Downgrade coming

[FarmerChick]

hey 2dream

yup--downgrade envy...LOL

I have 120 acres and when I would read about the people here who have 2-3 acres or even just a regular yard and all they get accomplished on that smaller acerage! They do very well!! ...I got envious!!

I have been thinking hard on selling 1/2 that land but I don't think Tony would ever ever do it. He wants it all for Nicole. But unloading some to me means we could live very well with that money. That will have to be a big decision later down the road of life I guess.

Life is short. Living good as I get older seems to be a priority..lol

 

[Farmfresh]

Never SELL that land. Tony is right. It will be very hard in the future to obtain land like that. I know.

I was alive and a teen when BOTH my grandfather's birth farm of 100 acres (called Bunker Hill Farm) which was about HALF fruit orchards and my grandmother's birth farm of 80 acres of BEAUTIFUL rolling pasture land was sold. I am one of those urban yard farmers now as I speak. Prices are so out of control I don't know if I'll ever afford any.

Instead of selling ... LEASE that land. My uncle and aunt do just that. They live on some beautiful land in Kansas. Now that they are old they lease ALL, but their small yard. They have nice monthly income from the land PLUS the guy that leases it raises YAKS and llamas! So they have beautiful exotic animals to watch from their patio as well.

You can cut down to a very small amount and still be pretty self sufficient. I keep between 3 and 4 hens and they keep me in eggs. I raise about 30 broilers a year and fill my freezer. With less you can do a better job more efficiently and still have time to play!

I would like someday to be debt free on a small piece of my own land. (15 acres is looking about right) Then by farming small I could retire and PLAY the 40 + hours a week that I normally go to work. (a dream!)

 

[enjoy the ride]

I know the feeling- it's part of getting older AND wiser to figure out what is important and what is not.
I retired after my sister died at age 57. As soon as I paid off my house, which was important to me, I decided that having my time to enjoy was worth more than frittering away money in my spare time to make myself feel better.
But I keep having that nagging little voice that says I should get some chickens................

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I agree with FarmFresh. Lease the land and keep it in the family. That way you are helping someone who wants to farm and also making some money from the land. Plus then you won't have to look out the window and see new neighbors.

I hope you find a more relaxed pace and time to do the things you enjoy the most.

 

[FarmerChick]

I hear you FF
just gets in my head sometimes the money I could be enjoying from 1/2 of that land!

probably will never sell it --at least it is a great security!

 

[FarmerChick]

hey ETR
sorry about your sister and I realize that would jolt one into a more real place!

You are right. It just gets hard. And YOU WOULD LOVE a few chickens...you go for it..LOL


Plus I just got up from feeding the goats---my favorite doe Bridgett died.
Tony is loading her up and taking her to the burial ground at the other barn. UGH--made me very sad!!!! She was so old and as I see the herd that I love pass away, it just makes me sad.

Tony wants to sell all the gals but I won't let him. I say they retire here til the end. I guess there will be more of that to come in the next few years. Having a old herd means one by one ya know...ugh

 

[FarmerChick]

hey drake

today just even made me want a slower pace again.

My fav goat passed today. Ugh

I am getting older and wimpier by the moment!
Just made me very sad for some reason.

But yea land at least is a very big security. Once you sell it is gone forever. I know...

 

[DrakeMaiden]

I'm sorry to hear about your goat.

I know how you are feeling, because we have lost two ducks in the past two mornings. The week is off to a heavy start here.

I think you will be happier keeping the land in your own hands. You are right . . . some day you may need to find a new owner for it, but wait until it is your last resort.

 

[FarmerChick]

sorry on your ducks. I know....sometimes days right? UGH

 

[Quail_Antwerp]

hey 2dream

yup--downgrade envy...LOL

I have 120 acres and when I would read about the people here who have 2-3 acres or even just a regular yard and all they get accomplished on that smaller acerage! They do very well!! ...I got envious!!

I have been thinking hard on selling 1/2 that land but I don't think Tony would ever ever do it. He wants it all for Nicole. But unloading some to me means we could live very well with that money. That will have to be a big decision later down the road of life I guess.

Life is short. Living good as I get older seems to be a priority..lol

Funny that you have envy over smaller acerage!! Earlier this year when you were talking about planting all those acres of watermelon, onions, etc. I was sitting here envious of your 120 acre farm!!

Course, I'm not envious of the work you put into planting all that, but we sure would still love 120 acres for raising beef, cutting hay, and planting corn!

I think it's funny, too, that you're trying to downsize, and I'm trying to upgrade!