DO NOT invest in the interests of others when you are more invested than they are. That is not to say, don't help and don't encourage, but it is to say, don't obligate yourself to the indecision of someone else. What ever you do, do not invest in the lip service of others.
Life here on the homestead was great, until I tried to include someone that simply turned it all upside down and it's now awkward for everyone. While I'm feeding and sheltering several goats that do not belong to me, the owners don't want them sold, but now haven't visited in months and months. The truly sad thing is I proved an idiom, and that just makes me feel like an idiot for having ignored the idiom. "Don't do business with family." I really don't mind keeping 4 pygmy goats for my grandchildren and selling the babies and feeding their bank accounts, but it's not truly imparting the spirit of homesteading in the future generation, that I had hoped to do with this endeavor. It's just what their eccentric G-ma does. Fortunately, I was able to get rid of the rest of the "liabilities" purchased last year that were supposed to become assets toward the future, and that's a good thing.
We all know, we all have the best of intentions. There's an old saying about good intentions too, and I can tell you, it's as close to hell as I care to get. When it comes to this homesteading idea, for some it's only a fad, and for some it's going to be a place to "keep on a back burner" just in case . . . Homesteading is no small investment and no easy task. It's not that it's hard or expensive, it's just a completely different way of life. It's certainly not expensive to maintain, but the front end set up is not cheap, but certainly well worth the saving, the planning, the preparing, and the investment; in that order! I've taken some "rounders" that I wish I'd have avoided, but 10 years ago there wasn't this much information out there. I'd been doing it for over 7 years before I even knew there was a name for it, and I'd been preparing for it for nearly a decade before it was time to step into homesteading. When I started, although I had a lot of books, I had three that pertained to this particular goal. The Bible, "Back to Eden" by Jethro Kloss, and my Dad brought me, "Back to Basics" when he came down to help fence the starter homestead! I've since written a book, myself, on the topic, entitled, "Simply Abundant," as well as maintaining a website.
I began a realistic savings plan in 1990. It wasn't huge, but it was consistent. I then worked to be out of debt by 40, with a few assets along the way. I didn't just aim to be out of debt with no place to live and no way to get there. At 40, I was debt free, and continued to save. In 1999, I knew I would be heading into an unknown project and in 2000, I began to look at land, while continuing to serve YHWH and save toward the move. It was still nearly 5 years before I saw the pillar of fire and the vision begin to take shape. Now, I'm not saying all this to discourage anyone who just woke up this morning and decided the FDA will approve anything and it's time to grow your own! I was on a very limited income through my preparing years, and that's why I share this, because with YHWH all things are possible.
I think what makes homesteading so "odd" is really three things that have changed dramatically in less than three generations. First, people don't really consider owning things and being out of debt. Our society is one of a perpetual motion of spending and that involves things that are simply never paid for or paid off. Now we seem to have debt with no tangible assets, which I can't even fathom. Second, most Americans have no idea where food really comes from. Gardens are hobbies for a few and definitely archaic for most. Third, the idea of leaving a legacy or inheritance was replaced with beneficiary on a life insurance policy. People don't bequeath or inherit businesses or land any more, death has become just one more financial transaction.
I will conclude this blog as it began. When you get the glimpse of the vision, head that way, prepare for it, and whatever you do, do not try to appease or concede to gain interest around you. Don't let the naysayers influence you, either. There is a lot of information available now toward these projects, and many of us are also willing to impart a few warning signs to alleviate pitfalls and hasten the newcomer's progress! Just do what you know needs to be done and let the rest fall into place or fall away. Even with the mistakes I've made, there is no better life than doing what you know you were created to do.
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