Artemis
09-13-2010, 03:09 PM
I’m a single woman, nearing (very early) retirement, which I plan to take in approximately one year up in Western Massachusetts (Pioneer Valley region – love the name, even if this is up what sort of passes for a mountain in lower New England). I own 52 acres (my full deck) purchased very cheaply back in September of 1997 for just this purpose. It was (and is) an excellent and truly affordable hunk of real estate that I could not pass up, even though I was not at the time looking for anything close to 52 acres! I purchased it outright.
Most of the lot is wooded; there is a portion of approximately 7 acres which is a once-yearly mowed field complete with apple trees and highbush blueberry. Over this next year I plan to build here (alas I can’t do it all myself; but I will be doing the interior trim work and the exterior landscaping aka gardening.) I’m also planning for geothermal and for a wood burning stove which I’ll keep stoked. Geothermal is an outlay, but it will pay for itself. I’ll have a small but reasonable pension, in addition to my own savings, and will supplement with Internet-based self-employment. The plan eventually is also to have chickens (eggs, meat), Angora goats (fiber, meat), and perhaps a few sheep. I’m toying with the idea of a couple feeder pigs each year, but one stage of this at a time. To this end I’m learning woodworking – no tablesaw, but I can probably go use someone’s when I get proficient enough at the other skills, for some sort of swap or fee. I am now getting the asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish patches going at the future locale, so they are ready for me when I am ready for me... I also have some hybrid American chestnut tree seedlings, courtesy of a friend, up and going, and hopefully growing. What a useful tree that once was!
I subscribed to this magazine for a couple years, a few years ago. Then I let it lapse. I’m going to be renewing soon; I just recently picked up issue 124 at my local Borders. I am truly interested in sustainability and self-reliance.
I am looking forward to having some good discussions, and learning some useful pointers, here in this forum.
Most of the lot is wooded; there is a portion of approximately 7 acres which is a once-yearly mowed field complete with apple trees and highbush blueberry. Over this next year I plan to build here (alas I can’t do it all myself; but I will be doing the interior trim work and the exterior landscaping aka gardening.) I’m also planning for geothermal and for a wood burning stove which I’ll keep stoked. Geothermal is an outlay, but it will pay for itself. I’ll have a small but reasonable pension, in addition to my own savings, and will supplement with Internet-based self-employment. The plan eventually is also to have chickens (eggs, meat), Angora goats (fiber, meat), and perhaps a few sheep. I’m toying with the idea of a couple feeder pigs each year, but one stage of this at a time. To this end I’m learning woodworking – no tablesaw, but I can probably go use someone’s when I get proficient enough at the other skills, for some sort of swap or fee. I am now getting the asparagus, rhubarb and horseradish patches going at the future locale, so they are ready for me when I am ready for me... I also have some hybrid American chestnut tree seedlings, courtesy of a friend, up and going, and hopefully growing. What a useful tree that once was!
I subscribed to this magazine for a couple years, a few years ago. Then I let it lapse. I’m going to be renewing soon; I just recently picked up issue 124 at my local Borders. I am truly interested in sustainability and self-reliance.
I am looking forward to having some good discussions, and learning some useful pointers, here in this forum.