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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> How much land would you consider the bare minimum to have a small garden 
> (to feed 4/5 people), 4 or 5 fruit trees (semi-dwarf or reg.
> apple/peach/pear), 30-40 blueberry bushes and a dozen +/- chickens?

All that and more can be accomplished on a fertile half-acre with intensive 
gardening. But it sounds like it would be more work than you and your 
husband want to do. I would let those boys develop a work ethic, contribute 
to the family larder and learn about self-reliance. If they are healthy 
enough for sports they are healthy enough to take care of chickens, rabbits 
and some of the garden.

Land is a good investment. Rather than sell, I would seek a way to cause it 
to carry the payments. Is it close enough to a market that would allow a 
CSA operation? Are there zoning restrictions? Can the land be subdivided?

Why have you been keeping the city house so far?