January 11th, I started a list for Vermont homesteaders and gardeners.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VermontHomesteaders/join

Wouldn't it be great to have a pool of friends to share info with? Like who has organic chicken food for sale? Where do I go to learn gardening skills? Or how about....could 20 folks come over to raise my barn? ;-)

You can also learn about me on our website. We live in an underground house and have an organic farm. http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/

-- Wendy S Martin (wsm311@aol.com), January 13, 2002

Answers

My goodness!

A name from the past. Hi Wendy. What a surprise to see your post here. I'll be sure to go look at your new yahoo group. Hope all is well.

PC [who used to live in Ludlow]

-- pc (pc@pc.com), January 13, 2002.

Hi PC Where do you live now? What's new? Check out the house my daughter is building ;-) http://www.homestead.com/peaceandcarrots/HeathersHouse.html

-- Wendy S Martin (wsm311@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Hi Wendy, I am Joaquin's Aunt, hope he is enjoying himself at your farm. I know when he left here for Vermont he was really hoping that he would learn alot from you. Take care. Tracy

-- tracy emily in TN (emilyfarms@tsixroads.com), January 13, 2002.

Joaquin and family are an interesting challenge ;-) They are very nice....I like them a lot. However, he is a definate wanna-be homesteader who needs to learn to focus ;-) He is sort of a kid in a candy shop...he wants all the homestead toys NOW.

For those reading who don't know what we are talking about, Joaquin and his family sold their house in Mississippi and moved to Vermont. They got here to the farm on Christmas Eve, after a few weeks of mishaps on the road. They are living in a small Airstream in our driveway. Brrrrrr..... Joaquin is helping Heather to finish her house and we told them they could stay here until the end of June in exchange. As soon as the house is habitable, they will move in.

The family would like to buy some land and start their own homestead here in Vermont. I could write a book about the pitfalls that Joaquin has fallen into. That's one way to learn....make mistakes ;-)

Like I said....I really like them!! Watching the family struggle has reminded me just how far from mainstream America we have gotten over the years. And how frugal! We rarely go to town, and when we do, we have a list of things to accomplish. We make do with what we have or do without.

When I moved here 15 years ago, we had no electricity, no way to cook in the house, except in winter on the woodstove, no real floor, lots of books but few "toys", and raw land that needed to be cleared. We built as we got money, I cleared 2 1/2 acres for garden and orchard, we took baths in the stream or a big pot or garbage can, we went outside under a tarp to cook on a gas stove we got free on the side of the road.....you know, stuff like that. We didn't have money, but we had dreams.

Now our underground house is 1750 square feet, there are 2 greenhouses, 2 acres of raised beds, a half acre orchard, we have a big cider press, gravity fed spring water, a root cellar, composting toilet, etc. This all took years to accomplish. It doesn't happen overnight and you have to work hard to get it.

My new policy is that if anyone complains about anything, I will listen, but I will also give advice. No complaints, I'll keep my mouth shut, unless specifically asked. ;-) To me, actions speak louder than words. Don't talk.....do something ;-)

When Joaquin learns to settle down, focus and finish one project before starting another, that will help him farther down the road of his homesteading goals.

Until then, I am gray-haired and balding from pulling my hair out and worrying too much ;-)

-- Wendy S Martin (wsm311@aol.com), January 13, 2002.

Hi Wendy..

I'm nearby. In a new glorious hovel. A huge old abandoned house. My twenty year project. I landed at this site because I have developed an interest in goats and plan to get a couple this spring.

Went to your homepage. Heather is all grown up. And putting down roots! ;-) So nice to see you here and I will go to your site in a bit.

PC

-- pc (pc@noaddress.com), January 13, 2002.

Oh Wendy, My kind of people. If you can do it so can I. Gonna start with very little and work like heck to keep myself clean, fed and solvent. LOL. You make me look forward to what's in store for me instead of being afraid. I KNOW I can do this. Thanks for the bright light in my cloudy circumstance. Best wishes :),

-- Susan in Northern Michigan (cobwoman@yahoo.com), January 14, 2002.

Hi Wendy! This is Robin. We visited your farm in the fall of '99. My two daughters made me stay at a KOA campsite that had hot showers. Nice NY girls. Not into roughing it at all. LOL. Since 9/11 though they are both ready to leave Long Island. Within a year or two I hope to be on a little peace of heaven property myself.

Your "food wall" inspired me. I have found about 75 bale top jars and have filled them with pasta, flour, beans, dried peas, dehydrated carrots, celery, etc, etc.

Heather's house is great. You must be really proud of what she is acheiving on her own! I'm 41 with a degree in construction and building my own litle cabin is my dream. I'm jealous! Does she have a wood stove to heat it? I have a couple of extras down in MD. If I could figure a way to get it there I'd be glad to donate it.

Any board members going from Delmarva to Vermont?

Peace and Carrots is a great place. I would think any board members would love to spend a week or two learning and working amongst your group.

Robin (Dark)

-- (Darkdakota@aol.com), January 14, 2002.