On Starting A Farm: Seeking solitude

[Chronos]

So I was wondering whether any of the forum members were pondering on an idea similar to the following: working in whatever profession you choose for a while, and investing the money in a farm for purposes of becoming self-sufficient and/or making money.

I've thinking about doing something similar after I work in the professional world for a good while. (as background knowledge, I'm studying electrical engineering, year 3). On the one hand, me being an ultra introvert, I crave the sort of solitude that the proverbial "farm life" could offer. Perhaps I'm just being naively, or this is just a pipe dream, but I really feel like being away from what you would call "civilization" is a medicine that many of us would perhaps welcome. I'm sure some of us have nostalgia for the summers spent at our grandparents' farms/cottage etc.

As a side note, idealistically speaking, it would be interesting to see if some of us could even form small communities of a few people, with the same vision of course, to see how it would work out; but this is besides the point.

What are your general thoughts on such a thing? Is being away from the places where things happen not feasible?(urban, sub-urban)

[Aces High]

Instead of starting a farm......if you are an ultra introvert my advice would be to wander the US with a small bag shoeless solving crimes and righting wrongs.

(It would be a good idea to change your name to kwai chang kane first)

[TheBorrebyViking]

So I was wondering whether any of the forum members were pondering on an idea similar to the following: working in whatever profession you choose for a while, and investing the money in a farm for purposes of becoming self-sufficient and/or making money.

I've thinking about doing something similar after I work in the professional world for a good while. (as background knowledge, I'm studying electrical engineering, year 3). On the one hand, me being an ultra introvert, I crave the sort of solitude that the proverbial "farm life" could offer. Perhaps I'm just being naively, or this is just a pipe dream, but I really feel like being away from what you would call "civilization" is a medicine that many of us would perhaps welcome. I'm sure some of us have nostalgia for the summers spent at our grandparents' farms/cottage etc.

As a side note, idealistically speaking, it would be interesting to see if some of us could even form small communities of a few people, with the same vision of course, to see how it would work out; but this is besides the point.

What are your general thoughts on such a thing? Is being away from the places where things happen not feasible?(urban, sub-urban)

I have been planning this for sometime. I know Geist has thought of it too. I have about 60k already saved up. 2k can build me a nice solar cabin as well.

[Pallantides]

I used to live on a farm with my family when I was a child, It was not exactly a huge farm but we had sheep, chickens and we cultivated some crop(mostly potatos and carrots)

[TheBorrebyViking]

I used to live on a farm with my family when I was a child, It was not exactly a huge farm but we had sheep, chickens and we cultivated some crop(mostly potatos and carrots)

I grew up in the inner-city slums. I worked on farms when I lived in Texas a bit. I like farming a lot. Also, I lol'd at your rep :thumb001:

[Pallantides]

Also, I lol'd at your rep :thumb001:

You know it can not end well:D

[Daos]

Yes, it's also a dream of mine. I would not want to raise my children in any other kind of environment but a farm at the edge of the woods. I want them to experience all they joys I have experienced growing up in a village and much, much more.

So far I've only managed to gather information regarding certain plants and animals, but hopefully I will start gathering money later this year after I graduate... On the other hand I already own some land, but I don't know if I want to live there because the city is rather close and I fear it will continue expanding once the financial crisis is over and I'll end up with a farm in the city.

[European Loyalist]

I think everybody person in a city has given it some thought.

It's a tough business to succeed in though as an independent farmer. The whole business has been heavily corporatized in NA and Europe.

[Aces High]

I think everybody person in a city has given it some thought.

I havent....farming,fisherman,and a few other related jobs are hard fucking yakka 24/7/365 a year......i dont have any romantic notions about that line of work.
I helped a mate of mine with his grape harvest once......(the key word here is Once)....fuck that.

[Albion]

I've worked on modern, conventional farms and it is exhausting. I like the sound of traditional farming on a small scale, self sufficiency and all that.

For most people though a large one or two acre garden with vegetable, fruit and some chickens will do.
If you've ever dug up a acre or two by spade you'll understand. :D

1 acre of potatoes can feed around 10 people tops apparently so I'd definitely plant them. The rest would be other high-yielding crops, a few chickens rotated over fallow and maybe some fish farming (carp).
For people wanting to be self sufficient I'd prefer it if they got land which wouldn't otherwise be cultivated by conventional farmers. I hold this view because we must ensure food security and smallholders can often work land which would otherwise be useless to agriculture.

I have a large garden and my family rents ground from lady muck at the manor. In winter when it all turns to mud it can change your perceptions, but summer is very nice.

I'm also introverted and seek solitude, not much of that in the suburbs sadly. The hills out of town are nice and deserted though with some cheaper properties.

[TheBorrebyViking]

qghZ2ao7GKM

Song at the start is good too.

[Treffie]

I've been considering buying a small holding for quite some time now and to completely depart from my background in IT. Been eyeing up some properties in Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire which are predominantly rural areas, but some of the prices for an average 15 acre site are extortionate. I'd want to be as diverse as possible, and keep about 20 cows. I wouldn't keep them for meat solely, I'd sell the young bulls as soon as they're ready for market and use the females for milk and set up a mini creamery producing specialist cheese. I would also have alpaca instead of sheep as their wool is a much better quality which also makes it more valuable. Other animals would include chickens (including speciality breeds), geese, goats etc. To be able to market the products more effectively, I'd wish to join a small co-operative, such as Myddfai (http://www.myddfai.com/). As for the 24/7 `drudgery` I think I'd rather work with real animals and not the animals in my office. :D

Edit; I should add that if was to buy a property with a few empty outbuildings, I'd renovate them at minimal cost and rent them out to tourists, esp mountain bikers where there is a big demand for it in the areas that I would choose. I've heard that many properties in these areas are occupied for up to 40 weeks per year.