Homesteaders and Relocating.................

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Just curious, do homesteaders move around more often than the rest of the population? And why?

-- Terran in VT (homefire@sover.net), April 28, 2002

Answers

Well I sure wouldn't want to.....after plaanting all those treees, building enough animal shelters and all, the thought would be depressing.

-- Sue (sulandherb@aol.com), April 29, 2002.

I sure hope I never have to move. After all the work we've done and what's still waiting to be done!!! That would be in sad day in our world. Our land is as much a part of us as anything. Couldn't even put a price on it. Stace

-- Stacey (stacey@lakesideinternet.com), April 29, 2002.

I believe it was in this months Countryside magazine a women was talking about how they relocated several times their homesteads. Interesting reading. We are considering moving this year. When I think of all the work we have done I just hope that the next owners appreciate the organic garden etc. It will be hard to "haul" all of our necessary homestead items. The large stainless steel double sink that I use outside to wash veggies from the garden, the hundred tomatoe stakes, the wire for the peas, etc. I wouldn't want to do it too often but I suppose in todays life style people need to for jobs or family.

-- Helena (windyacs@npacc.net), April 29, 2002.

We discussed moving and even started looking at other places, but realized that we couldn't replace what we have at a price that we can afford, unless we seriously downsized to less than half the land, which would not be enough to do any serious homesteading venture (raise cattle and horses), so we are staying put. On the other hand, there are days when I do wish I had just five acres and a house and no animals (ha!). I don't think I would ever want to go through all the work and hard times again or sell what my husband has worked so hard to build. They don't call it sweat equity for nothing and new owners just wouldn't appreciate what we had to do in order to build the buildings and clear the land. Don't think we will sell anytime soon.

-- Cindy (sidepasser@hotmail.com), April 29, 2002.

Not me, I just buy adjoining properties to add to my place.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 29, 2002.


We moved our 3 homestead from Illinois to Washington state about a year ago. I lost my job and found another that was much better. It was a lot of work sorting what to take. All the heavy farming stuff had to stay. The animals needed new homes. All the salavage material for projects had to be given away. The thought of the new owners not enjoying all the work that went into the place and the organic gardens was disheartening. The orchard had matured to the point of actually getting a harvest. At the time we didn't know if we would be able to buy another rural property to continue homesteading. The move went smooth. We found a beautiful 13 acre property. The buildings all had very leaky roofs but the old mobile home was livable with cleaning and new carpet. We even found a chicken coop after clearing away the 10 foot high man killing blackberries. We now have a herd of goats to eat the blackberries and built a barn to house them. A small existing orchard gave us a nice harvest last fall. It has been enjoyable using the skills already learned to make another homestead and learning about another states climate but we don't want to move again in the near future!

-- Tom (tomdarsavy@cs.com), April 29, 2002.

Can't imagine moving, sure we talk about it! {We live on a very busy road!!} But we'd need a semi to move just the livestock! How would we get rid of all the stuff in our outbuildings! Our fruit trees,flowers,community co-op, homeschooling group, etc, etc. To be content with what we have, this is true happiness. Things often look greener on the other side of ones fence, but less often the longer your roots grow on your homestead....

-- Suzanne (weir@frontiernet.net), May 02, 2002.

We've been homesteading for almost 25 yrs. on the same piece of land and could not even imagine moving!!! Too many memories (good and bad) tied to this place and our roots here are quite deep. Just walking out to the garden or up to one of the back fields and drinking in all that nature has blessed us with...well, we tell ourselves it just doesn't get any better than this :-)!!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), May 02, 2002.

Serious ones don't! That is, the ones who started after great considerstion re: location, etc. Now that we have a small orchard of fruit and nut trees (over 25 total) and many pines and other ornamental trees, why would I start again?

-- Anne (HealthyTouch101@wildmail.com), May 02, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ