Carla D
Lovin' The Homestead
I have been doing a lot of heavy thinking about the financial security in the future. I’m not a doom and gloom seeking or thinking person. No do I read and watch financial media. Just not something I understand very well. I have made several observations and mental notes of on the economics of the US, particularly the upper Midwest. I’m not a psychic or an expert. But I feel really tough times approaching. As a country, region, community, or family. I’m not sure. All I know is we will likely be devastated in the event my husband loses his job, I lose my SSDI, a family crisis, or any number of things happen.
I have had vague ideas in the past of how I’d like to live when I’m older and into my retirement. I’ve always assumed we will be in deep doo doo. But over the course of the last two weeks plans, details, opportunities seem to be starting to take shape.
The plan is creating a small farm. Nothing huge, but bigger than a couple of these and a couple of that. My husband and I have been raising pigs for nearly two years and dabbling into other animals. We are renting a very small chunk of space from my sister in law. The problem is we are at seam busting size for the space. We also want to raise a few different species of animals.
Our plan, well my plan is to produce quality meats, foods to provide a selection of healthy options for my family and reduce my reliance on the local grocery store. Raise healthy livestock that we will eventually be able to feed and care for from our own production of supplies, feed, hay, nutrition. The primary goal of making self sustaining with proper planning and management.
But, I also have two other objectives. Maintain a modest lifestyle yet being able to care for ourselves, family, and/or aging parents should the need to arise. I was going to try selling goods using the produce grown and livestock raised and processed on our own farm in order to do this. Being anything from goat milk products, leather accessories from the hides tanned on our farm, baked goods, canned goods, etc.
My last objective was to find joy, fulfillment, and personal growth in our older years. I’ve been disabled for nearly ten years now. The biggest thing I struggle with is feeling productive, mentally stimulated, and sense of pride. I have found that only in the last two years while helping my husband on the farm by doing daily chores, treating our animals in a loving, nurturing, respectful way, much like people do with their pets. My favorite part of my duties is helping and treating our animals when they have special needs. Things like midwife to our pigs, hand raising small, weak, or orphaned animals, to managing their veterinarian needs. I feel that this kind of satisfaction and purpose is going to be a necessity to both my husband and myself during our golden years.
In the later years do creative and fun things with ourfarm and passion. Creating a small local family destination with ice cream socials, milk and cookie gatherings, falltime events and activities. Create a fun learning environment for the young ones in our family, classroom learning experiences for the local schools. Even create habitats for special wildlife such as honey bees, butterflies, wildflowers, certain bug or small animal not excluding amphibians. Keeping busy, love what we’re doing, doing what we love.
I want to keep things on a smaller scale. I’m not talking commercial or huge. Maybe I’m dreaming big. But, has anyone else found means of security by doing something you really loved and had fun to the end?
I have had vague ideas in the past of how I’d like to live when I’m older and into my retirement. I’ve always assumed we will be in deep doo doo. But over the course of the last two weeks plans, details, opportunities seem to be starting to take shape.
The plan is creating a small farm. Nothing huge, but bigger than a couple of these and a couple of that. My husband and I have been raising pigs for nearly two years and dabbling into other animals. We are renting a very small chunk of space from my sister in law. The problem is we are at seam busting size for the space. We also want to raise a few different species of animals.
Our plan, well my plan is to produce quality meats, foods to provide a selection of healthy options for my family and reduce my reliance on the local grocery store. Raise healthy livestock that we will eventually be able to feed and care for from our own production of supplies, feed, hay, nutrition. The primary goal of making self sustaining with proper planning and management.
But, I also have two other objectives. Maintain a modest lifestyle yet being able to care for ourselves, family, and/or aging parents should the need to arise. I was going to try selling goods using the produce grown and livestock raised and processed on our own farm in order to do this. Being anything from goat milk products, leather accessories from the hides tanned on our farm, baked goods, canned goods, etc.
My last objective was to find joy, fulfillment, and personal growth in our older years. I’ve been disabled for nearly ten years now. The biggest thing I struggle with is feeling productive, mentally stimulated, and sense of pride. I have found that only in the last two years while helping my husband on the farm by doing daily chores, treating our animals in a loving, nurturing, respectful way, much like people do with their pets. My favorite part of my duties is helping and treating our animals when they have special needs. Things like midwife to our pigs, hand raising small, weak, or orphaned animals, to managing their veterinarian needs. I feel that this kind of satisfaction and purpose is going to be a necessity to both my husband and myself during our golden years.
In the later years do creative and fun things with ourfarm and passion. Creating a small local family destination with ice cream socials, milk and cookie gatherings, falltime events and activities. Create a fun learning environment for the young ones in our family, classroom learning experiences for the local schools. Even create habitats for special wildlife such as honey bees, butterflies, wildflowers, certain bug or small animal not excluding amphibians. Keeping busy, love what we’re doing, doing what we love.
I want to keep things on a smaller scale. I’m not talking commercial or huge. Maybe I’m dreaming big. But, has anyone else found means of security by doing something you really loved and had fun to the end?