"A year ago this month, I wrote my first Simpler Living column. In it, I described how we'd moved from a semi in suburbia to a 71-acre farm in a small village in eastern Ontario.
Our dream was to slow down and get away from the hectic pace of life we found ourselves in. Truth be told, during that first year, we only managed to exchange one kind of hectic for another...."
To read more, please go here.
Want more? Here's a complete list of earlier installments of "Simpler Living" written for Bankrate Canada:
October 2009: Preserving the harvest for year-round enjoyment
September 2009: Foraging for wild edibles in your own backyard
August 2009: Gardening is a labour of love whose rewards is a harvest of vegetables and knowledge
July 2009: Save money and get healthy by cooking more vegetarian meals
June 2009: Raising kids on the lean and green
May 2009: Reducing the amount of garbage you produce is good for the pocketbook and the planet
April 2009: When life gives you leftovers, make compost
March 2009: The appeal of raising backyard chickens is growing across cities in Canada
February 2009: The perils of seed catalogues
January 2009: Once you learn to make do with less, it's hard to remember why you needed more
December 2008: Preparing for our first winter, homesteading-style.
9 comments:
Many dream of living the country life. I lived it while in my younger days by spending time at my uncle's farm. Then Dad bought a small 100 acre farm just before it was time to make my own way in life. I always intended to be a farmer but found a bigger love with electronics and made that my life long occupation. Now that part of life is over and retirement brings back the yearning for the country. It's not pratical for me to actually move to the country, but I am able to live a partial country life in the urban city. Backyard garden beds, canning, and community gardens are some of the passions in my life now. However I do enjoy some of the modern conviences and would not like to give them up. I learned early in life that total country living is a lot of work and not as glamorous as it first seems. It's a hard but satisfying life. There's just something that feels right about going to sleep at night tired from an honest day of working.
I hope you have many more years of rural enjoyment.
Grit Nebraska Dave
Thanks for the post! I was worried because you hadn't posted since August. Will definitely look up those columns!
Dave -- thanks for sharing your experiences. It sounds like you've found the best of both the urban/rural world! You're right -- rural living is a lot of work... and it doesn't end! But you're also right in that going to sleep tired after an honest day's work feels pretty good too!
Hi Laura -- thanks for hanging in!! We've had a bumpy few months, but we're still here :)
Hi Fiona- Just found your blog through Grit. I have to admit, I went all the way back to 2008 to read from the beginning. It sounds like your dream-to-reality is my current dream. I will get there, eventually! Keep writing! I am really enjoying reading about your adventures!
Checking in to see how your winter is going up there! Hopefully you all had a wonderful country holiday and your wood stores are plentiful. This winter appears to be particularly brutal, sending warm thoughts your way!
Hi Aimee -- thanks for following me from GRIT and from starting at the very beginning -- you're a trooper! Kidding aside, I appreciate it:) As for your country living dreams, keep on believing you'll get there someday -- it's so worth it when you do! Looking forward to chatting with you more. I WILL GET BACK TO BLOGGING :)
Hello Erin -- great to hear from you!! Yes, it has been rather chilly lately, though the snow was later this year than last. We're in much better shape this year for wood -- thank goodness -- and we're all staying toasty warm. Here's to blogging together in 2010 :)
Fiona, I too enjoy your farm adventures. It brings back many happy memories about my time on the farm.
The midwest is getting hammered this year with snow and subzero temperatures. Tomorrow we will wake up with -20 degrees and 40 MPH wind driving the wind chill into the -40s. Weather forcasters say that this is the worst winter in 61 years for this area. My poor little crocus bulbs are buried under 5 feet of snow. I just keep thinking, "It's only 73 days until spring." :O)
Nebraska Dave
We want more posts! We want more posts!
(Mungo)
Interesting piece that has an idyllic ending. I did what you did on a smaller scale, about 8 years ago but eventually gave up. We didn't have as much land as you did but I did grow a big garden, struggled with wood, struggled with snow, struggled with a day job and later, with small children. I am glad to read that you are still enjoying your experience. It sounds like your family is very supportive of your endeavour, which makes it better. All the best to you!
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