Found fabulous entries on this by another 43er already doing this! (in the pioneer style!!) http://www.43things.com/entries/view/329321?new_comment=2300677&page=0 This is what she wrote: (I hope it’s okay to repost here, just wishing to hang on to this super-info in cyberspace!!)
“Scott and Helen Nearing. Back to basics, homesteading, living off the land. Solar panels, composting toliet, wood stove. All that good stuff! I bought my land 2 years ago, with an older small cottage (600 sq ft). People really do not need such huge houses. The one I bought is the smallest I could find in the area. Half of it was built in 1898, I believe originally it was used as a hunting cabin. The other half was added on in about 1948 and was used as a summer cottage.
I started an organic garden, subscribe to Backwoods Home Magazine. I do lots of canning and food preservation, recycling, knitting, do-it-yourself home repairs, community volunteer projects.
I bought my composting toliet from Envirolet. wwww.envirolet.com
I run a few appliances and electronics off-the-grid using solar panels. I also sell electricity back to the government. What is using electricity in my house: water pump (for the well), lights, laptop computer, refridgerator, stovetop (just the burners, not an oven), microwave.
Yes, I do laundry by hand, use a hand crank wringer and hang to dry. I recommend www.lehmans.com
Backwoods Home is an excellant magazine to find out how to live like a pioneer in the modern world.
Scott and Helen Nearing. Back to basics, homesteading, living off the land. Solar panels, composting toliet, wood stove. All that good stuff! I bought my land 2 years ago, with an older small cottage (600 sq ft). People really do not need such huge houses. The one I bought is the smallest I could find in the area. Half of it was built in 1898, I believe originally it was used as a hunting cabin. The other half was added on in about 1948 and was used as a summer cottage.
I started an organic garden, subscribe to Backwoods Home Magazine. I do lots of canning and food preservation, recycling, knitting, do-it-yourself home repairs, community volunteer projects.
I bought my composting toliet from Envirolet. wwww.envirolet.com
I run a few appliances and electronics off-the-grid using solar panels. I also sell electricity back to the government. What is using electricity in my house: water pump (for the well), lights, laptop computer, refridgerator, stovetop (just the burners, not an oven), microwave.
Yes, I do laundry by hand, use a hand crank wringer and hang to dry. I recommend www.lehmans.com
Backwoods Home is an excellant magazine to find out how to live like a pioneer in the modern world.”
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“I technically do not have a “job” working for a weekly paycheck. When I left corporate America aproximately three years ago, I had spent the previous approximate eight years saving and investing. I calculated what my estimated monthly living expense would be, made sure I invested enough capital to be able to live off from the interest, plus a little extra set aside in case of an emergency.
I do work, but I work on my own projects on my own schedule. I do what I want to do, in my pajamas, usually. I spend a lot of time volunteering in my local community.
For extra cash, I attend three Farmer’s Markets in the summer, here on the island. I sell vegetables from my garden, canning, handmade knitting, photo cards of the island, and sterling silver jewelery that I make.
My cost of living is low, because I paid cash for my house. I grow and preserve all my own foods. I am learing to spin my own wool yarn from fleece that I get for free. I make my own clothes. I regularly buy things such as seeds, canning jars (though I do give credit to customers who return jars), film and coffee. I occasional will buy a book off the internet.
Once a year, I pay taxes and insurance. My yearly income is under $10k. So the hardest part of going from a corporate job to living in the country, was going from making over $50k a year, and having access to things in the city.
I suggest starting small. If you live in the city now, start learning how to preserve food. Wash your laundry by hand if you own a washing machine. Take a class on solar energy.
I have purchased a 100 acre pasture. Eventually, I want to build a small cabin, have a decent organic garden and a small herd of approximately 20 sheep. I volunteer at a local sheep farm, so that I can learn the necessary requirements before making major changes in my life. I think it is important to educate yourself first, before diving headfirst into something only to find out later that you really don’t like it. Caution is advise.”
