Homestead mailing list

[<eureka AT hctc.net>]

Hello all,

Joined your list this week. I have been homesteading for 
six years on five diverse acres in a canyon in southwest 
Texas. There are only 4.4 people per square mile here--an 
hour from Mexico, but a day's drive to any other state. 
There is no radio, tv, or cell phone reception because of 
the mountains, but thankfully we now have DSL. I don't 
know how many of you live in a remote area, but isn't it 
great to have an Internet community?

The arctic air pushed all the way down to us too! 
Fortunately it was too brief to damage our fruit trees 
which are already bearing marble-sized fruits, and our 
hundreds of vegetable seedlings were able to enjoy a 
couple of days around the fireplace. Usually we are trying 
to keep things cool--using old sheets to shade tomatoes 
and air-conditioning our chicken coop in the summer months 
when temps are consistently above 100 degrees.

Before leaving the city behind, I was a professional 
botanist and a graphic artist for two decades. My husband 
teaches at the area rural school, and we have a small 
organic vegetable and egg business, selling mostly to 
locals.

I would be interested in learning ways other homesteaders 
have found to create sideline income. Our friends have 
tried selling at a farmer's market, but can't break even 
due to time & travel costs. Many families vacation here in 
the summer, if I had a product or two to sell, and of 
course there is selling on the Internet, eBay etc. 
Suggestions, ideas?

As for contribution, I might be able to help on plant 
questions, and perhaps provide encouragement to those not 
yet living their dream.

Sage (& Rick)
way out in Texas