My Experience?

[Anon001]

(I am responding to a new thread so as not to hijack Deberosa's new homestead thread)

Paul, you need to start a daily journal if you haven't already done so, and then put it on a blog. I would enjoy reading your stuff. There are a number of free blogs available to post your writing and photos. Then, reference your blog in your posts here so we will know where to go look.

Not to be morbid, but I would like to know what happened with your propane accident and what you would have done differently if you could have.

Also, I think you have barely scratched on what you know about cattle, etc.

If you start your own website, there are a number of advertising possibilities where you can make a tidy little income if you draw enough readership. I know of one website where a guy writes about building your own home and he does very well with his advertising.

Anyway, I don't want to try and tell you how to live your cyberlife, I'm just saying I would enjoy reading your stuff. Thanks!

What can I say. I am flattered and humbled by your comments as well as encouraged. I currently own several domains and but they all point to four websites. One is a family genealogy website devoted to my maternal great grandfather's descendants. Two sites are online retail. The last one is one that was planned as a website for selling our own grass fed boxed beef, grown here. But, I lagged my feet and didn't get it done. On the genealogy website, I have kept a blog but very little of it has to do with my homesteading life. So... I recently started working on remaking the boxed beef site into my own homesteading blog with photos. I have been half-way working on it for about 2 weeks (total of only about 4 hours). I guess I need to get it done soon and up and running. When I do it will be found at http://cedarshillfarm.com. My retail sites will also have links there.

Again, I thank you so very much for your kind words of encouragement. I never really thought anyone would want to pay to read about me! LOL... but, I guess it is a thought. However, my main objective is to show that a person can start with NOTHING and within 20 years have a viable ag production operation that is a homestead that provides an income for the homesteader without debt.... or with very little debt.

I have heard others say so many times that ag doesn't pay... or a homestead can't be profitable..... I say bull! A homestead can be both proitable and provide a living with the farm as the primary source of income. My sites are only an added bonus but not actually needed. I enjoy them and have fun with them. But, if they can provide for my very small monthly expenses so that ALL my farm income goes back into capital, then it just makes it that much sweeter. lol

So... my monthly living expenses:

Propane: 100 gallons per 9 months
Water: Rain collection
Electricity: Solar PV
Groceries: $20.00 to $30.00 per month (usually it is $20 or less)
Auto insurance: $30.00 per month (average)
Liability insurance on farm: roughly $100. Part of a "farm plan" package with Farm Bureau.
Taxes: $500.00 +/- per year.
Health Insurance: non-insurable.
Landline and DSL: $70 That includes a toll free line for customers.
Cell Phone: $59.99 per month

The taxes and insurance would average about $50.00 if paid monthly, but they are paid annually.

There is no mortgage. The only additional costs would be what gas I use in my pickup, and my tractors which isn't much.

Again, thank you for your kind comments and encouragement.

Paul

[Southerngirl]

I keep picking Paul's brain through PM and I've learned sooo much!

I would love to read a blog of everything, when you get the time to do so!!!!
Your monthly expenses is sure a goal for the rest of us to strive for! I know it will take us several years to get there, but I'm working on it! I also need to get creative and find a way to make money online and from our farm, once I get it going!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom! I'm glad I met you! (well, online anyway, lol)
Southerngirl

[Anon001]

I keep picking Paul's brain through PM and I've learned sooo much!
LOL.. that shouldn't take too long! I don't think there's much there other than just some old fashioned common sense.

I would love to read a blog of everything, when you get the time to do so!!!!
I will try to get that started in the next few days. I am also including a question and answer page on the blog.

Your monthly expenses is sure a goal for the rest of us to strive for! *I know it will take us several years to get there, but I'm working on it!
Kari, it doesn't have to take several years to get there. One of the largest monthly expenditures is groceries. Most families will spend an average of about $150 per person per month or more.. So, if there are two of you and if you spend $300 in groceries per month, you could cut that by about $275 per month just by gardening and raising chickens for meat to start. If you have pasture, then pasture a calf and butcher him at home after the grass goes dormant. You will have the expense of buying the calf unless you have a cow and raise your own calf each year and if you have just one cow, you may as well be milking her and sharing the milk with the calf. My point is that you can already cut a big chunk out of your budget.... and you don't have to spend all your savings in high cost feeds. My cattle get almost NO Feed year round. They graze and in the winter they get grass hay that I bale. In the winter, the mama cows get a liquid protein supplement to help in their nursing. But if a cow requires additional feed to keep on weight, she goes.... as a result of that type culling of my herd, I have a very hardy herd that is healthy and requires almost no veterinary interaction other than vaccinations and deworming and no additional feeds. I will feed ...oh.. about half.... maybe... of a five gallon bucket once every two to three days, of cracked corn for about oh... maybe every 30 cows PLUS their calves just to keep them familiar with coming in. One tasty lick is all they need and they come running everytime. The problem most people have is that they don't plan correctly when buying a homestead and usually end up with not enough ground. Then they have to resort to searching for other ways to make it profitable which can be done but isn't always easy.

Anyone with 20 acres should be able to all but eliminate a grocery bill. :)

I also need to get creative and find a way to make money online and from our farm, once I get it going!
If I can do it, anyone can. I'm not all that creative. But, all you have to do is find something you like and have fun at that others might like as well. Then get a web site host and you're off and running. I spend $95.40 per year for hosting. I have an unlimited number of emails with my website. What I mean by that is that on one website called countryhomegiftshoppe.com, I can have an email for anyone that wants one ending in ".....@countryhomegiftshoppe.com." But I don't offer them to customers. lol I also have up to 25 databases. One site won't use 25. I also have a lot of other things available. I also pay $8.95 per year per domain name to keep my name, address, phone number, etc, private.
*
There are also what is known as 'subdomains'. In other words, I pay for the hosting for one website and its domain name. The domain name is countryhomegiftshoppe.com. I have that original website. But, I also use it as an "umbrella". I have two other websites that fall under it. But they have their own domain name but they are part of the ....giftshoppe. One is www.mymoustachewax.com and one is cedarshillfarm.com. They will both come up by typing that in..... but, technically your computer is finding cedarshillfarm.com at this address: http://countryhomegiftshoppe.com/cedarshillfarm. I hope that makes sense. SO.... for one hosting fee of $95.40 per year, pluss the $8.95 (3 times) for each domain (giftshoppe, cedarshill, and mymoustachewas) I have three websites.

So... I guess I am saying that websites don't have to cost a fortune. There are some that are cheaper than the host I use but they also are not as good.. in other words they don't have as much to offer and the customer support is often lacking. I am referring to regular online shops... not just blogs. You can start a free blog and try to sell products, but you won't have as much volume for a number of reasons I can go into later if you wish.

I also spend about $90 per month on advertising to get traffic to www.mymoustachewax.com and about $45 per month for countryhomegiftshoppe.com for traffic which I continually and gradually increase as business increases. This comes out of my profit.

In my monthly expenses I posted previously, I intentionally did not include the expenses for my internet sites or for my cattle operation. Number one, those are profitable and take nothing out of my own pocket. Also, I'm not comfortable disclosing it and my point was to show just my living expenses.

I hope this all helps someone. If anyone has any questions I will be glad to answer them if I know the answers.. lol

Kari, find something you are good at and would enjoy doing in a majority of your time. Then see if it is marketable from home and online.

I will also be happy to help anyone get started with a website..... giving pointers if needed.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom! *I'm glad I met you! *(well, online anyway, lol)
Southerngirl
You make me laugh, but it is flattering and humbling as well. I don't think of myself as having wisdom... But, I'm NOT afraid of trying something and failing. If it works, I'll run with it and share it if it helps someone else. It's just no more than old fashioned common sense combined with much much trial and error and learning from many mistakes, some of which were costly.

(nice to meet you, too LOL)
Paul

[SPIKE]

Isn't it amazing how uncommon common sense has become.

I enjoy reading your posts.

Your cattle adventures have thinking about the pasture next door that is not being used. The owner lives in Maryland(a whole nother story) and probably would not even know if I used part of his land. HMMMMMMMMM....

SPIKE

[Anon001]

Isn't it amazing how uncommon common sense has become.
Yeah, I am just so amazed how far from common sense we've grown. Something as simple (yes, simple) as gardening in the past was always a part of life. The knowledge and common sense was taken for granted and today, people struggle just trying to learn how to dig a hole and put a plant in it. I'm not saying that to be rude by any means. But, I'm exaggerating to get my point across. I will also be the first to admit that I have so much to learn also, and that is one of the reasons I like these forums.

I enjoy reading your posts.
Thank you. I have enjoyed yours as well. You seem to have a good sense of humor... unless I'm confusing you with someone else LOL....

Your cattle adventures have thinking about the pasture next door that is not being used. The owner lives in Maryland(a whole nother story) and probably would not even know if I used part of his land. HMMMMMMMMM....
LMAO! I have no idea how small or large it is but if the taxes are not to high, he might would be happy to rent it to you cheap... like for the cost of taxes and insurance or something. The taxes on this 160 and house are right at $500 per year which is low comared to most places... At that price, someone could make an easy profit. In this part of the country the rental is usually based on the cost per head per day for cows and weaned cattle, or the cost per pair per day for cow/calf pairs. But, hey if you do get caught, just say you've been havin' trouble keepin' 'em home. lol

[Anon001]

ok... so now I have my blog up and working. But, I am in the process of editing and importing old postings from a previous thread. It may take a day or two to get them all edited and imported. Then I will start on what few photos I already have.

So.... take a look and give me your opinion, suggestions, criticisms, etc.... good and bad!

Cedars Hill Farm at cedarshillfarm.com (http://cedarshillfarm)

Thanks,
Paul

[Southerngirl]

Paul,
I couldn't see any of the pics when I clicked on the photos link, it just kept taking me back to the top of the page. The pics on the header of the page are nice, but I thought there were more to see when you clicked on them, is that something you are working on to show up later?
Love your border collie, we have a small female ourselves, best dogs in my opinion!
Southerngirl

[Anon001]

I haven't got the photos uploaded just yet. I am working on editing and importing old posts from different blog I have kept for the last 3 1/2 years on our "family" website. So, I am editing those and importing some of them first. Then I will begin to start uploading photos. It will take a couple days.

[DavidOH]

ok... so now I have my blog up and working. *

Cedars Hill Farm at cedarshillfarm.com (http://cedarshillfarm)

Thanks Paul, I also have enjoyed many of your posts.
DAvid

[Anon001]

Thank you, David, and I enjoy yours as well.

[TSJ]

Paul, this is the site I was telling you about. IIRC, he claims he makes better than $25,000 a year on his advertiser income. Who knows? *Obviously it is avery popular site because millions of people would like to build their own home.

http://www.build-yourown-home.com/

[Anon001]

Paul, this is the site I was telling you about. IIRC, he claims he makes better than $25,000 a year on his advertiser income. Who knows? *Obviously it is avery popular site because millions of people would like to build their own home.

http://www.build-yourown-home.com/
Thanks for the link.... I am definitely going to check it out. I'm never afraid to try anything new! lol

Paul