InstantForum.NET v4.1.2Hobby Farms Forumshttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/forums@bowtieinc.comThu, 11 Mar 2010 15:28:17 GMT20http://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxMary Ann, thanks for the response. It is encouraging to hear about the struggles, that people are going through. It is also neat to hear about the different ideas people are trying.Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:47:06 GMTthestartupmanhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxHey Mary Ann, that is a pretty ambitious agenda isn't it. Good for you and good luck, and good luck with the WHIP and EQUIP Grants too huh. They have both worked well for me in the past and hopefully will get some things done in the future too.Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:11:28 GMTDrawbarhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspx<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">I am currently trying to decide whether to leap or not. I am getting to the point that I need to have full days to get stuff done and the weather this spring/summer and now fall has just not cooperated on the days that I have off from my job. I know that you have to just work through it but some things require a dry day. My job is grant funded and the decision to continue is not completely in my hands and it may not continue past next June so I am trying to put together a list of PT options that I could piece together to keep the income up but also allow me to work around the farming needs. I am applying for some grants (EQIP and WHIP) as well as the private organic farming group to get the capital things done and hope to use them to start improving the land for future pasture/veggie growing areas. Hopefully I can get some income from my piggies but I'm still at such a beginning stage that it's not enough to see me through a winter. I have this goal that by next fall I'll have my own meat in the freezer, veggies in storage and goat milk and that should decrease the amount I need to earn next winter. Mary Ann</FONT>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 09:20:57 GMTmystndhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxThanks Drawbar, I appreciate any feed back I can get.Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:20:10 GMTthestartupmanhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxBelieve it or not, I kind of did this same thing except for the moving part. This being the family farm, I got what I got for better or worse. Other then that, I was pretty much tossed to the wolves.<br><br>But I was in the midst of planning the sheep aspect of things when I got laid off due to the bad economy. It was either sink or swim so I I just ran with what I had and tried to grow the farm a lot faster then what I planned. A few grants from the USDA here and there helped, and ultimately I did well this year, increasing the arable acreage by 10% and the flock of sheep by 400%. When the economy comes back, I will have a choice...stay on farm and work, or go back and become a flash light farmer again. I don't know which way I will go at this point, but the lay off was no doubt a true blessing. I really needed the time (and kick in the hiney) to get this farm productive again.Tue, 27 Oct 2009 13:41:14 GMTDrawbarhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxI guess I don't understand your question Britboy?Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:53:59 GMTthestartupmanhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxJust out of curiosity how do you find out about suitable farms, there areas and suitable areas to do this in?Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:03:43 GMTbritboyhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxIt has been about 4 years of planning for us too. The plan keeps changing slightly with the way the housing market is doing, and with the different news that keeps coming up with my work situation. Good luck to you. What state are you planning your farm in?Sun, 25 Oct 2009 19:09:42 GMTthestartupmanhttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxWe are in a similar situation. We started planning 8 years ago, saving and purchasing the farm house and land. We recently sold our house in Florida, although we were unpleasantly surprised to find that the current real estate crisis here caused a 50% drop (yep...that's right, 50%!) in the value of our house. Still we are pressing forward, waiting for M.'s job transfer to the Huntsville area so we can make the final move.</P><P>I am planning a "soft retirement", hoping my company will allow me to work part-time from home until I can get our farm fully operational.</P><P>Like you, we long for a much simpler life and are willing and anxious to work as hard as we have to in order to make our dream come true.</P><P>Our advise is to keep planning, researching and dreaming!Sun, 25 Oct 2009 14:00:34 GMTNEAlaMADhousehttp://board.hobbyfarms.com/Topic12622-4-1.aspxI was planning to move across the USA to start a retirement farm a few years down the road. Now my job looks like it is closing down as so many have, and I am planning to go ahead a make the move to the West TN area. I think I should be able to take what is left of the equity I have in my home, and be able to pay cash for a farm. I know it will not be an easy road before me, but every part of me longs to get back to the hard work, but simpler life again. I would like to hear from anyone who has done this, or is thinking about doing it.Sat, 24 Oct 2009 19:56:29 GMTthestartupman