All at once

You might think it would be easy to just buy a little land and build a house or put a mobile home on it and live your dream.

I had researched all I was doing except for the loan portions and particulars. I figured I had good credit and sell the house and then move into something smaller on land.

Despite the fact that everything is order for me to get a loan, the stumbling block is a 2-year work history. I don’t have 2 years just 1 if they let you count school which I think they are. This leaves me in waiting for the loan to be pre-approved and is stressing me out completely.

The housing market is getting better and the house was the only one in it’s price range in the area so it sold in two days. This was very good news but I was not prepared for things to happen that fast. Now we have to get things fixed on the house and the contractor has to wait to get paid out of closing because of the fact that I have no money. This is an ok situation and I am happy to have sold the house and hope the deal goes through.

The timing means we have to be out of the house next month and I have no idea where we are going to be living because I don’t know if I can get a mortgage loan or not.

If I cannot get a mortgage then I will do to plan b which is to talk to mobile home manufacturers and see if I can buy a mobile home and have them find property for me to put it on. I am still confused about the difference between leasing, contract or mortgaging land itself. Banks don’t want to give a loan on just land without at least a double wide mobile home because it’s too risky for them and people can walk away basically. Either way we will likely be on some land nearby and I ultimately hope that it will be my first choice. The not knowing and being in limbo is not good for my stress levels.

I have had dental work, car problems, my daughter was sick, I got a parking ticket and a speeding ticket within two weeks and then am trying to fill out divorce forms and losing hours at work while doing it. Everything should be settled all at the same time so I am hopeful.

Turning

After being married for 10 years I wanted a change and although it was hard at the time thinking that I was doing the wrong thing for my family, I did what was right for me. I had been a stay-at-home Mom and did freelance writing and art for 9 years until my youngest daughter was 4. I figured out all the financials beforehand and the possible income. I went to school to get certified as a nursing assistant so I would always be able to get a job. My degree in communications wasn’t working at the time because I couldn’t work part-time or didn’t have recent experience despite my years working for two newspapers and freelance. My first two jobs back to work were CNA positions which at times were difficult physically and emotionally. I did in-home care first and then worked at a facility with memory loss clients. I was paying hundreds for my portion of childcare and bringing home very little money in the end. It was really depressing and I ended up quitting. Things worked out when I got a job somewhat in my field doing data entry and then more writing and communications work.

I started my divorce process back in September and then was living alone by November with my two daughters. They have known and been excited about moving for the past several months not just because of getting peacocks but to have baby chicks and space to run around and grow things.

When I thought I had to move into an apartment at first I gave away my rooster and his mate who were meat birds. When my 8-year-old saw me loading the two chickens in the back of someone’s truck she lost it and started crying in the driveway. I started crying too thinking I was doing something wrong even though I was giving them a new home and I knew in the future we would be able to have another rooster.

 

My daughter cried not for the actual rooster being given away but for what he represented. He represented new life and baby chicks. A couple of days later she was able to look forward to the time when we would have another rooster and baby chicks again.

Although the girls and I love our neighborhood and neighbors I began the process of getting them ready for moving so they wouldn’t be in shock. Now that it is past Spring (my original goal for moving) it seems like we are overdue. Technically Summer isn’t until June 21 but to a 4-year-old it is Summer now.

This is my first attempt at a logo which needs some serious work but at least it’s something.

 

 

 

 

 

Leading

Living on an acre or more and being more self-sufficient has been my dream for about 8 years. Previous to that I think that my life kept leading me in this direction. My first two jobs were at plant nurseries and then after getting my communications degree I also took gardening classes as well as a few horticulture classes at the community college. I thought I could combine my writing with my passion for plants.

The first newspaper I worked at I did get to do some of that but my day was varied. I would interview a pastor in the morning and track a cougar with someone from Fish and Wildlife by looking for it’s poop later in the day.

My second job was writing a bit of everything but I was in wine country in Oregon and had to cover that sector which was fascinating despite my lack of knowledge at first. Also frustrating was being offered expensive pinot noirs and not being able to accept them (against company policy/might sway the article). There were several winemakers who were so kind and explained how they tell when the grapes are done and how they manage for pests and their philosophy on winemaking in general.

Meanwhile grass seed was being grown and farmers were frustrated at the geese coming to eat it off their land. There would be a certain pest that could destroy a whole crop of fruit in one year and leave the farmer financially and emotionally decimated. I learned about the fish in the rivers, how the Native Americans survived in the area and what they ate. My head was and is filled with lots of pieces of information that are mostly useless but sometimes interesting and can come in handy.

I asked question after question to learn more about different crops and animals for an article but also for my own interest. The knowledge stuck with me.

Going to the farmer’s market one weekend that I had done some publicity for to get people there, I saw a man unload boxes of peaches off his truck. There may have been some ooohs and ahhhs as he sold them to several people in line at his table with a smile. The fruit trees produce the peaches sure but he was part of it and part of giving others someone healthy and miraculous to eat.

It was that moment that I realized I wanted to be able to do that. I wanted to be able to help people by getting them healthy food that they know was grown or raised in the right way.

Before I raised my own chickens to eat I had to make sure I could process them correctly and humanely while not being bothered. I volunteered at a nearby farm in exchange for two complementary chickens each harvest time or one turkey. I got comfortable and familiar with the process and brought home good food to eat. My daughters loved the pasture raised chicken and the turkey we had for Thanksgiving was the juiciest and best anyone had tasted. The animals were all raised with compassion.

From my apartment deck in Portland to my little backyard at our first house the second house was larger with a big backyard. After planting in raised beds and raising 25 meat birds to sell to friends and family I had maxed out. I had 20 laying hens and sold eggs and we ate very well. I needed more room. I needed a farm.

Sustainable

Sustainability is the word tossed about in terms of building, farming, clothing and more lately.

Sustainability is in general terms the capacity to endure.

Being sustainable means keeping diversity while being productive over time. In my mind it also means that you are within your own circle of well-being.

Besides affecting the environment as part of a sustainable farm there are also other keys like being in balance/managing resources, remaining healthy and satisfying needs.

When living on the earth you engage in an interdependent relationship so enhancing each other is key. If one element gets off balance then it doesn’t work. Using what you have where you are and keeping the wheel turning so that everyone benefits including the soil, consumers, farmers, and animals.

There is a Sustainable Meat article featuring Joel Salatin of interest here.

Bridgette

Bridgette is a year old and was bred to live 6 weeks. She is hefty but has personality so we have kept her.

Progress and Pears

Still on track for my farm this year. I am living in the same house and getting it fixed to sell or to be bought out. I have a new job as I was not getting enough hours with the first one. 

I have 12 chickens and a rainy backyard right now but have put my pieces in place,

This fall I taught two winemaking-mead making classes with my friend at a local market.

It was really fun to teach the classes and we do plan on doing more. Not sure about a location for future ones as the attendees were familiar with both of us and so it makes more sense to have the classes at my house.

Long range

Before the farm comes some change. The temporary quarters will likely be vacated and we will have to move into an apartment until we have the money for the farm and can move there. This is due to a life change which is difficult but I am keeping the big picture in mind.

This week in preparation to sell the house (whether we are here or not) I gave away our rooster and his girlfriend. I am not that attached to any of our chickens but these two would need to go together and my friend who says he will take them can’t take the rooster. So I put an ad on Craigslist and 10 minutes later got a call from a woman who came over to get the pair.

Just as I am putting the chickens in their backseat of their truck, not their truck bed, my oldest daughter walks into the driveway and loses it because I am giving them away to a good home and cried for a good hour afterward. We were both crying in the driveway but for different reasons. I don’t want to upset her and we will get another rooster when we move but for now it’s best he goes somewhere where he will be appreciated and not eaten. Which they said that they would even send photos of them and were happy to have them.

So that’s phase 1 of the changes happening. It’s actually cheaper to buy a house than it is to live in an apartment in many places so it will be temporary, hopefully 6 months and then we will arrive at our final home and farm.