Building for The Future

[Greg]

Fascinating. And doable.

I know of a few people who have consulting businesses in IT-related fields. If you're good enough, and can get connected to people with tricky and expensive problems, it can work out well for both sides.

But any kind of consulting/system integrator/custom solution/troubleshooting business requires a number of things. Skills, energy and drive, and creativity are just the start. You also have to be ambitious, fearless (there's ALOT of risk involved) and an extraordinary networker. At a bare minimum, there's more.

But Chris can do this. Sounds pretty cool.

[MelodyByrne]

Well I'd jump at the chance Chris. The deal I have with the wife about emigrating to the USA is that I would have to go over on my own and break the trail first. The moving costs would be so huge ( for the horses, she's spent years building up her breeding stock ) that it would be almost like a one shot deal.

What does she breed? Part of the reason we're looking for a quite large parcel of land is because I want to keep horses. The other reasons are raising of livestock, crops, orchards, and other foodstuffs, and of course PRIVACY.

(btw, this DOES mean we're looking for an independent water source and intently researching alternate means of electricity generation)

[MelodyByrne]

See, I've barely even submitted the last reply before Chris tells me I need to expand on my own plans...

I want the family (and business) to be as self-sufficient as possible. This doesn't really come from a prepper mentality, though being prepared is a definite bonus. I want to have as much control over our lives as possible.

Here in AZ (especially in the city) we're extremely limited in our food options. Most produce has to be shipped in and local meat is hard to find (mostly bought by restaurants). We have good fresh dairy, but that's about it. The produce we do get tends to be bland and unappealing, and the meat limited in cuts and variations. Of course, we could pay double or triple for food from the hippie meccas but we're not willing to pay that much. Also, we just don't like most commercially grown food. It's designed for shipping ability, not taste.

Also, I LOVE to cook and LOVE to experiment. I also love animals as a whole, and the world just seems wrong if I'm not surrounded by growing things.

I want to grow the food we eat. I want better taste and the ability to tailor what we grow to our preferences. I want to experiment with variations in breed and diet. I want to choose what goes in my orchard, make my own cider, can my own goods. I want to make my own cheese.

I want to grow different varieties than can be found in the supermarket. I want genetic diversity in my plants and animals. I don't want to be as vulnerable to species-specific issues. For example all commercial varieties of apple are genetically identical cuttings from an original tree (all MacIntosh are identical to the original MacIntosh) which leaves entire orchards extremely vulnerable to disease. I want biodiversity as a basic defense against tragedy. The same goes for livestock; I don't want to be dependent on one type of animal in case I lose the entire herd or flock.

I want my family to eat the best food that I can possibly provide. The best way to do this is to grow it myself. With a large enough piece of land I can do that.

We also want an independent water source, like a spring or well. I don't like being dependent on the city water supply as it means we are dependent on someone else for a basic need. City water also means increased chance of contamination, which I would like to avoid.

We want our own means of electricity generation. Here we're held captive by SRP (or APS) and their increasing rates. If power goes out during summer our a/c goes out and life is miserable. In fact, we couldn't live in AZ without air conditioning; many elderly die every summer from the heat alone. I do NOT want to be dependent on anyone for what we need to live. The worst thing that could happen to us in Idaho if the electricity went down would be freezing, and that's what fireplaces are for anyway.

If it becomes financially feasible sometime in the near future, I would like to make our own biodiesel as well. I don't like being vulnerable to the wild variations in oil prices and I especially do not like being dependent on countries that hate us.

For me independence is not about preparation, it's about freedom to do what we want without having to depend on someone else. I don't want to be worried about what to do if our water is poisoned, if our electrical grid goes down, if we lose our allies in the Middle East. I want to not be affected in the first place.

[Highspeed]

What does she breed? Part of the reason we're looking for a quite large parcel of land is because I want to keep horses. The other reasons are raising of livestock, crops, orchards, and other foodstuffs, and of course PRIVACY.

(btw, this DOES mean we're looking for an independent water source and intently researching alternate means of electricity generation)

Mostly warmbloods Melody, very similar to what you guys call paint horses. She's also got a gypsy cob stallion.

You are absolutely right to identify water as a big deal. Horses get through huge amounts of the stuff, especially in warm weather, so you need a plan B and a plan C.

Unless you plan on keeping a lot of horses you can get by without a massive amount of land. The rule of thumb is one horse per acre in temperate zones, but it'll depend on how good the grazing is. If you allow 2 acres then that gives you the option of leaving half the land fallow for the grass to recover.
The other issue is fencing. Horses just love to break fences by scratching their itches on them, or decide that they fancy a particularly juicy looking blade of grass on the other side and just walk through to get at it. We had a horse called Sherman ( named after the tank, he was about the same size and weight ) and he could bulldoze his way through anything.
This means for every extra acre over what you need, you'll need another acres worth of fencing which must be sturdy ( so it ain't cheap to buy and erect ) and has to be maintained and inspected.
You'll get very familiar with mending fences, sometimes at night. In the snow.

[Highspeed]

I'm a big fan of crosstraining.

I agree 100% If ( for example ) you have a machinist who also has basic welding skills then you aren't taking your specialist welder away from his main job every time the machinist needs a jig fabricating.

Better than that though - everyone then gets an insight into the other guys job.

One of the factors which has kept me working for myself all these years and out of being employed is that I no longer have to go through the motions of making something I know which won't work, on the orders of a guy who never held a spanner or used a machine tool in his life.

[MelodyByrne]

Mostly warmbloods Melody, very similar to what you guys call paint horses. She's also got a gypsy cob stallion.

I'm a fan of the gypsy vanners, cobs, etc. but they are not exactly affordable in the U.S. for someone who doesn't intend to make money with their herd. Breeders are still doing fairly well though.

The other issue is fencing. Horses just love to break fences by scratching their itches on them, or decide that they fancy a particularly juicy looking blade of grass on the other side and just walk through to get at it.

I remember the trials my aunt had with her horses and fencing, although hers preferred trees for their itches (or [strike]servants[/strike] humans with curry combs).

[George guy]

Sounds like an exciting endeavor. I'd love a job like that eventually, but unfortunately I am far more useless than I have any right to be.

[Aaron]

I'm a big fan of crosstraining.

I agree 100% If ( for example ) you have a machinist who also has basic welding skills then you aren't taking your specialist welder away from his main job every time the machinist needs a jig fabricating.

Better than that though - everyone then gets an insight into the other guys job.

One of the factors which has kept me working for myself all these years and out of being employed is that I no longer have to go through the motions of making something I know which won't work, on the orders of a guy who never held a spanner or used a machine tool in his life.

It also great for people in completely unrelated departments. Specifically, having someone in logistics, or procurement, who has at least a working knowledge of how and what things do is damn near priceless.

[Mud_Dog]

Nice, I love the idea! I would love to be a part of it, if I am able.

[Highspeed]

I'm a fan of the gypsy vanners, cobs, etc. but they are not exactly affordable in the U.S. for someone who doesn't intend to make money with their herd.

Yep, they make insane money over your side of the pond.

If we ever manage to get over though I reckon we could swap a foal for some handgun tuition. Do you know anyone who can shoot ?