saving for retirement)How wrong they were! We live on one third the money we spent in the city. Best of times are ahead for you, have fun!

-- woodsbilly (coleenl@penn.com), April 29, 2001.

Heres something you may wish to check out.Go to web page below and find a neew way in which to get your electricial energy for your home.You can jjust as I did for $9.75.When you have sent your money in you get a web page and you get a free generator for your home. This generator will supply enough energy for your home (26,000 khl) and 14 houses. Check it out and hopefully join. They need 1.6 million subscribers, and they have 1.2 million already. So Join and tell the Electric Grid Goodbye! I can't wait for this to come out. here is the site http://www.FreedomTechnologiesNetwork.com/Rachael or for a shorter address http://www.FTN.info/Rachael

-- rachael pounds (rpounds@yahoo.com), January 10, 2002.

Well I checked it out, so rachel got one click next to her name - hope that helps her on this pyrimid shyster deal.

So, they power a small electric motor with a DC battery (is there an AC battery? Duh?) and use it to run a perminent magnet generator, and use that output to recharge the DC battery, power your house, and sell 25 megawatts to the power company every month?

I guess that just proves there are nearly 1.6 million fools in the world....

Sorry Rachael , things just don't work that way. It's garbage. hope you got a penny for me looking at the site - that's all you'll ever get from it.

If that crap worked, they wouldn't need you or me - they would build their own main power feed, set up 2 million of the little generators, and have their own endless source of power, and keep all the power for themselves. Duh.

--->Paul

-- paul (ramblerplm@hotmail.com), January 10, 2002.