42M Looking for homesteading partner/lover

I would love to go completely off grid eventually, figure I better find a partner to spend the time with first, so here I am. 42 Male. I just started homesteading this spring.

A little history... I was a mechanic for 20 years, Army for 8 years, and the tech industry for 10 years, obviously with some overlaps. I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science plus 2 lesser degrees. I just recently became an Oklahoma State Master Gardener. Never Married. 1 Child that is 17, stays with their mother most of the time. I'm not a fan of drama so please don't bring any.

Currently working on ¼ acre in zone 7A (Oklahoma) where I am building a new greenhouse to replace a temporary hoop house I tested in. I like woodworking, cooking, building things, gardening, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. Have rain catchment (1100 gallons of storage), in the process of installing a solar array, continually refining which crops to grow to reach sustainability.

With the right teammate I am willing to relocate/sell after dating for a few years. I'd like to move to a bigger plot in a numerically lower grow zone by 2030.

I have an extra room if romantic compatibility is lacking.

Bonus points if you know where my name comes from. (not actual name due to scammers/bots/etc.)

Sam Gribley wrote:I would love to go completely off grid eventually, figure I better find a partner to spend the time with first, so here I am. 42 Male. I just started homesteading this spring.

A little history... I was a mechanic for 20 years, Army for 8 years, and the tech industry for 10 years, obviously with some overlaps. I have a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science plus 2 lesser degrees. I just recently became an Oklahoma State Master Gardener. Never Married. 1 Child that is 17, stays with their mother most of the time. I'm not a fan of drama so please don't bring any.

Currently working on ¼ acre in zone 7A (Oklahoma) where I am building a new greenhouse to replace a temporary hoop house I tested in. I like woodworking, cooking, building things, agardening, dancing, and spending time with family and friends. Have rain catchment (1100 gallons of storage), in the process of installing a solar array, continually refining which crops to grow to reach sustainability.

With the right teammate I am willing to relocate/sell after dating for a few years. I'd like to move to a bigger plot in a numerically lower grow zone by 2030.

I have an extra room if romantic compatibility is lacking.

Bonus points if you know where my name comes from. (not actual name due to scammers/bots/etc.)

Hey
Appears that we're looking for the same thing in life. I am doing similar things as you are and willing to move for the right person in a few years. In the meantime I'm setting up to be sustainable. I would like to relocate somewhere warmer or travel in the colder months. Still trying to figure out who will take care of my critters. This site is a little bit challenging I'm figuring it out. Other sites like POF OMG is there any real people looking for real situations I should maybe say. Anyhow I don't have a lot of time for that. I like to keep busy. Not sure if the picture attached. Don't have any kids I do have a lot of animals I care for. I do a foster program. Plus I have my chickens I'm looking to get eggs from. Not set up for goats yet. What kind of animals do you have? Or don't you have any.
Have fun .  T

Yes, your picture came through . I don't have any animals yet, unless you count my Venus fly traps (I do, their names are Seymour and Planty). Like I mentioned, I'm only on a ¼ acre so options are limited for now. Chickens might be possible though. I'm working on planting my grape vines today. The Himrods arrived dormant a month ago, I got so busy with the greenhouse build that I almost forgot. 3 Concords (from Arbor Day foundation, I like to support trees) and 3 Himrods (Double A Vineyards - not too far from where I grew up in Upstate NY).

Sam Gribley wrote:Yes, your picture came through . I don't have any animals yet, unless you count my Venus fly traps (I do, their names are Seymour and Planty). Like I mentioned, I'm only on a ¼ acre so options are limited for now. Chickens might be possible though. I'm working on planting my grape vines today. The Himrods arrived dormant a month ago, I got so busy with the greenhouse build that I almost forgot. 3 Concords (from Arbor Day foundation, I like to support trees) and 3 Himrods (Double A Vineyards - not too far from where I grew up in Upstate NY).

What else do you plan on planting? I've been going on marketplace and getting cuttings from people to create my food Forest on the cheap. It's been a little bit interesting and a lot of work. I got strawberries, grape Vines , rhubarb ,comfrey
That's neat that you got from arbor Day. I bought grapevines last year they came dormant and they never did come around. I planted 20 apple trees last year 14 made it. Are you after the grape juice or the wine? My mom just gave me seeds for Venus flytrap. They're so tiny I don't know if they'll sprout.
I got free quail eggs geese and chicken eggs they hatched out on marketplace for $5. I'm probably a cheapskate LOL or I'd like to say I repurpose things
This is my rainwater catchment system. It's more for the garden and the chickens. Right now I'm siphoning from the top to the bottom. But I got to figure out how to add something more permanent so it does it naturally. Any suggestions?

Sam Gribley wrote:Yes, your picture came through . I don't have any animals yet, unless you count my Venus fly traps (I do, their names are Seymour and Planty). Like I mentioned, I'm only on a ¼ acre so options are limited for now. Chickens might be possible though. I'm working on planting my grape vines today. The Himrods arrived dormant a month ago, I got so busy with the greenhouse build that I almost forgot. 3 Concords (from Arbor Day foundation, I like to support trees) and 3 Himrods (Double A Vineyards - not too far from where I grew up in Upstate NY).

What else do you plan on planting? I've been going on marketplace and getting cuttings from people to create my food Forest on the cheap. It's been a little bit interesting and a lot of work. I got strawberries, grape Vines , rhubarb ,comfrey
That's neat that you got from arbor Day. I bought grapevines last year they came dormant and they never did come around. I planted 20 apple trees last year 14 made it. Are you after the grape juice or the wine? My mom just gave me seeds for Venus flytrap. They're so tiny I don't know if they'll sprout.
I got free quail eggs geese and chicken eggs they hatched out on marketplace for $5. I'm probably a cheapskate LOL or I'd like to say I repurpose things
This is my rainwater catchment system. It's more for the garden and the chickens. Right now I'm siphoning from the top to the bottom. But I got to figure out how to add something more permanent so it does it naturally. Any suggestions?

Sam Gribley wrote:Yes, your picture came through . I don't have any animals yet, unless you count my Venus fly traps (I do, their names are Seymour and Planty). Like I mentioned, I'm only on a ¼ acre so options are limited for now. Chickens might be possible though. I'm working on planting my grape vines today. The Himrods arrived dormant a month ago, I got so busy with the greenhouse build that I almost forgot. 3 Concords (from Arbor Day foundation, I like to support trees) and 3 Himrods (Double A Vineyards - not too far from where I grew up in Upstate NY).

What else do you plan on planting? I've been going on marketplace and getting cuttings from people to create my food Forest on the cheap. It's been a little bit interesting and a lot of work. I got strawberries, grape Vines , rhubarb ,comfrey
That's neat that you got from arbor Day. I bought grapevines last year they came dormant and they never did come around. I planted 20 apple trees last year 14 made it. Are you after the grape juice or the wine? My mom just gave me seeds for Venus flytrap. They're so tiny I don't know if they'll sprout.
I got free quail eggs geese and chicken eggs they hatched out on marketplace for $5. I'm probably a cheapskate LOL or I'd like to say I repurpose things
This is my rainwater catchment system. It's more for the garden and the chickens. Right now I'm siphoning from the top to the bottom. But I got to figure out how to add something more permanent so it does it naturally. Any suggestions?

Sam Gribley wrote:Yes, your picture came through . I don't have any animals yet, unless you count my Venus fly traps (I do, their names are Seymour and Planty). Like I mentioned, I'm only on a ¼ acre so options are limited for now. Chickens might be possible though. I'm working on planting my grape vines today. The Himrods arrived dormant a month ago, I got so busy with the greenhouse build that I almost forgot. 3 Concords (from Arbor Day foundation, I like to support trees) and 3 Himrods (Double A Vineyards - not too far from where I grew up in Upstate NY).

What else do you plan on planting? I've been going on marketplace and getting cuttings from people to create my food Forest on the cheap. It's been a little bit interesting and a lot of work. I got strawberries, grape Vines , rhubarb ,comfrey
That's neat that you got from arbor Day. I bought grapevines last year they came dormant and they never did come around. I planted 20 apple trees last year 14 made it. Are you after the grape juice or the wine? My mom just gave me seeds for Venus flytrap. They're so tiny I don't know if they'll sprout.
I got free quail eggs geese and chicken eggs they hatched out on marketplace for $5. I'm probably a cheapskate LOL or I'd like to say I repurpose things
This is my rainwater catchment system. It's more for the garden and the chickens. Right now I'm siphoning from the top to the bottom. But I got to figure out how to add something more permanent so it does it naturally. Any suggestions?

I have some figs my brother-in-law propagated to plant, strawberries as well. Have Comfrey as well, would love rhubarb *ah nostalgia*, I started some corn, squash and beans but they all croaked when I started the greenhouse project, I focused too much on the building and lost a lot. I'm okay with it since this is my first season. I have 20 or so tomato plants and 12 cucumbers that are still holding on, lol. really just need help, hate doing this alone. I've got a few weeks worth to finish the greenhouse but my usual helper that I pay hasn't been available. So, here I am losing money as the lumber curls from rain/heat, moving 16 foot 6x6's or 20 foot boards by myself is not safe, already threw my back out. lol. It'll all be worth it eventually I keep telling myself. I still enjoy it more than climbing the corporate ladder.

As to your catchment... are you saying you siphon from one container to the other? Are you wanting to have them fill equally?

Tony Perry wrote:I have some figs my brother-in-law propagated to plant, strawberries as well. Have Comfrey as well, would love rhubarb *ah nostalgia*, I started some corn, squash and beans but they all croaked when I started the greenhouse project, I focused too much on the building and lost a lot. I'm okay with it since this is my first season. I have 20 or so tomato plants and 12 cucumbers that are still holding on, lol. really just need help, hate doing this alone. I've got a few weeks worth to finish the greenhouse but my usual helper that I pay hasn't been available. So, here I am losing money as the lumber curls from rain/heat, moving 16 foot 6x6's or 20 foot boards by myself is not safe, already threw my back out. lol. It'll all be worth it eventually I keep telling myself. I still enjoy it more than climbing the corporate ladder.

As to your catchment... are you saying you siphon from one container to the other? Are you wanting to have them fill equally?

My side of the mountain. Is that the book that got you interested in being self-sufficient? For me it was Swiss family Robinson. LOL my mom took us to the theater. I was hooked.
I got one green bean last summer that was my first garden here. It's hard to do everything alone. But almost harder to find decent help. That sucks to have your back go out in the summer season. That's heavy lumber. How big is the greenhouse going to be? You  need yourself a little tribe.
Yes, I want the higher water tank to overflow and fill the second water tank. But the way it comes down from the gutter it's not sealed tight. I watch a lot of YouTube. So much information I tend to have to start working on it for it to start to come together.
My greenhouse consisted of a sun lamp haha

Yas! My side of the mountain, they made me change my name though. Was my favorite book as a kid... well, that and The Hatchet, and ... I can't remember now. Not why I chose to homestead but I'm sure it was influential somewhere in my subconscious. I'll upload some pictures when I get inside. 16x40 greenhouse. Would love to build a passive greenhouse, but the current property/zoning won't allow it.

For overflow, the easiest thing that comes to mind is getting some bulkhead fittings and some pvc, 1-1/2" or 2" should be okay... Larger if your roof sheds like a waterfall. The bulkhead fittings can get expensive but they create an airtight seal. So make sure all tanks have a vent and the pipes go downhill.

Think I fit the whole frame in frame

Tony Perry wrote:Think I fit the whole frame in frame

Nice. Big project.

Here's my website for my homestead www.perryplains.com. I just started it so there's a lot of information missing but will update when I can.