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  • From: EarthNSky <erthnsky AT bellsouth.net>
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Go ld -- feel free to ignore
  • Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:53:17 -0500

Thanks for responding to the questions...I've got to do some thinking on this, but wanted to respond as not to seem rude. I may write more later.

Clansgian AT wmconnect.com wrote:
James...what is the difference between you plying some trade and Ron
plying his at a dealership..the difference is a regular income, however
small that might be.

There is not difference. There is no meaningful difference in obtaining the required cash by craft trade, job, or farm produce.

The difference is engineering a life, working toward a life, that requires very little cash. That means anticipating the emergencies you outlined above and providing for them. For instance, I know I live in a place and under such trees where the roof can be damaged. So as not to face roof repairs I sheeted the roof with 1" planks braced to the 2x6 (rough, so actual 2" by 6" or larger) trusses and then that covered with enameled metal roofing. It would take a very great deal to damage it.

We know the cow might die any time, not that there is anything wrong with her, but animals do that. We depend on that cow, so fifteen years ago we plied our trades enough to put back a 401COW fund. It has been sitting there untouched for a decade and a half but knowing that at any time we might lose her, we prepared for it.

Likewise since you asked, the county allowed us to put in an 800 gallon septic with 300 feet of line. But instead we put in a 1200 gallon tank with 900 feet of line for the express purpose of not having to dig it up later. It's not fool proof but it increases our odds. And at the time only cost about 15% more. While I'm glad to have it, people have lived without modern septic systems for centuries. It's a modern luxury for which I was perfectly happy to muck with the modern world to obtain.

Continual outflow of cash is a mindset that financial world is all too happy for us to think is just the God given way of things. It isn't.
In your homestead
world, you might take a long term job to pay for something you need or
want, too, like a medical bill.


Like the other anticipations, we have worked all our lives to not have medical bills. And, what are the odds, we don't have any.
Bev, it's just my view, although I see so very much that confirms it, that we have gotten ourselves into a mental state where we see debt and being behind as the lot of our mortal lives. During the time you were a child, who ever borrowed money to do anything but buy a house and then it was something that gnawed and ate at most people until they paid it off .... early. That's why, says I, that we are hearing the Prez panic and wet himself at the idea that credit for everyone will dry up. That's why the country is willing to go into hock itself for $8T just so a few banks can continue to make loans. We are always looking behind us at the financial trail we've left in our wake rather than looking forward to what we anticipate we might need.

I'm likely to do a post on this, but let me say that the reason I preach and pontificate on the homesteading model I advocate is that if you have your food, a place to live, and a way to heat it and cook your food without having to stoke those ongoing operations with cash ... you become a financial superman. So what, then, if you have a mortgage or medical debt? You are running without cement shoes on now, you can devote virtually all you cash, no matter where it comes from, to eliminate those things.

But if just keeping the homestead going enough to feed you, keep you warm, and put a roof over your head takes most of your money ... how can you ever anticipate being free of it.

These realities went into every single homestead decision we made. When it came to two ways of doing things, one that involved cash and one that didn't, we ALWAYS chose the non-cash way. Now it might not seem so right off the nail, but almost every "more efficient", "labor saving" way of doing something costs more effort in the end. The cash we haven't spent on tractors, tractor equipment, chain saws, gas powered pumps, roto-tillers, exotic farmstock, anything but utter bottom feeder vehicles, etc, etc. went into one of our mason jars (literal or figurative jars) earmarked for the eventualities we knew were coming.

Bev, have you not had people stare at you like a codfish when you said that the life on your farmstead was healthier because of the work and good food? Well, that happens all the time when I try to explain that we got where we are as our economic base here not because we are lucky, not because of some unique circumstances, not because all the odds weren't stacked aganst us and we avoided every setback and obstacle. There is a method to this and it works every time just as surely as eating your homestead fare makes a person healthier than a steady diet of McDonalds every time.

James


--
“Fear is the path to the Dark Side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Yoda




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