Note from Liz E: Here at Old Fashioned Families, we like to get thoughts, opinions and contributions from our readers. Today, we have an article written by Gina talking all about her personal homesteading paradise. Gina has been an active member of the OFF forums since 2010, and has been living the ‘good life’ for several years at her farm in southern Texas. Here’s a peek at her slice of the ‘simple life.’
We have lived on the farm for eleven years now, but before that we lived near a small town near Houston and we felt too close to the city. My hubby’s father had this property in his family, but no one had lived here in about 50 years. It only took one look at it to decide to move there.
When we first moved, we started off living in a forty foot RV and brought the livestock we already had. You should’ve seen us driving through Houston pulling a stock trailer with a huge Brahman bull! We also had a couple of horses, cows, chickens, dogs, cats, and rabbits. We are now living in a mobile home and have horses, donkeys, chickens, goats, geese, ducks, a hog, cats, and dogs. We used to have cattle, but sold them during the last severe drought. We live on twelve and a half acres (about half is wooded) so there is plenty of room for a large garden that I look forward to planting every spring. It is just the two of us here but I plant about half an acre so we have enough to share, can, and freeze.
Living here is hard work so I can’t fully understand why it’s called the “simple life,” except for the fact that we are laid back and don’t try to “keep up with the Jones” or anything! I can stay in my jammie bottoms and old T-shirt all day even while doing outside chores if I want to! We heat the house with the wood cook stove we call “Big Bertha” and also cook/bake with it whenever it’s fired up. I do as much from-scratch cooking as I can and just started making my own pasta. I have been doing it by hand since I have no machine but I actually prefer doing it the old-fashioned way. We butcher our excess roosters and love our hens’ eggs–store bought eggs are tasteless.
The hubby and I can’t imagine living any other way. The grandkids love to visit and we love the peace and quiet we have and not having to abide by any HOA (Home Owner’s Association) rules.
For example, last summer my husband and I decided to take our blankets and pillows and sleep outside on a table made of two large wooden spools with a hardi-board over it that we use to feed our cats on.
Best sleep ever!
Interested in writing about your homestead experience for the OFF Blog? Contact Liz E. for more information!
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