Homesteading

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justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:23 AM
Homesteading, living off the land, whatever you want to call it. Could you do it? Would you do it if you could?

It's taken a while but I finally have my wife on board to move to a farm in the next couple years and she actually seems to be looking forward to it. I likely would keep a regular job for the first few years, at least on a part-time basis, but within the first few years I am hoping to quit working a day job and farm/homestead full-time.
Jul 18, 2013 10:23am
Enforcer's avatar

Enforcer

Senior Member

2,140 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:27 AM
I could/would do it, but the Wife and Kids wouldn't be happy
Jul 18, 2013 10:27am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:29 AM
justincredible;1474472 wrote:Homesteading, living off the land, whatever you want to call it. Could you do it? Would you do it if you could?

It's taken a while but I finally have my wife on board to move to a farm in the next couple years and she actually seems to be looking forward to it. I likely would keep a regular job for the first few years, at least on a part-time basis, but within the first few years I am hoping to quit working a day job and farm/homestead full-time.
It's gonna be harder than you think. Everyone I know who has tried ended up going back to a full time job within a few years. All these people had lots of farming and livestock experience as well. The COL in Ohio is just a bit too high to be fully self suffcient off of homesteading. You would need to have another trade that you rely on to make extra money to live. I am sure you could do some freelance web development. Many are blacksmiths, trappers, woodworkers, etc.
Jul 18, 2013 10:29am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:31 AM
Enforcer;1474477 wrote:I could/would do it, but the Wife and Kids wouldn't be happy
No kids yet so they would grow up on the farm. No problem there. I am kinda surprised my wife is going for it but she's at the same point I am as far as working for others go.
Jul 18, 2013 10:31am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:36 AM
LJ;1474482 wrote:It's gonna be harder than you think. Everyone I know who has tried ended up going back to a full time job within a few years. All these people had lots of farming and livestock experience as well. The COL in Ohio is just a bit too high to be fully self suffcient off of homesteading. You would need to have another trade that you rely on to make extra money to live. I am sure you could do some freelance web development. Many are blacksmiths, trappers, woodworkers, etc.
Oh, I know it won't be easy. I'm certainly expecting it to be hard as hell. And I will pick up some sort of trade as well. I am finally getting around to using my screen printing equipment to make some shirts for my mom's 4H club. The plan is to also have a shop on the farm for screen printing. I'll also still do freelance web stuff. I've been thinking about this for a couple years now and will be putting a ton of energy into over the next couple years before we move. Believe me, I'm not just planning on jumping in.

We're also not necessarily staying in Ohio. I've thought of crossing over in to Kentucky. The only requirement is that we are relatively close to a big(ish) city that has a decent number of farmers markets.
Jul 18, 2013 10:36am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:38 AM
justincredible;1474488 wrote:We're also not necessarily staying in Ohio. I've thought of crossing over in to Kentucky. The only requirement is that we are relatively close to a big(ish) city that has a decent number of farmers markets.
From what I understand supplying food service is the key, not farmers markets
Jul 18, 2013 10:38am
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vdubb96

Urbans Meyers Stache

2,210 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:40 AM
justincredible;1474472 wrote:Homesteading, living off the land, whatever you want to call it. Could you do it? Would you do it if you could?

It's taken a while but I finally have my wife on board to move to a farm in the next couple years and she actually seems to be looking forward to it. I likely would keep a regular job for the first few years, at least on a part-time basis, but within the first few years I am hoping to quit working a day job and farm/homestead full-time.
You can take the man out of the Ghetto but you can't take the Ghetto out of the man!!!!
Jul 18, 2013 10:40am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 18, 2013 10:40 AM
You'll need electricity and car insurance and whatnot. Unless you can master the art of growing electricity, you'll need a job.
Jul 18, 2013 10:40am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:43 AM
LJ;1474491 wrote:From what I understand supplying food service is the key, not farmers markets
Another venture I am kind of big on at this point is a food truck. Offer only items grown on the farm, i.e. vegetables picked that day, grass-fed beef, pasture raised pork and chicken, etc. Farmers markets are very big here in Cincinnati, I plan on spending a lot of time talking to the farmers that come to the one in our neighborhood. I'm also going to see if any would let me come out and help them out on their farm in trade for some produce.
Jul 18, 2013 10:43am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:44 AM
dlazz;1474493 wrote:You'll need electricity and car insurance and whatnot. Unless you can master the art of growing electricity, you'll need a job.
Yes, the working the land and selling the "fruits" of it would be the main job. I'm not just going to keep everything for myself.
Jul 18, 2013 10:44am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:45 AM
And I wouldn't say I NEED electricity. But, yeah, it's something I want to keep using.
Jul 18, 2013 10:45am
Iliketurtles's avatar

Iliketurtles

Senior Member

8,191 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:47 AM
I probably could do it. But I would not try to if I didn't have to.
Jul 18, 2013 10:47am
M

MontyBrunswick

Jul 18, 2013 10:50 AM
justincredible;1474496 wrote:Yes, the working the land and selling the "fruits" of it would be the main job. I'm not just going to keep everything for myself.

Yeah that sounds pretty terrible. I wouldn't do that.
Jul 18, 2013 10:50am
M

Manhattan Buckeye

Senior Member

7,566 posts
Jul 18, 2013 10:52 AM
"It's gonna be harder than you think."

The issue is going to be that there is no such thing as holidays, vacations, etc....Someone will have to be around at all times on a farm. If one has the revenue and capability to employ someone then it can work. It is difficult to do everything yourself.
Jul 18, 2013 10:52am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:01 AM
Manhattan Buckeye;1474501 wrote:"It's gonna be harder than you think."

The issue is going to be that there is no such thing as holidays, vacations, etc....Someone will have to be around at all times on a farm. If one has the revenue and capability to employ someone then it can work. It is difficult to do everything yourself.
I dont think this is an issue for most who want to do this. It's a lifestyle moreso than a job.
Jul 18, 2013 11:01am
vdubb96's avatar

vdubb96

Urbans Meyers Stache

2,210 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:03 AM
Maybe you could grow beets??
Jul 18, 2013 11:03am
M

MoldyDog

Member

70 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:03 AM
I suggest "Mother Earth News." At least check out their website, but the magazine is great.
Jul 18, 2013 11:03am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:06 AM
LJ;1474518 wrote:I dont think this is an issue for most who want to do this. It's a lifestyle moreso than a job.
This is accurate.
vdubb96;1474519 wrote:Maybe you could grow beets??
Beets will absolutely be grown. I am actually going to be planting some in the fall in my ghetto garden.
MoldyDog;1474520 wrote:I suggest "Mother Earth News." At least check out their website, but the magazine is great.
I've ended up on the website a few times after being linked from various homesteading sites/facebook pages. I will check out the magazine as well.
Jul 18, 2013 11:06am
S

Sonofanump

Jul 18, 2013 11:07 AM
No. I enjoy living in 2013.
Jul 18, 2013 11:07am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:09 AM
Sonofanump;1474523 wrote:No. I enjoy living in 2013.
So do I but I think I would have preferred the 1880s.
Jul 18, 2013 11:09am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:09 AM
justincredible;1474522 wrote:This is accurate.



Beets will absolutely be grown. I am actually going to be planting some in the fall in my ghetto garden.



I've ended up on the website a few times after being linked from various homesteading sites/facebook pages. I will check out the magazine as well.
What all fall veggies are you going to do this year?
Jul 18, 2013 11:09am
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:09 AM
No thanks.
Jul 18, 2013 11:09am
Scarlet_Buckeye's avatar

Scarlet_Buckeye

Senior Member

5,264 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:11 AM
justincredible;1474472 wrote:Homesteading, living off the land, whatever you want to call it. Could you do it? Would you do it if you could?

It's taken a while but I finally have my wife on board to move to a farm in the next couple years and she actually seems to be looking forward to it. I likely would keep a regular job for the first few years, at least on a part-time basis, but within the first few years I am hoping to quit working a day job and farm/homestead full-time.
I don't support this move AT ALL if it means the possibility of this site shutting down. Just putting that out there...
Jul 18, 2013 11:11am
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:12 AM
LJ;1474526 wrote:What all fall veggies are you going to do this year?
Some lettuces, cabbages, beets, carrots, turnips, and probably some beans. I haven't planned it out completely yet but will hopefully have a better idea after this weekend.
Jul 18, 2013 11:12am
Q

queencitybuckeye

Senior Member

7,117 posts
Jul 18, 2013 11:12 AM
Sonofanump;1474523 wrote:No. I enjoy living in 2013.
Which is fine, but in the context of this topic, the future is going to look more and more like the past. The days of working for others is on its way out in favor of individuals figuring out ways to take care of themselves.
Jul 18, 2013 11:12am