Eastern European homesteader looking for companion

Hey Permies,

I figured I'd give this forum a go as it seems like a lovely congregation of people!

I recently bought a 4 hectares beautiful land in a cute little village in Hungary.  Recently graduated at Geoff Lawton's Permaculture Design Course and am excitedly turning the theory into practice on this property (whilst making all sorts of rookie mistakes, which is quite fun).  I live with a dog, a cat and a small flock of chickens who roam around the place.  A small herd of sheep, a few more chicks & ducks, maybe goats and definitely a donkey (for the entertainment) will follow.

In a previous life I used to work in technology, travelled a lot and lived the life of a digital nomad.  That indeed seems like a lifetime ago – very happy to have had the privilege to do it but I wouldn't go back from the self-sustaining quiet homesteader life.  To share the joys I am looking for a fellow (female) permy soul who loves growing food, watching the animals do their thing, and learning something new every day.  And laughing about the mistakes made in the process as that is rather important to grow ourselves.  It would be great if you had a green thumb as I must admit mine isn't quite as green as I'd like it to be one day.

Other than permaculture, I enjoy doing yoga, cooking, baking sourdough bread, listening to and making music (mostly psychedelic stuff; psy-chill and goa trance – used to play keyboards in a psychedelic post rock, also a lifetime ago).  I'm not religious in the traditional sense but certain buddhist practices are my way of keeping an optimistic outlook at life.

I'm single, no kids, 47, but most people still think I am 30 and that's how I feel, too.  

If this resonates please message me on here!

Have an awesome day everyone.

Peter

I cannot help with the partner issues, but I am interested to know more about your block.
I take it the soil is arable?
What do you do for water and housing there, is the housing stone, timber etc?

Less of us around in Europe it would seem lol...Good luck finding your someone.

Hi! Wow, psychodelic rock, I didn't know that such thing exists! :D
Sounds like an exciting project, I would certainly like to visit you one day :)

John C Daley wrote:I cannot help with the partner issues, but I am interested to know more about your block.
I take it the soil is arable?
What do you do for water and housing there, is the housing stone, timber etc?

Hey John,

The soil is loess -  most of the site has been grazed (cattle and horses) for 5-10 years, it is rather fertile, except for a portion that was (ab)used for industrial agriculture (growing corn I think) for years; that part has observably different vegetation and less humus.

The site is located in a valley, rainwater collects at the lowest parts where there are also several springs.  Ground water is at almost surface level, swampy after even minor rain events, making it ideal for establishing several connected ponds.  I have yet the observe what it's like after an extended dry period, though - July/August tends to be more and more dry in this climate (with occasional monsoon like rain events).  Rainwater catchment  is yet to be set up from the main building and the barn roofs, storing the 500mm of precipitation we get here on average is likely to cover most of the irrigation needs of the heavily mulched vegetable gardens.

The main house was built sometime in the last 5-8 years or so using bricks/modern building materials.  Timber and strawbale would be more ideal but it is well oriented with large windows to south so it has ample sun exposure.  

I have 4 hectares in Australia, its what we call lizard country because its poor quality soils. And the rainfall is about 500mm as well, so I use large tanks with about 65000L storage to get over droughts.
Is sounds idyllic, house and barn as well.
I would like to watch progress of the property if you get a chance, good luck with the companion!

John C Daley wrote:I have 4 hectares in Australia, its what we call lizard country because its poor quality soils. And the rainfall is about 500mm as well, so I use large tanks with about 65000L storage to get over droughts.
Is sounds idyllic, house and barn as well.
I would like to watch progress of the property if you get a chance, good luck with the companion!

What part of Australia? Have you been able to improve soil life since you've been on the land?

Bendigo, Victoria.
I have been here 45 years, but I worked as a Civil Engineer all over and had my own business's.
I alos have raced sidecars for 50 years, so I have not spent a lot of time on my place.
When I am there, I have worked on the soil with aeration, planting green manure and dumping lawn and garden refuse on the ground.
I have been here full time for 7 years and still mucking about.
I store about 500,000L of water now so when I get good soil I can use it wisely.

My name is Nicki. I am interested in getting to know you though I am currently in the states.  You seem like a genuine kind of guy. ukkoalolalove@gmail.com

not answering the partner search part of the post, but i just wanted to say hi because you are in Hungary and I am in Serbia, so happy to see someone from my region here
i just started exploring the site. i will upload a photo and more about me! i am a 45 F and not yet off grid, off the system but very interested...
would like to get to know people from my part of the world with the same views...

Szia Peter,

I am a British born woman with a Hungarian mum. I am bilingual and enjoy speaking and listening to Hungarian!
I enjoyed reading your posts and the humble wisdom within it.. I am excited about the mistakes I am likely to make too, as I have never owned a garden and grew up in London. I have however only ever wanted to be self sufficient and off grid... hence why I am on this site hoping to meet a bloke with the same dream!

If you want to, you can email me at AnnaLeBarillec@protonmail.com

hi again,

I am writing as I have decided to try to buy land in Hungary. Could I ask you for advice?

I speak Hungarian reasonably well (my mum is Hungarian) and have lived there (in Budapest) and want to finally move back to live as off grid as I can.

If you could email me or message me here. My email is AnnaLeBarillec@protonmail.com

Koszonom!

Anna

Hi Peter, I am new here and am just saying hey.  I think you have an awesome looking dog and your homestead sounds like a wonderful place to share with the right person. I unfortunately live in the midwest (us) but just wanted to connect and wish you well. If you have interest in connecting in spite of being LD, please feel free to write me here: pitiger@zoho.com  and I will be happy to reply~ take good care!

Christina

Hey Anna,

I'd be happy to connect and help if I can!  I emailed you and wonder if the message went through?  Please let me know on here or via email.

Hope to hear from you

Peter

Anna Julia Lake wrote:hi again,

I am writing as I have decided to try to buy land in Hungary. Could I ask you for advice?

I speak Hungarian reasonably well (my mum is Hungarian) and have lived there (in Budapest) and want to finally move back to live as off grid as I can.

If you could email me or message me here. My email is AnnaLeBarillec@protonmail.com

Koszonom!

Anna

Hi Peter! How are you? I'm from the states...California, but would love to chat and get to know you and who knows maybe visit someday? 😁
I’m 48, my kids are grown so it's just myself, my doggo Macie, 2 orange cats and one very large goldfish 😁
I'm hoping to build him his own pond this summer, give him room to grow! Lol
I too am trying to get my lifestyle back to basics, would love to have a small farm...chickens goats alpacas maybe even some piggies lol I do have a green thumb, I'm a Master Gardener went to UC Davis in Sacramento, CA for the classes and certification years ago thinking I would open up a family landscaping business but that wasn't in the cards for me although I have done plenty of volunteer work for schools and fairs so it's come in handy.
Well..if you’d like to chat I’d love to hear from you! Oh! Awesome doggo in your picture! He looks handsome! You can look me up on Facebook or Instagram to see photos of me...I’ve been told I have a babyface ie: much younger than my age lol which I will gladly take as a compliment any day! Lol Talk to you soon! Bye! Angela Reil

im down hit me up

Hi Peter!
Are you anywhere near Velence? I'm here for another two weeks before heading to Poland (probably).

I'm interested in seeing your setup. Wondered if you have considered a Rocket Mass Heating System? I've been hoping to find someone willing to develop a prototype which we might have Ukrainians come to see in action, perhaps even offer training eventually in permie/off-grid skills.

I moved from the states in May to help with the recovery in Ukraine. Just retooled the main page of my website with a downloadable PDF of the info flyer I and some Ukrainian partners are starting to circulate in the areas without power.

https://www.roadmaptolife.org/

Hope to hear from you and wish you all the best!

Hi Leslie,

very cool initiative you're running! I am very interested in rocket mass heaters myself and plan to build one down the line but it's not on the plate right now. There will be a workshop soon on building nomadic (improvised) rocket heaters - if you're still around it might be interesting to check it out:

https://fb.me/e/2lCsg7Mhc

I'm about an hour and a half drive away from Velence. Not sure I can be of any help with your current project but if you're interested I'd be up for connecting!

All the best,

Peter