Better Late Than Never

Here we go. This adventure is more than a decade in the making and this blog is at least 7 months behind. That being the case, here we go!

Over a decade ago, my wife and I decided to embark on an adventure that has evolved to its current description. This little adventure has taken us over 3,000 miles and 7 homes. We planned to buy land (pay cash and not owe). Start a small family farm for sustainable living. Live happily ever after. Over the next few years, the goals shifted and we were then happy to find a small piece of land that we could pay payments on and have a small garden. When we least expected it, the perfect piece of land was dropped into our laps and the means to pay cash and not owe was realized. We found 40 acres in an area we had looked years before. The price was right and all 'felt' right.

In December of 2008 we purchased 5 acres of the 40 with cash and planned to start building our dream home. An unplanned financial issue hit and removed over $45,000 from our budget (most of the budget to be correct). We went from 29 employees in 2007 and 14 in 2008 to ZERO in 2009. The economy hammered our small family business. We barely had money for food and gas. This seriously slowed our big move and forced our family to live with relatives for a much longer period of time than we had originally expected.

Our oldest child decided that the family goal of sustainable farming was stupid and is now openly rebellious to the entire concept. Our second oldest is wavering a bit and is more overwhelmed than anything else. The other three children are still young and seem to be enjoying the journey as much as can be expected.

My wife and I are plugging along and refuse to let 'opposition to all things' bring us down. Things are moving seriously slow but we are starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. We will be out on the homestead in a few days we expect and we will be living a very spartan lifestyle. Swiss Family Brandli.

Our homestead right now is an almost finished outdoor bath house with shower. Gray water supply, well water, and a nice garden. You should see the tomatos. We plan to build our house in a dog-trot style. We will begin with the kid's bedrooms that we plan to have ready by the start of school this fall. Next will be the kitchen, then the livingroom and center dog-trot deck. Finally we will build the master bedroom.

Our goal is to run Buff Orpington chickens, red poll cattle, guinnea hogs, nigerian dwarf goats, and meat rabbits. This next spring we will add one test acre of commercial strawberries and about 15 acres of commercial watermelons. If the strawberries are as successful as we expect, we will increase the acreage.

Our goal is to have a u-pick farm, petting farm, cheeses, u-fish, candles, milk (pending the raw milk law in Arkansas), eggs, honey, and other farm goods. We have lofty goals and plan to plug along until we see it through. Wish us luck and bend a knee if that is your thing.