…and here I am, a 36 year old college graduate who decided almost two years ago (along w/ my hubby) to leave my CEO position in the city, Sushi Saturdays and babysitters in exchange for raising my three young daughters- 9, 4 and 2 rural.
I have some very specific life changes I’m trying to make and a feeling of how I want it to be. After two years, I am still excited about the choices we made and continue to make.
We have finally attained the status of property owner and have moved up to our 6 acres in the woods. After a couple of butchered pigs and a long winter on our property- friends and family are starting to get used to the idea of us living rural, green and sustainable. I don’t get the same looks as last fall when I tell them about my new chicken coop, farmer’s markets and making as many of my foods and home goods as possible.
I can’t explain what I’m looking for exactly. But, I do know the feeling. The one word that best describes how we attempt to live is simple. I feel that I am the pilot of our family journey. I do not know if my husband is a partner in this venture for the same reasons as me, nevertheless he is. I do know that he wants to live in the country and that mentally and emotionally he too yearns for simple as well. I believe some days his sanity depends on it.
So here we are, on with the journey!!
2 comments
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August 7, 2007 at 3:48 pm
Krystle
Very interesting! And, what a fun… new lifestyle! I wish be sure to be back for more.
March 16, 2008 at 11:05 am
DM
happened to see the tag on one of your posts…We moved onto a 4 1/2 acreage in 1995…w/ a bunch of old tired farm buildings…I “hear” you when you say “I can’t explain what I’m looking for exactly. But, I do know the feeling. The one word that best describes how we attempt to live is simple. I feel that I am the pilot of our family journey.”…that same feeling perculates from somewhere out of my soul as we live here…here’s one of my blogs: http://ialsoliveonafarm.wordpress.com/
I attended a “buy local buy fresh” workshop last Friday…you might want to google it and see if they have a chapter in the area where you live…lots of potential for a part time business and at the same time doing something you love….
We planted a small apple orchard in 2002-2003…best long term decision I’ve ever made…for lots of reasons…it was one of those ideas that you can’t remember exactly where it came from..but the next thing you know, you’re planting trees, learning how to prune, harvesting your own apples..and looking for ways to market the surplus…hope you all continue to enjoy your journey! Sincerely, DM
DM~Thank you for your comment. I apologize for the delinquency of this response. Flue season has hit our home for the first time in 10 years.
What a great inspiration you are! Hearing from others only gives me strength in my own resolve to continue on and enjoy our family journey!
I am finding that the options are limitless. When it comes to plants, trees and gardens, and tools, I have been blessed to have an Aunt down the road, whom I have special fondness for and who also owns a greenhouse and takes her time to share and has taught me much over the years (gardening, canning, pies, crochet, quilts…). Thanks to her and local orchard owners we started really small last year and put in 3 fruit trees. I have found doing research of the Northern Panhandle of Idaho, that historically, even w/ our short growing season, that fruit trees- apples, pears and plum, do very well in our area.
After purchasing local Honeycrisps last year at our local grocer and farmers market the size of softballs and tasting like, well, honey, I decided that nothing would beat canning, baking and munching on our own very own apples. There are many lonely apple trees up and down the county roads that still stand while the homesteads are long gone. The bears, deer, elk and moose and I appreciate it. The animals for obvious reasons, me, because I’m told that it is these trees that keep ours healthy and fruit bearing. Ah… so much to learn.
Thank you for your links. I’ve been sifting through your sites and find much information!! I look forward to more reading.
Sincerely~
RuralChick