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Hi CLHW,

I'm not familiar with the TexasOutback list, is its focus 
similar? My husband Rick and I are on the other side of 
the protrusion of Mexico into Texas from Terlingua, which 
is also beautiful country. As the crow flies we could be 
there in about five hours (which isn't bad in Texas terms 
as you know), but as the car drives it takes us an entire 
day. We are just shy of the 100th meridian, which I 
understand is where "the West" in our nation officially 
starts. So, you could say we are in the western most part 
of the southeast where you and Bev live. Howdy neighbor!

We do share many of the same Trans-Pecos/Chihuauan desert 
plants you'd find in Terlingua (cacti, yucca, sotol, 
agave, etc.), but we also have the Taumalipan Brushland 
plants (mas plantas espinosas) coming up from Mexico, but 
most predominantly Edwards Plateau "Hill Country" plants 
(neat plants).

Just like Terlingua (once was) our small community could 
also be considered a ghost town. Our house was the post 
office for several decades and before that the land had a 
blacksmith shop with the wagon road (now diverted) across 
our creek. The old school crumbles next door, and one 
neighbor in her 80's five miles away remembers riding her 
horse to school up my creek, pointing to the tree she used 
to tie it up to.

It's hard to believe, but UPS and FedEx deliver here. 
Before the EMS service gave us an official address, we 
used to put the driving directions into the address line 
whenever we ordered anything. So with DSL I think 
possibilities are opening up. I've done some nature tours, 
which are most lucrative in the spring when it's still 
cool and everything is in bloom, but that's also prime 
gardening time. I am also certified to teach kayaking, but 
with global warming and a long drought I haven't wanted to 
scrape the bottom of my boat.

--Sage
wayout in Texas


On Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:20:49 -0400
 clhw AT infoave.net (clhw) wrote:
> Rick -- Welcome to the list.
> Are you on the Terlingua Ranch? I'm on the TexasOutback 
> list.
> Both my parents grew up not far from there and my 
> brother worked in the Big
> Bend Park for a couple of years long ago.
>
> We are somewhat remote -- it's called rural here and we 
> can't see the
> houses of any neighbors but are only 5 minutes from a 
> small township and 15
> minutes for our county seat. We're in the southeast not 
> too many hours
> distance from Bev.
>
> If you are able to raise veggies, fruit, and maybe 
> livestock (like birds,
> goats, and/or eggs) and you live on Terlingua, I suspect 
> there would be
> customers near you. Also, you could put trade/swap and 
> sale notices at the
> lodge, if there is a community bulletin board. Maybe you 
> could start one.
>
> If you're at TR, possibly a regular patrol of properties 
> owned by absentees
> or shopping trips for others, on commission, would be 
> additional money
> raisers.
>
> Then there is Internet sales, which are lucrative for 
> some, but might be
> affected by available shipping. UPS will come to your 
> home here, as will
> DHL, and a couple of other private delivery services.
>
> Possible tours of visitors, with identification of 
> native plants and
> animals could be done for money.
>
> Welcome.
>
> > 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?
>
> snip
>
> > 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
>
>
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