Subject: Re: [Homestead] Minimum acreage and thoughts
Date: Wed, 22 Feb 2006 17:34:26 -0700
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?