Hello,
I'm new here (and, for the record, my last name really is "Grow"... so I'm staying within your real names policy.
) and new to permaculture. I mean, I've watched various videos, etc., but I'm pretty much a green newbie.
I know it's going to take a long time to learn permaculture. Al least, long enough that I won't be a permaculture non-newbie by the time I'm ready to move out of the city (Orlando, FL) and into the country. I live on the main street here and protests and world events occur too close for comfort. So, finally, my wife understands my two-decade desire and urgency to live in the country, away from people and as self-sufficient as possible. I want to grab as large a lot as I can afford. I know it won't necessarily all be used, but at least it'll be there when or if I do need it eventually.
I have a couple questions that I hope someone can answer for me please. (Please forgive my ignorance if these are dumb/obvious/annoying questions.)
1. I live in Central Florida. I'd like to continue to live in Florida, but it seems that the biggest acreage that I can afford are up in Northern Florida (not far from the Georgia border). If I want to be able to grow some tropical type fruits and veggies, should I not go this high? How far north is too far north for tropical growth? (I'd really, really like to grow coffee and cacao too... remember, I want to be self-sufficient. haha! That may not be realistic... and I think that's too far north... if I remember right, much more north than south Florida is already too far... and I don't necessarily want to go south. Or should I??? I'm flexible I guess, but I don't think I can afford acreage that way.)
2. Florida is flat in most places. Do I need to look only in the more hilly parts (more expensive I would guess)? Or is it better to plan to simply do my own excavation work? I don't mind doing the work, but I'm concerned about affording the equipment after my big acreage purchase.
3. What is the best course to get up to speed quickly? I am familiar with Geoff Lawton and have always been impressed by him.
4. Is there a way to buy land on the "down low"? I'd like to keep a low profile, be hard to find, and rather anonymous. This world is crazy and I'd like to kinda disappear. LOL! Maybe this is a question for a different forum. haha!
5. Is my dream unrealistic for me if I want to start in a year or less? Or should I figure on taking more time than that to learn before I start looking for land? I feel pressure to buy as quickly as possible before inflation gets ridiculously higher. Food is already shockingly expensive here and I'd really like to get self-sufficient as possible, but I want to have realistic expectations. I'd rather buy the land now, even if I simply do traditional gardening on a half-acre to start... at least I would still own the land for once I have learned enough about permaculture. But what I definitely don't want to do is buy land that is not good with permaculture. I suppose that's the subject for another whole forum thread... but any quick high-level tips?
(I really hope I win that book, "Building Your Permaculture Property"... It would be very timely and I would definitely read it from cover to cover and apply what I learn.)
Thanks for any feedback or advice. Really... anything. If I didn't ask it here, I'd still like to hear it.
I'm eager to learn (and to learn quickly).
