Downgrade coming

[FarmerChick]

It is wild reading all the upgrades everyone wants for their SS lifestyle.

I am downgrading the farm. I just sold all my kids. Only kept 1 doe Rosie cause it became Nicoles. I kept no replacements.

Does are bred one more time...waiting on kids. All will go to sale and 2 to the freezer for me.

THEN NO MORE BREEDING. Done. I have 30 does that will then just die in retirement in the pasture.

For my milk I need for my soaps, I am buying from a younger couple that started a goat milk business. I boost the local economy, will become a big customer for them and no more work for me with milking and kids and all that. When that herd dies out I am done with goats.



We are only doing 20 acres of veggies. Usually we do about 60 acres give or take. Tired of hauling to the market, prep for the markets and all that field work. Again we are downgrading now. We are making a definite effort to slow down.


We are selling 100 of our 250 chickens in a few weeks. So will be down to only 150 then and that egg washing work will be easy. (And when those 150 are past prime for egg laying in 2 years) I doubt we will buy any more chickens for the farm business. I will have some for us.


Hogs--have about 125 at all times for sausage. BUT decided to not buy replacements.

We decided to do the farmer market next year on every other weekend. So only 2 Sat. per month. That means only 2 hogs are needed for the month.....and no more selling hogs to customers....so that means we can wittle down the hog population to about 40 give or take. Alot less work and alot less hauling feeds for all these animals.



I am tired of 10 years of full speed farm work. Made great money, had a blast, but all this hard work is bending me like the letter S.....LOL...after field work I can barely stand up straight anymore. Darn near 50 yrs old and have had it.


So will keep farming,,,,,but on a much smaller scale.


I can't wait to "shut 'er down" to a lower, slower, and more easy lifestyle!!!!



It is so hard to make that step to back down....but we are doing it. YIPPEE!! WA HOO!!! YEAH! Took alot of chatting with Tony but he saw the light too...LOL

 

[TanksHill]

Wow, that's great. What will you do with all your free time? Just enjoy the slower pace, do some fishing? Whatever it is enjoy!!!

 

[me&thegals]

Wow, have you been working hard! Enjoy your hard-earned slowing-down time

 

[punkin]

We're not spring "Chicks" anymore, are we?

I'm glad you finally realized that you & Tony have been working too hard. I know Nicole will like more "Mommy & Daddy" time.

I hope Tony is doing well and that this is not related to his health issues he had earlier. How is he, BTW?

Just going to market twice per month will really free up some of your weekends. Camping, camping, camping . . .

Are the soaps still doing well? I've just started making homemade soap. I did handmilling at first, and then, one thing led to another. Of course, I don't do it on such a grand scale as you. The largest I've done so far is a 3-4 lb. batch in a tupperware container. I did just order a "no line" mold with a bar cutter, so that will make it easier.

 

[FarmerChick]

yea Gina
there won't be tons of free time cause we still have the critters---LOL--but I should acquire less physical work thru the day and gain a few hrs.

Sleep--HA HA---a little later getting up and that would be a big reward!

And definitely fishing will be involved!

 

[FarmerChick]

thanks me&thegals

it will be nice to just relax a little more....breathe a little slower.

going so fast paced all the time that this downgrade will be wonderful!

 

[FarmerChick]

Hey punkin

you sure can say that again!!! not a spring chick anymore....LOL


One reason is Tony is doing OK---but he still just doesn't feel 100%
I think it is the kind of thing where time will either make him better or worse??? Honestly I don't know......but I do know one reason I am making a true slow down is for his health and mine.

I am physically tired and being almost 50---I don't want to hit true retirement and be physically shot you know. I want a good back when I get older..HA HA

And Tony---between his 48 hr. week job and the farm....it is just too much.

Life is too short. I am not going into my older years hunched over and crooked from farming..LOL...the almighty dollar isn't worth it at all.




yea---truly time to downgrade! Long time coming, kept thinking and thinking and now taking real action.



HEY----I went shopping most of the day with my friend Barb (the dairy farmer). We had lunch and had a blast and didn't care about farming today..HA HA

 

[miss_thenorth]

I'm sure this was not an esy dicision for you guys to make, but I do think it is a wise one.

I admire you for realizing your priorities, and discovering money is not highest on the list. You have decided that life and living is more important. Enjoy it, and congratulations!!!!

 

[2dream]

Is it ok if I have downgrade envy? Good for you girl. You and Tony both need and deserve some time. I get tired sometimes just reading about all you two do.

 

[FarmerChick]

yea missthenorth

I got tired of chasing those extra dollars. Time to back down, slow down, smell those weeds in the garden..HAHA

I am tired. Tired of the hard work. I never avoided hard work but it sure is time to cut it in half.