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.