Peter Sedesse

pretty lady, unfortunately, I am on the wrong side of the pond.

This is what I did in a very similar situation.  Mine was slightly less than an acre.

Mentally break up the pasture into 30 paddocks.  Use primereone fencing and put high density chickens in a paddock, and move them every day.  After you move them, spread seed into the paddock where the chickens were yesterday( I used buckwheat and clover).. move the chickens every day and then at day 31 you are back on the original paddock and just keep cycling.  It is a great way to build up pasture, soil and feed your chickens at the same time. It only takes 3 or 4 cycles until the buckwheat and clover take over.   If you want to get fancy, you can even put 3-6 sheep in the paddock that is 5 days ahead of the chickens, that way the maggots in the sheep manure are pretty big and help feed the chickens too.   30 day rotation is really ideal for building up pasture because it gives plenty of time for the plants to grow and establish before they are eaten back a bit.  Pasture/30 is the key.   Also smart to plan things well so that day 30 is right next to day 1.

Casie Becker wrote:One of the big lessons on dating I picked up from my mom (who's outlived two happy marriages) was to pay attention to how a man treated everyone else, not just that girl he has his eye on. I've never regretted any man I've dated.  I think that is spot on advice to extend a helpful attitude beyond the pretty girls.

Absolutely this, and it goes both ways.  One of my major ' tests '  on a first date is seeing how the woman treats waitresses.

A monarchy/dictator is the most efficient form of government.  A democracy is slow and messy.

I am not sure a strong central leader is a horrible idea, but I think where they have problems is NOT being completely upfront about the situation and have the rules and guidelines in places before people join.   Most central leader style communities fall apart either because people joining it did not realize there was a central leader making most of the decisions, or else the central leader changes the rules on a whim.

I also think many communities go wrong because the planners have their eyes in the sky and think about how perfect things will be.  You really need to have some good pessimists in the group when you are designing things, people who are looking for where things could go wrong.

But for me, really the most important thing is to have as many rules in place upfront, before you really start growing the community.  That way you don't have people joining who are blindsided when they are limited.

very interesting post.  It would be interesting if single men and women compare notes on the reaction you get from singles you date when you describe your ' dream '  life.   For me it is producing all of my own food with lots of divirsity and being as sustainable and off-grid as possible while also generating income on the homestead so as not to be broke all the time.  It is hard to find someone who shares that type of dream.  I am in Austin Texas at the moment, but always thought western NC, Tenn or Kentucky is the prime spot to do it because of the diversity of seasons, without being brutally cold or having shortened grow seasons.

I am 50, never married and no kids...  just to throw my fin into the ring

Facebook