“There’s a wholesomeness about it that I never could explain
Once you breathe this air you love it and you long for it again;
There’s a tie you can’t discern in the splendor of the sky.
It’s just home to you forever and I’ll just tell you why.”
Paragraph taken from A Letter Home – by my Great Grandmother Lillie Olson – 1912
I can hardly believe it. I feel like I’ve been talking about this for so long that it almost felt too far from my reach.
My dream is finally coming true.
5 ACRES.
We purchased 5 beautiful acres in the country and I couldn’t be happier. There are full water rights. There are no covenants. The land is flat, beautiful and ready for creating my little farm paradise.
Shall I tell you a little bit more about this land? Okay, I will then. Since you asked. 🙂
The land all used to be farm-land and then a man sold it all off into 5-10 acre parcels. On my little road I will have 4 neighbors, each with 5 acres too. The soil definitely feels a lot better than my current soil which is sand. I think it has some dead organic materials and possibly even some clay. I should probably get it tested. One thing I know though is that the soil should be good because even without watering for a year there are some amazing flowering cactus plants growing with purple flowers. That’s a good sign right?
I think it has a great view. Meaning not many people around. Ha! And I do get a small view of the blue mountains on clear days.
My sister Beth took these pictures for me. We had lots of fun walking the land together.
My land borders along a canal, which at first I was a bit nervous about. I mean, kids and a canal? But after getting to walk along the canal with my sister I realized that I can go on nice long beautiful walks or runs with this by my house. And it is sure to bring a few frogs and other critters for my kids to make memories with.
Speaking of playing around… do you ever do this and wish you were really that skinny? Ahem. Neither do I….
Indeed we saw ducks and even a muskrat swimming in the water. Country livin’!!!
I also noticed coyote tracks on my land. That will be trouble for my chickens. I will need to prepare myself a lot more for predators living out here in the country.
Some days I feel so excited that my heart can’t stop beating and my stomach has butterflies. My mind reels with what is to come. I can envision myself after a hard days work sitting on my back porch enjoying the sunset with my family. That feeling of freedom and joy. I can’t wait.
However, there have also been many days that I sit and wonder if I can actually do this. If I am going to succeed at running a small farm. If I can handle the time commitment. If I can handle the financial requirements. If I can handle being patient and not having everything for my dream happen all at once. If I can handle a big garden and even acres of growing food. And most importantly if I can handle killing my animals for food. I still have yet to butcher an animal.
I tell you I am absolutely TERRIFIED some days!
I mean, what if I fail at this? What if I put my family through stress, hard work and moving and I am not able to handle it all? What if I stink at being a self-sufficient homesteader? What if I fail?
But you know what they say….
And this is one big ole’ dream.
We are planning on building our house on the property with a well and septic. Hoping to get into the new house before Christmas.
Then it’s really go time!
Got any advice for this homesteading beginner?
I am trying to figure out what to do first on my land after my house gets built. Start with an orchard? Backyard grass? Garden? Animals? Bees? Pasture? And what kind of irrigation… flood or sprinklers? So many choices! Got any recommendations for homestead planning? Best books? Any and all advice is welcome. Oh and please remind me to slow down…my mind is going 90 miles an hour!
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Christina says
That is so cool. Research straw-like-clay construction for your home…
Nancy says
Kerrie, we too are starting our dream on our own patch of land. We have a written list of plans: year one, year two, year three: one step at a time. The plan is rewritten each year. My husband has made an offer on a used tractor and is planning a small barn raising for September (5 or 6 guys 3 or 4 days) and blast me a cheese cave into one of the hillsides to age the cheese I will be making this winter. This spring we will plant 2 filbert trees, begin planting raspberries and black berries along the perimeter fence (long term project). The wild critters (bear, antelope, deer, elk and, whatever else) can have all the berries they want … on that side of the fence; we’ll harvest berries on this side of the fence; all the way around the property. My husband and our son promised to build me an outdoor brick oven come Spring as well. Our land is anything but flat so I want earth sheltered green houses that follow the contour of the hillside with a southern exposure. Year 2: a corn patch for use in distilling fuel for the tractor. Year 3: the livestock. A milk cow , 3 or 4 head of cattle for meat, some chickens, 3 or 4 alpaca for fleece (my daughter spins, I knit).
For irrigation, may I suggest looking into drip irrigation? It uses less water and there is so much less water lost to evaporation.
Karrie says
So exciting! I love how you have it all planned out. Good luck!
Christina says
I don’t have personal experience with chickens, but the best idea I saw for chickens was a 10×10 (or maybe 12×12, probably depends on the number of chickens you want to have) enclosure that was also covered on top (but only about 2 feet high). The sides and top were all covered with some type of wire and there was a way to hitch it to a tractor. So each day the farmer hooked it up and pulled it to the new spot of pasture for the chickens to poke around and eat the bugs, etc. I’m not sure if the chickens just walked along with the enclosure as he pulled it or what. I know that part of it was fully covered (maybe some metal roofing material on the sides and top with a door that slid up and down so he could just pull up the side that opened into the wired area to let them out in the morning) that way the chickens had full protection from animals and the elements at night. Using this moveable coop, he fertilized a new part of his pasture each day and the chickens were “free range” without having their run of your porch for a pooping stoop!
Happy.MoneySaver says
That is a great idea–I will have to look into it!
Ashley Shaw says
We purchase our 5 acres a few years ago. We had chicken. If I can pass along anything I have learned it is these couple things. Raccoons love to kill chickens, some times not even to eat. If keeping your chickens in an enclosed pen, use small hole chicken wire with the coop away from all side (keep it square in the middle). Raccoons would reach there hands in at night and grab the chicken head and pull it off leaving the dead chicken body inside and head outside. We did get dogs and that kept the raccoons away. We then decided to let them be free range. Unfortunately we found our dogs love to case chickens. Most flew the coop to get away from being chased. One of my dogs even ate a chicken and once they eat a chicken, you can’t break them of the habit.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Thanks for the advice! I love hearing about other people’s 5 acres stories!
Happy.MoneySaver says
That sounds perfect! I hope I can have the same memories!
Donna Vincent says
Just found your site….looking for pectin-free strawberry jam recipe. My first year making Strawberry jam in my country home. I moved to my 4 1/2 acres last August, from the greater Boston area to rural Maine, with a record breaking cold winter. It was a tough one, as we had to put in our heat system ourselves. I can’t say I was comfortable all the time, but I LOVE being here in the country. The garden is in. The new chickens will be introduced to the older ones (my son lived here for three years before us) and property is really coming together in this workable spring whether. the 200 yr old farmhouse not so much, but I still love it and wouldn’t change it for anything. So enjoyable here. Good luck with yours and your dreams.
Happy.MoneySaver says
Thank you so much, Donna! I love hearing your experiences and looking forward to my own.
Lori says
Hi Karrie, I’m so excited for you. You are doing something I have wanted to do all of my adult life. I am looking for property where I live but it is very expensive. While I am saving I am putting my 1/4 acre yard to good use with garden boxes filled with everything you can think of to have a fresh salad. I make homemade salsa every year which unfortunately never make it to canning, my family eats it faster than I can make it. I have boxes with squash and just about everything else you can think of. I planted an apple tree last year and I am planted grapes this year. I wish now I would have planted those years ago. This year I’m venturing into a small chicken flock. I’ve only had them for 4 weeks and I love it already. If my weather would ever cooperate they’ll be running around in their runs soon. I don’t have a lot to worry about other than hawks but I’m using tunnels and portables runs to keep them happy. I hope you find joy and happiness in everything you do. that is what it is all about, right? Best wishes
Karrie says
Thank you so much! I love that you are using the space you have, like I did the past 5-6 years living in town. Oh you have chickens…I miss my chickens. Had to send them away since I am moving…more on that to come. Thanks again for your comment.
Cathy says
CONGRATS! We lived in a 6,000 square foot house in town but my boys could not ride a bike, adventure very far, or go out if the neighbors were out. We opted for a 1800 square foot house on some land! (Just like you) We will never regret our decision. You won’t regret having space to do the things you love to do. Our boys (all three!) love every minute of having space outdoors and for some room to be kids. We have ducks, but will be getting chickens soon. My boys love every recipe of yours I have made for them. They love the homemade “everything”. The EGG NOG French toast was a hit and recipe asked for MANY times at the holidays:) All the make ahead freezer meals are loved by many MOMs in our area. If you would like to travel and “present” Happy Money Saver” we would love to have you…..
Melissa says
Hi Karrie! So very excited to see that you got your property! My only advice would be to really look at your wish list and draw/plan it out from an areal perspective so you can really utilize that whole chunk 🙂 I am sure you will have all sorts of ideas! I’m currently planning a two sided berry trellis. When looking what I buy at the store and twin toddlers to feed who love them, they are the most expensive thing I buy! But really the reason I am commenting other to congratulate you is I was watching a show this morning that had the coolest chicken idea I’ve ever seen and you were the first person I thought of. Check out Crown Ranch (I believe it is in washington state) They have a solar chicken train… I’ve never seen such a thing but it keeps the bugs down and grass fertilized as it slowly moves around the yard. It’s hilarious and so clever!
re ecca says
Lol, I always love hearing another lady”dirt junkie” like myself talk about her passion! : ) unfortunately in today’s climate we are a rare breed becoming rarer everyday,as more and more farm land gets converted into subdivisions with houses built 10 feet apart. I pity those folks who haven’t watched a sunset from across their pond or caught the morning antics of well rested bunnies looking for some fun. My best advice is even before u build is get to know ur land it has a personality all its own. It, like all living things has its moods. Grab a pair of rubber boots and head out in the next rain storm and learn the pattern that is created when the water flows across the ground it will provide invaluable knowledge on where to build a home ,the barn the best garden spot, and will save you the angst endured by a yard full or angry,wet chickens who’s hen house is in the waterway flow when it rains! If ur planning to go no pesticides only organics this is important to know as the waterway makes it’s own course across the land not only of your land but your neighbors and you’ll want to keep your gardens away from tainted runoff. Good luck in your endeavor s ,hold dear to the land you have been fortunate enough to have been entrusted with the care of for it can become the backbone of your family for generations to come.
Karrie says
Thanks! It doesn’t rain too often around in my area – but I will for sure take your advice. Can I just say how much I looooove your comment! 🙂