Re: California city boy wants to go rural and self-sufficient, but not in California

"Eric Bragas" <ericbragas@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message

Darn, this seems to be going downhill very fast. I was hoping to avoid
that.

Don't let that worry you, it's par for the course here.

To address the question about my intended activities, it would be both
target shooting and hunting. Lots and lots of target shooting,
because I would like to amass quite the collection of guns.

Now hold on second before we get back to what you think is the discussion.

What is the range of the bullets which will come from the barrels of this
collection you plan to get? How do you propose to keep each and every
bullet on your place? How do you propose to manage the noise involved when
you do lots and lots of target practice?

If you plan to use any of your guns for hunting, and you want to do so on
your own land, then that will define the limits of your land. So, if you
buy a dead flat block of land, the dimensions of the land (if you plan to
hunt safely) will relate to the bullet range of your hunting rifle.

I'm not just going on about your guns for the sake of it. The guns you have
access to in the US will either limit your land size or limit your (safe for
the neighbours) gun choice, or limit how and where you can use your guns.

If you plan to own an arsenal of high powered rifles for hunting on your own
place you will need a huge slab of land and given that you don't sound like
you have a lot of bucks tied up in assets that you can trade when you are
ready for your rural move, it doesn't sound like you will have the luxury of
buying a huge slab of land. Think about how many guns you want vs need and
where/how you can use them.

So back to the discussion:

FarmI, I have very little experience at what you've inquired: never
raised chickens or any kind of animals, I've managed only a small
garden of tomatoes and strawberries and zucchini and a few other
veggies [that coincidentally don't require much work here in
California] in my backyard, and I know nothing of maintaining fruit or
nut trees. But on the other hand, my wife grew up doing all of these
things in semi-rural California: chickens, goats, a much larger garden
(but not a farm), canning food for the winter, etc. The father-in-law
managed the orchard nut and fruit trees, but we're both motivated to
do this for the sake of our kids and our independence. I have little
doubt that we can learn these skills you list by the time we're
actually ready to do it. I know book knowledge doesn't substitute for
experience, but we're willing to accept our mistakes and learn from
them.

Indeed you can learn those things. You and your family have some experience
so you aren't totally without an interest in the things you plan to do.

What can we do now to prepare for such a lifestyle change? Save
money, I suppose. We rent, so we don't have the luxury of digging up
the flowers here and replacing them with vegetables. Is there some
thing(s) you would suggest as preparation?

Others have posted some good advice so I'll just add a few things.

You don't want to land in a new place with dreams and not a lot else, so
think about what you can do where you are and do right now. If you 'do' now
and where you, you'll learn from doing.

If you live in a place with a yard, you can do an huge amount where you live
to help you learn and move further towards your goal. Pots/old bathtubs or
even polystyrene boxes can be used to grow fruit, veg and trees in. If you
are restricted on what you can do by a lease look at ways to get round it.
Can they be tucked into a corner or painted a matching colour so they don't
look like an eyesore. Looking after them and 'enjoying' the disappointment,
hopes, successes will stand you in good stead if you stay the course and do
eventually go rural.

A possible alternative could be an allotment (although I'm sure that isn't
the name used in the US. In the UK there are scheme for people to rent an
"allotment". I do know that some places in the US have such schemes as a
friend living in NY had one. What I'm thinking of is that you rent a
section of some land on which to grow things. In the UK they tend to be in
high density housing areas and often where there is a lot of public housing
and the mixed community of people from all lands and who grow a huge
diversity of things seems to be a good training ground/place for social
interaction.

Collect tools learn how to use them or just stockpile ones that will
eventually be of use. Collect books and clothes suitable for rural living.
This means warm, comfortable, wet weather and quality, but long lasting
quality not fashion type quality.

Can you do night courses that will give you new/useful rural skills.

Does your lease allow you to you have an ark to hold a couple of chooks
(chickens)?

Look at Mother Earth News, do a google on "permaculture" and anything else
that occurs to you.

This is an Australian site so other than the climatic/weather conditions
being similar to California, it probably won't resonate with you, but you
may find some interesting things there: http://www.earthgarden.com.au/


.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: California city boy wants to go rural and self-sufficient, but not in California
    ... Lots and lots of target shooting, ... If you plan to use any of your guns for hunting, and you want to do so on your own land, then that will define the limits of your land. ...
    (misc.rural)
  • Re: Yesterday we received the great news that the Hunting Bill will be reintroduced to the Commons n
    ... >> owning, or renting, land. ... and the death needs to be fast and humane. ... >> Hunting happens in the states and in france and germany. ... >often consists of shooting males and leaving females alone. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Scottish land beats English prices
    ... ask to hunt, with permission granted. ... with the men and boys all going out hunting together. ... As time passed, and land values rose, some who had money and enjoyed ... previous landowners when they couldn't pay their loans. ...
    (uk.business.agriculture)
  • Re: Yesterday we received the great news that the Hunting Bill will be reintroduced to the Commons n
    ... land upon an implication you didn't want to be seen to be suggesting? ... > Hunting happens in the states and in france and germany. ... > ban them from access and sue them for damages if they trespass. ... > There are people who would support some or all of your comments. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Civil Disobedience?
    ... And, yeah, if any animal does not have enough of its normal predator to keep the population in check, then the population needs to be controlled through hunting. ... Between stripping the forest and then the deer facing starvation, the animal lovers who called for no hunting to save dear little Bambi found out pretty fast just how cruel their request was. ... To the Land of the Free ...
    (rec.equestrian)
Loading