How do I get my family on board?

[mrbstephens]

I've been dreaming of working my way up to a more self sufficient life. My family and I live on a 1/2 acre with neighbors surrounding us. Last spring I bought 6 chickens who are now happily living in their coop and laying eggs. A couple of my neighbors aren't too thrilled about the crowing rooster, but oh well. I have a small vegetable garden that didn't do so well this year because the trees on my property are growing and are starting to create too much shade. I planted raspberries and blackberries which are really starting to take off. I also have a fabulous mulberry tree which I make lots of jam out of the berries every year. So, my plans are to cut many trees down. One of which would be a large oak tree in the middle of the backyard which has the new rope swing hanging from it. I want to make a huge vegetable garden there. Husband says he'll cut it down, but he doesn't want a huge vegetable garden in the middle of the backyard. He says it'll take away too much play space for the kids. I think the kids will still have PLENTY. The kids say they don't want me to cut the tree down because they love the tire swing there. We could hang the swing elsewhere. The tree is pretty ugly and infested with gall and is killing the lawn anyway. It's really the best place for growing veggies. In the front yard, I would like to cut down this huge blue atlas cedar(never really liked it) and plant fruit trees. That's right....an orchard in the FRONT YARD. My neighbors will really think I'm a wacko for this one! Husband says no way. Too weird, too difficult to mow around. Kids say COOL! I had a solar energy guy come to my house today to give me an idea on what would be involved with adding solar panels to the roof. He says I need to cut down the gorgeous magnolia tree growing in the front of the house. I really like that tree, but I might like solar energy more. Daughter REALLY doesn't want me to cut the tree down because it blooms so beautifully outside her bedroom window. Unfortunately the flowers only last two weeks anyway. How do I get my family on board with my crazy plans????

 

[justusnak]

I dont think your plans are crazy at all!
I dont think any of us here would....however...we have all had to deal with a few "Nay Sayers" in our time. Once you get that garden growing...and start canning those wonderfull veggies..your family will be begging you to take out more yard! LOL
Maybe for the fruit trees...go to the local farmers Market, and buy some fresh apples....make some applesauce...and fresh apple pies. Maybe Apple tarts....or apple leather for the kiddos. Then...once they are all "hooked" tell them...I wish we had an apple tree in our yard, since these are so expencive, I dont think I will be buying any more" Might be evil...but, MIGHT work!
Maybe once the tree in the back yard is gone..you will be able to convince hubby just how pretty a garden would be, and how much you could save...and how yummy the food will be! Could you plant along the fenceline? Fences make great "trellises" for your garden veggies. Maybe the Magnolia can be trimmed, instead of cut down?
I wish you all the luck in becomeing SS. Its a great way of life!

 

[Lady Henevere]

I'm totally with you here -- my family thinks I'm a little nuts too. I'd like everything to be edible, and I couldn't care less about having grass or "pretty" landscaping. But I have to admit that DH right to some degree -- play space is a good thing for kids, I don't want to make the neighbors too mad, etc. So we compromised and DH basically told me I could plant whatever I want, just make it look good.

Enter permaculture, my new-found inspiration. Permaculture concepts, "food forests," or "edible landscaping" can help inspire you about how to arrange things so that it's beautiful to the traditional eye, but your edible stuff can be all over the place. Does a garden have to be a big rectangle with rows? Maybe not. Maybe curvy paths surrounded with beautiful plants (that just happen to be cabbages or herbs) would make the family happy. Does a fruit orchard have to be in rows across the front yard -- or can you just replace non-fruiting trees in your landscape with fruit trees? And most veggie seed packs will say that they have to be in "full sun," but they don't really. You can grow things pretty well under a sparsely-foliated tree, provided there's plenty of root space. (That's another permaculture concept: layering like a forest, and making the layers grow well together.) So maybe you could thin some of the trees rather than cutting them down altogether.

I could go on and on, but I'll spare you! If you're interested, go to your local library or bookstore and get a copy of Gaia's Garden or Food Not Lawns. Also, see http://www.edibleforestgardens.com/about_gardening. And we had a little permaculture conversation over here: http://www.sufficientself.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=2978

Best of luck! Let us know how it goes.

 

[ORChick]

Permaculture is a great concept, but I must admit its one that doesn't fit my gardening style. However there is another idea that might appeal to you, and your hubby, called a potager - which is just French for kitchen garden. But it includes all the usual suspects as a veggie garden, as well as flowers and herbs, in a pleasing design. This is a site I found just by googling "beautiful kitchen gardens" - http://robbinscabin.blogspot.com/2008/02/veggie-or-kitchen-garden-theres.html - but I'm sure there are many others. Here is one spectacular example in France - http://www.frenchgardening.com/visitez.html?pid=31106784011481 - I was able to visit this garden some years ago. Rather grander than your 1/2 acre will allow, but it shows that a veggie garden doesn't have to be hidden.
Welcome to the group here, and keep us apprised of how your SS journey turns out

 

[Beekissed]

My kids think I'm crazy also, so don't feel alone! My neighbors and others who drive by are slowly getting the concept and find my yard to be quite the point of interest!

I have even had a few say they want to do what I am doing on my little acreage and one who begged to just "follow you around to see what you do"!

I would cut down the ugly and unwanted trees for the garden....kids will play around the garden and hubby doesn't have to mow any of that ground anymore~yay!

The magnolia tree? I'd mount those solar panels elsewhere, if you could, maybe out by your garden in your newly cleared, open space and just run the wires back to your house. A magnolia tree that smells good and gives your daughter pleasure sounds like something worth preserving!

 

[patandchickens]

The backyard veg garden sounds like a non-issue -- get him to cut the tree down and "ok, so it will only be a *little* garden". If you can, avoid being specific about what "little" means <g> or anyhow agree on something he's happy with at present. In future years, you can expand the garden, reminding him that you will be saving him all that mowing (and once you *have* a garden, hopefully he will see its benefit and view the concept in a more positive light).

As for fruit trees in the front yard, that is a tougher one because I think that your husband (mowing around) and daughter (likes the flowering tree outside her window) have valid points and they do live there too. Fruit trees are a good investment if you have a favorable site and lots of time; but remember the return on that investment is delayed a good while, and quite honestly if you have a small lot and some pick-your-own and/or organic orchards within day-trip distance, it may not be the most efficient use of your space, especially if it will cause arguments and friction. I'm certainly not saying fruit trees would be a bad idea, just that their value is probably as much or more "conceptual" as practical in this situation, and you might want to pick your battles

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[TanksHill]

Welcome. Sounds like you are on your way to being more SS. Just remember baby steps. One little thing at a time and soon enough you will realize you have accomplished tons.

One thing about the Magnolia tree. If the Solar guy says it must go to clear the way for the panels. It is most likely on the south side of your house and already helping you by keeping the house shaded in the hot summer. If you cut it down your summer cooling bills will go up. But on the other hand if you had free electricity you could run your AC a much as you wanted. Maybe you could plant other trees in other areas if you decided to take the Magnolia down.

I stopped planting anything that did not give me food back a few years ago. Mostly because water is expensive where I live and I did not want to wast money on just yard decor. I like the Permaculture idea. I will need to read up on that.

good luck, gina

 

[mrbstephens]

Aha! So I took out my trusty pencil and a piece of paper and drew out a possible layout of my new BIG vegetable/flower garden in the backyard. I showed my dh how much less lawn mowing there would be and he said ok!!! Seriously, I ALWAYS get what I want in the end.
Coincidentally my dh just bought himself a ridiculously huge chainsaw today which he'll be using for his wood turning hobby (to cut up logs). So, now he can try it out on this big oak tree which will make good fire wood for next year and I can use the branches for fencing around the new garden to keep the chickens out. Unfortunately getting that ginormous root out won't be any simple task. Stump grinder? Skid steer? I'm so excited! I love new projects!

 

[Beekissed]

Stock panels, T Post, and a few weanling pigs...drill holes in the ground around the stump and pour corn in them. The pigs will root that stump right out of the ground and till up/fertilize the soil for you. Takes awhile, but should be done by spring and then you can sell your piggies!

Then you can re-use the stock panels and t post for around your garden!

 

[Big Daddy]

Remember trees usually increase value. If the one with the tire is dying then cut it down, but the Magnolia may be worth saving. Tank had a good point on the shade. Let us know how the neighbors like the pigs if you go that way.