[Magnoliahomestead]

Dale, I commend you on your desire for the kind of lifestyle that you’re describing. It’s hard! Not just hard work, but also hard mentally. I hope you have resources to buy the land that you are talking about and to sustain your self, and family if you have one, until you can begin to have some income from your projects. Learn the skills that you will need and gather the supplies required before you embark on your endeavor. Wish you the best.

[CCC]

First of all I admire the thought you have put into words concerning your goals. I live at 3400 ft. Close to a range of mountains and garden all summer. I have lived in this area for over 70 years and have seen the temperature continue to warm up year after year. When I first started gardening 58 years ago there was no way I could have a corn crop. Now, all the farmers in the valley raise field corn with a row or two of sweet corn. Last year we had a late spring freeze and it did a fair amount of damage to the yields. Still got an ok crop but nothing great. So, I would recommend you find a place that allows crops to grow and mature in the ground or plan on high tunnel gardening. It would sure help me in this area but haven’t had the energy or money to pull it off yet. Animals are wonderful to have in my opinion but, they get sick, die and are very costly to grow. And if they die before butcher day you have lost all of your investment up until that day. However the meat is outstanding if you get to the end product. Chickens, rabbits, fish or game birds are also another option. They all have pros and cons. Tallow is probably the easiest product to produce in my opinion. In fact I’m wet processing tallow at this time. We have wood heat and love it. However, our age requires us to purchase rounds and we do the splitting with a machine. Splitting wood is great exercise but the older you get the more taxing it can be. I’ve never had the chance to build a cabin but always dreamed of doing it. In fact I’ve had the same aspirations as you but life got in the way and we never achieved it. I guess my best advice would be to talk to the natives in the area you want to locate in. Ask lots of questions and don’t be a know it all. Be respectful, believe them and don’t think you know more than they do. You will regret it and waste a lot of time. Besides, if you do move there, they will be your neighbors and you definitely need neighbors you can count on in numerous situations. Best of luck and go for it if you have the will and finances to make it work.☺️

[CCC]

My husband just reminded me of probably one of the most important things to consider. Water, water, water! Without water you have nothing.

[gunnsy]

I wish I had more insight to give you. CCC above pretty much said it all. My suggestion is start smaller, learn as many different skills as you can and never stop learning. Gardening teaches me many new lessons each and every year. Raising animals, I personally would start small as well and go with goats/sheep and range down to chickens and quail with rabbits in the mis as well. Good luck with your plans and keep us posted on the progress.

[JerseyGiantChick]

Please work towards your dream, but remember it is harder then you plan. You want to live pretty isolated, how are you going to sell? Livestock, garden, hunting and trapping can be a full time job each. Start small with a garden, then a few small animals. Setting up a homestead can take a couple years and can cost a bit.

Other homesteaders already wrote some good info, curious what more will come. Wish you good luck and keep us up to date.

[Outback]

Lots of great advice here. Someone mentioned having resources (money) to do these things. I’ve been an active homesteader for a few years now and cannot stress how important having your finances in order BEFORE you set out on this journey. I live debt free except for utilities incl internet and phone, and there is always insurance, gas, and new farm equipment. Some people are able to scratch a living out of selling produce, honey, meat, and eggs, but from what I’ve personally witnessed it’s barely enough to pay for the animal feed, and garden maintanence equipment and fertilizers. A tractor will be your best friend and save your back. Once you get going you’ll be overwhelmed with projects. Start with a few and realize it’s not a race, but rather a journey. If you try and do everything at once you’ll get overwhelmed and burn out rather than enjoy what your doing. You might find someone in your area who is doing what you want to do and ask them to mentor you, or just help them out. The hands-on experience and knowlege you’ll gain from this would be invaluable.

[KansasTerri]

I have been gone for a bit, the reason does not matter at the moment.
We got jobs first. THEN we followed the main roads to a reasonable commute and started looking for a place.
See, starting a homestead is expensive. Since we both were working we could afford to buy the home on an acre, buy tools that we needed a little at a time, and some fruit trees, and such. On weekends there was the garden to tend, we keep a few hens, we tried bees, etc.
That was 30 years ago. Our kids are now grown, our place is paid off, there is a tractor we have not had time to repair and we are loosing the good weather so it might have to wait until spring, and we really ought to set the burn pile on fire. Life is good. We wanted to fish more often this summer but we just never quite found the time.

Now you will always need some money for gas, doctors bills, clothing, TAXES, etc. Some homesteaders are able to make a fair amount at the farmers market, but our farmers market only runs 4 months a year and I never made more than $30 for a day’s selling. Many people made more but I did not. I considered expanding but then I got a chronic illness and so we decided to just eat what I raised and be happy that my husbands job came with medical insurance as an option.
It has been a GOOD life, and I do not understand how so many people can be inside all day sitting down. Still many people ARE happy with that life, including my younger child.
There is work involved in homesteading but I have no regrets at all

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by  KansasTerri.