The Cost Of Being Self Sufficient | Is It Worth It?
It’s expensive, monetarily. At least initially. It consumes your time, and requires physical energy commitment.
Being self sufficient. It’s the holy grail among some with the preparedness mindset, right?
For some, yes. Many others simply pursue an extent of being self sufficient. The most basic of which may be growing a garden, however large or small.
As many of you know, I’ve been building a chicken coop and attached run for 7 chickens, which today are 7 weeks old. They’re ready to leave the brooder and move in to their new home. Their home might finally be ready enough for them later today or tomorrow. (Gotta get my butt back out there right after this post!)
During the process of building their palace, I’ve thought about the money it took to get this done. As well as the ongoing costs of maintaining the small flock, and feeding them. Let me put it this way. You migh get depressed to realize the ultimate cost per dozen eggs output compared to the money input!
Before anyone jumps in and remarks how one could build a coop & run from old pallets, etc., yes, I know. There are ways to do it cheaper. But in the end, the egg production from your chickens will cost way more than the eggs you can buy at the grocery store.
But that’s not why we did it! Of course big agriculture can mass produce product and get it to your grocery store cheaper than you could do yourself (typically). However the reason we might do it our selves is not necessarily to save money. It’s to be more self sufficient. Plus, Mrs.J wanted chickens. So now there’s chickens…
It can be expensive to be self sufficient
There’s really no way you can beat the price of most foods in the grocery store. Or, there’s no way you can beat the cost of electricity coming into your home from the utility company compared to a alternative energy system. (just two random examples).
It costs money to set up a decent garden. Obviously this depends on what you’re doing and how. My largest garden required lots of money for posts and fencing to keep deer, bear, rabbits, and other critters out. Then there’s the cost of a rototiller. The cost of materials used to keep weeds down on walkways or sections not being used this year. Not to mention the cost of buying an old tractor and implements, things like that. “Farming tools”.
What about raised garden beds? Got those too. Do you know how much it costs for enough 2×12 lumber to make a 4′ by 16′ by 2′-tall garden bed? Not cheap. Then of course there’s more fencing around the perimeter area of garden beds.
I know, before you tell me I could’ve done it cheaper… I could’ve used some old logs for garden bed materials instead of buying good lumber. But that’s not what I wanted to do. I’m simply pointing out that trying to do things to be more self sufficient tends to cost more money than otherwise in today’s modern world.
Here’s another example. Some people might be interested to integrate a alternative energy system. Can you say, “Cha-Ching!”? Lots of money (comparatively). Don’t even try to rationalize that you’re doing it to save money. Because you won’t. It will cost more. Some things, lots more. How can you beat paying just 10 or 20 cents per kilowatt hour from the utility? You can’t.
But that’s not why we do it, right?
The cost of failure
And then there’s the cost of failure. We all screw up from time to time. And sometimes that can cost money. Or product.
Imagine putting in all that time and money into a garden and having it wiped out entirely or partially (fill in the blank as to the ways how…).
Imagine spending all that money and time on a chicken coop & run, only to have a predator wipe out your flock one evening because you didn’t do it right? Sometimes you think you did it right, but you find out later that nasty little flaw. The “whoops”…
I could’ve just bought eggs at the grocery store for $1.79 a dozen.
Doing things to be more self sufficient will involve some degree of failures.
The Physical Cost | Your Labor
There’s one thing for sure, it takes time, your time, your labor. You feel it.
Some simply don’t have the time. Or maybe just enough spare time to do one extra thing or project.
Your time is your life. You choose what to do with it. Putting efforts towards self sufficiency will cost you time, especially upfront.
But you know what? That labor is good for you, physically.
With that said, the older we get, the more difficult / challenging on our body. But there’s often clever workarounds to get things done.
Is it all worth it?
Only you can answer that. I believe that it is. At least it is for me personally, in my own situation.
It will likely cost more money to do this or that, rather than purchasing product or services elsewhere. But the advantages are at least threefold:
- You are relying less on systems that are beyond your control, which is great for preparedness.
- Producing your own (whatever it is) will likely be of higher quality, be it nutritional, taste, or other…
- There is great personal satisfaction to produce your own (whatever it is).
So don’t be discouraged by the costs. Be a little more self sufficient – you’ll be happy you did it.
End result is you have created a tangible asset, avoiding recurring non-asset expense. The exercise, fresh air are good for the body and soul- the dings and dongs incurred not so much.
How much will a basket of vegetables or eggs cost when they cannot be had at the supermarket? Then your time, labor, forethought and investment will be worth a fortune. And you will look like a genius.
Let us hope that our time and investments continue to be a waste. I would much rather be an old fool than a genius!
Very timely Ken
It is expensive, everything is,
But how much does standing in a food distribution line cost?
For us, in our household, my little “preparations” are, have been, and will be our saving grace.
From the totally enclosed garden areas to the poultry, to even just the investment in extra foods and all manner of supplies and tools to deal with the stuff i grow or raise or manage to harvest wild or am given by friends, or the pounds and pounds of seed, starts, etc… its all costly,
If you want to do it right and have it appealing.
But it is all worth every last penny or ounce of sweat, and even the shock value on others when you hand them 6 dozen eggs or a giant box of produce.
Excellent timing bud,
😎🤙🏻
One other thing
You really cant put a value on satisfaction.
I find enjoyment, satisfaction and even a challenge in doing all of this stuff, from hatching out baby chicks to planting another block of corn, it all is satisfying and enjoyable as well as an elevated experience in delayed gratification. Some things are priceless!
It’s about economy of scale. Sure it costs more. Usually the bigger you go, the lower the cost per unit.
Example: transportation costs. A person goes to the feed store and gets two bags of feed. Gas-$2.00 per gallon. Truck -15 mpg. Distance- 30 miles. Round trip fuel cost- $8.00. Transportation cost per bag-$4.00.
Person #2). Same distance traveling but 12 mpg hauling 30 bags of feed. Fuel cost is $10.16. Transportation cost per bag- 34 cents. Now the industrial farms are able to do this on an even much larger scale. That is why they are able to sell the eggs for $1.79 and make a profit.
One great benefit of growing and raising your own food. You know what is in it and if the food has pesticides, herbicides, hormones, or antibiotics.
INPrepper,
One thing i have found is that by growing way more than i need i am less exposed to the failures. I still get them but can better cover myself in spite of them, whereas if someone only grows a few heads of cabbage etc and something eats half of them they are potentially screwed. Of course there are always outliers, but generally you can easily offset losses if you grew excess, then there is the other way, if you grew excess and everything went good, there is more to put back or give away or sell or trade,,,
Just my observation
Yes, just think of all the times there was a vegetable recall due to listeria or some such. I bet you have never had that problem with your own veggies that you grow yourself. You know what on and in your food.
Regards
Sorry. Fudged the math. Person #2). $10.00 in gas is 33 cents per bag.
I would mention if we are factoring time which is a tangible asset too…
Purchasing standard building materials like 2x4x8s will save you a ton of time compared to dealing with and jerry-rigging salvaged materials.
I built an awesome wood shed last year and originally contemplated using salvage then I realized that it was just faster to build with standard materials.
I would say we should be stocking up bigly on these materials for future needs. fencing garden supplies, lumber, masonry, plumbing ect.
We are already seeing price increases in food. same will go for other mission essential items.
Yes build for the future even though the upfront cost is high remember your cost benefit analysis is factoring the current value of our .gov fiat currency. If this greenback devalues you will be a head of the game for sure. way better than purchasing PMs right now.
Get crackin boys and girls. Now is good building weather. Unless you are getting swamped by the rains in the Midwest.
I have realized that I will never been totally self-sufficient because I can’t make propane or gasoline and similar items. But I have items I can barter/trade for items. My meat rabbits are selling faster than I can breed them. My 3 month old soon to be pullets are selling at 4 times what it cost me; when they begin to lay they will sell for 5 times what it cost me. I trade eggs for goat milk from a neighbor down the road. Now that my hoop house is up, I’ll be selling/trading veges this winter and starter plants next spring. Yes, it is expensive to start, but when every-day-items are not available, when you cannot get meat either because it’s too expensive or not available, when eggs and bacon and high protein veges are gone; my family is OK.
You’re right, it’s nearly impossible to be totally self-sufficient. But each step towards it, is less dependence on other systems. Food production is a key element. Sounds like you’re doing quite well in that department!
I view it as an investment. It may not pay off for a while, but, then again, it may. Like Kulafarmer said, how much does standing in a food distribution line cost? Nothing except time and frustration, but what if there IS no food distribution? Prices of food and goods are rising rapidly. Shoot, they may surpass what you spent to set up your garden/ livestock production, if you look at it over a year or two of time.
There’s great value, too, to peace of mind.
I am with you chipmunk
It is an investment and most take some time to pay off. I also look at it as insurance. I spend thousands of dollars a year on car insurance, home insurance and medical insurance that I rarely if ever have a use for. Now if the SHTF bad enough all the money spent on gardens , chickens, what have you will be cheap compared to starving. Just like if my house burned down or I came down with cancer the other insurances I have would pay out way more than I ever paid in..
Yes living off grid and self sufficiently not only costs more but takes more physical effort. Life is much easier to just have a full time job and buy factory created food for the fakely cheap prices we can still get it for.
Most the prices we pay for things aren’t real though folks. I can go buy whole chickens for about 5 bucks each, not on sale. No way could I raise them for twice that price without great amounts of hard work to raise alot of their feed myself. That’s just one example, 88c hot dogs, 99 cent bread…I could go on all day.
Getting to my point, there are other costs to consider though. Our diets of factory produced, chemical laden, scientifically designed, blood sugar destroying food is literally killing us and taking away our vitality. I know first hand now the damage it can do.
I have lost a ton of weight in the past few years, just quit eating sugar/drinking calories and eating processed food. I’m now in the best shape of my life and that is priceless.
Our health is our greatest asset, no other investment or prep compares to it.
I moved off grid about 8 years. I started in a 400 dollar travel trailer with no power or heat. My house now cost about 6k it’s a small cabin built out of a mobile office. I live on solar, rain water, and a wood stove and a little propane. Considering I have lived in this cabin for about 7 years and I still have a few years left on my battery bank it has saved me a small fortune. This is living with less though, it’s not for most people. But IMO the lives we mostly lead aren’t really real, they are propped up by the system that I try not to depend on 100%. I will never be totally self sufficient it’s more work than I want to do personally but living like a do I get to pick and choose what parts and items of the system I depend on and utilize.
Very well said. Thanks for your comment.
Sarkin,
Correct on the production of chicken… I have had these cornish cross /meat birds for 2.5 weeks. they harvest at 7-8 weeks. Have 12/ according to the averages/several others have put out their weights- inputs. each whole chicken cleaned will net something close to 5.5lbs, @cost approx 11$ / bird.
I have purchased eggs at a major chain store for about 10 months at 37c/dz. they recently went up to 69c/limit of 2dz. We use 14-17 dz per month/one of our major protein sources. I buy what of the cheap eggs i can, use half of those and half home grown ones. extra home grown i store/lime water for the winter when their price will no longer be 37-70 c a dz. or weather is too bad to be going to the store. They can not even pack and ship those eggs for 37c a dozen! Free ranging my chickens saves us about 2/3 on feed during spring /summer/ fall. They also free range during the winter- savings is not as great. I give them more supplements in winter…more oyster shell, DE, additional costs for oats, wheat, or corn…. I have the Americana and they are muted colors and are very aware and flighty…we do have a Colombian roo at present and he sounds warnings for his girls, and calls them if he finds some good eats..They have a tree line, bushes, hide under the vehicles… they run under anything!..and their coloring does not stand out like the all white of the Columbians. I did not let them out of their coop til they were 8 months old.., we had some loss from coon, snake invasions to the nest box.last spring./ total loss over 20 months has been 8.. and have had 2separate dog attacks.Dogs were sufficiently discouraged and have not returned.,( they had no trouble vaulting a 5 ft fence)… the coops and chicken tractors we were using were effective for the dog attacks…
am adding more hens this year..have 9 straight runs. will keep an Americana roo and what ever hens..rest will be meat birds.. out of these will harvest the roos at 4 months.. so will take them 2x as long as the cornish cross.
Same thing on the meat rabbits….material for and constructing secure cages/supplies/feed/ feeders/crocks/ice bottles for summer and ice for water crocks/bowls. Nest boxes/hay/ treats..
It is a form of insurance. it is not cheaper to grow your own meat..is not easy or pleasant to do your own harvesting…just part of the process and kept as simple and quick as possible.We have them because we like to eat. High protein is a prescribed diet.chicken (+eggs)and rabbit are two choices we do have. In extreme situation we can grow and provide them food from the small amount land and pasture we have. they will survive and so will we, production will not be as high when they are under stress. We have looked at some other options..
Sarkin, Amen! Our health and vitality are priceless. We better control what goes into our bodies and perform the physical labor that our bodies are meant to do, which keeps us healthier. It is not the easiest life that we could have, but the benefits are priceless, including peace of mind.
I enjoy tinkering. My coop is similar looking, only on wheels. I’ve really enjoyed my initial experience with chickens. Where did I get the plans for my coop? There weren’t any plans, other than in my small brain. I wouldn’t change a thing. Good job Ken, looks nice.
My coop has a trap door, with a pulley and cable for closing on those cold winter nights. The birds quickly learned to go up the ramp (trap door) to get into the coop. Three nesting boxes on one end, with piano hinged door for gathering eggs. The other end is fully opening doors. One storm window, installed backwards for opening/closing from the outside, on one side of the coop.
If you’re new to chickens, I’ve found it a good idea to have the floor of the coop, well up off the ground. No bending over. I had fun building my coop and the tunnels. Built it all with lightly used lumber I keep on hand. I had to buy the chicken wire, but I scrounged everything else. A couple of coats of paint and it all looks brand new. The chickens don’t care one way or the other.
If ya enjoy your preps, it’s not work at all. Thanks to all on this site, for answering all my dumb chicken questions. The wife and I really like the fresh eggs. A couple of neighbors will gladly buy any excess. Chickens are NOT a money maker but, I’m sure we’ll have ’em from now on. Just feels good to have eggs right outside. Kinda like the other preps.
It is amazing how much that darn “hardware cloth” wire costs! (galvanized) About $25 for 10 feet (3′ wide), and I used a lot of it… Cha-Ching… but I had to get it, else predators would have an easy time breaking in.
Yes sir. I pretty well used up my supply of old hinges with all the doors, etc. The wife always claims I’m a junk guy, till she needs something and wallah, there it is. It’s amazing the cost of hardware; hinges, handles, screws, bolts, etc. I’d hate to fork over the $ for new stuff on an old chicken coop. Thankfully, a little paint covers a lot of ugly. I’d better hide the paint, or the wife will cover me up.
Ken
Ouch! I use 1/4” galvanized hardware cloth to keep moles out of planting beds. Last year stocked up on 4’ x 50’ rolls as the 100’ rolls are too heavy for me. Acorn International brand from one of the big box stores on-line. IIRC price per sf was lower than this.
Plainsmedic,
I’m contemplating building chicken tunnels, mostly as an easier way to move them, Just trying to figure cheapest fastest most flexible way, i do have a lot of flat spaces, so thats good. Im thinking PVC pipe and chicken wire. Can use 1/2” for the hoops and for the runners, maybe use the 6’ wire so the hoops can be pretty big, other idea was using the 4’ and joining it, so i can get a little bigger.
Design in progress!
Started because you had mentioned it, plus then i was trying to figure how to move my cluckers from their current coop to the new one. Actually thinking i will make new coop with pvc pipe and netting just to keep it light. Is going to be mobile so light is important, will just cover one end with greenhouse film, and shade cloth.
For us keeping them cool is more a consideration than warm
Kula,
I had access to numerous old lawn chairs. You know, the ones with the webbing. Anyway, I destructed the lawn chair frames into inverted U shapes. I used ripped down lumber for the lengthwise runners, 10′ sections. I put 3 U shapes on each 10′ section. A few 45 degree lumber pieces at each U, for stability. I bought 60″ chicken wire, which fit perfectly. Used staples for the chicken wire onto the lumber and good quality wire ties around the U. Harbor freight ties won’t last long, UV rays?
PVC should work well, though the chicken wire attachment might be challenging. My tunnels weigh approx. 7lbs. per 10′ section. Really easy to move ’em. Let me know what ya come up with and how it works.
My tunnels and coop are within 5′ chainlink, my garden. The coop is on wheels so I can move it and the tunnels between the rows of garden. Chickens can turn a weedy spot to pure dirt in no time, as ya well know. Good luck
When I bought 35 acres of empty woods and field 15 yrs ago when I was 50 yrs old it was the culmination of a lifelong dream.Then built my home on it myself every board while working 60 hrs a week in a factory.I was so happy to finally be here, a friend at work said you didn’t just buy acreage you bought a job. He was right and Its been the only job I’ve ever loved or enjoy.Yes it’s work to keep up with things around here, but it’s work I enjoy and am proud of. This same friend lives in an apartment above a store, his choice he style of life.It took me 50 yrs to get where I am on these acres and Yes it is worth everything the work, money spent failures heart aches etc, to be as self sufficient as one can be but this is my choice.We all know the difference between home grown and store bought produce etc. Yes it’s worth it.
I want to discourage no one.
However, you will always need a source of cash if you are a landowner. The reason is the evil Property Tax System that has infected most of the US over the centuries, You never really own your land outright no matter that it is free and clear of mortgages.
Our system is rigged so that if you are cash poor (that is you cannot come up with the thousands of dollars per year in many places) you will eventually be driven from your land.
This can often manifest itself near the end of your run because many did not do a good enough job of financial planning or suffered a debilitating financial tragedy (often related to health).
In any kind of collapse situation you will find (just like during the Great Depression) Banks/Lenders much more willing to work with you (even back in the 30s before amortized mortgages) while the Tax Man shows no mercy. He is relentless and will sell you out for the Property Taxes. The process here in GA takes a couple years, but it is sure. YMMV.
Property Tax planning (i.e. picking where you live) is an important part of the self sufficiency goal.
<bb
We have a separate savings account that we put $20 in every week just to pay our property tax. It is only a small city lot with a house and garage. We have no mortgage. The garage takes all of the back yard so the small garden goes in the front yard. We could never be fully self sufficient but we do the best we can to provide for our self.
car guy — ok, maybe this is “silly” , maybe not..Think outside the box…
-how about a greenhouse on the garage roof? (assume it would need renovating…might be worth it might not)
-got any neighbors (especially older ones) not using their garden? maybe they would trade their garden space to you for weekly veg
-community garden?
-stealth garden (yup, even in cities/towns…read of folks planting the boulevard/park/back of city hall etc
have fun..
Becoming self-sufficuent is a labor of love. If it was easy, everyone would do it.
As our old resident TP King – NRP would say, “Its a lifestyle”.
Indeed it is.
Seems that one component of self-sufficiency is sustainability. When we’ve dropped trees, I’ve planted more. Alders for alders. But also higher value maples and evergreens.
It’s hard work preparing raw ground for a garden and building planting beds takes material as well as labor. But raised beds take far less work and less fuel and mechanical input year upon year.
Fruit trees, berry bushes, and perennial garden plants like asparagus and rhubarb cost more initially, but will continue to produce for years with minimal care.
If we are choosing to be more self-sufficient as part of a preparedness lifestyle, then the more sustainable our inputs and practices the better. Particularly as we grow older, or just in case our preps are one day all we can rely on.
I’ve just finished watching a series of short films called Soil Carbon Cowboys about ranchers and cattle farmers who changed from continuous grazing to adaptive multi-paddock (rotational) grazing. Less work, fewer inputs, more sustainable. I recommend it.
carboncowboys.org/
Although not self sufficient, we are much closer than we were a few years ago. We paid off our house, and saved enough to buy a cabin/BOL. Yes, we pay WAY too much property tax, but no monthly mortgage hanging over our heads.
I have to container garden in suburbia, but every hand-grown and picked item tastes especially wonderful. Ditto the items carefully stored in jars… each of those jars is part of one more meal ready to go as needed.
I sleep better at night knowing we have come this far. Cheap, no… it hasn’t been. But, each step feels better than the last. And it’s pretty cool that DH finally gets why I have been doing and pushing, growing and stacking. One of the only good things to come from this virus is putting what we have and know to the test, and feeling pretty good about what’s been invested. It’s more positive to look at this effort as an investment rather than an expense.
I would just like to commend all of you for your hard work and doing what you can to be independent. I’m a early 40 something, married guy with a little one, working on the goal of being self sufficient and all the above reading is motivating. Thx
My cows have yet to make me any real $ if you consider the hours of time I put in on fencing, hauling feed, fuel and Vet bills. Yet the cattle along with a small garden and my other preps made this experience much less stressful. I am thankful I have a great job that pays well and has offset the expense associated with working towards being self sufficient. We don’t have the big house, new vehicles or grand vacations of my peers, but they don’t have the piece of mind that they are 100% confident they can feed their families in 6 months if everything shuts down for real. I see this episode in history as a slow down, a reminder, we are not as important as we think we are. Make the most of your time here while you can.
In my opinion what we call self sufficiency is really what our grandparents or great grandparents would consider as “normal”. Yes there is expense, hard work, know how, and so on but once established, for the most part, investments in gardens, chicken coops, orchards, etc, only require maintenance. Once this was a multi-generational homestead situation now (perhaps) not. Still as many have commented there is a feeling of accomplishment, a satisfaction, in being as self sufficient as possible that you can not put a price tag on. As I get older I see the wisdom of those generational home steads as many things that were once easy(ier) become harder and require more time to recover from.
Many practice this life style and knowingly gave up opportunities to make money have fine homes and luxury cars. I did and I am satisfied with my decision!
I currently have my job in “the city” and am nearing the end of my long career.
I went to school to obtain a job that would lead to steady work years ago. My expertise has been in setting aside for the future and the occasional catastrophe. This has payed off several times over the years.
This site has been and will hopefully remain a resource of knowledge for those coming into the lifestyle change in the years to come. I discovered it over 10 years ago after my relocation to another state. Whether it be gardening, farming or raising of livestock, canning or preserving your produce or other aspects of self sufficiency, this site has several people with expertise on that topic.
My hobbies are sustainable or they mostly pay for themselves or cost minimal cash outlay. That is how I am able to shoot a lot over the years. Getting a job as a part time gunsmith has led to many connections. Sometimes the customer will pay me in cash, at other times, they will pay me in home grown beef or eggs. Barter is still alive and well.
Hopefully the hobbies you have or get into will be enjoyable. When they are not enjoyable, they become work. Find your niche and your happy place and develop your expertise. One day, people will begin to refer to. you and consult you for that knowledge.
This website has been run by the same guy for over those 10 years and a website is only as good as the person that runs it. That says a lot for Ken J. so many thanks to him and his efforts. Websites that last longer than 10 years is relatively rare.
Kula,
I had access to numerous old lawn chairs. You know, the ones with the webbing. Anyway, I destructed the lawn chair frames into inverted U shapes. I used ripped down lumber for the lengthwise runners, 10′ sections. I put 3 U shapes on each 10′ section. A few 45 degree lumber pieces at each U, for stability. I bought 60″ chicken wire, which fit perfectly. Used staples for the chicken wire onto the lumber and good quality wire ties around the U. Harbor freight ties won’t last long, UV rays?
PVC should work well, though the chicken wire attachment might be challenging. My tunnels weigh approx. 7lbs. per 10′ section. Really easy to move ’em. Let me know what ya come up with and how it works.
My tunnels and coop are within 5′ chainlink, my garden. The coop is on wheels so I can move it and the tunnels between the rows of garden. Chickens can turn a weedy spot to pure dirt in no time, as ya well know. Good luck
What does it cost?….
Here are a cpl of questions before I give my answer.
What does it cost to go to the Super Bowl Football Game? $10-20-maybe 30K for the good seats?
What does it cost to go to Kulafarmer’s little Island for a nice Vacation? Back in 90s I dumped right at $23,000 for two weeks.
What does it cost for a “New Truck” now-a-days? $65-$80K or more.
Last one… How much money did you make working in your entire life? $2M maybe $3M.
Ken makes a very good point here and I’m not arguing his point at all. The point I’m going to try to make is this.
Are you living the “Lifestyle” you want? And are you happy with the Lifestyle? Or are you someone that spends their money on 300 channels of TV, eats Ribeye Steak every night, and has to have the very latest I-phone at $1200+?
Personally I work very hard and I do mean very hard on my little hunk of Land/Home/Lifestyle.
I don’t really care if I spend $50 on Manure for the Garden or $10 on a bag of dog treats for Blue.
I am enjoying the Life I am living where I am now. If and that’s a HUGE ‘IF’ I ever find I’m no longer getting up each new day to what I do very much love doing now….. Well than I guess I’ll again work my butt off to change that.
I very much doubt that day will come anytime soon, but one never knows.
I know quite a few people that have absolutely no idea how to enjoy themselves, they run around like fools trying to buy happiness and end up poor in both money and happiness.
Why is that? They are looking for “instant gratification” nothing more. They want/need to be happy right now and will never truly find what it is they are looking for.
So, yes, I’m very much living the Lifestyle I enjoy, and yes it cost me what I’m willing to pay for that, I honestly believe most here on this BLOG feel the same.
I also know there are millions and millions of people out there that have absolutely zero idea what I’m babbling on about. And I honestly feel for those that have never lived on a Ranch, a Farm, or even in an area where you can hear the Coyotes howling at night. Even most of my family still have not really seen the Stars coming out at night so strong it almost looks like Day.
Don’t know about y’all but I’m not planning on that New Truck or that Super Bowl ticket anytime soon, but for now I need to go unload that Manure for the Garden, maybe spend a little more time tossing a few Road Apples for Blue and truly enjoy what I call “The Lifestyle”
Thank you again for the good Article Ken.
Hey bud,
Hows that retirement!
Busy huh!
Kulafarmer:
Hi-ya buddy.
Yeah, never thought I’d be so busy being retired.
I’ll slow down after a bit I’m sure.
Looks like quite a few new people showing up here, that’s great.
So, you staying out of trouble with that young Filly your courting? 😁
My grandfather mentioned multiple times that he was way busier after he retired. Before retirement, he lived in the city with no yard. Just before retiring, he bought 9 acres out by where I grew up. That kept him super busy up until Alzheimer’s progressed to the point he couldn’t do much. I do know that for many years he worked his butt off on his property as I was often there helping him. As a result he was very fit. I mentioned one time that he could work circles around most of my friends in our 20’s.
NRP & Blue “I know quite a few people that have absolutely no idea how to enjoy themselves”———–well, have to admit, I/we don’t do a lot/much what most folks might consider “fun”, etc..However, I/we enjoy/get tremendous contentment/happiness by “having ends meet”, so to speak, paying our bills, being able to pay our bills, having put aside extra food/groceries, (and yes TP)…Sometimes those folks “chasing endless whatever”, need to give some thought to “happiness is wanting what you have, NOT having what you want..”…ah well…
and speaking of TP NRP, today was at big wharehouse store, TP was on sale…Looked carefully, and there was no sigh stating limits , so I put many packs in my cart. As I tooled around, noticed other did same…And by the way, it was early, seniors hour. Wouldn’t you know it a “younger” couple (maybe 45) was walking down one aisle, and spotted my cart and started making LOUD comments about me/my TP…and how I should ONLY take ONE, etc..I just ignored them..Not a thing was said a checkout, so I was wishing I had bought more, grin.
Jane Foxe:
Tos obvious your not an old crunchy fart like myself, I usually use the return comment of “Please stop wasting good air on your breathing, those brain cells you have are long overdue for training”.
Usually just get a blank stare back.
PS: good score on the TP.
“Is 600 rolls really enough?”.
NRP & Blue — grin, all good…(am a bit crusty, myself, just was in a rush to get done/get gone..)..
thks re TP..NO 600 is not enough….not nearly.
I keep seeing headlines/hearing comments on radio from “medical officials” that we should expect a second or third “wave” of this virus, and that we could well see it worse than first..Well, it does make me wonder just what “they” are “preparing” us for, but is sounds odd..
at any rate, I plan to be well stocked, especially re toilet paper…by the way, that was 200 rolls picked up today..(and I have pretty good stock already)…With interest rates as they are, figure it is good place to spend my money.
Jane Foxe :
Personally I see absolutely nothing good coming around the corner, so to speak.
Seems there is little talk of the crop shortages, and distribution problems that just disappeared.
If someone were to ask me how Deep should the Deep Pantry be…..
2 years minimum if you can. This new found power the state’s have found will not subside quickly.
Please remember, the ones that control the food control the people.
And yes there will be a second and third “wave”. No different than any other Virus, except the fact the people are being scared to death, and TPTB are using it to full advantage.
NRP & Blue — agree with all.
NRP & Blue
Wonderful post, thank you. Along those lines, my last few days have been filled with really hard work, but very fulfilling, too. I wouldn’t trade it for all the money in the world. Not that a little more money wouldn’t come in handy, lol.
The stars, the sunsets, the owls and coyotes and spring peepers, make all the sweat worth it. My two younger men and I planted together yesterday. Aged compost, from our own steers, seedlings from our greenhouse, and some learning about plant families and how to identify them. It was a very good day, and a lifestyle we’re grateful for!
Farmgirl:
Thank you….
Sorry Ken, we deviated from Article a little
Farm, honestly it took 5000 years to figure out, life is to short to sweat the small stuff..
Please y’all live the Lifestyle you choose, and do it well….
So if the rambling is from you and your dog (Blue), my question is who does the rambling and who does the typing for this post? Do you do the rambling and Blue does the typing? Or is it the other way around? Hehe
Satisfaction—- isn’t that what the kids, who left the farm, went to the city to find? Now his kids, and grandkids want to move back to the country to escape from the rat race of the city. For what ? Satisfaction.
As Paul Harvey said ” God made a farmer “, maybe because He knew just how much man would appreciate the value of workin the soil, etc.
Perhaps more character, work ethic, and traditional values would have been retained if more people had seen the benefits of living on a farm, if the average family farm could have possibly remained more
financially viable.
Would they have remained so if there had not been the implementation of the modern technology/techniques, and methods which eventually led to out producing the market, thus leading to the inevitable price drops? Rambling thoughts.
Anyway, enjoy the blessings of your chosen lifestyle. And don’t forget your hat while in the garden. 🥕🌽🍅🐤
Cost is relative… you can follow all that tube wanna be crap or go basic. If your not sure f basic think back 200 , 300 years or more ago….
let’s get real people Yep it’s labor intensive but well worth it.
as for dumb questions. There are NONE! The only one is the one mt asked. If / when someone scoffs at the question then they’re not worth their weight in dg sh..t
trapper
You and I think alot alike. A way to learn the old way is the Foxfire series. I do alot the 1860 way, and a lot the 2021 way, but when push comes to shove, I still know the OLD ways. That will save my ass in a real SHTF. Yep, I can skin a buck and run a trap-line.
BTW, still learning new/old skill, everyday
BTW, there is no such thing as a stupid question. I don’t know, means, I don’t know
If you look at a chicken just as an egg-producer, they are costly. But some also produce chicks, which are getting more and more expensive to buy, they produce meat and they produce manure. Bedding used to be stuffed with chicken feathers, too. They don’t mind having your leftovers for their supper, and they are entertaining. They scratch up and eat a lot of the bugs that would otherwise crawl up my cherry trees and ruin the fruit.
John Doe – ROI on water, for us was simple. Well drilled at $10/ft cased, solar pump/panels came in around 7 YR ROI if just hooked to co-op for electricity (assume sunk costs on well). It is 1 yr if hooked to rural water. Math was easy. Five wells scattered about the property, house included, with multiple tanks distributed amongst the paddocks for rotational grazing. Cost and labor up front, but beats hauling water (time/diesel cost).
To john doe,
Yes, this entire blog is basically my opinion on various matters.
I too grow my own food to an extent. I do it for the wonderful taste. Nutrition. I do it so that I can preserve it for later consumption (preparedness and well-being with healthy nutritious food).
You mentioned solar… I invested a ton of money (at least relative to my own earnings) building an off-grid system which sits side-by-side with my existing grid system. The return-on-investment is different for everyone, depending on their system, etc.. Anyway, I did not sink the money into this for a ROI. I did it for preparedness, and I just feel better about having my own power source independent from “the grid”, or a generator which requires a fuel source. Although there is an eventual ‘break even’ point, years down the road, it was not my motivation for doing so. It was more about the concept of being more self-sufficient.
You mentioned water. Again, a well (or a natural spring – which I have), provides a level of self reliance for one’s water source. And as you mentioned, no fluoride in it either (although a Berkey countertop filter system can be equipped with a fluoride filter too).
Thinking back to when I wrote this article, my thoughts were to try and point out that while it may be expensive to initialize some things to do with being more self-sufficient, the end result is peace of mind and good preparedness (if one wishes to take it to that extent). It was not intended to be a scientific or mathematical analysis. Rather, food for thought.