April 23, 2006
-
“Show Us Your Yard”
A tag by HennePenne
(with bonus rambling post below)
(this first photo was taken last summer)
The House
looking down the driveway from the house
(that is a pole barn at the bottom of the hill)
looking down at the garden from the house
LAND.
This is what we have; this land.
It is hard to say where the “yard” ends and the rest begins.
When we searched for this farm, we knew exactly what we wanted; a home away from neighbors and roads and noise.
We wanted a place that was peaceful and green and insulating where we could live and gently reap to fill our bellies and warm our hands. We wanted a place where our children could explore and dream and run and run and run.
We have little money and every part of our budget squeaks but we have found a place in which to BE.
Our children can RUN here.
******
Lately, I have been thinking about money and land and how one survives on small sums of money. We cook from scratch, we buy whole organic foods in BULK, we rarely purchase new things, we are clothed by Goodwill stores, we try and create as much of what we need (as possible). We live in a somewhat progressive state which has the closest thing to socialized medicine and programs that encourage and support (fund) reduced energy use. We keep our heat low, the lights turned off. We barter for as much as posssible. We cut our own wood. We are growing and preserving all the food we can and plan for more. We try to use what we have and leave little waste.
But taxes remain and insurance remains and the furnace breaks and vehicles break and animals get sick and the roof leaks and the house needs insulation.
It is tricky because building a chicken house costs money (even with some recycled materials) and buying fencing for sheep costs money and buying new beehives costs money and apples trees cost money and berry brambles cost money and solar and wind power cost money.
How is this done?
How does one come up with enough money to save money?
If we worked more, we would have increased funds but less time with the kids (not an option) and no time for investing our energy into these projects.
Is there an answer?
(PSSST, do you have an answer?)
do share.
(I tag, ShackintheMountains, nancygoat, simplespirit, brownievanmorrison, and Melissatulip feel free to jump in if you want to !!!)
Comments (44)
Woot! First again! See how devoted I am? Your property is beautiful. The budget squeak? I need to think about that one…to find the words in my head…in my heart. It is the best thisng we will do; being with these children and keeping our sense of place.
Well…better grab my camera…:)
Can you barter for these things with anyone who has them? Do you have anything they might want? Sounds like you live a beautiful life.
Gorgeous. My dream is to have a few acres and be able to live off the land a bit rather than being able to see into the neighbor’s kitchen. :-/ We do have a decent sized yard for the kids to play in though. Anyway, I don’t know what the answer is, but I can’t wait to see everyone else’s suggestions.
i was thinking the sale of some of the goods you create. Do you have a farmer’s market or some type of place where you could sell your goods? That’s what I would do if I needed money. We love the farmer’s market in Ann Arbor. Google search it…if you lived here you’d love it too!
how about finding an old barn that needs torn down and tearing it down in exchange for the materials? depending on how careful you are, you could salvage wood, tin, hardware, nails, brick and much more. farm auctions for fencing wire, trees for posts…
as for the animals, we ended up getting our first 4 goats for free…someone had to move and get rid of them and knew we needed them. from there, we bred the doe to one of the bucks and sold both of the bucks for money we will put in a fund to buy the breed we prefer…nubians. next spring, i’ll buy a nubian buck or doe with the money and any bucks our current doe has possibly sell for more money to buy another…perhaps you could do the same with some sheep…i guess it would depend on how big a herd you initially want.
also sale barns are a good place to pick up animals for cheap. just make sure you know what to look for in an animal so you don’t buy a sickly one. you can get a great deal there!
We are actually working to be more like you! Our motto? “Squeeze it ’til the eagle screams!” Sometimes, the struggle is tiring, but every night, as we put these angels to bed, we feel the pay off. If there were more people like you and your family, it would be easier for others to begin living like this. No advice, other than just keep doing what you do. We will, too!
Super-dooper post!
Love your “Home”… my husband grew up in a very similar place and way. He was raised by his grandparents from 9 months old, on a Bayou in the country.
They worked very little but sold eggs, chickens, grew their own food, raised live stock ( in small amounts) they hunted food during certain seasons. Fished a lot. They were very frugal, burned wood to keep warm and were diligent to keep from getting cold. No grumbling when it was time to get up and add a couple pcs. to the fire place. Summers were filled with windows open, just the right trees to allow shade in the summer and sunshine in the winter.
She adored farmers markets where they traded fresh eggs for fruit, linens, whatever she needed.
She hung her clothes instead fo using a dryer. She was frugal and loved.
I’m a thrift store junkie!
Hmmm…. ways to make money…. sell me some of your sryup?
I sew and sell on ebay. When we decided to have a large family in this city on the river we learned quickly that would have to make many many sacrifices. We paid off all our debt but home and car… we are now planning to sell our house to find a new home and with our equity, hopefully 1/2 the house payment
I suppose with age, his grandparents, as they had at this point in their lives, they knew many tricks and tips and ‘stuff’ to make it work and work well. They had 11 children, oodles of grandchildren and a door that was always open for a meal, a hug, anything anyone ever wanted….he is one of the most well rounded, gentle, loving people I know…. I think it came from his “home” the natrual surroundings, the un-worldly-ness, the ability to grow into who they are in their soul with out interference…
What a wonderful life you have!!!
I don’t have the answer at the moment. I was reading this post with delicious anticipatioin, hoping that *you* had the anaswer! (-:
Yet, you really seem to be striking a wonderful balance! Your spaces and home are ((gorgeous)), and you are living the life you want. That takes lots of courage and ingenuity, planning and thoughtful contemplation. Actually, I beliieve that you have indeed found the answer, but the answer is, “it’s not easy”.
I guess everything worth living or having, or being or doing requires reaching deeply within…..not easy, but rewarding.
Thanks for taking me through that process….
(-:
I haven’t figured that conundrum out yet. Right now, we make do. I suppose that’s what anyone does, if they can’t afford anything but the smallest of their dreams.
The smallest of ours is having one of us always available for the children. One works, one is the glue that holds everything else together. (that’d be me, sticky glue 
)
Nope, no answers here! Lends credence to the saying, “it takes money to make money.”
If I could have your yard in my town I think I’d be in heaven.
I wish I knew! Truthfully, I save money in odd ways. There’s the more normal methods: sales for non-perishable food, etc.; coupons; streamlining your resource needs (like using a programmable thermostat)… And then there’s my rather unhealthy obsession with spare change.
The majority of quarters I end up with at the end of every day go into a candy dish and are reserved for me. My quarters! Nobody else is allowed to touch ‘em. The rest of my spare change goes into the big jug. The thing about coins is that you don’t really pay much attention to them. Out of sight, out of mind. And you never feel like you’re stashing away a significant amount that you could allocate in a better way. Eventually, though, your candy dish is full and you roll it just to empty it for future coin drops only to discover you have… $40… that you didn’t know you had and hadn’t designated for a specific expense.
I also have a tendancy to stockpile aluminum beverage cans, from pop and the likes. I’m not sure about Maine, but MI has a ten cent refund on most cans. I rinse ‘em, toss ‘em in a garbage bag and throw ‘em in a corner in the garage. Every now and then, I’ll get the urge to clean up the garage. When I return a bag or two at a time, I can buy food by the meal without dipping into any “real” money for it. Last time I did it, I had $500 in can returns and didn’t use our regular income for groceries for over a month.
I also have the Two Buck Savings Plan. I’m a server, so I bring home cash every time I work. With all of the dollar bills I end up with, I set aside $2-4 every time I work; the “odd” amount, in other words. Only totals that can be divisible by five count as “real” money, so the 1 to 4 dollars that I invariably have is free game for saving. Half of whatever it is goes in a family savings. The other half of it is set aside for me; for frivalous purchases, like a book The Man/Kid have been wanting, but didn’t want to work into the budget. The family savings isn’t allocated, but would be available for emergency household purchases.
It’s “stealth saving”. My husband won’t let me actually set “real” money aside in a savings account. He’d rather funnel almost every last dollar into bills and credit card payments. He says we’ll be able to save when we have no debt. I can understand his reasoning. I really can. Unfortunately, not having ANY savings to speak of means that we have to get truly creative with our budget whenever an emergency expense pops up. Right now, I know I have over $100 sitting in my garage, just waiting for me to turn it back into cash. He, thankfully, doesn’t pay attention to it at all.
I am envious. I would like to build a strawbale/cob house in the foothills of the Ozarks. Hubby needs the city to thrive.
I hear you on how expensive it is to save money. We talk about putting solar panels on the house, but it is so expensive, and we get no deductions in Ohio for that sort of thing. One thing at a time. Baby steps. It’s the little things that add up.
My grandmother has a saying: Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.
You are already firmly grounded in these principles of frugality and simple living. What a wonderful teacher you are. We are working towards that life. Where you are looks like absolute heaven to me.
Gorgeous!! Right now, we put *everything* into our house and land… I’m not saying we are successful at being frugal in other areas like we should or would like to… but, at this time in our lives, the two most important things are that we are doing what we want with our children (both husband and I are precariously self-employed, but that gives us more time with the kids, homeschooling, etc.), and take comfort that our house is a major asset. So, no, we don’t save money. The money is in the house/land.
what a lovely space you have for your children! We dont even have a yard to play in, now. Its prettyfrustrating. No I have no ideas for you; you are an inspiration to me.
oh my… I was JUST about to post the same thing (basically)… we refuse to sell out (which is a personal meaning to us) and therefore in this yuppy area are unable to ver make it out!! we;re trapped… and poor (I don’t feel poor, but HERE I AM POOR) and we can not get out. it’s a sad thing.
We’re fighting and fighting to get out of this area… but to make enogh money to get out we’d have to compromise our morals and values (like you said, NOT and option) so we pray… and try… and work hard… and try to be happy.
I guess this in no way helps you does it? haha I’m no help!
let me know if you find some missing secrest, would ya?
p.s. I needed to add…. I grew up ona farm. we farmed little as by the time i was born my mom leased out the crop areas b/c she was too busy to farm… but having lived with neighbors for 5 years when S and I first got married, I long for the happy medium. I WANT neighbors. I thrive the constant bantering and some to wave hello to every day. somethign i missed as a child on boring winter days. But I also desire a yard large enough to play in… and make an outdoors home. I like my outside to be justa s uch my home as the inside (even if it’s not pretty and perfect)
so I guess we all have our ideas of paradise! =)
My did you hit a soft spot that every one seems to share. How to best provide, be available, be conserationistic(that can not be a real word…but I like it so I am leaving it) and still actaully “live”. Patti and I constantly talk about living tribally and how frustrating it is to be trying to go it without alot of support. How great it would be to be in a community of like minded people where sharing and bartering were a way of life. Could we start our own little Amish community in your yard? It is big. LOL!
Everyone had some good ideas for you..too bad you can not build a chicken house out of books…I know you have plenty of those!!
Idyllic… that is the word those pictures bring to mind. I don’t have a yard, but I do have a balcony and a state forest across the street: )
you live where i dream of.
Hi there, I found your website through various homeschool blogs because I am a homeschool graduate.
I subscribed because your kids are cute and I love your writing style. Hope you don’t mind! 
Beautiful, what an idyllic setting.
You are one of the richest people I know in all the ways that matter.
Oh, you are so blessed! I would give almost anything (baring my babies and things like that
) to live in an area like that. As it stands right now, we are looking at moving further out to the “country”. Not to a farm, as we couldn’t even afford some grass seed right now but we want out of the city so badly. *sigh* I really hope that it works out. I hate feeling trapped.
Budget squeek. . . mine has groaned for years. Now, that I’m out of college and making a “living wage” I can’t even imagine how I did while I was in college and in Americorps.
It sounds like you guys are very creative in making the dollar stretch!
What a great post. You have such a wonderful home, family, and lifestyle.
Even the little things cost…I soooo hear you. (((hugs)))
God bless you for giving your kids the life all kids should have…Do you have a P.O. box that maybe we could send what little we can to help you out???? Every little bit helps….Plus I bet your kids would love to get mail..
joeydog57: you are SO kind and I am truly touched by your generous offer. However, the intent of this post was to put it all down so I may see it more clearly. It also helps to read the ideas of others. I KNOW we will make it (the debt won’t kill us). And we have ABUNDANCE in the things that matter to us.
I hope my words don’t come across as a request for $$$ help, this is not my intent.
You are so sweet. (hug)
That is such a beautiful place to live and grow. I was hoping you had the answer, too!
I’m already learning so much from you. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. You are an inspiration. I forget sometimes that this is their home, too. That’s important.
Fabulous land! Much more secluded than mine! I am just starting to be ready to really get into planting more,all our fruit trees are pretty much done and I need to plant all new ones. I see I am tagged,will post pics when xanga lets me !
I wanna live there too!
beautiful!
You are such an inspiration! I second the request to sell your syrup.
We got the teensiest of an ounce but my dd LOVED the process. ((hugs)) to you, keep doing what you’re doing, you have a fabulous family and life!
Your family is an inspiration to me! I Love the way you live, I Love the fact that you live off the land, I Love that your kids can Run, and I Love that you reuse. My Advice is to check in the local newspaper, a lot of times you can find people who are moving and have to get rid of everything, you can buy things for a very reasonable price. I have some friends who have pretty much found all of there materials for their chicken house, various folks where just throwing it away, they got brand new windows/solar panels and fencing. Blessings of Peace, Lj
What a blessing to live that way! I know it must be so much hard work though. In a different way I have made some of the same decisions to be home with my kids. It’s so worth it isn’t it? I agree with what someone said about farmers markets maybe being an idea. You have gorgeous land, and happy children.
Your comment on my blog made me smile.
Sometimes we have to be reminded that “shine” can look like a lot of different things. Thanks.
I love your land, it’s absolutely beautiful. I can so relate, I think 98% of the population can, sadly. It’s sad that so many live their lives enslaved to money, you have to when you don’t have any! I work from home, yes, I have to work but I get to be home with my kids and determine WHEN I want to work. I love it and wouldn’t have it any other way. Best of all, we can take off and do what we want to do and buy what we want to buy without spending so much time agonizing over every little purchase and wondering how we’re going to pay this or that or fix this or that, I lived that way for too long and saw my parents live that way for so long and it was torture. I would live in a cardboard box before I went out and got a “job”. I run 2 differnet businesses from home, it is my passion to help people find a way to have that financial stability so they can live whatever life they want to live.
I wish I had answers for you too, but I don’t…you’re far ahead of me, and I wish I could be more like you. I would suggest if you haven’t heard of it, freecycle.org and look for your local group from there…that might be a good place to locate things that would help you build your chicken house, and what not for free. It’s a wonderful idea…it’s helped me in my little corner of the woods (or the prairie, I should say)reduce the amount of money spent on clothes. It’s amazing some of the stuff that gets offered up. Check it out!
Wonderful blog, and great post! I traipsed over from Stellas_terra and sure am glad I did! I agree with Crunchy and Beloved_Sunshine, and also think that daisiesandragons put her finger on something really essential to make it all work: community. The Amish do it so well because they rely on each other to help out, to pitch in when needed, and they make loans to themselves as well. It is truly amazing to read about. I will be living on my Kentucky farm in a few years also, pinching pennies and searching for cash flow, although without children it is not the same life-or-death issue. But our success as diversified agrarians trying to live lightly on this Earth will depend on our ability to mesh with like-minded and like-needing people who can become what the Amish are for each other – a community. You are so inspiring!
very nice yard! Our solution to saving money? You pay yourself regardless like a bill- even if it’s $20 or $50 a month- consider it a bill that you have to pay…
What a gorgeous place you live in- all that green- it’s lovely. Lisa
I was hoping to find a simple answer among the comments since this is our biggest question! Right now my husband has a temporary job until July, and I hate it. The kids miss him, he misses the kids (and me I hope). When he’s working it seems our life is incomplete. It’s not good but the money will help. We grow our own food, can everything in sight, shop thrift stores, buy in bulk, make our own fun. Where we live (Idaho) people have never heard of batering except for in history! And there is no help for ins. in this state unless you are almost homeless (our ins. is around $300. a mo. for major medical – right now we’re without). But that is not a complaint! I wouldn’t have it any other way. Our family is too important. Your children are so fortunate I wish I had answers….
Oh, and by the way, your farm is BEAUTIFUL! I’m going to share it with my husband. We have 1 1/2 acres – not nearly enough, neighbors a little too close. I like to be happy with what I have but seeing your pictures makes me feel envious……
I was thinking about the taxes issue and in WA there is a program for those who have over 5 acres, where you are able to put a certain % of your land into “forest stewardship” and your real estate taxes are reduced because you are essentially promising to not develop it.
Maine seems like it has so many helpful programs ….
sit down with paper and pen and brain storm both money saving things to do and money making things to do, then fiure out what the cost ($/time/energy)and payoff (same) is of each and then order them which is most IMPORTANT to you. to get the highest return see which one has the highest payoff and do that first so you’ll continue to get income from that every month and can finance the others on your list.
and ummm, put the link to your bookstore on you left nav. it is conspicuousislyichent absent. (i figure if I’m gonna kill a spelling a may as well DO IT)
love and laughter,
Amy