72 now but I've lived 'out' most of my life. I learned the smell of worms early. Was a farmer, herdsman and been running a chainsaw since I was in my 20's.
Buying my last home I realized I no longer wanted to dig snow on a half mile driveway so I opted for a small village.
Grand to be independent. My place is 300 years old and dug into a slope that had its grass cut to the nub by zero turn radius mowers before I got here. No worm sign. Nearly sterile. So I let the grass grow much to the local elders complaining, I then could see the original terracing, so I mowed those paths.
I started an orchard five years ago; grapes, blueberries, peach, raspberries', apricots, hazelnuts, and apples.
I heat with wood mostly and combine loads I buy that are harvested managed forest dead wood and cut wood from my land. Old dead locusts and cherry that have fallen.
Raised bed gardens along with alternative planting of pumpkins, squash placed on my slopes that add to the nutrition of soil.
I intend to live to 100 but I must be smart about lifting, mowing/on a slope, tools and not being hasty in movement.
I love reading these posts.
