Conor Haley

Wow thank you for the quick replies. They are in the best possible spot for sun exposure. The soil conditions is really hard and rocky clay that is very difficult to dig into. The previous owners seemed like they knew what they were doing. They had cold frames for each bed. I removed the plastic and the framing because it was degrading. I’m in north Georgia so we do get a lot of rain.

The property next to me used to be a landfill 40 years ago so maybe I should just stick to the raised beds.

I bought this property a year a go and it came with these raised beds. We planted in them last year with some success, but i would like to remove them so I can plant some cover crops during the off season and build the soil up. I’d also like to build a more natural looking garden with a pond, however I don’t want to waste what’s already here.

Am I crazy for wanting to remove them? Should I just be grateful for these and find ways to use my advantage?

Hey yall.

A lot of good things have come my way since the 3 years ago I posted here. I've been blessed really. After 4 years of saving money, living rent free with my dad, I bought 1.7 acres of land 50 minutes outside of Atlanta, Georgia. I tell ya, making big decisions is scary - I can't help but question if this is the path I should be going down. Just as I've been making good friends in the gay community in the city, I set my roots down away from them. But with the increase in crime and restrictions that never seem to end in the city, I'm happy with my choice.

I'd describe the land as a "hollow" - it's a small valley off of a ridge, that is mostly flat and fertile. The previous owners had about 500 sq/ft of raised beds and cold frames that are east and south facing. I back into the 70 acres of woods, with a lot of deer to hunt. And I just adore my neighbors. Both couples are in retirement and so helpful, friendly and excited about my plans.

Next week I'm getting a gravel driveway put in and laying out 500 feet of waterline and conduit. I bought a 13x16' canvas tent and am building a deck with front porch with it. Gonna be living in it for the time being until I build a small cabin.

I'm still single, and though I'm happy, I'm ready for a relationship.

Y'all are great, really. I appreciate this feedback. Glad to see other permies with similar sentiments.

Something I should've mentioned earlier. For the past 5 months I have become the handyman for my dad's rental. Basic stuff - toilets, faucets, water heater/ furnace issues, pest control, shelving, landscaping... I find it rewarding for now. My dad bought a rental a year ago. He has no idea what he's doing. I find that I'm having to take over for a lot of things because he is not quick at resolving the issue - he never had to fix anything in his life because he makes good money in business. My sister and her two friends are renting it out from him. Any little problem she comes screaming at me to fix. So I'm starting to understand what the headache is about. But it feels good to fix things. And my dad isn't even paying me. But I'm not paying rent living with him so I can't complain.

Another idea I had that I forgot to share -

I work in a small woodworking shop building custom stairs. It's just me, my coworker, and my boss. My boss pays rent and it's expensive, so it got me thinking that maybe I should buy land and build my own shop. I would become partners in the business, or have him pay me rent at a lower rate and continue with my hourly rate... though the latter might just be a horrible idea. lol.

Thank you all for the suggestions and ideas.

I live in a very good area for starting a family and one that I think will prosper even more once/if we come out of this epidemic. Lot’s of tech jobs here, and given there will be a shift in more people working from home, this area will be even more appealing since it is in semi/rural land 40 minutes from Atlanta. Lots of amazing international restaurants that are supported by these tech jobs too. Here and the surrounding cities has one of the lowest crime rates in the US, and an excellent education. Lots of Indian immigrants working these tech jobs, would make an ideal tenant.

Everything has become crazy expensive here though. The once quiet town I grew up near only had 4 restaurants 10 years ago. Now there are easily 30, a brewery, bars, music venues, a biannual singer/songwriter music festival with 4 stages.  I would have to go at least 30 minutes further north in order to afford to buy a fixer upper in cash. But we’ll see if that changes.

I imagine a growing number of people needing a cheap place to live. An RV/camper/trailer/tiny house park seems like it will grow in popularity. Especially since the retiring baby boomer generation has a meager social security income, and not much retirement savings. Though I’ve heard government zoning laws make this type of operation prohibitive. And I imagine I would be crazy with all those dwellings.

I have read some forum posts on Permies regarding strategies for financial security during a recession and depression, and the consensus seems to be the following:

- Buy land
- Grow trees like black locust, 60ft pines suitable for electric poles, fruit/nut trees
- Buy depreciated, quality machinery
- Cultivate trades that will be needed during recessions/depressions
- Buy silver, gold, or bitcoin

Buying stocks doesn't seem to be too popular... I guess since most of the companies are unethical... and a good few here seem to think the world is coming to an end so there's no use in buying now anyways.

These strategies I understand, however what seems to be the least popular is buying a run down house, fixing it up, renting it out, and letting it appreciate over time.

I guess I understand why... because the people buying these houses are using bank credit lines indefinitely to buy more rentals, and causing the housing shortage we have, as well as driving up the cost.

Though I am finding myself in a lucky opportunity where I have no debt, am 26, live rent free with my father, and am sitting on a lot of cash during the brink of an economic collapse.

In my opinion there will be many foreclosures in the coming year or two, and it seems like the smarter thing to do is to capitalize on this misfortune, as dismal as it may sound. I apologize for coming off this way, I don't know how else to put it.

I've heard stories of airBnB "superhosts" having over 10 properties with 10 mortgages tied to them, all with vacancies. It's crazy that banks allow people to do this.

Sure I could buy land right now, but I would have to continue to work off site and take time away from my land. I would much rather put all my money in a cash flow stream now, and buy property later when have an income stream to give me more freedom to work on my land. But if I go with the latter, I would have to wait another 5 years or so to buy land.

So I guess what I'm asking is for other peoples advice on what they would do in my position. Also, if you don't support the idea of buying a rental property, why? I should add that I am experienced in several woodworking trades.
Should I just buy land and begin my dream of having a multifaceted homestead right now? Or invest my money now so I can have more freedom when I buy my land?

P.S.
I don't believe much in meritocracy. I am one of the lucky ones.

Thank you Rick and Rose. Thanks for the book recommendation. I'd love to see pictures of your cabin. How old is it? One of the things that appeals to me so much about them is that they can stand the test of time and require little maintenance. Has this been the case for you?

Hello Serkan, here is my review as promised (thank you for reminding me I posted this! XD):

If you want to build your own house on your own, without hiring other people to do it, then you will want get the full package that includes the log cabin academy. Those are the videos that go step by step on how he does it. If your young, fit, have the time, I say go for it. I live at home with my parents, so I'm able to save a lot of money and afford the cost. It's a lot of money - 600 dollars if I can remember.

Each topic is covered in about an hour video:
the basics of types of logs, hiring someone with a portable bandsaw mill to cut your logs (if you have good ones on site)
footers, foundations, floor systems,
notching and setting logs
making door and window openings
ceiling joists and the second floor,
roof
wiring
chinking
finishing it up
then some videos of some log cabin tours, and theory about aesthetics and why some houses are beautiful and why some aren't

Also, he just released a new section for the full package members, the stonemason academy. I have yet to watch it, but I'm sure it will be helpful because he doesn't really cover stonework in the previous chapters.

Keep in mind though, in the videos, he doesn't show you how to do flooring, build a staircase, build cabinets, apply cedar shingles or a copper roof. Those things you will have to research on your own time. I managed to get a great apprenticeship at a small custom wood staircase shop, and it has given me the knowledge to go about these other trades within the house. There are other things that you will likely have to hire someone to do, such as grading, cement foundation, stone chimney, and definitely electrical work... unless you have a lot of time and patience on your hands.

If you go the cheaper route and buy the The Handmade house guild/academy package, you'll get a more general knowledge for someone who would want to contract work to other people to build their house. The best part about this cheaper package is you get 3 of his classic cabin blueprints. However, without the knowledge you get from the log cabin academy videos, you won't really know how to apply them yourself, without hiring tradesmen.

I'd say the only critique I have is he is not the best with speech, and is prone to rambling.

I've never done those workshops where you go somewhere to build a timber frame/cob house etc., but from the little research I did about them, they're really expensive (like 2k for 3 weeks). It would be helpful to research some of those in person workshops around you, read reviews, and see if thats a worthwhile experience instead. I know they post some workshops on this forum.

Feel free to contact my anytime if you have more questions

Hey Judith. I just started making ladles! I work in a stairbuilding shop so I have access to any tool I want. All the wood I use is just scrap pieces, so I am pretty lucky! What I do is start with a square piece, cut out the rough shapes on the band saw, then move over to the belt sander to round things out. Then I use a drill press to make the concave part. I start with a 2 inch drill saw, then move to 1.5 inch, 1, .5, etc. Then I smooth things out with my bosses round chisel, and then finish off with a die grinder with a circular sanding attachment. It's a lot of equipment and totally unnecessary, but that's how I figured out how to do it! I'll post a picture of one later.